Travel & Leisure Facts and Notes

Planning your first vacation with you baby is essential to the success of your trip.

Here are ten tips to follow to help you when planning your trip.

1. If your vacation plans involve traveling to a remote location, or if your plans include time on a cruise ship make sure that you have made arrangements for food and water for your baby. If you are off to a major city in North America or Europe you will be able to purchase the required items when you arrive.

2. Medications. Anticipate what small ailments may occur to your child during the trip, and pack a small kit with the medicine that will help you to easily treat an upset tummy, a slight fever, an ear-ache, any rashes and so on.

3. In the past when it was just you and your spouse traveling on your own - you may have been on the go for the most part and you didn’t spend much time in your room. Things will be different now. Every day your baby will be napping and on many of those days it will be in your hotel room - or in your cabin on a cruise ship. Give yourself a place to spend the time that your child is napping - consider upgrading your room so that it has a balcony that you can relax on while your child sleeps.

4. Plan for time for each parent to head off on their own to see the attractions or sites that they are interested in. During those times the other parent will be caring for the baby. Plan upfront when these times will be and work towards an equal split of time so that there is plenty of time to be together - and time for everyone to see or do what is important to them during the vacation.

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. If your trip involves flying - when possible try to take direct flights. Connecting flights are more difficult on babies.

7. If you plan on bringing a travel bed with you on your trip don’t wait for the vacation to get the baby accustomed to sleeping in it. A couple of days prior to your trip let the baby start sleeping in it to get them used to it.

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.