Helpful Hints for Traveling with Babies

Traveling with a baby can be a very humbling experience. Changing a poopy diaper at a rest area picnic table while six people stare or an hour of baby screaming at the top of there lungs when you have no where to stop can put anyone on edge.

Traveling by car is the most common way you will travel with your baby. It could be a trip to see grand parents or a weekend of family fun, either way it's a lot of work. Good preparation is the key to making your trip fun and much less stressful. If you have the room in your pack all the food, diapers, and clothes for the days you will gone. Shopping and doing laundry will take a lot of time out of your trip. Using a baby back pack instead of a stroller will save you space in your car. If you are staying at a hotel they provide cribs for your room otherwise take a playpen for your baby to sleep in. Try to drive during the time your baby normally sleeps. If you drive while your baby is awake it will get hungry and want to play. Stopping for feeding and playtime will slow you down and wanting to play while stuck in a car seat will make baby cranky, which leaves you with a headache. A changing mat is essential rest areas are dirty and most of there bathrooms do not have any good places to change your baby. Most fast food restaurants have changing tables and baby seats for easy feeding and changing. I have found they make much better rest stops then there rest area counter parts.

Traveling by plane is very uncomfortable and space is extremely limited. When you are flying you have two choices. Your baby can ride on your lap at no extra cost or you can buy another ticket and your baby can ride in its car seat next to you. How you want to flay depends on what you are doing when you get to your destination. If you are planning on renting a car at your destination you will want to bring the car seat Very few car rental companies rent car seats and I have found none that have them at every location. Also if you are going on a long trip and will need to buy supplies along the way you will need a car seat for the cab ride. However shuttles and busses do not require car seats. Again I will say baby backpacks are more convenient than a stroller, having your hands free to carry your luggage is a big bonus because with a baby there is a lot of luggage. Airports are very busy and can be confusing to navigate especially with a fussy baby if you have to change flights while traveling try to get a slightly longer layover at least two or three hours it may seem like a long time, but by the time you change and feed the baby (trust me its just about impossible on the plane there's just not enough room) and figure out where you need to go you will need the extra time.

I don't suggest taking long trips with your baby unless it is necessary and if it is necessary take extra people with you. A baby sitter is a valued companion on a trip and everyone needs a break every once in a while. Good luck in your travels