Traveling with a baby can have its challenges. With the right essentials, a little planning and a few simple traveling with a baby tips – your trip can be a breeze. This post is sponsored by The Boppy Company. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I started traveling with a baby when my daughter was just a few months old. Our first trip was a six hour long road trip. If you’ve ever taken a road trip with kids, you know it requires a lot of patience and planning. Before hitting the road we got lots of traveling with a baby tips from friends and family about what to do, what not to do and literally every opinion under the sun. Now 9 years later we’ve got another baby in the family and I’d like to think that we’re pros at traveling with a baby.
If you’re planning a trip with your family or are just in need of a few traveling with baby tips, I’ve got you covered.
Traveling with a Baby Tips You Need Now
Pre-plan your route
Before you hit the road, the very first thing that you want to do is pre-plan your route. You want your trip to be as comfortable for baby as possible whether you’re driving, flying, taking a train or going on a cruise especially if you’re traveling during the holidays. Plan how much time it’ll take you to get from one point to the next and account add a few minutes extra in between each stop for a buffer.
Trust me, you’ll almost always end up using those extra minutes when you’re traveling with a baby. There will be times when your baby will get fussy and you’ll need to stop what you’re doing to soothe them or they might just have a full blown blow out in the middle of your trip. The glory of traveling with a baby is that things are unpredictable so you want to be sure to leave extra time for life’s unexpected moments.
Try to keep a routine for baby
Babies absolutely love a routine. When you’re traveling do your best to keep them on a routine that’s similar to their routine at home. Not only will this make things easier for them but it’ll make things less stressful for you. You’ll be able to know when they’re hungry and when they’re ready for their naps. You can plan any activities around these times to ensure you don’t have a cranky baby on your hands.
Pick a flight that synced with your baby’s nap time
If you’re flying to your destination, the best thing to do is pick a flight time that is synced with your baby’s nap time. Babies sleep a lot and it’ll be easier to manage a sleeping baby. If your baby is anything like mine and misses that coveted nap time, it might be impossible to get them to sleep once they’re on the airplane. There are so many new things around them and being in a strange environment might make it hard for them to fall asleep.
If you’re taking a short flight, I wouldn’t worry too much about how closely scheduled your flight is to nap time but for a longer flight it’s definitely worth booking something as close as possible so that you’re sticking to a routine that baby is used to.
Wear your baby
I love baby wearing! It’s one of the things I wish I could do more often. Not only does it give me free hands to get things done but I also know where my baby is at all times because he’s right there with me. Baby wearing can calm your baby if they’re upset or overly tired. It’s beneficial when you’re traveling because you have extra hands to carry luggage or any travel documents you need to have in hand.
Change diapers before departing
This is one of my biggest tips! So many things could happen once you leave for your destination that could prevent you from changing your baby’s diaper right away. The last thing that you would want is for your baby to sit in a soiled diaper for too long. Change your baby’s diaper shortly before you leave so they’re starting the trip with a fresh, dry diaper.
Always pack extra everything
My general rule of thumb is when you think you have enough, pack more. You can never have enough diapers, wipes or clothes when it comes to traveling with a baby. Disposable diapers are better than cloth diapers when traveling. The last thing that you want is to be washing dirty diapers while traveling. Accidents happen, blow outs happen, clothes get messy. I like to pack at least one extra outfit for every day that we’re traveling.
As for diapers and wipes, I pack extra of those too. I typically like to pack about a dozen diapers per day that we’ll be away from home. I almost always end up coming home with diapers on hand but I’d rather have too many than not enough. The last thing that I want is to take time away on our trip to go to the store for diapers.
Don’t overschedule
Try to avoid overscheduling if at all possible. When you’re creating your itinerary for your trip, be sure to schedule in meals and nap times. If your baby is well fed and rested everyone will be much happier on the trip. Trying to cram too much while you’re vacationing can lead to everyone feeling exhausted which takes fun out of the trip.
Nurse when possible
If you find that your baby is having a hard time traveling, try nursing. Nursing has shown to be effective at soothing babies and who wouldn’t want a little extra snuggle time with mom when they’re feeling uneasy? The Boppy Multi-Use Cover is a great option when you’re nursing on the go.
Essentials When Traveling With a Baby
Not sure what to pack when traveling with a baby? Here’s a list of essentials I can’t live without when we’re traveling.
Bottle warmer
A bottle warmer is an underrated essential. I always have to have a bottle warmer because it makes traveling with a baby that much easier. It keeps water hot for hours on end and when I’m ready to make a bottle, prep is super simple.
A baby carrier
The Boppy Comfy Chic Carrier is my go-to! It’s chic and the most comfortable carrier I’ve worn yet. It can hold a baby up to 35 pounds which is perfect. My little man is a good weight for his age. I love that the fabric is breathable and comfy enough for me to wear Trevor without feeling tired at all. It folds up into a tiny compact package which makes it easy for storing in your luggage or diaper bag.
Shopping cart cover
Every mom needs a shopping cart cover in their travel essentials. The patterns by Boppy are super trendy. The covers keep baby from making contact with the surface of any shopping carts while you’re browsing through the stores. I love that this one doubles as a high chair cover as well. It makes it perfect for when you’re dining out on your trips.
Travel Crib
Most hotels these days offer travel cribs or play pens but I like packing my own. There’s something about keeping things as close to home as possible when we’re traveling that makes me feel at ease. Just in case your hotel doesn’t carry them you’ll want to be prepared because the last thing you want is to be missing a crib when traveling with a baby.
Travel stroller
You absolutely have to have a travel stroller when you’re going on a trip, especially if you’re going somewhere where a lot of walking is required or you’ll be doing any shopping. You’ll want the extra storage space for bags. If baby gets sleepy, it’s a great place to rest their heads. Strollers are also great for giving mom a little break from carrying them.
Nursing cover
Packing a nursing cover or two in your carry on is a great idea. The Boppy Multi-Use cover not only serves as a nursing cover but you can wear it as an infinity scarf, use it as a car seat cover, shopping cart cover, and a high chair cover. When I’m not nursing, I love using it as a stroller cover to keep the light out when baby is napping.
Do you have any traveling with a baby tips or essentials that you live by?
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