It can be daunting to take a baby abroad for the first time; there are so many extra things to consider when travelling with a child! Here are a few tips to help you to make sure your first trip abroad with your baby is a success:
1 Ask for help!
Don’t be afraid to ask staff in the airport, flight attendants, hotel staff and restaurant staff for help. Most will be happy to help in any way they can, from holding doors open to heating bottles or baby food. On many airlines families will be allowed to board first, which can make things easier for you and allow plenty of time to get settled before your flight takes off.
2 Buy baby medicine for the plane
Even if your baby seems perfectly fine, the last thing you want is to be caught short mid-flight with a baby who’s in pain. You can get paracetamol suspension in indivudal dose sachets now which are perfect not only for taking on a flight but also for when you’re out and about whilst on holiday and don’t want to carry a whole bottle around with you.
3 Bring your own travel cot
Many hotels and apartments will provide a cot for your baby to sleep in – but if you bring one from home, you can have them sleep in it for a few days beforehand. This way, when they’ve had a day completely out of their usual routine and they’re trying to go to sleep in a strange place, their cot will be familiar and smell of home. These baby travel cots from Kiddies Kingdom offer a wide range of sizes and styles.
4 Experiment with baby wearing
A baby sling is small and much more convenient for travel. Not only is it useful when traveling to your destination, but also whilst out and about in a foreign place. Baby can be closer to you, so will be less worried about the unfamiliar surroundings, and you’re also much more mobile when you don’t have to worry about whether a pushchair will fit through that gap or whether you can drag it up those steps.
5 Buy baby supplies at your destination
Bring only enough nappies, wipes etc for your journey, and buy what you need once you’re there. Nobody wants to travel with a week’s supply of nappies and wipes and these things can be bought in most shops these days. Save space in your luggage for the things you really need!
6 Get white noise sounds on your phone!
This one sounds silly, but anyone who has tried to get a cranky baby to sleep will know just how much the sound of rain or even a vacuum cleaner in the background can help! Come prepared with a couple of sound files downloaded onto your phone for nap emergencies and life will be much easier.
7 Do a recce of your surroundings as soon as you arrive
Don’t wait until you need nappies to figure out where the shop is! Similarly, you’ll want to know where the local chemist is, the location of the nearest hospital or doctor’s surgery and other important things. It’s better to know where it is and not need it, than to need it and have to wrangle Google Maps on your phone in an emergency.
8 Have fun!
Traveling with a baby can be daunting the first time, but there are many advantages. While they are still small you don’t need to worry about eating in places with a children’s menu, or about fussy eaters. They sleep a lot and are easily portable – you don’t need to negotiate with them about where you’re going or what you’re doing; you can just pop a blanket or coat on and off you go! Once you get over that initial hurdle of going out of your comfort zone, there are many benefits to traveling with your baby.
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