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I realize that a lot of parents are terrified of traveling with their infants but really, it's just one of those things you have to bite the bullet on, and you might want to do it sooner rather than later. Of course there's the fear that your new baby might catch something from fellow travelers or be exposed to germs in very public places, but it seems that most parents are simply worried about how travel will affect their routine.
Here are a few things to know, accept and work with as you set out to travel with your little one.
Read more ¿Que Mas? How to pack light when traveling with an infant
- Yes, your daily schedule will almost surely be shifted and no, your baby may not sleep or eat as well as usual. It's common knowledge that babies love routine and consistency, so you should always expect that new sights, sounds and locales will affect them. Some babies thrive amid the new stimuli and others don't, but you'll never know how your baby will react until you try. Once you figure out how your baby handles things, you can adjust how you approach all future trips.
- Keep in mind that babies are much more adaptable than adults or even older children. As long as mom and/or dad are close by for comfort and reassurance most young babies will do just fine. I have a theory that if you start early, it will be a lot easier to travel with your child as he or she grows older. I urge you to start taking short overnight trips once your baby is two months old (when their immune systems are a little stronger), so that he'll become accustomed to being away from home early on.
- When you're planning a trip, you should always have a rough outline of how you would like things to go — when and where you will feed your child, how much adventuring or sightseeing you'll do in one day, etc. — but, you need to remember to be flexible and accept that your vacation will be different from trips you took pre-baby. You may not love the idea of nursing on a bench in front of the museum you've been dying to visit, but if you just let go and do it, you can probably buy yourself at least a couple hours of stress-free strolling through the exhibits.
- Remember to stay as calm and collected as possible. Your baby feeds off your emotions, so if you proceed as if everything is normal the baby is likely to go with the flow as well. Don't panic if your baby starts crying in the middle of a restaurant, just approach it the same way you would at home — check to make sure the baby isn't hungry, thirsty, tired or hurting and move on from there. If you need to get up and take him outside for a minute, just do it — don't be embarrassed or feel guilty. After all, we were all babies at one time.
- Be sure to bring along some of the comforts of home — a favorite toy or blanket and maybe some supplies to replicate your usual bedtime/nap routine. These things will help your baby feel more secure and comfy in a foreign place. Check out my packing suggestions for more ideas on what to bring along.
Have you traveled with your baby? How did it go?
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