Can you travel with a child? Of course, in a legal sense, there is nothing stopping you! But many people decide not to because of the logistical problems that come with it. That’s one of the first things that we want to clarify: even if you follow every one of our tips, it can still be difficult to travel with a child. Some of these ideas, though, could make the process much more bearable. If you still want to enjoy traveling or if you need to travel for whatever reason with a small child, here are a few tips to help you along the way.
Don’t be Afraid to Overpack
The days of you getting on a plane with just your carry-on are all but over at this point. With a lot of these tips, you’ll learn that the key is balance. You won’t be able to take all the amenities and toys that you have at home on the trip. But you want to make sure that you have enough clothes, for example, to go on the whole trip, particularly if you don’t know if you’re going to be able to do any washing. Pay for the checked bag and maybe even the $30 overweight fee. It’s better to take something that you don’t need than to need something you didn’t take.
Locate Specialty Stores At Your Destination Beforehand
This idea falls right along with the last one we mentioned. You can’t take everything that you have at home, but you can locate where you may be able to buy something, for example, bottles, if you lose it. Another thing that you may want to know is if they sell the same type of diapers where you’re going. If you’re traveling abroad, this is a very serious issue you’ll have to contend with. You either want to make sure you carry enough diapers or you know where you can get the same version. Sticking to the same diapers is crucial here as it may be a bad idea to try and get your baby used to “new things” while on the trip.
Be Flexible With Your Schedule – Kind Of
Trying to make sure that your whole trip goes exactly as planned with a toddler is basically a recipe for failure. You’re going to be trying to drag them along and meet certain deadlines. In doing so, you may not even enjoy the trip, and your baby won’t either. It’s always better to go with the flow and hit the activities that you can make. If you miss out on a couple of things, don’t stress out about it. Now, it does help to have your kids on a strict sleeping schedule. If you put them down for bed at 8 pm, for example, that’s going to allow you to have some free time from then until your bedtime. Develop that sleep schedule for them beforehand and stick to it when you’re traveling.
Avoid Peak Days, Hours, Locations
Crammed locations are a mess with or without a baby. Think of a crowded theme park in the middle of the summer—that’s not the best place for a baby. Try to pick travel days and even flight times that allow you to avoid crowds. Babies in buzzing environments can stress out and start to cry. That’s going to put a lot of strain on the parents as well. Avoid the massive crowds if and when you can.
Picking the Right Spot to Travel
As mentioned, a busy place on a hot summer day is not a great spot for a baby. In fact, even if you want to go to the beach, it could be a good idea to pick a month when the weather is milder. That’s especially the case if you don’t live in an area that gets too hot. Usually, when the weather is mild at the beach, there are fewer people. The reality is that not every vacation destination is an ideal place for a baby; therefore, you should pick your spots wisely. This decision could completely change the outlook of your entire vacation!
