Between the lines, expensive hotels, and even getting lost, traveling can be stressful. As most parents know, adding a baby to the mix definitely does not make anything easier. Fortunately, by following a few tips and tricks, your whole family may be able to relax and have a great time, even with a baby in tow!
1. Pack Strategically
If you just had your first child, gone are the days when you could throw a change of clothes into a small backpack and take off for the weekend. However, just because you need to bring along diapers, snacks and other kiddie supplies doesn’t mean you can’t continue packing light. In fact, since you’ll often be pushing around a stroller or carrying a baby and diaper bag it becomes even more important.
By bringing multi-use items, you can get a lot of bang for your buck out of even a small suit case. For example, a kid’s bath robe can be used as a spare towel, to wrap fragile objects, or even as a blanket on a plane or car ride. Instead of bringing an umbrella, a poncho or rain jacket can be used to wrap bottles that could leak, as a make shift changing station, or of course, as protection in the rain. Each multi-use item you pack replaces a variety of other things you may need. This can free up space for souvenirs and help keep you under the weight limits.
2. Consider Investing in a Baby Travel System
Baby travel systems can combine a car seat and stroller into one. While sometimes more expensive than the individual pieces brought separately, they can be life savers when traveling. Many US airlines allow families to check a stroller and car seat free of charge, so you can often bring the entire system with you for free, and then have your stroller and ready for when you get off the plane. In addition to being far less of a hassle than carrying all the devices separately, if your child falls asleep, you may be able to transfer them from the car seat to the stroller and back without them even waking up.
3. Child Proofing Your Hotel
If there is one thing babies and toddlers like to do, it is explore. While many parents child proof their home, hotel rooms are rarely set up for small children and you may need to take some steps to make it more kid safe.
The first thing to do is simply ask the front desk if they have any childproofing supplies. Some hotels offer electric outlet covers and more, but many do not. For this reason, it is always advisable to bring a roll of duct tape with you when you travel. This can be used to cover electrical outlets, secure buffers to sharp corners on furniture (taping a wash cloth or towel can work) and to secure electrical cords out of reach. Another thing to do is make sure that the doors and windows are secure. If you have a balcony, make sure it is locked, and by using the deadbolt and chain on the hotel door, you can add extra barriers to make an accidental escape harder for your child.
After you have taken care of those issues, you may want to try crawling around the room so you will get a kids’-eye-view of it all. You may notice new things that you missed during your initial sweep, but that your child will quickly find while crawling around.
4. Take a Photo of Your Kid Each Day Before Heading Out
Traveling is full of distractions. From figuring out public transportation systems, to crowded museums, there is often a lot going on. It is many parents’ worst nightmare for their attention to slip for a second and for the child to have disappeared when they look back. However, you can be prepared for the worst by snapping a photo of your kid each day before you head out. This way, if they do get lost, not only will you have an up to date picture, but it will also show the clothes they are wearing that day. This can make it easier to show people what your child looks like at that moment, and if you have it on your phone, you can quickly send it around to friends, family, and authorities in the area.
5. Don’t Get Over Ambitious
When traveling to a new place, there may be dozens of things you want to do, and you may only have a few days to do them. But no matter how well you prepare, a baby may still slow you down with naps, diaper changes, and more. To counter act this, if your child is on a regular nap time, you can try to schedule flights and drives around that time period. Another thing that may help is splurging on accommodations that are right next to where you want to be. For example, if you are having a beach vacation, getting a beach front hotel may allow you to take your kid down to play in the sand without also taking a stroller, diaper bag, etc. If you are visiting a city, a downtown hotel may let you see the sites you want to see, without bring your baby onto crowded rush hour subways. Logistics are often one of the most difficult parts of traveling. If you are going to do it with a baby, try to keep them simple.
Traveling with a baby can certainly be a challenge, but it can also be a fun way to bond with your new family member and expose them to the world. By packing carefully, taking steps to childproof your room, and keeping your plans and expectations in check, your whole family can have a fun and rewarding trip!
Guest Post provided by Ryan
