The time is here, you can’t put it off any longer, and your well-deserved holidays with the family are more than necessary. If it’s the first time you have travelled with your baby, and you are full of doubts about what to pack, don’t worry, it’s much simpler than you thought. We are going to give you some tips, stitch by stitch, so that you take what is needed and it doesn’t look like you’re moving house every time you take your baby on a trip. From now on, packing for babies will be a piece of cake.
The first thing is to find out what you’ll have when you get to where you’re going, so you won’t have to take it with you. Get in touch with where you’re going to stay on your holiday, and ask what they will have in the room for your baby.
Now let’s make a list of the things you will generally have in the place where you stay:
- A cot is a good example – if the room where you are going to stay has a cot for babies, you won’t have to take a travel cot or sheets. We would recommend taking a blanket though, just in case it gets cooler at night.
- The bath. Check that you will have a comfortable place to bath your baby. If you won’t, or if you have doubts about the space available, get an inflatable bathtub, which is very light and hardly takes up any space, and it will make your baby really happy at bath time.
- A high chair for meal times. Hotels and restaurants nowadays normally have high chairs or chairs for babies. Even though there are fold-up high chairs that don’t take up much room, it’s one thing less to be carrying around.
These are the larger things that you won’t have to take with you, as you will probably have them at your accommodation.
Now it’s time to make a list of essential things so that you don’t get caught by surprise and have to go running to a chemist or to the nearest childcare store.
Essential items when travelling with a baby
- A favourite toy or object that helps them relax at bedtime. This stops them from missing home and everything they are used to, so make room in the suitcase for some toys or whatever it is they have with them when they go to sleep.
- Baby backpack. This depends on the kind of holidays you are going to have, but if you plan to go hiking on an easy and pleasant route, it might be a good idea to get a baby backpack for these routes where a pram or pushchair would be too difficult. It’s comfortable for your baby and avoids the risk of breaking a wheel on the pram or pushchair.
- Hygiene items. Hotels do not usually have hygiene items for babies; so you will almost definitely have to take the shampoo and gel you usually use and which your baby is used to. If the bottles you have at home are very big, it might be worthwhile buying them when you are already there. Don’t forget the moisturizing cream and a hairbrush.
- Clothes. Keep yourself under control here. No doubt you would like to take all those nice comfortable outfits in the wardrobe and which they look so cute in, but there is no need to fill the suitcase. Take one outfit and a spare one too for each day, as babies often get their clothes dirty. If you are going to be away for a long time, take clothes for a week and then find somewhere to wash whatever you need. Take a couple of pairs of pyjamas and a hat for the sun or the cold, depending on what time of year you are travelling. A blanket, even if it’s summer, is also a good idea just in case it cools down all of a sudden.
- Food and drink. This depends on what you will need for the actual journey and how long you plan to be away from home. Take snacks just in case it gets late and you have to wait a while to feed them. If your baby can have solid food, biscuits, bread and fruit are good alternatives for holding hunger in check until lunch or dinner time. Think about what to take for when you are actually at your destination, according to the kind of area you have chosen. You will probably have to take milk and cereals for the bottle and some jars of baby food – fruit for the afternoon snack, and meat, fish or vegetables for lunch and dinner, which can get you out of a tight spot. A bottle warmer doesn’t take up much room and can come in handy. If you are travelling by car, there are options on the market that you can plug in to the lighter, which is very useful for trips and days out.
- Nappy changing kit. Nappies, a changing table, baby wipes, cream and clean clothes for the journey and each time you go out for the day.
- First aid kit. Children can fall ill when you least expect it, and as all parents know, fever usually makes its appearance at the end of the day or even at night. Take a little first aid kit with you with antipyretics and pain killers for children, a thermometer and some antiseptics. If your child can walk, takes some plasters and a cream for cuts and grazes, they are sure to come in handy.
- Your baby’s medical documentation. It’s important to always take your baby’s medical documentation with you, just in case.
What do you think? Do you still think it’s mission impossible to travel with your baby? If you follow our tips you will enjoy travelling with your children, it’s a really positive experience for the whole family.
