Travelling with Baby Made Easy

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    Baby in her Bubbaroo baby sleeping bag using travel system

    Feeling nervous about travelling with your baby or toddler? Just because you have a baby, doesn’t mean you have to stop travelling. There are things to do, places to see. Don’t stress – you got this!

    New parents can often fret about the thought of a long haul plane ride or road trip with a young child, but don’t worry, it’s not all bad. Let’s face it, if you start travelling with your baby while they’re young it will get easier as they grow. Unfortunately, it just gets more expensive as they grow with full airfares after 2 years of age. So why not make the most of it now!

    If you have a positive attitude about travelling with your baby and expect some good parts and some more challenging parts, you will be prepared and you will survive! I recall travelling to Europe when Jacob was 2 ½ and Em was just 6 months old – what an adventure! I slept most of the way from Singapore to London with Em sleeping on my chest, she didn’t like the car seat contraption the airline provided for babies to sleep in – I don’t blame her either!

    We broke the journey up so we stopped in Singapore for a night or 2 rather than taking a connecting flight through to London.

    Here are some simple tips I’ve learnt along the way to make travelling with your baby easier.

    Travelling with your baby in the car

    Does your baby travel well in the car? You may need to think about this and plan accordingly. Be proactive and think ahead about various scenarios that could happen.

    Plan your travel time around baby’s sleep routine. Does baby have a long nap in the afternoon? If so, maybe it’s best to leave straight after lunch so that baby will get a good stretch of sleep in the car.

    If baby is not such a good sleeper in the car, perhaps you should leave first thing in the morning after a feed. This will ensure that baby is refreshed and happy (at least for a little while), and you’ll be able to get some miles up before a stop.

    Packing List for Car Travel

    A little preparation will ensure that you have as pleasant a journey as you can. Make sure the car is ready for baby. Depending on your baby’s age, you may wish to consider the following:

    – A rear view baby mirror to watch baby from your seat or one adult could sit in the back with the baby.

    – Toys and books (rotate along the way).

    – Baby music downloaded – we used to have soothing lullaby music on hand that actually helped my kids go to sleep.

    – Snacks or drinks for your older baby. Rusks and sultanas were favourites in our house.

    – Window shades are a good idea for sun protection and to darken the car for sleep.

    – A bag to collect rubbish/nappies while on the road.

    – Pack food and drinks for the adults and other children and keep it nearby so you don’t have to stop or open the car boot to get to it. It also means you can eat while baby is asleep and keep moving!

    – Pack as much of the equipment as you can the night before. Things like port-a-cots and prams/buggies take up a lot of room so you may find it difficult to fit your luggage in. Plan ahead, you could also try to hire a portable cot at your destination.

    – Pack baby’s nappy bag in the back seat on the floor so that it is ready for easy access and again, you won’t have to rummage through the car boot.

    – If your car is a wagon or SUV it’s worth considering investing in a cargo barrier. This will keep your baby safe from flying luggage in case you have to brake suddenly. They are also really handy for pets as well when transporting them in the car boot.

    Safety Tips for Travelling by Car

    For safety reasons it’s important to follow these tips:

    – Always pull over or go into a town to breastfeed your baby. Don’t feed while on the road.  You may think this is common sense but I witnessed babies being held by someone in the back seat not restrained at all!

    – Baby should remain in their car seat at all times. Make sure buckles are secure, including the seat belt that attaches the car seat. This can often be undone accidentally by other passengers.

    – If you’re tired yourself, pull over and take a break.  Driving long distances is exhausting and especially as a sleep deprived parent!  May be breaking the journey down into smaller pieces and staying the night along the way to your destination.

    – Don’t try to push baby too far. If your baby is upset, it’s better to pull over and take a short break rather than to push on and be distracted by your baby’s gut wrenching cries. Believe me I’ve been there and done that and it’s not worth it.

    – Remember never to leave your baby alone in the car. This may mean you have to plan out toilet breaks for yourself by going to a large petrol station or go to a shopping centre where there is a large family cubicle where you can fit the pram or capsule.  A baby carrier or baby sling may come in handy!

    Baby in carrier

    The best attitude to all travel with a baby is to be flexible and car travel is no exception. Allow yourself extra time for your trip so that you have room for unplanned stops and unexpected timing changes.

    Travelling with Baby On a Plane

    Unlike car travel you’ll be travelling with many strangers!  The trick is to remain calm and positive and be prepared. Your baby can sense when you’re stressed – they can smell your fear!  I’ll say that’s easier said than done when the airline loses your luggage and you have a distressed teething and hungry baby on your hands (yes this actually did happen to us on a flight from Madrid to London. Our luggage never was found!)

    Preparation

    If you’re travelling internationally well ahead of your departure make sure your baby has a passport and that all family members have at least 6 months until their passports expire.  I have had many friends need to cancel long planned trips because they forgot to renew their child’s passport!  Child passports expire within 5 years whereas adult passports have 10 years.

    Make sure you check with your airline so you’re aware of what additional luggage you’re able to check-in when travelling with a baby – car seat, pram or buggy.  If you’re travelling alone a baby carrier or sling may come in handy.  You may also want to try to book a seat with a bassinet so baby can sleep on the flight.

    If at all possible try to book outside of school holidays you will save money and it will be less crowded and chaotic.  Our recent long haul flights were so full it was chaos but we had no choice but to travel in school and university holidays.

    Packing

    Before Children (BC) I would pack everything bar the kitchen sink!  It’s different once you’re travelling as a family.  Try to pack as lightly as you can.  You can get most items overseas for example nappies take up a lot of room so think about purchasing at you destination.

    It’s a wise idea to pack spare clothes for all family members in hand luggage just in case your baggage is delayed or lost in transit!  Don’t forget to pack your baby or child’s Baby Sleeping Bag, Joey Pouch Swaddle Wrap or Joey Pod Transitional Swaddle in your hand luggage too ready for baby to sleep on the plane.  Bubbaroo products act as a sleep cue for your little one.

    Make sure your nappy bag is stocked with baby wipes, enough nappies for the journey to your first destination, barrier cream, paracetamol or ibuprofen in case your little one develops a fever, feeding items and a Bubbaroo bamboo muslin wrap or two can come in very handy.

    If you have a fussy eater or a child that doesn’t go well on a plane then pack some fairly bland food may help – crackers, rice cakes, crudites and/or veggie chips may help so at least they’re eating something.

    Pack some of baby’s clothes across different suitcases so if one suitcase is lost, you’ll still have some clothes available – lesson well and truly learnt from my experience of travelling with my babies. When our luggage got lost all of my son Jacob’s clothes were in that one suitcase with some of my things including my old trusty hair-dryer!

    Travelling with kids

    Breastfeeding

    Whether you’re breastfeeding or not make sure you drink plenty of water as plane travel is dehydrating.  Take a generously sized empty water bottle on board and ask the flight attendant to fill it once you’re settled.

    Try to avoid alcohol as it’s a diuretic and it’s affects are amplified at altitude.  While alcohol may take the edge off initially the after affects usually make you feel lousy and can contribute to jet lag.

    Bottle Feeding

    If your baby is bottle fed, it helps to pack more formula than you think you’ll need. To save space, empty powdered formula from the tin into zip lock bags.

    Seat Allocation

    Sitting in the aisle seat makes it easier to get to the overhead locker for nappies and supplies and to go for a stroll if your baby is unsettled.

    On the plane keep the blinds shut and if your baby wakes after a short nap, try to not overstimulate with play and too much food. You may be able to get them back to sleep.

    For long haul flights request a bassinet seat early. Your baby will be close by but it’s a saving grace to have hands free for a meal or so they can sleep in their own sleep space.  Our bamboo muslin wraps can be used as a bassinet sheet or as a comfort blanket when travelling with your baby on a plane.

    Travelling on a plane

    Sleep Associations whilst Travelling

    Try to keep your rituals and sleep associations the same as when you’re at home when travelling with your baby. Take baby’s favourite toys, books and  Joey Pouch Swaddle Wrap, Joey Pod Transitional Swaddle Bag or Joey Swag Baby Sleeping Bag with you on holiday and make sure that you try to follow the same routine even when travelling in the car, or on a train, ship or plane!

    Everything may not go according to plan but a positive attitude will mean you will have a greater chance of keeping your baby as relaxed and as comfortable as possible.

    Bubbaroo Team Travel Tips

    Here are some more tips from the Bubbaroo team, all well seasoned travellers and accustomed to travelling with babies and older siblings:

    Ear Pressure

    • Both my kids had glue ear and had a dummy for their first year of life. Having the dummy for take-off and landing helped with their ears and adjusting to the pressure. I always made sure they were in their PJs or onesie/romper had their Joey Pouch Swaddle, Baby Sleeping Bag or favourite blankie once they were older for the flight.
    • I was advised to breastfeed on take-off and landing to prevent baby getting pain from the pressure change. But unfortunately sometimes, by the time we took off, baby had finished feeding!  I noticed a Mum on one of our recent flights had given her young children a lolly pop to suck on as a treat and to help with equalising the pressure in their ears.

    Seat Allocation

    • I also found that when I couldn’t get the seat at the front where the bassinet goes (they are booked quickly by men with long legs).  I’d get an aisle seat close by and then don’t be afraid to ask to swap – no one wants to be near a crying baby on a long flight!  Also, don’t let your husband get the upgrade he requested and leave you with a baby and toddler! Happened to a friend of mine, he did regret it!

    Prepare Yourself for No Sleep

    • Be prepared not to sleep, then if you do get some sleep you will feel better. Make life easy for yourself – let them get a little distracted with a TV program or bring some toys or books along to entertain them. I try to give them as much attention as possible so they don’t disturb the other passengers.

    Packing

    • Pack plenty of spare clothes including warm clothes/baby sleeping bag for the baby and a spare top for Mum and Dad. You never know what might happen and you’ll feel better if you can clean up any mess or have clothes to change into if your luggage goes missing.  There are now products such as Apple air tags or Galaxy SmartTag to help track your luggage to prevent any potential lost luggage nightmares!
    • I always take hand wipes and Panadol in my hand luggage. On our first trip with our 6 month old son he developed a temperature mid-flight on route to Brisbane. Remember to stick to liquid size restrictions for international flights. Make sure you get a few good night’s sleep yourself prior to the trip. That way you’ll feel alert and energised enough to handle anything that comes your way!

    At your destination

    • Daylight helps your body clock adjust to the new time zone. So get out and about early. Being out at dusk also helps your baby recognise the difference between night and day in their new time zone. The dark helps stimulate the production of the sleep hormone melatonin.  Conversely when it’s light the production of melatonin decreases.
    • Try to get mealtimes in line with the new time zone. Make sure your children eat well during the day. The body should adjust to the new time zone quickly if you’re in line with the new time zone.
    • It may take four or five nights to fully adjust to a new time zone so plan your trip around this. Make sure that the first few days are relatively easy going.
    • It does help to offer lots of exercise time to crawlers or toddlers as this will help promote naps and in turn promote a good night’s sleep.  Also tummy time for young babies.

    Don’t forget to pack your Bubbaroo Baby Sleeping Bag or Bubbaroo Joey Pouch or Pod – complete with our travel system, it accommodates a 3 or 5 point harness in the car seat or pram. You will find our products to be invaluable when you travel. Especially as they remind baby of the sleep cues and sleep associations from home.

    Arriving Home After Travelling

    When you arrive home after travelling with your baby, they might now be on the time zone from your holiday or tired after the long car journey and all the excitement from travelling. It may take a little time to adjust back to normal. As parents, we worry about what travelling will do to the baby’s routine!  Babies are very resilient and far more adaptable than us adults! You’ll be back to normal in no time.

    Enjoy your travels creating memories as a family.

    Nicole Cassey

    written by

    Nicole Cassey

    Nicole Cassey, Mum to Jacob and Emily, founder and general dog’s body at Bubbaroo. Nicole was inspired to create Bubbaroo and Australia’s first swaddle after the personal experience she had with her first child, Jacob.

    Nicole explains "It is such a steep learning curve becoming a parent. Getting to know the baby you created and finding your groove as a parent. You sometimes feel like you need to become a detective to try to interpret your baby's cues, personality, cries and behaviour. This is my passion to help parents on their journey, especially new parents as they transition to parenthood."

    Nicole has a passion for sharing knowledge and community, regularly organising and presenting at various expectant parent and sleep workshops. Nicole ensures she is up to date with the latest evidence-based safe sleep and health research. Bubbaroo collaborates with experts in their field that share similar values and philosophies and have a passion for helping and supporting parents and expectant parents.

    Nicole’s attention to detail with the creation of her premium quality baby, toddler and child sleepwear is exceptional. Nicole has been committed to ensure that Bubbaroo is not just a mass market brand producing products, Nicole’s focus is on helping your baby sleep safely in products that stand the test of time.

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