7 Tips for Traveling with a Baby this Holiday Season
Planning for trips can be both very exciting and very nerve-wracking. You are going on an adventure, but you know that every adventure has its twists and turns. There’s nothing worse than planning a vacation for your family only to later discover that you forgot something important, whether it’s diaper rash cream, a pacifier, or a passport. So to help you prepare for your journey, we’ve put together a list of important items and considerations.
1. Pacifier. A pacifier can be one of the easiest things to forget if your baby is calm and sleeping when you are heading out on a trip. However, your child is eventually going to wake up, and if you don’t have a pacifier available, you could be in trouble.
2. Weather Covers for Car Seats. People don’t generally plan for bad weather on vacation, but it does happen. Check the weather forecast ahead of time to see if this is something you’ll need to take with you. Weather covers offer protection against wind, rain, snow, and even bugs. The selection that we’ve linked provides solid choices for each type of climate, and all of them are designed for traveling purposes.
3. Plane Travel. There are some important considerations for international travel on a plane:
- A baby passport. It may sound weird and unnecessary but the law requires that parents bring a passport if they are flying with the infant overseas. There is a lengthy process to obtaining a passport for your child, which for the purposes of this article we will not go into. Once you finish the process, the passport will be good for five years.
- Additional forms. If you happen to be traveling alone with your baby or if the child is not biologically yours, you need to have the child’s birth certificate as well as written consent from the child’s biological parents. Here are some helpful information for international travels. You may also want to contact local US embassy because there are often special entry and exit requirements for minors depending on each country’s laws.
- Bassinet. Unless you are planning on holding your baby for the entire duration of the flight, you’ll want to make sure that you reserve the plane’s bassinet. There are usually a very limited amount, and for specific seats, so it’s important to ask for this accommodation early.
- Diapers & Wipes. Diaper change intervals range from every hour to every other hour. So if you’re taking a 12-hour international flight across the ocean, you need to be stocked up! Also bring enough with you to handle big delays, as is often the case with plane travel.
4. Safely Preventing Diaper Rash. There have been recent health concerns relating to talc and baby powder. The American Academy of Pediatrics has warned that it can be dangerous for infants to inhale talcum powder. We recommend using alternatives which rely on cornstarch instead. Here are several suggestions that will also help prevent diaper rash:
- Do diaper changes frequently.
- Avoid wipes that contain alcohol or fragrances.
- Pat your baby’s skin instead of rubbing it.
- Use extra-absorbent diapers, and put the diapers on loosely. That way, the diapers will pull the moisture away from the baby’s skin, and there will be better air circulation.
5. Layers, Layers, Layers. A good general rule of thumb is to provide for at least one outfit per day. It is very important to know the weather forecast for your travel destination. For example, if you are from California, but you are traveling to Chicago in December, you’ll discover that the weather there is slightly different. You’ll need to bring extra layers that your baby doesn’t normally wear at home. Here are some eco-friendly clothing options which we provide:
- Onesies/creepers/bodysuits. For warmer conditions.
- Rompers & Coveralls. These have leggings and cover more so they are well-suited for moderate to cold temperatures.
- Hats & Beanies. Some extra layers so your baby is especially warm, cute, and cuddly.
- Booties or Shoes. Complete the ensemble with stylish wear for the feet.
- Socks. Help your baby feel nice and comfy with soft socks.
- Blankets. For keeping your baby snug.
- Gowns & Sleep sacks. Sleepytime outfits for maximum comfort.
6. Detergent. If for some reason you are washing your child’s clothes on vacation, like at your parents’ house, you should take special care when it comes to the detergent you use for clothes. Most likely you have already found your tried and true brand that’s safe for your baby’s sensitive skin. Stick with that instead of experimenting with a new one. There is one additional caveat for not only liquid detergents, but all liquids in general when flying. According to the TSA, any liquid container that holds more than 3.4 fluid ounces, regardless of how much liquid is inside it, must be in a checked bag, not a carry-on bag, with some exceptions.
Keep in mind these seven considerations and you will be off to a great start in planning your vacation this holiday season.