Baby's finally born, and now you want to enjoy life with your family. And by enjoy, you mean travel, for example. Only, you've never done it with a baby! As for those of your friends who have already tried the experience, the feedback is mixed... Yet it is possible to travel in France or abroad with a toddler. Some couples even take off to discover the ends of the earth with their baby. Why shouldn't you? According to the experts, the key to traveling with baby is organization.
ARTICLE SUMMARY :
A prerequisite for serene travel: an-ti-ci-per
To gain confidence and be ready for anything, practice! Set off in the morning with your baby for a day of adventure, 100% outdoors and without a net. No lunch at grandma's or breaks at a friend's house. To anticipate your first vacation with your baby, there's nothing like an autonomous extravehicular outing.
Good advice: travel light at any age
The idea is to keep your hands as free as possible, especially if you're travelling alone with your child. Ultra-light, ultra-compact equipment and travel sizes are therefore preferable, for both you and your baby.
Timing: adapting to baby!
Most children find it difficult to sleep in unfamiliar surroundings. So your nights on vacation with baby will probably be a little choppy and shortened. But look on the bright side! You'll have all the time in the world to enjoy your day, and to appreciate sunrises and sunsets together.
Travel by car, train or plane? That's the question
The means of transport you choose to take your baby on vacation depends very much on your destination, and therefore on the length of your journey. However, if you have a choice, each one has its own advantages to be exploited according to your needs.
Car travel: a practical classic
For travel in France and other European Union countries, the car remains the most common mode of transport. Practical, it allows you to leave at a time that suits you best, make as many stops as you like and load all your belongings with ease. You'll need :
- a car seat or cosy adapted to your child's age,
- a small changing mat or towel for changing clothes,
- sunshades for summer travel,
- books and/or CDs to occupy awakening moments.
Train travel: No. 1 way to lighten your budget
On the train, children under 4 don't pay if they travel on their parents' laps. Prefer to have as much room as possible? Plan ahead (back to our point no. 1) and book a family seat, taking advantage of the reduced-rate baby train ticket. You'll need :
- a changing bag,
- a baby carrier or bassinet,
- a bottle of suitable mineral water to counter the effects of air conditioning,
- books or a few toys.
Air travel: just one important precaution
Most airlines accept babies very soon after birth. However, it is recommended towait between one and three weeks of age before flying with a baby. The most important thing to remember: give your baby something to drink or suckle during take-off and landing, to protect those little ears. You'll need :
- toys, soft toys, books... to keep your child occupied during the flight, but also before, during the generally long boarding time,
- a changing bag, but don't forget that space on board is pretty limited, so if you can change baby beforehand, it's always better,
- a carrycot or cradle sometimes loaned by airlines, especially on long-haul routes.
How do you organize baby's meals?
- Are you breastfeeding? You'll need little or nothing apart from a diaper, which can be used for just about everything (bib, comforter, nursing cover).
- Are you bottle-feeding? If so, take along a bottle of mineral water suitable for bottle-feeding, or hot water in a thermos flask if your child prefers warm milk. Pack as many milk pods as you need for the trip, and perhaps even a tin of powdered milk to cover the duration of the vacation. Can't wash the bottle right away? Slip 2 or 3 of them into your bag. And to avoid breaking them, prefer bibROND healthy and unbreakable Élhée!
- Does your baby prefer his milk warm? Discover the TooGo nomad bottle warmer! It heats milk and water in just 5 minutes, has an autonomy of 8 to 12 hours and weighs just 390 g: everything you need to take it with you wherever you go.
- Have you started to diversify your baby's diet? If you're using Child-led diversification (CDD), take along a few of your baby's favorite foods in a tupperware container. Otherwise, don't forget the essential little pots, yoghurt drinks and individual compotes.
In general, always prefer bottled mineral water to tap water, especially if you're going abroad, flavors known and appreciated by your child rather than culinary discoveries and, for older children, finger foods or individual packs.
As many parents who travel with a baby will admit, it's with a hungry baby that they've had their biggest crises. So, traveling with a baby will require you to respect breakfast, lunch, snack and dinner breaks. You'll also need to be flexible when it comes to the contents of the older children's plates, and deploy all your ingenuity to ensure that you always have something on hand to prepare baby's meal.
One last thing: don't miss out on the independent bedroom.
Who hasn't been disappointed by a vacation home that's too small, too noisy, poorly equipped or badly laid out? Imagine having the same problem with a baby?
- Always opt for a larger rather than a smaller home.
- Make sure you always haveat least a separate bedroom, closed by a door (to safeguard baby's naps in the middle of the day and to save your dinners alone and your privacy).
- Make sure the cot will fit in the room (ask for a check on site, some measurements, if the cot can be pushed aside, if the door won't open by banging on the cot...).
- You can also enquire about the availability of shutters and/or curtains, and about the possibility of renting certain childcare equipment such as the bottle warmer, baby phone or cot.
"Zen soy zen". If there's one watchword when you're traveling with a child, especially if it's an infant or if you have several children, it's zenitude! If they don't sleep as well as they do at home, it's no big deal, and the same goes for napping in the baby carrier instead of in bed. For older children, the 5 fruits and vegetables a day rule can be relaxed, just as the day's clothing must above all be comfortable and a little less photogenic.In short, take your time, put things into perspective and listen to your child. He'll be sure to set the pace for your family trip!
