Travelling with a baby can be stressful, especially when it’s your first time doing it. To ensure you don’t let anxiety ruin your travel experience, here are some tips to make flying with a baby easier for you and your little one.
1. Pack the essentials in your carry-on luggage
You won’t be able to pack everything in your carry-on luggage if you’re planning a long trip, but it’s important to remember all the essentials to keep your baby (and yourself) as comfortable as possible. Remember items like a blanket, nappies, a change of clothes, baby wipes, bottles and dummies, and a toy or two for distraction.
2. Travel as light as possible
Get creative with packing to minimise the amount of luggage you need to carry around. Keep travel documents and smaller items in your baby carrier so you don’t have to worry about holding up a line when you’re scrambling around in your bag.
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3. Consider going hands-free
Navigating crowded airports and claustrophobic aeroplanes is definitely easier when you’re not carrying your baby in your arms. Babywearing hands-free garments are great for strapping your baby close to your chest and having your hands free. Ubuntu Baba is an example of a brand of babywearing options for parents on the go.
4. Communicate your seat needs at check-in or when booking online
Try to book a seat close to a bathroom so you won’t have to struggle past people on your way to the bathroom’s changing table. Being at the back of the plane can also be convenient for breast-feeding and getting up to bounce and soothe your baby when they start stirring.
5. Have something for them to suck
Babies can experience pain in their ears due to changes in pressure while flying (usually during takeoff and landing), but having something to suck (a breast, dummy or bottle) can help.
6. Just relax
Travelling can be tiring and stressful with a small baby, but it won’t help anyone if you let your anxiety ruin the experience. Just breathe and remember that even if things don’t go perfectly, you probably won’t ever see your fellow travellers again!
Image: iStock
ALSO READ:
How to make travelling with kids easy
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