Summer vacations are here and with them family trips. You have been waiting for these days all year long to disconnect from the routine. This may be the first year that you are traveling with your baby. Whether by car, train or plane, travel with babies must be planned in advance. We all remember how hard and tired the summer travel. Not only does the heat meet with the desire to arrive; Sometimes we adults get unbearable and everything is the result of a bad organization.
To avoid last minute rush and anxious episodes while traveling, you can follow these tips. They will help you to make a smooth journey with your baby. And if you have older children, surely some of you will be able to take advantage of:
Traveling with babies by car
Travel planning
One of the most important things, not only for the baby, but also for you, is to plan the trip in advance. In addition to knowing the route you will take, you have to mark on the map the stops you are going to make. This will help prevent fatigue and stretching your legs will ease the stresses of the trip.
Security
It is essential that you use a restraint device in the car for your baby; Yes it is against the march, best. In addition to this, it is advisable to carry a small first aid kit in the glove compartment in case something happens. As adults, the well-being and safety of your baby is your responsibility; better prevent.
Baby's luggage
Apart from the suitcase that you will carry in the trunk with the baby's clothes, do not forget to have a change of clothes on hand. It will also be necessary to carry the diaper bag in case something "unforeseen" arises or to change the diaper at the stops. If you give a bottle, bring to hand what you need to feed the baby, like hot water in a thermos, milk powder ... And be patient, family trips tend to be chaotic but it will be worth it.
Traveling with babies by plane
The plane is the most used means of transport today. More and more families are encouraged to use it as an alternative to the car. The downside is the cost and that even if your child is under two years the fees are still paid.
Purchase of tickets
You have to catch them in advance. On airplanes there are special seats for fathers and mothers who go with their babies. In those seats you can find two oxygen masks instead of one. You can also buy a seat for your baby to put his car seat, but you will pay a full ticket.
Baggage
If you are taking the cart as luggage on the plane, make sure you pack it well. My experience with this was quite unpleasant since I lost a piece of a brand-new car, so I did not take it back to the cellar. However, if you need it out of obligation, make sure. You will pay a little more for it but if they spoil it they will be forced to pay you the amount of what they have spoiled.
In the aircraft cabin it is forbidden to carry liquids that exceed a certain amount, so if you need to bring water to prepare milk for your child, you must carry the thermos properly bagged and pass it through the security control.
During the trip…
It is advisable to offer the breast, bottle or pacifier during take-off and landing to avoid ear plugging. If your baby cries a lot during the flight and you can't calm him down, you will most likely stay seated with him. A turbulence could cause you to fall to the ground. If the trip is very long, cribs are available on airplanes.
Do not forget to bring the family book on top or your baby's ID if you have taken one. It is mandatory to identify the baby on any kind of flights.
Traveling with babies by train
Train trips are a mix between traveling by car and traveling by plane, only that the stops to be made will not be programmed by you. The recommendations are the same as for car trips: Bring a small suitcase, apart from the others, and keep it handy in case of any inconvenience. In the trains they usually have restaurant cars and bathrooms; however, take what you need to feed your baby.
The trick to all trips is, in short, planning and patience; organization will help you avoid stress. And although you can't avoid the unforeseen, take them in the best way you can. Happy Holidays!