How to Travel with a Baby

Traveling with a baby can be a relaxed experience for many parents, one they enjoy very much. For others, it is more of a nightmare. How is it possible that the neighbor’s Máňa has already traveled half the country with her baby almost since birth and even gone to the seaside by plane, while we are happy if we barely make it a few kilometers to the doctor?

Perhaps a surprising finding for some, but according to various moms’ discussions, it is about 50/50. Some babies sleep in the car without any problem, so traveling with them is a reward. Others, however, do not like the car and are capable of crying the entire way. 

Prepare before the trip

If you are planning to cover a longer distance by car, it is a good idea to try a trip nearby before setting out so you can see how your baby behaves in the car. If they are crying even before you leave the garage, even a short trip can be very stressful for you. A baby may cry for many reasons, such as being overtired, heat, a cramped space, too many stimuli during the day, hunger, motion sickness, etc. It is therefore a good idea to try fewer layers of clothing, feed before the drive, take more frequent breaks, or consider different travel times - just before sleep, on the other hand with a well-rested baby, or try driving at night. If nothing helps and the baby still cries, you may have to wait until they are older and can ride forward-facing. If the child does not have motion sickness, turning them to face forward always helps. If you also have an older sibling and you want to go on vacation or a trip partly because of them, then it is worth considering whether to let the baby suffer in the car. After all, babies are people too. 

Traveling another way

Another option is to travel by train. There are many families that prefer this option because they have more freedom on a train. They can keep the baby in a stroller or wrap/carrier the whole way, and can take them out, breastfeed them, or play with them at any time during the journey. It is a more time-consuming way to travel, but for many it is the only way to get somewhere without stress. 

Traveling by plane is faster, but probably the most complicated of all possible means of transport. You need to have documents for the baby, arrange a crib at your destination if you are not sleeping together, have enough diapers or find out where to buy them there, and arrange travel insurance. The pressure in the ears during takeoff and landing may also be uncomfortable for the baby. Based on our own experience, we recommend flying only once the child is older, because a baby’s crying is very unpleasant for many passengers. And if you are flying at night, it is hard to sleep when a child is crying. 

What not to forget to bring

If you decide to go on a trip, be sure not to forget these items at home, in addition to the usual essentials:

• a snack - if the child has already started on solid foods
• medicines - for example Calgel or Camilia for teething, suppositories or syrup to reduce fever, cough syrup, seawater saline, and a nasal aspirator for a possible runny nose
• documents - if you are going abroad, the baby needs an ID card or passport
• a wrap or carrier - if the baby only falls asleep when being carried, or if carrying aids may be useful on trips where a stroller would be difficult to use

A few words at the end

No matter what you decide, above all do not compare yourself with other mothers. We are all different, and our children’s temperaments differ as well. For some, a baby’s crying is stressful; others see it as part of childhood and, when they want to go on a trip, they simply go. Believe that once your baby is older, you will definitely enjoy outings. You won’t have to deal with diapers, breastfeeding/formula, daytime naps, or solid foods. It will be much more relaxed. And if you do set out on a trip, enjoy it, because your baby will never be this small again, and every moment spent with them away from home will give you energy for the days ahead.