Planning a trip with an infant can leave you with head spinning, wondering what you will pack, how you will keep baby happy, where they will sleep (and how well?!) and whether you’ll have time in between figuring out all of those details to actually enjoy yourself!! If you’re in the midst of planning a trip with an infant here are some tips that will make your adventure a smooth one!
1. Be Flexible
You may see lots one day and then spend the next day relaxing by the pool. Traveling from one city to another might take more time than you’re used to and you probably won't partake in the nightlife the same way you did before you had a family. Being flexible and finding joy in this new way of traveling is key to making your trip the best it can be. Bring some cards or games to play in the evening, find a good book to read while baby naps and pick a scenic spot or a nice café to stop at when you need to feed your little one. To avoid frustration, choose one thing you want to see every day and consider everything else you see a bonus!
2. Practice Before You Leave
We wanted baby to sleep in the stroller and carrier while we were sight seeing, so we practiced at home. We focused on doing at least one nap of the day while we were out for a walk, or running errands. That way it wasn’t a surprise to our daughter that she would be expected to fall asleep in a loud, bright or busy place when we were traveling. We did the same with overnight sleep. By the time she was 3 months old she was used to sleeping in different places – we had visited family out of town, put her down for naps in the pack and play in the basement and in her bassinet in our bedroom.
3. Budget Differently
Before kids you might have stayed in a run down hotel to save a few dollars or splurged on a fancy meal at a 5 star restaurant but budgeting for a trip with an infant might look a little differently. You may want to spend a little more on accommodation with has amenities like breakfast included or a kitchenette; or that has a great location close to the things you want to see, right on the beach or accessible by transit. For us spending a little extra money was worth it so that we had less logistics to figure out at our destination. Kids can also be messy and infants aren’t immune from spitting up or having a diaper explosion right in the middle of your trip. On our first trip as a family, we also spent 10 Euro to have laundry done for us – something we had never done on a trip before. It wasn’t the most “fun” expense but it did save us from spending a vacation day stuck in a laundromat so we felt it was well worth the expense.
4. Communicate Your Needs
We researched in advance how we were going to get from the airport or ferry port to our hotel and when possible, emailed the hotel in advance to arrange transportation with them directly. Sometimes it isn’t clear on a hotel’s website whether infants/children are welcome, or if cribs can be requested. Don’t hesitate to email or call the hotel directly to ask for what you need. We have found that hotel staff are quite willing to take the time to write you back and ensure that you will be comfortable when you arrive. Alerting hotels that you are bringing an infant also means they might put you in a quieter area of the hotel, further away from other guests. This works in everyone’s favour.
You may see lots one day and then spend the next day relaxing by the pool. Traveling from one city to another might take more time than you’re used to and you probably won't partake in the nightlife the same way you did before you had a family. Being flexible and finding joy in this new way of traveling is key to making your trip the best it can be. Bring some cards or games to play in the evening, find a good book to read while baby naps and pick a scenic spot or a nice café to stop at when you need to feed your little one. To avoid frustration, choose one thing you want to see every day and consider everything else you see a bonus!
2. Practice Before You Leave
We wanted baby to sleep in the stroller and carrier while we were sight seeing, so we practiced at home. We focused on doing at least one nap of the day while we were out for a walk, or running errands. That way it wasn’t a surprise to our daughter that she would be expected to fall asleep in a loud, bright or busy place when we were traveling. We did the same with overnight sleep. By the time she was 3 months old she was used to sleeping in different places – we had visited family out of town, put her down for naps in the pack and play in the basement and in her bassinet in our bedroom.
3. Budget Differently
Before kids you might have stayed in a run down hotel to save a few dollars or splurged on a fancy meal at a 5 star restaurant but budgeting for a trip with an infant might look a little differently. You may want to spend a little more on accommodation with has amenities like breakfast included or a kitchenette; or that has a great location close to the things you want to see, right on the beach or accessible by transit. For us spending a little extra money was worth it so that we had less logistics to figure out at our destination. Kids can also be messy and infants aren’t immune from spitting up or having a diaper explosion right in the middle of your trip. On our first trip as a family, we also spent 10 Euro to have laundry done for us – something we had never done on a trip before. It wasn’t the most “fun” expense but it did save us from spending a vacation day stuck in a laundromat so we felt it was well worth the expense.
4. Communicate Your Needs
We researched in advance how we were going to get from the airport or ferry port to our hotel and when possible, emailed the hotel in advance to arrange transportation with them directly. Sometimes it isn’t clear on a hotel’s website whether infants/children are welcome, or if cribs can be requested. Don’t hesitate to email or call the hotel directly to ask for what you need. We have found that hotel staff are quite willing to take the time to write you back and ensure that you will be comfortable when you arrive. Alerting hotels that you are bringing an infant also means they might put you in a quieter area of the hotel, further away from other guests. This works in everyone’s favour.
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5. Embrace the New Time Zone
If you’re traveling across time zones, you might be worried about how your baby will adjust. Jet lag can be frustrating and exhausting to deal with but there is one upside: you get to adjust bedtime to whatever time you want! When we arrived in Greece our (very overtired) daughter didn’t fall asleep the first night until almost midnight. Every night bed time shifted about 30 minutes earlier until we settled at around 10:30. This allowed us to embrace the European style of eating late at night and sleeping in a little later than usual. We didn’t plan anything in the morning so that we could sleep as long as the babies did and enjoy a leisurely breakfast – most breakfast buffets were served until at least 10:30 or 11 a.m. anyway.
6. Feed Often
If you are headed to a hot destination, remember that feeding your infant is what keeps them hydrated. We stopped to feed more often than we might have at home and if our daughter got fussy I tried to keep feeding front of mind. We also got a spray bottle from the dollar store and used it to spray her hat, legs, or arms when she seemed to be warm. We also tried to stay in the shade when possible, especially during midday.
7. Choose the Right Accommodation
There are pros and cons to both hotels and vacation rentals. We have found that as our daughter gets older, having a common area for her to play and an area for us to relax in after she goes to bed has been critical. However, with infants you may want to consider the convenience and amenities that hotels have to offer. If cooking meals seems stressful, think about a hotel with a restaurant or with breakfast included. If your little one tends to nap better in their crib, consider getting accommodation with a balcony, or pool so that you can enjoy the amenities while they sleep.
When we took our first trip with our daughter, she was 3 months old and while we kept our expectations low and focused on just enjoying time together as a family, we did and saw way more than we thought we would. Traveling with our daughter opened up more conversations with locals, it forced us to slow down and take in each site for longer than we might have otherwise, and gave us the confidence we needed to make traveling as a family a priority.
If you’re traveling across time zones, you might be worried about how your baby will adjust. Jet lag can be frustrating and exhausting to deal with but there is one upside: you get to adjust bedtime to whatever time you want! When we arrived in Greece our (very overtired) daughter didn’t fall asleep the first night until almost midnight. Every night bed time shifted about 30 minutes earlier until we settled at around 10:30. This allowed us to embrace the European style of eating late at night and sleeping in a little later than usual. We didn’t plan anything in the morning so that we could sleep as long as the babies did and enjoy a leisurely breakfast – most breakfast buffets were served until at least 10:30 or 11 a.m. anyway.
6. Feed Often
If you are headed to a hot destination, remember that feeding your infant is what keeps them hydrated. We stopped to feed more often than we might have at home and if our daughter got fussy I tried to keep feeding front of mind. We also got a spray bottle from the dollar store and used it to spray her hat, legs, or arms when she seemed to be warm. We also tried to stay in the shade when possible, especially during midday.
7. Choose the Right Accommodation
There are pros and cons to both hotels and vacation rentals. We have found that as our daughter gets older, having a common area for her to play and an area for us to relax in after she goes to bed has been critical. However, with infants you may want to consider the convenience and amenities that hotels have to offer. If cooking meals seems stressful, think about a hotel with a restaurant or with breakfast included. If your little one tends to nap better in their crib, consider getting accommodation with a balcony, or pool so that you can enjoy the amenities while they sleep.
When we took our first trip with our daughter, she was 3 months old and while we kept our expectations low and focused on just enjoying time together as a family, we did and saw way more than we thought we would. Traveling with our daughter opened up more conversations with locals, it forced us to slow down and take in each site for longer than we might have otherwise, and gave us the confidence we needed to make traveling as a family a priority.