The new parents guide to travelling with a baby.
Life as a new parent is one of the most beautiful, overwhelming shifts in life you’ll ever experience. Between the changing of nappies, disrupted sleep patterns, and getting to know the newest member of your family, it can seem like the elusive desire to travel is all but a distant memory. Or maybe something to look forward to in a few years, say, when they are 21 and moving out of home.
However (surprise surprise) you don’t need to wait two decades before sitting down in a window seat and jetsetting interstate or overseas. I know because I’ve done it. Through a bit of trial and error, here’s what we have found works for us and our young family.
Plan the journey well
It can’t be said enough: consider the best times to book your flight. If you can time it to overlap with your little one’s nap or overnight sleep, absolutely do it. It’s a dream!
The first time we flew with our eldest, we made sure to get to the airport early so we could be first in line at check-in. That extra bit of effort paid off as we managed to get a spare seat blocked between us, which made a huge difference. To keep him entertained during the flight, we wrapped up a few small toys and brought them out one by one as needed. Suction-cup spinners on the window? Always a winner.
And of course, don’t forget snacks! I’ll always request a baby or child meal for you when you’re flying with a full-service airline, but as any parent knows, toddlers can be wildly unpredictable when it comes to food. Pack their tried-and-true favourites, just in case.
For families travelling with young babies, try to time a feed during takeoff and again about 30 minutes before landing. Feeding not only keeps them calm and distracted, but it also helps relieve ear pressure. If feeding isn’t an option, a dummy can work wonders too.
Find the right pram
Having a pram we could take on the flight with us almost felt like cheating, it was that big of a game changer. We were easily able to fold it up, pop it in the overhead storage, and get on with the flight. We felt so sorry for everyone waiting for their prams to come out on the luggage belt whilst our eldest happily napped away in his.
Having a less bulky option also made it significantly easier to zip around the busy streets of Bali. And while there are a myriad of great options out there, I always recommend the Stokke YOYO Pram, as it’s our weapon of choice for long-haul (and short-haul) flights.
Cover their little ears
We were initially worried about our eldest’s ears on the flight, but investing in a good pair of baby earmuffs not only put our worries at ease, but allowed him to be his usual, chipper self for (almost) the entire flight. He was relatively relaxed and just kept playing with his suction cup spinners (again, still a winner).
To keep him calm, we combined this approach with a pre-flight and pre-landing feed schedule that also kept him content. While there’s no specific earmuff brand I recommend, you can find decently priced options at anywhere from Baby Bunting to Chemist Warehouse.
Sit back in style
Bringing along your own collapsible baby chair means you never have to rely on restaurants or cafes. For our trip, we purchased the Izimini Baby Camping Chair. Not only is it impossibly cute, but we were able to just throw it under the pram and set off. It made eating time a breeze, and we could practically set him up anywhere.
Don’t forget the wipes
This might be the most obvious one on the list, but we didn’t get sick on the entire trip and I give full credit to us for wiping down everything within our eldest’s reach. Surfaces, wiped. Plane seat, wiped. Random salt shaker near him on the cafe table that he will almost immediately somehow grab, wiped.
Granted, there’s a number of great wipes available on the market, but we’re firmly a Milton Antibacterial Wipe family. But realistically, any antibacterial wipe can get the job done and the germs away from your little one.
All of these tips are useful, but honestly, the most important piece of advice I can offer is to stay as relaxed as you can. Your little ones will 100 percent be picking up on your energy. The journey won’t be perfect. And that’s okay. You might feel like everyone’s eyes are on you the second they spot you boarding with a baby, but trust me: most people are more understanding than you think (and the ones who aren’t? Not your problem).
Take a deep breath, remind yourself you’re doing an amazing job, and remember, this is just one part of a bigger adventure.
If you are new parents planning a family getaway for the first time, Travel Society would love to help. Head to the contact page and get in touch today.