Top Tips for Travelling With a Baby 

The thought of travelling with a young baby can be a stress-inducing prospect, but sometimes it is inevitable. Whether it is for a family holiday or a trip to visit family over the festive period, there are ways to make long-distance journeys a bit easier.

General tips for travelling with a baby

Whatever your transportation choice, have baby wipes on hand at all times. By now, you will probably be in the habit of keeping a pack or two in a change bag, but having a spare pack in your handbag or car pocket will be great for unexpected incidents such as spit-ups or snack messes. 

If you and your little one will be staying away from home for a while, practice them sleeping in their travel cot before you go. This will get them familiar with a change in environment and prevent some of the bedtime meltdowns when you arrive after a long day of travelling. 

Travelling by train 

One of the great things about travelling by train is that you can enjoy the views and not worry about driving, leaving all your focus on your little one. 

Book train tickets in advance to give you the best shot at being relaxed and comfortable. For example, getting a train to London will likely be busy whatever time you travel, so reserving a seat ensures you get a space to yourself. You may want to opt for a table seat as you can spread some toys and interactive things out for your little one to entertain them. 

If your baby is fussing or finding it a bit overwhelming, you can always pop on your baby sling and walk to a quitter part or up and down the carriages. This will hopefully lull them to sleep or a calmer state. 

By car

Ideally, if you are travelling by car with a newborn, an adult should be in the backseat to keep an eye on them. This can be uncomfortable on longer journeys, so make sure you pack things that will help you as well as the baby. For a bit of personal time, pack some headphones so you can listen to a podcast or audiobook whilst keeping an eye on the little one.

If your child is young, they should not be spending more than 2 hours at a time in a car seat. You should factor this in when planning your route. Realistically, your child may still be feeding every 2 hours, so stopping then should work in your favour. Plus, it is a great excuse to get out and stretch your legs. 

Flying

If you are flying with an infant, evening flights may be your friend. This is when their sleep pressure is highest, so you have more of a chance of them nodding off for the majority of the flight. 

Toys and distractions will be welcome if it is a long flight. You can purchase toys with suckers on them. Stick them to the plane window or tray table, and your child can play with them whenever they want. 

For take-off and landing, try and help your baby’s ears by feeding them. The sucking from feeding or using a dummy can help to reduce the pressure in their ears, making for a happier baby. 

This is a collaborative post.