Baby on Board

Travelling with an infant can be one of the most daunting experiences for a new mother. Here’s how to make it a tad bit easier

The holiday season has arrived, and with it the chance of a respite from your daily life. Taking a long and relaxing break seems like heaven, doesn’t it? If you’re a new mother, you are probably gushing just reading about the idea of lying on the beach and soaking up the sun without a care in the world.

Sorry to pop your daydream but you must be warned: travelling with an infant is no easy feat. Just ask the other mothers in your social circle and they will agree. Even packing for an infant is a nightmare, considering the amount of things they might need and the current airline baggage allowances. Plus, one can never be too sure how your child will react on the flight and at the new destination. Fortunately, there are some easy travel hacks that you can use to make your travel a bit easier. Follow these tips and be ready for a journey you will cherish throughout.

Be baby-planned:

Pre-planning works all the time. It not only keeps your sanity in check but also helps organise priorities around the little one.

1.  Gear up for the fun: You should build some positive anticipation for the journey by pointing out planes flying by in the sky. This will help children acclimatise to this mode of transport. Perhaps you can even give them a toy airplane to play with a few days before flying off.

2.  Be ready for the unexpected: Keep in mind that children are highly likely get upset at least once during the trip — especially during take-off and landing.  The quicker you can tackle the situation, the better. No one knows your young one better than you, so plan and pack things according to their moods and needs, such as toys to distract them, medicine to soothe ear aches and an extra pair of clothing.

3.  Let the music play: If your toddler loves rhymes or certain music videos, make sure you have them downloaded on your phone. It could help as recourse if your baby is getting rowdy.

4.  Eliminate waiting time: Check all your timings in advance, whether for the flight or the tourist spot you are visiting. You don’t want to reach a tourist attraction and find it closed with a baby in your arms. Hence, keeping things in check eliminates uncertainty.

Pack Cleverly:

Excess luggage along with a child during any part of the trip will surely become cumbersome and exhausting so pack cautiously.

1.  Take along a day’s worth of child emergency accessories like diapers, no-mess nibbles, baby wipes and an extra set of clothes.

2.  Pack at least one toy to keep your child occupied. It is better to not let them see it until flying lest they grow bored of it by the time your flight leaves.

3.  A great baby carrier and backpack is very necessary. You and your husband can take turns wearing it but trust us, you will not regret it. These genius carriers are life savers at crowded places like airports, train stations and parks.

Set aside the essentials:

With one arm holding the baby, it can be quite difficult to arrange travel documents like your passport and boarding passes. The only way to avoid getting caught up is to set the essentials aside to avoid searching for it at the counter.

•  Keep all the important documents, chargers and medicines in a separate bag carefully.

•  Make sure you reach the airport ahead of time to beat the chaos. In fact, let your kid burn energy at the airport for him to sleep off the trip on board.

The final stop:

Now that you have successfully reached your destination, do not let your trip become memorable for the wrong reasons. These steps will help make your stay worthwhile.

•  If you’re traveling across time zones, wane the jetlag by taking a nice walk around the premises of your hotel. Remember that fresh air, daylight and exercise are the ideal cures for jetlag.

•  If your infant is being unusually cranky or tired, try to set up your hotel room up to resemble your home. This will help the little one feel more comfortable.

•  If you are staying for a long period of time, it is advisable to rent out a small apartment of a bigger hotel room for your child to ply around in. Apartments are often cheaper than hotel rooms and offer greater space than most hotels. Also, an apartment will have its own kitchen so you can make your toddler the kind of food they like.

•  Most importantly, remember that you are not the only one responsible for the children. Leave them with their father for a little while and take some time off to rejuvenate yourself. You will come back healthier and happier.

Quick checklist for travelling with children

Remember to tick off the necessities from the following list:

•  Diapers

•  Wipes

•  Blanket(s)

•  Plastic bags to throw away used pampers

•  Small bottles of disinfecting hand gel and toiletries. Pain relievers and supplies for treating minor injuries can also come in handy

•  Paediatrician’s phone number

•  Colour pencils, books, old favourites or new toys to surprise the infant along the way

•  Extra clothes, socks, and shoes (with the weather in mind)

•  Washable bibs

•  Sippy cups, bottles 

Nudrat Mustafa is a high-school teacher, considerate mentor and a passionate learner who loves to pen down things connected to fashion and lifestyle. Follow her on twitter @nudrat_mustafa

Published in The Express Tribune, Ms T, December 6^th, 2015.