If you’ve always been the jetset type, it could seem that having a baby would have a bit of an impact on your nomadic lifestyle. Actually, with some adjustments and proper organisation, you can keep travelling with a baby in tow. Here’s how you can manage it.
- Ask for bassinet on long haul flights and an aisle seat on short haul flights. On shorter flights, you can probably manage just about anyway, but an aisle seat makes things much easier if you’re getting up and down a lot during the flight to change the baby or walk up and down with it. If you can, get a seat near the front of the plane for easy access to the bathroom.On long haul flights, call in advance to request a bassinet. These can’t always be reserved, so get there early to make sure you can get one before they are all handed out. These are then fastened to the bulkheads for comfortable travel and somewhere for the baby to sleep.
- Check when you can safely travel with a baby. Different airlines will have different policies, but all will have a minimum age for when they will babies to fly with them. Doctors suggest that you wait for your baby’s immune system to be more developed before you fly with them, which would be after at least a month. Some recommend you wait until between they are between three and six months old. Take some road trips with the baby first to start practising travelling with a baby, and if you can, keep your first flights short.
- Take as small an amount of baby gear as you can. The lighter you can travel, the easier your trip will be. Dragging a lot of weighty baby gear around the world is not ideal, especially if you’re getting on and off flights or will be using public transport. Try and minimise the amount you take to save on the packing. For bulky items, like pushchairs or cots, look into options for hiring them when you get there, like through Bali baby hire.
- Embrace baby wearing. If you want to get out and explore as a tourist, navigating with a pram can limit where you can go. Those enticing cobbled side streets or interesting stairs are hard to explore with a pram, but baby wearing means you aren’t limited. Your baby will live being close to you, and you should have no trouble getting them to nap in the carrier.
- Pack light for you. Babies need a lot of things, so if you can, try and limit what you pack for yourself to keep your suitcases at a manageable size. Packing guides can help you to pack light and keep things reasonable.
- Buy diapers and wipes at your destination. There are babies all around the world, so you will be able to buy supplies like diapers and wipes when you get there. Save a lot of room in suitcases by packing enough for the travelling part of your trip, but stocking up for the holiday when you arrive.
- Rent a car with a carseat. Having a rental car can make it a bit easier to travel around with a baby. If you can, hire a car with a car seat so you know that baby can travel around safely.
- Take the train. If you aren’t going to rent a car, then the train can be an easy way to get around. Taking taxis or cabs with a baby is difficult, as you can’t safely fit a car seat into it to keep the baby secure while you ride. On the rain, you can wear the baby or take the pram and not worry about how safe they are. However you decide to travel, make sure it is safe for the baby.
- Eat dinner early. Whether you want a smart restaurant or diner for dinner, you can eat with a baby in tow. The easiest way to get in without any baby noises disturbing other diners is to eat early. Families tend to eat earlier, so you’re more likely to be sharing the restaurant with people who will be understanding and not annoyed by any noise. Take the stroller or use a high chair to keep a little one close by while you eat.
- Know when to give up. Babies can be challenging and some days, they just don’t want to work with you. If they’re having one of those days, be prepared to duck out of a day trip early, instead of pushing the baby to stay out when they’ve had enough.