Traveling with a baby or a toddler can be fun, frustrating, even revealing. Planning is the key, as is your willingness to adjust the trip to the younger traveler. Like Dr. Elizabeth Barnett, director of the Pediatric Travel Program at Boston Medical Center, he advises: “If you get a toddler, it’s all about the child.”
Choose one (or two) destinations
It is not the time for a journey of “nine European capitals in seven days”. Think about choosing a place or splitting your trip between two destinations. This will allow you to settle and set up the sleeping program. Most young children thrive on routines. If you find the right playground or bakery, your child will enjoy the return.
Arriving there: It’s all about strategy – and luck
Airports, planes, large drive units, train rides: everything is big, depending on your child’s mood. Get ready to distract, relax, sing, be hospitalized – whatever helps. For toddlers, pediatricians agree that the journey is the perfect opportunity to forget the screen time rules and embrace devices and programming that will help transmit time.
For babies, sucking something on the plane can help with painful air pressure changes in the ears, so pack a pacifier and a bottle, and if you breastfeed, a dress for comfortable semi -public nursing. Do not give your baby’s medicine to promote sleep unless you have discussed it with your pediatrician – and if you have clearance, try it at home first if there are negative reactions. Healthychildren.org, from the American Academy of Pediatrics, is a good source for baby air travel tips.
Keep in mind that if an infant car seat is to be used on a plane, it should tell the label that it is certified for use on aircraft.
Some children behave perfectly on long flights, while others are completely losing. But every child is capable of both. It is up to you to bring equipment and diversions, snacks, clothing changes and a friendly, apologetic smile if your child intervenes with the comfort of other passengers.
Where do you stay things
Many people with young children prefer kitchen holiday rentals. Hotels, however, can work well – Breakfast buffets and household services are always useful – but check online comments to see if guests with babies and toddlers had good experiences.
When it comes to cribs, alert your hotel and ask in advance about availability. Airbnb has a filter for those looking for cribs. Many hosts will determine any additional equipment, including baby screens. Your best bet, however, is going to get in touch with the host. Remember that “kids friendly” does not mean “childish”, so look at the details and be very careful about stairs, fireplaces, pools and hot tubs.
Sleep when your baby is sleeping
Sleep programs vary widely in children. Some babies can sleep anywhere and through anything, and others need a quiet, dark room. Be flexible: in this, as in so many others, you are more likely to have a successful journey if you follow the child’s schedule than if you insist on an adult program with a drowsiness, a crazy child.
Choose kids friendly restaurants
Don’t go for fantasy, go for a friendly and try to go off off -peak hours. Your ideal restaurant is a place where families come to eat and relax. A pleasant aspect of the trip to Spain and Italy, for example, is that if you find yourself for a late dinner with an active baby or a toddler, everyone will take it for granted. And regardless of time, if you find a place that works – and your toddler dishes appreciates – be ready to return.
Throw away the “adult” control lists into sightseeing
You may love to visit every church and collection of works of art, but not on this journey. Choose one or two things you would like to do, consider whether a baby carrier or stroller would work better and be ready to shorten or scrub the mission. Start with limited expectations and you may be surprised by your child’s adaptability.
Bring the right equipment
Yes, you need a folding trolley, and yes, you need a car seat. A portable crib guarantees you a safe sleeping surface and can also give you a Playpen in a strange room. There are also portable high chairs, which wave at the edge of a table. Wirecutter has a summary for everything, from portable cribs to pearl curtains to sound machinery.
Consider vaccines, emergency plans and food and water safety
Well before you leave, check with your child’s pediatrician. Make sure the immune effects are up to date and discuss if additional downloads are needed. The measles vaccine, usually administered at age 1, can be given earlier if you go somewhere where measles can be a problem. Hepatitis A vaccines can also be given early. For remote areas, consider seeing a travel medical expert and discussing special immune and antagonistic drugs.
Bring medicines that your child regularly takes and ask your pediatrician how to contact if problems arise. You can also check in advance with rental hosts or concierge for local doctors and hospitals, with a special reference to Pediatrics.
If your child gets sick while traveling, “the first thing is to do what you would do if you were at home,” Dr. Barnett said. Consider the packaging of acetaminophen or ibuprofen liquids. A child with vomiting or diarrhea immediately needs liquids to prevent dehydration and the younger the baby, the more important it is to seek local medical care.
In an area without safe water, breastfeeding is a way to keep your baby safe. For a child who drinks anything else, be strict for the use of boiled or bottled water and stick to cooked foods and peeled fruits.
Don’t miss the sun
Wherever you are, prioritize the safety of the sun. Bring sunscreen and hats and hold young children covered in the bright sun. If you need both sunscreen and insect repellent, apply the sunscreen first.
