As a single person, traveling was a typical part of my life. I travel to places to do missions, for leisure, and to visit some friends and families. When I became pregnant, I promised to strive to bring our little family to the places that I’ve been to with the hope that they’ll also discover the world through traveling.
But when I gave birth, a certain perspective changed. I became anxious and fearful not for myself but for our little son, Ignatius. But thank God for the many years of finding solace in the outdoors because even if fear started to change my mindset, I eventually conquered it one travel at a time.
To help me be at ease, we’ve started early on to bring Iggy to the outdoors. Though it was difficult and uncomfortable at first, we managed to still do it. Then, when Iggy turned 5-month-old we brought him to Manila to visit some friends and to process our passport.
Sharing with you here a few things to prepare as you travel with a baby. Yes, this is difficult but with preparation, the right motivation, and good partnership everything will work out for the best!
- Pack essentials.
Make a checklist of everything your baby needs (diapers, wipes, extra clothes, medicines, baby food, pacifier etc.) Making a checklist will save you from forgetting the important things. I packed Iggy’s things according to use, they were also packed separately according to the day we had to use them. I also took pictures of every pair of clothes per day so that I have a guide, this saved me a lot of time throughout the trip.
2. Bring entertainment.
This is a necessary thing for all the mommas out there. Hehe! Be sure to bring your child’s favorite toy. I did bring Iggy’s rattle toys with us and his cloth books to buy us time whenever his awake during the trip. At this age, Iggy was already curious about the world around him, so showing him certain things was already entertainment.
3. Dress your baby appropriately.
Iggy just turned five months old when we traveled to Manila, by that time he was still too sensitive to cold, so we dressed him up with a baby romper suit to make him comfortable during our plane ride. We changed clothes the moment we felt that it was already quite hot for him.
We were surprised by this trip because we were brought to Tagaytay by our Tito and Tita, which means cold weather Hehe! Fortunately, we brought with us a handful of whole-body suits, jackets, and other cold essentials for our little one.
You know your child’s preference. If you think that your little one is sensitive to cold temperatures then bring clothes that make him/her comfortable like jackets, whole-body rompers, etc. If your child is prone to sweating, then bring light clothes like sleeveless or shorts. It is also better to know the weather forecast and the possible temperature of your destination.
4. Feeding schedule.
If you are breastfeeding, be prepared to feed on demand or to follow your schedule if you have one. If your baby is bottle-fed, prepare enough formula for the whole trip. It is very important to be aware of your feeding time because you might get caught by the busyness of the moment as you travel.
Inside the airplane, upon take-off and landing little kids might feel uncomfortable or have a little ear pain, what I did was breastfeed Iggy during those times it did help with the pain. For bottle-fed babies, you can give them a bottle of milk as well. This is to encourage swallowing and chewing (for older kids) to help lessen the pain.
5. Plan your travel
This is very important especially because you are bringing a little child with you. If you fail to prepare your itinerary, then for sure your child will end up tired and cranky. Little kids follow certain routines so follow a travel itinerary that allows a child to take a nap, rest, eat well, etc. You must also change diapers from time to time, so check ahead if the places that you’ll go to provide a changing diaper station, or if not, be prepared to be creative! Hehe!
Luigi and I usually changed Iggy’s diapers inside the car before we went outside. We also checked the restaurants beforehand if they have a changing diaper area or if we can change in a corner far from other guests. Haha! Mahirap pero kakayanin! Haha!
Planning for your travel also means checking the little details like choosing the right time of flight (morning flight or evening? time for sleeping or waking time?). You know your child so be sure to be particular with the details of your travel. 🙂
6. Be patient and flexible.
These two traits are very important as you become a parent and as you travel. Hehe! So be ready for surprises, changes of plans, and anything in between. Haha! Bringing a child will drain your energy while traveling so it is important to remain patient no matter what and to be flexible to where life takes you.
I am grateful for my husband, Luigi’s patience in all things especially when we travel. It takes a lot of partnership and compromise; one must learn to read the other and be ready to adjust.
7. Enjoy the journey!
The most important of all that we tend to forget, enjoy the journey. As we travel, we are making memories that last not just for our little one but also for us, couples. This is a time to breathe and to be refreshed. Parenthood is difficult but it doesn’t mean that it is not enjoyable, you can choose to enjoy where you are as you journey.
That’s it! 7 things to prepare as you travel with your little one. J I also have additional insights since we travel from time to time to attend activities here in our province, I learned to check on these 3 important things because they affect Iggy’s mood throughout the trip. If he is cranky or crying for no reason, I check on these three.
- Is the environment too hot? Or too cold?
- Is he sleepy? Or overly tired?
- Is he hungry?
Thus, the above considerations like dressing your child properly, and planning your travel and feeding schedule are very important because they affect your whole trip. If a child is well rested, comfortable with his/her clothes/environment and when he/she is not hungry then you can expect a smooth and enjoyable trip!
Be patient and flexible as you travel with your little one. Plan with your partner and set expectations for the trip so that you’ll know each other’s needs. And ultimately, enjoy the journey! Nothing will be easy and perfect; traveling will open our eyes to the world around us and each other’s character. Make use of this to spend quality time with your loved ones and see the world through your child’s eyes. It will surely make a difference.
Your little one may not remember everything, but it will help in his growth and development. It will help you too! Do not be afraid! Bring him/her to the outdoors! Let him/her discover the world early on! You can do this!
God bless your journey!
Journeying beyond,
Deanne
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