TRAVELLING WITH YOUR BABY SHOULD BE FUN AND EASY
Written by: Noelle Sadinsky
Having children, especially super young babies and toddlers, shouldn’t prevent you from traveling as you may have done in your pre-baby days. What really? That’s crazy! No really, it’s true! With a bit of planning and prep work you can have magical family holidays and at the same time build some beautiful memories.
I found travelling overseas with my boys separately as babies when they were under 12 months old an ideal age as they weren’t walking yet (as crawlers I could still outrun them!!) I took my oldest to Canada solo for a 3 month holiday to see family and friends. It was great to know where we would be so there were no surprises of where we were staying and what equipment we needed. I had people on the ground gather cots and high chairs ahead of time when possible so I didn’t need to pack as much with me and I always had a plan. I asked around in my mother’s group and friends with older kids what they suggested as the best products for travelling with babies and found a treasure trove of items.
Here are my top 5 products that made life sooOOOoo much easier when hitting the road with your little one! This list is based on my experience and includes items that I found irreplaceable in terms of function and ease.
1. A friend gave me her Sit’n Stroll (sorry it isn’t available in Australia unfortunately) which is a stroller/carseat in one and this was a prized possession! You can get one sent over from the US if you’re super keen.
2. My b box nappy change wallet and dispenser was a great all-in-one nappy solution whether I was crammed into the airplane toilet or had a bit more space in a restaurant to change my baby.
3. My Fridge-to-go Small Lunch Bag held my breast pump and a bottle along with water and snacks. Nothing helped calm my son down like a cool stick of daikon (Chinese radish) especially when he was teething. Having cold water close for me was also key when I was breastfeeding! Because I could express anywhere too, I was able leave bottles with my parents to babysit and get some ‘me’ time – so important!
4. My Baby Bjorn was worth its weight in gold as I could carry my baby and still have my hands free to pull my big hockey bag (my son and I shared a bag) and he was happy bouncing around next to me. Must have item!
5. My son’s plastic bib complete with spill proof curled up pouch that caught many messes saved many of his outfits and cut down on necessary he changes!
The key is to have super functional products definitely that always come in handy and help make life easier – even when you’re not traveling! I was good at communicating with whoever I was going to stay with so we always had a plan. I made sure to keep elements of my baby’s routine in tact which was key to helping him settle and get familiar with the strange surroundings. Of course there has to be some changes which also makes it fun. We didn’t do too much each day when possible as I had the time to stretch things out plus I was on holiday and much calmer than usual, which my baby picked up on too. Your baby reflects you so if you’re stressed and anxious you may very well have a baby that is exactly the same way. If you start off calm, everyone wins now and in the future. We had quite a few plane trips and when I had strangers regularly ask if they could have a cuddle with my son – I learned to say a resounding ‘Yes, of course’! This gave my son a change of scenery and let me dash to the toilet or to brush my teeth without the usual chaos. I also ended up chatting with a lot of people I might not have connected with and it made things fun.
My first son wouldn’t take a dummy so we had some hairy moments where he screamed for the entire 40 minute plan trip. But no one died. I got some unhappy looks, but I did my best and survived stronger and wiser. My favourite quote in moments like this is – ’this too will pass’. My second son loved a dummy so plane trips were a dream. I made sure I had dummies stashed in every bag and clipped on to him and traveling with him was super easy.
Looking back now I can see how travelling to new places and shaking up the routine of my sons, really helped them become more resilient and adaptable at the time and as they get older. Having to cope and work things out on the go is good for both your and your baby as there are always going to be challenges and hiccups popping up that are beyond your control. I find letting go and trusting whatever happens is another great method that has served me well when travelling with a baby – plus it really helped keep me present in the here and now. I love to see how traveling continues to be a joy for our family and it’s still something we do together, just the 4 of us. We’re still building memories and enjoying each other and they’ll always be my babies.
To this day, my children have a great love of travel – the further the better – and they are resilient travellers who are curious about new places and experiences. Now they’re teaching me.