Stress-Free Travel With Your Baby

If you want to have a stress free travel experience and you are taking your baby, the key is in the planning. There are going to be certain things that happen with your baby that will trigger stress. Consider what those things might be, and be pre-emptive. When you plan for them, your travel will be far less stressful. The following is a look at some of the things you may want to pack in order to make travel with baby easier.

Doctor Info: If your baby breaks out in a rash, gets sick, or has a problem, it will be stressful to you, but it will be far more stressful if you do not know how to get a hold of your doctor. Furthermore, you may have to tell a new doctor about your baby's health history. Before you leave on vacation, make a list of your doctor's contact info, nurses line, info hotline, emergency contact, etc. so you can reach them. Write it on an index card and stick it in your purse or wallet. Then, visit your doctor and ask them for a condensed version of your baby's medical history. Having copies of it to take with you will save a lot of time and trouble should you end up at the ER. Do not forget their immunization record!

Food, Bottles: One of the things that make babies the most upset is being hungry and not being fed right away. Be sure to pack plenty of bottles so that you always have a clean one to use. In addition be sure to bring along plenty of whatever food your baby eats. This can be formula, baby food, or snacks like cheerios, bread, fruit, and so on. If you pack these, you have them when you need them, and do not have to make a trip to the store.

Change of Clothes: Babies have blow outs, spit up, leakage, and all sorts of other problems that can leave them in soiled, wet, or ruined clothes. Don't leave your baby naked. When traveling, always bring a change of clothes in the diaper bag so that if your baby does have a poop explosion, or drips watermelon all over themselves, they can be changed.

Shade and Sunscreen: Babies have new, sensitive skin, and they get burnt easily when exposed to the sun. So, be sure to take along plenty of sunscreen that your baby can use, as well as a hat, and some sort of shading device. It can be an umbrella to put over them at the beach, or a shade device to put in the window of the car so they do not have sun in their face.

Plan around naps, feedings, and routines: Lastly, when making your plans for your trip, make it less stressful by planning around naps, feedings and so on. Your baby likely eats at regular intervals, sleeps at regular intervals, and you can plan on that. It is not fun to be in the middle of a hike in the rainforest if your baby wants to nurse. So, plan that hike for in between feedings.

by Beverly Frank