Tips for travelling with a baby under 6 months
Travel tips for travelling with a baby under 6 months:
- Remember your baby will need their own passport no matter what their age!
- When packing make sure you have nothing in the babies on flight bag that is sharp.
- Good things to have in the babies on flight change bag are: nappies, wipes, a familiar comforter/ teddy, spare clothes, warm jumper, blanket, some quiet toys, calpol, baby’s red book, couple of bottles of coiled boiled water and cartons of formula if formula feeding.
- Most airlines will let you take a pack of unopened nappies in addition to your suitcases, ask the airline as nappies can take up a lot of space in a suitcase!
- You will be able to get most things eg wipes, nappies, vests etc where you are going in a local supermarket so don't pack for every eventuality. Taking travel wash is a good idea.
- Take familiar things such as sleeping bag/ swaddle blanket so the travel cot can be made familiar to them.
- If you are going to a hotel with a balcony you may want to take your baby monitor so you can sit on the balcony whilst they sleep in the day or have a glass of wine on the balcony at night!
- Plan your trip to the airport, try and entertain your baby for a good hour and a half at least prior to getting in the car to the airport, then feed your baby, wind baby and then leave so your baby has the best possible chance of sleeping the whole way to the airport.
- You will be allowed to take your pushchair up to the doors of the aeroplane.
- Once on the aircraft your baby will have to sit on one of your knees with their own lap belt which attaches to yours. This lap belt can be adjusted so your baby can lie on your lap in your arms.
- It is important for your baby to be sucking at ascent and decent as otherwise they will get discomfort in their ears.
- Try and pre-empt your baby getting bored by going for a walk up the aeroplane, let them stand on your knee facing you, play with the toys you brought, a set of keys, look at the in flight magazine!
- Once you get to your destination you will usually pick up the pushchair from the luggage area.
- If you do not have transfers booked most airports taxi’s will have a child seat in the boot so just ask.
- Once at the hotel assess safety, ie do not put the travel cot where your baby can reach electrical cables, a kettle chord. Remove small objects from the room that your baby could choke on.
- Make sure you know the numbers for the doctor at the hotel and emergency numbers just in case. From a mobile phone you can call 112 from anywhere in the world.
- Unless there is a huge time difference I would advise as far as possible keeping your baby on UK time and routine schedule.
- Remember sun screen! Factor 50 if possible all over, a hat is essential and plenty of fluids, small babies can get dehydrated when in hot whether, if breast feeding your breasts will allow for this and produce more watery milk, you may need to feed a little more often, or offer cooled boiled water in between normal feeds.
- In most countries it is better to use boiled bottled water and not the tap water. This isn't usually advised due to the high mineral content, however this will not matter for a week or two.
Remember most countries have an excellent health care system and most doctors and nurses will speak English so please don’t worry about needing medical attention if this arises.
Enjoy your holiday, this is a perfect time to go away with your baby; No worrying about meals, food, especially if you are breast feeding! Any problems please do not hesitate to contact me for advice, I spent most of my time whilst nannying for professional golfers travelling to many different countries with children of all ages!
Telephone: 07872030206
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