How to Make Traveling with Your Baby a Little Easier

If you're anything like me, you probably didn't do a ton of world traveling while you were pregnant. I myself found out that I was pregnant on a fun trip to Mexico, and that was about it with the exception of a quick road trip to visit family (even that was not so much fun). Then the baby comes and you realize that with your first, you are pretty tied to home until you get into a routine. That first trip out is a huge event, but as time goes on and you get more comfortable with this parenting thing your level of courage increases too. So the time comes that you say "I'm ready to take a trip with the little one!". It sounds like so much fun because quite frankly you need a break from your surroundings, but after the initial excitement wears off and you look at that sweet little face you think to yourself "where do I begin?"!

For me planning comes easy, but even with that inherit character trait I still need to take a step back and think it through. It obviously depends on the age of your baby, but here are a couple of things that I've done to make the trips easier.

Food: Buy ahead for your food needs if at all possible and set them aside a week or two before. I went out and bought (on sale I might add!) a full can of formula to take, bottled water, and more then the necessary amount of baby food in fair amounts of both fruits and vegetables. Throwing in some cereal isn't a bad idea to help balance out the meals and keep them as close to normal as possible. I also recommend bringing a "sippee cup" that you can put some water in, perhaps some juice. If your baby is old enough, bring plenty of snacks along the lines of the puffed rice variety. You just want to be sure that you have more than enough, because depending on where you're going it may be tough to get what you need if you run out. Put this all together and then put aside in a bag you can travel with. If you're driving this is a bit easier, but if you're flying then you may need to ration out a few items for the carry on and check the rest. (unfortunately at a cost these days!)

Diapers & Wipes: If you're like me, you buy the huge diapers of box in bulk because your local warehouse club has the best prices around and you don't have to worry about them for awhile that way. I took an entire section of one of these big old boxes and put it aside, then I packed whatever I could fit. It always seems to me that if you pack just the right amount of diapers for any occasion, count on needing just a few more--it's inevitable. As for wipes, you can buy larger packages of these too and I would advise just packing one of the larger cases that you can feed your travel wipe case off of in the instance that you run out. Remember that wipes can serve as good tools for face wiping after a messy meal, cleaning hands in a pinch, and wiping up any inevitable mess that happens along the travel route.

Clothes: As much as your instinct may be to travel light, be sure to also travel smart. You know that when you go out to even the store you want to be sure to pack an extra outfit--Murphy's Law says that if you don't then the very messy blow out or mishap will most certainly happen. So be sure to pack at least one extra outfit for every day you'll be gone (including travel days). Pack for the weather too, bring clothes for during the day when it may be warmer and then at night when it may cool off. Also throw in some great extras that you can layer with, use as cover ups, or as pajamas such as onesies. You don't need to go overboard with your clothes for baby, but pack smart and make combinations that you can really use in a pinch.

Incidentals: Along with packing your patience, be sure to pack all the necessary items that may come up though you won't imagine that it will. This includes Baby Tylenol or Motrin, Orajel or any teething gel, a thermometer, gas drops, any other medicine you have used before, bibs, burp cloths, and look around to be sure to include anything that you may use from time to time that could come up. A big blanket is a great idea as it can be used if baby needs a break and some time to be free of being held or in a carrier of some sort.

Be patient and remember that traveling with baby is a whole different ball game! It can be fun, and if you remember all the little items and are proactive in thinking through the little things that could come up or go wrong, it will make it a much more enjoyable trip for the whole family!