Traveling with kids of any age can be a daunting endeavor, but traveling with a newborn or young baby is an Olympic level undertaking to say the least. Yes, the easiest thing to do would be to avoid traveling all together, until the kids are 18 and ready to pick their college, but that isn’t really an option. Sometimes you just can’t avoid having to travel and this is especially true during the holiday season. Luckily for you, we have put together some excellent tips (if we do say so ourselves) to help you not only survive the holiday travel season with your baby, but thrive! Let us know in the comments about your experiences and suggestions for making it through the other side of the holidays in one piece.
When It Comes To Traveling With A Baby, Fast Is Slow And Slow Is Fast
We think of traveling a race, and maybe it is. The typical rule of thumb is to get yourself and your family across the finish line in as little time as possible. However, when you’re traveling with a baby, the math completely changes. Sometimes getting there faster is losing the race because you and the rest of your family/passengers are miserable every step of the way. We suggest taking your foot off of the proverbial gas pedal and planning a slower trip that will better accommodate your baby’s needs while traveling. After all, if baby is happy then everyone is happy.
Here are some tips for traveling more slowly and more in tune with your child’s needs:
- Choose midday flight times
- If your flight is 3 hours or less you can time the flight to be right in the window of your baby’s rest time
- Traveling during the daylight hours is easier on your baby’s schedule and fits in better with their activity windows
- Avoid planes if possible
- Yes, you could spend 6 hours on a plane vs 12 in a car, but if your baby is screaming the whole time and is stressing you and the other passengers out, then those 6 hours will feel like 100.
- Trains are often overlooked but are very safe, economical, and great for babies because they offer sleeper cars and private areas unlike planes. Plus, the sights you will see along the way are spectacular!
Don’t Get Surprised: Make Arrangements Ahead Of Time
If you’re not staying at a relative’s house this holiday season, then you will want to ensure that the hotel you are staying at can accommodate your baby’s needs. It’s too easy to get in autopilot mode when booking a hotel to just go with the cheapest option in your budget range, but that could lead to a whole host of miserable inconveniences that could easily be avoided with a few phone calls and maybe a few dollars more per night. Here’s what to ask when booking.
- Does the room have a refrigerator? (for keeping bottles, food, and milk safe)
- Does the room have a microwave or can one be brought up?
- Does the hotel offer a complimentary crib or will you have to bring your own? (don’t forget to pack your own crib sheets/bedding)
- Can they offer you a room with some space away from other rooms like a corner area or as a part of a floor that is less booked? A screaming infant at all hours of the night could disturb guests. Sometimes they will have a family or private or separate villa for just this very purpose.
- Ask if they provide blackout curtains. If not, then pack your own portable solution!
As a note, it is generally easier and more conducive to secure an AirBnB when traveling with littles. Often they will have a portable Pack N Play, general kitchen supplies and additional space that is nice to help baby sleep better. No need to worry about baby waking a neighbor either!
Top 8 Travel Necessities for Baby:
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- Travel Blackout Curtains – https://amzn.to/3Rp8XCG
- Pack N Play Padded Cover – https://amzn.to/4adr2wl
- Travel Bottle Warmer – https://amzn.to/3RmfL4b
Before You Go
We hope you enjoyed learning about tips for traveling with your newborn around the holidays. If you would like to know more about this, our sleep programs or any of our excellent newborn care services, we are happy to help. Just contact us and we can go over your options and help you find the best path for your little one. We hope these tips have helped you along your journey. If you have any questions about helping your baby to sleep better, or about your baby in general, please reach out to us HERE. We are experts in all things baby and sleep and would love to help!
If you have questions about your child, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We would love to help. Please reach out to us here! We always look forward to hearing from you.
