Top 15 Tips for Traveling with Baby this Summer

Aug 14, 2015

The summer season is upon us! And with it comes extra travel. Whether it is a day trip to the beach, a car trip to visit family and friends, or that big vacation complete with baby’s first flight, here are some tips and tricks any new mom can use.

1) Make a checklist of everything you need to pack so that you don’t forget any essentials.

2) If you are going to fly, try planning to nurse or give the baby a bottle during takeoff, and if possible while landing to help your little one deal with changes in cabin pressure.

3) For flights or long car trips, dress your baby in clothes that make it easy to change a diaper. Those cute but complicated outfits aren’t so cute when you are trying to maneuver in an airplane or rest stop bathroom.

4) Pack an easy-to-access extra outfit for your baby and you in case of an accident (spit up, diaper blow out, etc.)

5) Unless you are going somewhere really remote, you won’t need to pack enough diapers for the entire trip, but you do want to make sure that you pack enough for your travel time, and a few extra just in case. And don’t forget plastic bags for dirty diapers and diaper rash cream.

6) If you are flying, double check your airline’s procedures on checking your car seat and stroller, and remember these items sometimes come out at the over-sized baggage pick up. You will also want to confirm that your ticket has a note that you will be traveling with an infant in arms if your little one is under two and you are not purchasing an extra seat for him or her. And it’s always a good idea to review the TSA guidelines for traveling with children. (http://www.tsa.gov/traveler-information/traveling-children)

7) If you are staying in a hotel, call ahead of time and ask if there is a fridge in the room to store your milk. Many hotels will empty the mini bar on request so that you can store your milk without worrying about moving mini bar items around and accidentally getting charged.

8) If you are traveling with your pump, double check that you have all of your pump parts, nipples for bottles, etc. You don’t want to be in a strange city hunting down pump accessories. And make sure your battery pack has fresh batteries in it.

9) If you are planning to fly and not purchase an extra seat, and your baby looks like he or she might be two, bring her birth certificate.

10) If you are crossing time zones, slowly start to shift your baby’s sleep schedule a week prior to travel to ease jet lag.

11) If you are getting a portable crib from a hotel, make sure you double check that everything is put together properly, is clean and in good condition as soon as you arrive so that you are not stuck waiting for the hotel to swap it out 15 minutes before your little one’s bedtime.

12) Pack a couple extra baby blankets or swaddles like our aden & anais swaddles (http://yummymummystore.com/aden-anais-organic-swaddle-into-the-woods.html). You can use them to shield your baby from the sun, as a nursing cover for you, or just lay it on the ground in an airport terminal to give your baby a clean place to play while waiting for your flight.

13) Slings, front carriers and baby backpacks allow you to keep your hands free while exploring new towns, taking walking tours and navigating around airports.

14) If your baby takes a pacifier, make sure to bring an extra one or two. They always seem to get lost when your baby wants one the most and you are nowhere near a store.

15) When you pump on the go, you can’t always clean your pump as thoroughly as you like, so pack some quick clean wipes (http://yummymummystore.com/medela-quick-clean-wipes.html) to clean your pump without soap & water.