“10 Essential Tips for Stress-Free Traveling with Your Baby: A Complete Guide for New Moms”

  Embarking on parenthood is both exhilarating and challenging. As a new mom, navigating the world of travel with your baby may seem daunting, but with the right strategies, it can be a rewarding experience.. It’s a known fact that parenthood & parenting don’t come along with a set of guidelines, and there are no definitive answers. And you’ll not be the first to dread traveling as a new mom. Much of it is by trial & error, & others’ advice. 

     Parenthood brings along its own fair share of questions and doubts. There are no right answers, and what has worked for me might not work for you. So every suggestion and advice comes along with a disclaimer “No Fool Proof way”!!!!

      I’ll share things that worked for me with my little one while on a flight and a road trip, and for my friends, and hopefully, it’ll help you navigate your travel and be a bit better prepared. 

     Things that could be done earlier with just a snap of a finger now need a tad bit of planning. Still, it’s really not difficult, and it’s a beautiful way and a good idea to connect with your child and do fun things from the time they’re born and make memories as a Family. Remember, little people love having fun as much as we do; it’s just that they are limited by their size😁 and want you to be part of their fun times!!! 

    I was always a traveler, and being in a new city or country feels like coming home to me. The pull from life on the road is strong, and after my baby was born, I knew I’ll continue for my own mental health & well-being.

Before embarking on our first journey with our little one, my husband and I took the time to familiarize ourselves with our baby’s preferences and needs. I gave myself 2.5 months to get to know my child and understand her likes and dislikes. Believe me, it worked beautifully; I knew what position I needed to hold her for her to feel safe, her sleep patterns, where she slept best, which lullabies soothed her, and which stuffed animals made her happy, her comfort toys and rattles. Once my husband and I were familiar with our little one, we planned our first trip. 

     I’m putting down my travel tips here, learned over the period of traveling with her here, which I call my 10 magic tricks to have fun with my little Tigress (and it always works)😇. 

 10 ways to not dread traveling as a new mom, the complete checklist-

Tip 1: Must Plan beforehand

    For the first time, it’s better to plan the trip with care. No instant plans, No Backpacking as yet.

Plan your first journey with your child for an hour or two at maximum. Give yourself the time of a few days to plan & have a checklist ready.

Find a place or book a hotel close enough and not far from the airport or the city. You don’t want to make too many long journeys in one day and be super exhausted once you reach your destination. Just Avoid too many long journeys in one trip. Getting your destination by the fastest route should be your priority, and let yourself arrive, rested & ready for sightseeing.

  Tip 2: Pack a separate handbag and suitcase for your child.

Ensure you pack a dedicated handbag and suitcase for your baby, containing essentials such as extra clothes, diapers, and toys. Pack a few extra pairs of clothes for babies and yourself. Packing a few napkins, diapers, swaddle blankets, and a few disposable bags is essential; carry them in a baby’s handbag where you compartmentalize and place things in order; it’s easily accessible and can be taken out without fiddling too much.

Be ready for food spillage, random throw-ups, or babies just managing to wet themselves up.

Highly recommended to carry disposable and plastic bags so dirty diapers, wet tissues & wipes can be disposed of. Have a Plastic bag to bring back dirty clothes with you.

Tip 3: Fly on full service airlines and Get an extra seat for a toddler.

    Opt for full-service airlines when flying with your baby for added comfort and assistance from the airline crew. For the time being, avoid budget airlines. It’s always good to have that extra bit of luxury and care the airline crew offers. Knowing that you and your belongings are in good care gives you a feeling of immense mental peace. 

     It might be expensive, but buying an extra seat is a good idea, it means having extra spare inch of space available. You may not be able to leave Baby on an extra seat unattended. However, it is the perfect space available to you to place toys, books and all of the extra things you have got on board with you. And gives you extra arm space.

Believe me, every extra inch you can get matters. Bumping into an unknown person is not the most pleasant feeling to have and needing to apologies for every bit of nudge you make is seriously stressing.

Tip4: Most Importantly, book a bassinet in advance for long-haul flights.

     I cannot emphasize enough how important it is for a little one to be in a bassinet on a long-haul flight and be able to sleep in comfort. Book a bassinet in advance for long-haul flights to ensure your baby can sleep comfortably throughout the journey. Wrapping babies in swaddle blankets and letting them have a good snooze is a make or break for your journey. It’s super important.

They can safely stretch their arms and legs and be comfortable, giving you time to rest and enjoy your journey.

Another benefit of having Bassinet seats is that they always have extra legroom. Which provides you extra space for keeping the baby’s handbag close to your legs. You can reach out inside it without much movement and manage things with one hand if need be. It serves as a purpose of their own play zone too. You can easily leave them there while you can enjoy your meal and coffee.

Tip5: Always carry extra Food and Drinks for Babies. 

  Air travel, though, limits the amount of liquids passengers can take on board. Still, when it comes to baby milk, the 100 ml limit at security is not there. So don’t be afraid to pack a little extra milk bottles and water in case of spillages. Carrying a couple of milk bottles if the baby is not being breastfed, along with formula is really essential. Having little extra Food on you never hurts.

Tip 6: Invest in a good quality baby Sling wrap/ baby carrier and Travel Pram.

   Purchase a baby carrier that is comfortable and easy to use. Invest in a comfortable baby sling wrap or carrier for hands-free travel with your little one. The more comfortable little one’s are, the more relaxed you’ll be. Purchase a sling wrap where they can snooze and do not get bothered about all movements and sounds around them.

In my personal experience, Cotton or Linen slings wraps are more comfortable for both you and your baby, and you aren’t asked at the security check. You are not asked to remove it. (So the baby is not disturbed at all). 

   Buy a stroller that is easy to collapse and can be lifted with one hand while you’re traveling. Don’t try going too fancy or bulky for travel Prams as you’ll need to fold and open through the security and need them to go through the x-ray machine. 

If hiring a car, taking along your own car seat helps protect your baby from any accidents while they ride; also, take along an infant carrier to go around when you arrive at your destination.

Tip 7: Prefer to fly during nap times.

 Having an understanding of the child’s needs and limits should help you to make the trip productive. Late evenings & nights are the best times to fly if you need to fly long haul. Banishing boredom by leaving plenty of time before your flight to play or taking a walk in the park and doing a few activities with your child, they’ll be exhausted and ready to sleep for the whole flight duration.

Works wonderfully even until they are after the age of toddlerhood. 

      Keep the routine as much the same as possible.

Reading the same book or singing the same familiar songs helps tremendously. Traveling at night while the lights are dimmed and with less distraction, babies tend to sleep peacefully. Giving you a chance to rest, too, and be mentally at peace.

Tip 8: Keeping Baby/ Toddler active during the day.

    The best advice I ever received from my family members, and friends was to keep your little one active throughout the day.

Do all your packing a day before you need to leave. Leave sometime on the day of travel to spend with your baby. Take them out for a walk, play with them, and bring a lot of giggles out of the little person. The more happy they’re at the beginning of the trip, the more relaxed and less anxious they’ll be and be able to enjoy the trip.

Give a Shower to the baby before you Leave.

    I know it sounds strange, but the cleaner the baby feels from head to toe, the calmer he’ll be. A happy baby makes a happy mom!!! 

Tip 9: Make choosing the right hotel priority.

     This is one of the other most important points. The child-friendly hotel assures you that all your needs can be met if the need arises.

To give you an idea- My little one was just transitioning from milk to solids. So when I requested a chef for particular food for the baby, they were more than welcoming in cooking her porridge and went the extra mile to decorate her Food in a bird shape🐥.

These little gestures make such memorable moments for your vacation.

     The hotel needs to have a hospital or doctor close by in case of emergency; hopefully, you’ll not need it, but it’s always better to be prepared for your own satisfaction.

     Most good hotels have cribs. So remember to ask your hotel to provide a crib. 

Tip 10: Carry Pacifier & Toys for Little person.

    Saving the best piece of advice —Get the baby acquainted with the pacifier. As a new mom, you might not want the baby to be too dependent on a pacifier, so introducing it to her just as a toy that she would use irregularly, not as a pacifier. It worked beautifully for me, especially is helpful during flight take-off and landing.

“Put them on at take-off and landing, or give them a bottle.” While breastfeeding is a little uncomfortable with the infant in a seatbelt that airlines provide, pacifier or bottle feeding works magic on fragile ears, preventing them from popping with the air pressure.  

    Take your baby’s favorite toys so that they are happy and playful with the things that they’re familiar with, keep calm, and talk to the baby & play their favourite game so that they can relax. 

    If the baby gets agitated or upset, walking down the aisle can help distract them. It is easier said than done, but try to stay calm. Babies pick up on our feelings and vibes. The more relaxed and happy you are, the more comfortable they’ll be.

Don’t be afraid to ask for help from flight attendants. I have always found them very helpful when it comes to little kids!!

    You may find a change of scenery or just a new person around can calm the baby.

Relax and Enjoy the Journey. 

    Don’t let motherhood hinder your passion for travel. Embrace the journey with your baby and create cherished memories together. Travel is as much fun for little ones as it is for you. It’s an excellent way for a baby to get more acquainted with a change of routine and not be scared of new people or places. They adapt and have fun. So just have your checklist ready and enjoy traveling as a new Mom!!! Don’t let motherhood keep you away from traveling.