041Baby columnist Odette Parfitt reveals some tried and tested tips on how to take some out of the stress out of traveling with a baby.
Recently our little family turned a long weekend into a mini-break. It was our first time going on
holiday with a baby and I learned a few things along the way, which I thought I would share.
Travel light yourself – but definitely overpack for the baby
This is my Type A talking, but depending on where you go on your trip, you don’t want to be caught
without something your child needs. Also, as inconvenient as it may be to find space for 12 tiny
outfits, it’s still preferable to having to do washing because you packed too little. (In case nobody has
told you, babies spit, and vomit, and wet themselves, and sweat, and a dozen other things that end
up dirtying multiple outfits.)
Location, location, location
Think carefully in choosing where you go. Travelling distance is a consideration; in our case it was a
two-and-a-half hour drive and this was manageable. Be clever about your accommodation, and see
if you can choose a place that is already geared up for a baby. We stayed in a house that already had
a high chair and a crib, and not only did it save space, it just made everything easier all around.
Keep the right company
It’s all good and well to go away as a family on your own, and I look forward to when we get to do
that. However, for this trip we went with other relatives, and I would definitely encourage others to
do the same, especially for the first-time holiday. It helps to have other people around who can help
out with baby. Bonus points if your travel companions also have kids of a similar age, because then
they understand the demands and how it impacts what you get to do and not do on the trip. Which
brings me to …
Plan your activities for the daytime
I don’t know about your kids, but my son can get quite difficult when his evening routine is thrown
out. By planning our outings for the daytime (in other words, breakfast or lunch instead of dinner
out), we were able to be home in the early evenings, do bathtime and feeding and bedtime as
normal, and still spend some time with the other adults in the evening – without being frazzled by an
overtired screaming baby.
Be flexible
This was the hardest lesson for me on the trip, but also the most important one. I’d become very
used to my son’s routine of feeds and naps, and it was a sizable adjustment for me to go out and do
things when I’m used to planning around him. After the first day, I realised I needed to let go and
trust that he would be OK if his feeds happened a little later than usual, and that he would let me
know when he was ready to nap.
All in all, the trip was less stressful than I anticipated and I half-wish we had done it sooner – but
now I will be even better prepared for the next one.
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