|
|
Linda Jenkinson Traveling With Babies If you start traveling with your little one slowly and plan wisely, both you and baby will enjoy first-class comfort. If you begin with baby steps, you’ll find that you and your little one will soon be able to walk, ride, or fly in the fast lane.
Day Trips
Introduce baby to travel starting with a few day-trips to a local relative or friend. Basic equipment will be a packed diaper bag, a stroller or pram (if you’ll spend some time outdoors), and a car seat. Most modern car seats easily detach and convert into a baby carrier.
Be sure to pack your diaper bag with a diaper for each two hours you intend to be away from home. Pack 2 nipples for each bottle you pack, two to three receiving blankets, and an extra change of clothing for baby and an extra shirt for you. Cut down on diaper bag weight and keep things easy to find by using Ziploc bags to pack extras like nipples, wipes, and pacifiers. Pack one large, empty Ziploc for soiled items.
Overnights
For baby’s first overnight trip, you’ll need to extend your day-trip plan with a couple of extra receiving blankets and extra sets of clothing for baby. Even if your overnight trip is to Grandma’s house, remember that nighttime sounds and perceptions may be different from those during daytime hours. A good pram with wheel locks can double as a bassinet, helping baby feel right at home and enabling everyone to sleep more comfortably through the night.
If overnight travel is a frequent part of your regular routine, consider investing in a Graco Pack ‘n Play Classic Care Center. This excellent piece of baby travel equipment is a bassinet, changing table, and playpen in one portable unit that folds into a handy tote bag. There are 22 models of the Classic Care Center. With prices starting at under $50.00, you’re sure to find one that’s right for your little one and your budget.
Extended Hotel Stays
Many hotels stock products and equipment especially for travelers with babies, but they may not stock the brands you and baby prefer. When you make your reservation, ask for specific information on product brands and the equipment you’ll need to make baby’s stay comfortable. If you opt to use a hotel crib or bassinet, be sure to pack a couple of baby’s own blankets, a familiar mobile, and/or other “security items”.
Although your inclination may be to pack up your complete nursery, in some cases, an extended stay may allow you to pack even less than you would for an overnight trip. For instance, it would be impractical to pack a week’s worth of bottles and nipples. Pack only enough for a day and leave time in your itinerary for clean-ups. When packing baby clothes, include two or three one-piece outfits that can be quickly hand washed when soiled.
You’ll also want to be sure to bring along a stroller. Most contemporary strollers are lightweight and easily collapse for transport or storage. Some models are equipped with multi-position reclining seats so baby can sight-see or nap as he or she chooses. In addition, many have features like tray attachments, sun canopies, attached toy bars, and “parent” trays for your little extras.
If part of your vacation will put you in a crowd, consider a baby backpack or sling. The Baby Bjorn Carrier holds baby safely to your chest, increasing baby’s sense of security as he maintains eye contact with your familiar face.
From day trips to cruise ships, how you travel with babies depends chiefly on your destination and length of stay. However developing a basic plan and adding to it as the situation warrants will quickly make seasoned travel companions out of you and your little one.
About the Author Linda is mother and grandmother of two, she is author of the Baby Strollers Guide and the Baby Products Guide
Add a Comment
Recent cruise vacation travel news Why Choose Costa Rica As A Vacation Destination - HULIQ (press release)
Why Choose Costa Rica As A Vacation Destination HULIQ (press release), NC - 3 hours ago Why should you look at Costa Rica when thinking of your next vacation destination? Costa Rica is a beautiful land with friendly people and much to see and ...
Accor Vacation Club buys 44 Gold Coast apartments - The Australian
Accor Vacation Club buys 44 Gold Coast apartments The Australian, Australia - 6 hours ago It is buying 44 units in one line at what is believed to be a significantly discounted price. AVC chief executive John Osborne declined to reveal the price ...
Going on vacation on location - Independent
Going on vacation on location Independent, UK - 20 hours ago Why book a holiday from a brochure when you can journey through scenes from the silver screen? As Baz Luhrmann's Australia lures visitors Down Under, ...
Alaska Airlines Vacations Announces 'Kids Fly Free to Disneyland ... - MarketWatch
Alaska Airlines Vacations Announces 'Kids Fly Free to Disneyland ... MarketWatch - 1 hour ago SEATTLE, Nov 19, 2008 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Alaska Airlines Vacations today launched its newest "Kids Fly Free to The Disneyland(R) Resort" program, ...
LiveRez.com Unveils 'RezSecure'- A New Way to Book A Vacation Rental - MarketWatch
LiveRez.com Unveils 'RezSecure'- A New Way to Book A Vacation Rental MarketWatch - Nov 17, 2008 The RezSecure network of trusted vacation rental managers provides a collection of vacation homes that have been certified to meet or exceed RezSecure's ... LiveRez.com Unveils 'RezSecure'- A New Way to Book A Vacation Rental International Business Times all 13 news articles
Golf Course Home(R) Network Launches GolfHomeRentals.net - MarketWatch
Golf Course Home(R) Network Launches GolfHomeRentals.net MarketWatch - 8 hours ago GolfHomeRentals.net, a new website dedicated to featuring long-term golf home and vacation home rentals available at Network communities. ...
Hewlett-Packard to employees: Take a vacation, we can't afford you - BloggingStocks
 BBC News
Hewlett-Packard to employees: Take a vacation, we can't afford you BloggingStocks - Nov 18, 2008 It is extending its holiday vacation period from one week to two. Think of all the time that its workers can spend going to the beach, skiing, ... HP extends holiday shutdown but offers upbeat earnings outlook Bizjournals.com all 493 news articles
Kangaroo part of couple's hellish vacation - United Press International
Kangaroo part of couple's hellish vacation United Press International - 2 hours ago 19 (UPI) -- Two Wisconsin residents said their apparently cursed Florida vacation including having to seek countless permits to travel with their pet ...
On vacation - Evening Sun (subscription)
 Evening Sun (subscription)
On vacation Evening Sun (subscription), NY - 5 hours ago Coming back to work after being on vacation is like jumping into a pool of icy cold water. Once you’re in the water for a while, you get used to it. ...
Wyndham expands in Colorado - Bizjournals.com
Wyndham expands in Colorado Bizjournals.com, NC - 2 hours ago Wyndham Vacation Ownership, the Orlando time-share subsidiary of the Wyndham Worldwide hospitality company, has opened Wyndham Vacation Resorts in Steamboat ...
|