There are plenty of blogs out there that offer great advice when you’re traveling with kids and babies. I list some on my blogroll you should check out.
If you plan on braving it and traveling with your baby, good for you! I commend you and hope you’ll continue to do it. People suggested we travel with our baby in the first six months. Why? They can’t crawl or walk yet, most can’t at least. You won’t have to worry about walking them up and down the aisles, or kicking the seat in front. You know, all those fun things you’ll get to enjoy later.
If you’re flying from one part of the country to the other, some say to take a red eye flight so that the baby will follow his/her sleep pattern. Regardless of what flight you take, it won’t really matter. What’s key is PREPARATION. Apart from making a list of what to pack, and checking it THRICE, and calling ahead to the hotel to make sure there’s a crib or pack n play to use, having baby’s passport, and the whole madness of getting ready for a trip, there are more important matters to deal with.
I mean, being mentally and emotionally prepared. I think mental and emotional preparations are just as important, if not more so, than what to bring on the trip. There WILL BE crying, maybe lots, or maybe little. Keep calm as best you can when fits or meltdowns ensue. Babies feed off our energy and the more stress we express, the more stressful the situation becomes. Apologize to those around you for how your child is behaving and tell them you appreciate their understanding and you’re doing your best. Any sane person will have room for some forgiveness. I’ve read on some blogs and websites, that parents bring candy or ear plugs to offer passengers when their child/children become unruly or inconsolable. That’s right, bribe ‘em. Remember, we were all babies, and I’m sure we had our share of meltdowns that our parents had to deal with.
Our little guy always handled airports very well. We made it a point to get there at least two hours early so he can acclimate to the environment and he can crawl around (I know airports aren’t clean, but when you have a mobile baby, you do what you have to, to make them happy—just make sure you clean their hands every now and then). Let the kid exhaust some energy before boarding. You’ll be thankful later.
Onboard, I usually bring at least two small toys and books (that easily fit into my diaper bag or carryon and won’t take much room,) to be used sparingly. You don’t want your baby getting bored of them already. Besides, there will come a point when “everything becomes a toy”. Magazines replace finger puppets, water bottles are cooler than teething rings, sugar packets become rattles, and you’ll figure out what keeps your baby preoccupied.
Before going to the Caribbean, I researched message boards to make sure they sold baby food
in the grocery stores, especially baby food he would eat. I brought enough food (not including the plane rides) to last the first three days of our trip, just for peace of mind. The rest of the week we were there, I stocked up on diapers and more baby food. Still, our wee one would get bothered by heat or craved what we were eating. I caved in, and gave our then toothless eight-month old, johnny cakes (fried dough), water from my water bottle (he hadn’t drunk from a sippy cup yet), and bread. You do what you have to and just make sound judgments about it.
Anticipate that traveling with your baby will be difficult at times, so handling those stressful moments will be easier. The more you travel with your baby, the more comfortable you'll be and so will your baby.
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