Hey new mamas! How’s it going? I’m sure you all are enjoying motherhood as much as I am. Yes, I know that several things can be overwhelming when it comes to raising a child. I’m a mother of a two-and-a-half-year-old baby boy and I understand how some things can really frustrate you. One of them is planning your travel. Am I right?
I have so many friends who believe that travelling with toddlers is too much of a hassle or travelling with them is not possible at all. Well, that’s not true. I travelled with my son for the first time when he was just two months old. Trust me, I would have planned a trip sooner if it wasn’t for the 40-day confinement period after his birth. I know how travelling with toddlers is dreaded upon and the women who think that taking a trip with their children is not going to be as fun, but I can assure you that it’s NOT true. Yes, there will be some limitations and a heavier bag, but taking your child along to a vacation is absolutely worth these little troubles.
Here, I’m going to give you some tips and tricks about how to fly with your toddler and what all to pack. I bet after reading this, you’ll be much calmer whenever you and your partner will plan a holiday with your child.
Tips On How & What To Pack When Travelling With Your Toddlers
Remember the things you carried when your child was an infant? Well, just double or triple the load, I’d say. But to make your life easier, always categorise the things you need to pack.
Here’s a checklist that will help you
Clothing
- Casual outfit
- Jacket
- Sweater
- Undergarments
- Socks
- Pajamas
- Nightwears
- Jeans/Skirts/Frocks
- Hankies
Accessories
- Swimsuit
- Sunglasses
- Small Bag
- Summer Hat or a winter cap
- Mitten/Gloves (for cold weather)
- Toothbrush
- Baby’s toothpaste
Shoes
- Walking shoes
- Fancy shoes
- Crocs (for comfortable wear)
Feeding
- Milk bottles
- Sippers
- Breastpump (if applicable)
- Bottle cleaning brush
- Bottle cleaning soap
Diapering
- Diapers (more than you actual use on an average)
- Wet wipes
- Rash cream
- Travel potty (if applicable)
- Diaper disposable bags
Toiletries
- Baby tip to toe soap
- Loofah (if applicable)
- Sunscreen
- Comb
Medicines
- Basic medicine for constipation
- Basic medicine for diarrhoea
- Crocin
- Nasal Saline drops
- Basic medicine for cough and cold
- Thermometer
- Teething medicine (if any)
Baby gear
- Stroller
- Carrier
- Inflatable pool
- Pacifiers
Entertainment
- Colouring books with colours
- Board Books
- Children’s storybooks
- iPad/Kindle (whatever you prefer)
Now, that I have given you a basic list of all the essentials when travelling with toddlers, let me give you some tips on how to make things easier for you.
While packing for a vacation, what is the one thing that we struggle a lot with? It is SPACE. We always somehow feel that we have less space in our bags than we need. We, Indians, are the best at fixing a jugaad and that’s what I did. Trust me, it helped me a lot.
Here are some tricks that I swear by
- I filled my son’s small milk bottles with his bathing shampoo and the bottle cleaning soap, so that I don’t have to carry the big bottles in my travelling bag as they occupy a lot of space. This way I not only saved the money that I would use to buy smaller bottles but also I reuse the bottles that are no longer of my baby’s interest.
- Use diapers as cushions for your breakable stuff, so that you don’t have to use anything else to prevent them from breaking.
- Always opt for a rolling bag as it’s easier to carry.
- Pack your carry-on bag like an overnight bag and you will never go wrong.
- To avoid the hassle of getting the milk warm from room service every time your kid needed it, carry an induction cooktop. And with it, also comes the induction pan. I know you might think that it’s too much but trust me, it made my stay a lot easier and hassle-free.
- When it comes to milk, carrying formula is one option. You can also go for small tetra paks of any company you wish. One, they are easier to carry and two, there is no need to boil the tetra pack milk. The packaging of the tetra pack involves ultra-high temperature treating of the milk, which is then transferred into pre-sterilized packages in a sterile environment.
- Do NOT go for your kids’ vaccination just before your holiday.
Tips To Survive Flying With Your Toddlers
Another thing dreaded by new moms is flying with their toddlers. Many of my friends were scared to fly with their children as they didn’t know how they would handle a super-cranky baby in the flight. Here are some tried and tested tips that can be really helpful.
Choose your flight wisely
This is something that is very important and several parents tend to ignore it. If you have a long flight, choose a late night flight so that your kid can sleep through the journey and get his/her much needed night’s sleep. If you are travelling domestically, then choose the flight according to the sleeping schedule of your baby.
Ask for a bassinet/Prefer to book a separate ticket if your baby is under two years of age
Prefer to buy a separate ticket for your baby so that he/she can be more comfortable, or you can also request for a bassinet from the flight attendants. It’s easy to attach and your child can sleep peacefully.
Carry some non-electronic entertainment
Colouring books, board books or a little bowl of your baby’s favourite snack, make sure you carry something on the plane that will help you keep your toddler busy. As for the electronic items are concerned, do download some of the rhymes that your baby watches as they can get really grumpy at times.
Protect your baby’s ears
The air pressure can really irritate your child during the flight, so carry some crackers or a sippy cup or a pacifier as sucking and chewing helps ease the ear pain. You can also ask your pediatrician for some ear pain drops.
Pack an extra pair of clothing for baby and you
Always have an extra change of clothing for the baby and yourself.
Double the baby necessities
From diapers to formula to baby food, bring twice as much you think you’ll need.
Always visit a restroom before you board your flight
Check your baby’s diaper and change if needed before you get on that flight because it becomes a bit difficult to manage in the airplane’s restroom.
One of the parent should board last
One of the parents/or anyone who’s travelling with you can go first and get the carry ons settled, and you should take the baby inside the plane towards the end of boarding. It has always helped me because I feel that it becomes a little difficult to manage your child while everyone boards.
Be sure to save these tips for travelling with toddlers for future reference. Being prepared will not only help you soothe your baby in the best possible manner, but will also keep you calm throughout the entire process.
Images: Author’s Own
