Ten Tips for Your First Vacation With Your Baby

Your first vacation with your baby can be exciting and it also takes some advanced planning to ensure its success.

Our list of 10 things to consider will help you plan a successful vacation for you, your partner and your baby.

1. Anticipate where you will get food and water for your baby. It may not be an issue if you are traveling to a popular tourist destination, but it may be if you are going to a more remote area.

2. Be self-sufficient when it comes to medications. Bring the medications that your baby may need for fevers, upset stomach, rashes, ear infections and diarrhea.

3. Accommodations. Think about reserving a room with a balcony that you can comfortably sit on viewing the ocean, or overlooking a mountain range. You can count on spending more time in your room as your baby will need their regular nap times. If your room has a balcony you and your spouse can still enjoy your time together – sitting on the balcony – while your baby gets their needed sleep.

4. Don’t plan on being as busy as you were on trips before baby. You can’t just go-go-go. Take time to stop periodically, and play with the baby. If there are some sites or adventures that one of you just has to see – agree up front that there will be times when one parent heads off on their own to see or do what is important to them while the other parent tends to the baby.

5. Guard against too much time in the stroller for the baby. Taking a comfortable stroller with you on vacation is important – just make sure that your child doesn’t sleep too much during the daytime. Many babies love to fall asleep in their stroller – which might cause them not to sleep well at night. Make sure there are plenty of opportunities during the day to take the baby out of the stroller and play with them.

6. Takes direct flights when flying. When possible avoid connecting air flights. Flying for babies is not always easy. The change in air pressure during take-offs and landings can be hard for babies.

7. Think about bringing a travel bed for the baby to sleep in – and before you leave home let them practice by having them sleep in it for a couple of nights.

8. If possible bring your own car seat. The ones provided by car rental companies are sometimes questionable.

9. Make sure your child has the necessary vaccinations. See your child’s doctor six to eight weeks before you intend to travel, especially if visiting developing countries.

10. Make a list of the items that you will need for the baby during the trips. Things like diapers, wipes, face cloths, and so on. Review the list before you go and make sure that you have everything with you that you will need.

Tagged with: baby • cruise • family • holiday • parenting • travel • travel tips • vacation

Filed under: travel tips

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