We are a couple who loves to travel, no doubt! When we got married, we had a blast traveling to different places together for three years. I thought we can’t do this lifestyle anymore when we already have a baby. So we made the most out of our baby-less married life. And suddenly this blessing came and we’re so excited. But at the back of my mind, I was calculating the months of my due date and then poof, it’s near our South Korea travel dates. We were supposed to experience our first snow last January of 2011 if we didn’t have this bundle of joy. What’s supposed to be our last hurrah before a new addition to family arrives was postponed. Heck, we even have a notion that once the baby’s out, we have to say goodbye to the wanderlust lifestyle, all travel plans shelved.
For one, it’s difficult to explore and get lost in unfamiliar places with a crying baby in tow. Aside from that, consider all the necessities you have to bring such as baby bottles, lots of clothes, baby food, bottle sterilizer etc… Others find it expensive to travel with a baby too.
But we proved it wrong, we were able to do it when Gwen was 7 months old and we had so much fun, we became more involved and hands-on with Gwen on our short trip so traveling with a baby is not a problem to us since then.
Here are some tips on how to make traveling with a baby possible:
1. Look for a homey and well-equipped accommodation. If possible, stay at a friend’s house. When we went to Singapore, we stayed at a friends house so we’re free to use all the facilities, I was able to cook, wash the feeding bottles, cook and reheat baby food, do the laundry etc… I can’t do all those things when we stayed at a hotel. But if you don’t have friends who are willing to adapt you in other countries, there’s Roomorama. I consider Roomorama as your home away from home because you can use all the amenities available in the apartment while you’re there, it’s part of the package. This is very convenient compared to staying at the hotel wherein your actions are very limited. If you’ll be traveling with a baby, kids, with the whole family, this is the way to go.
In fact, we’re going to use it on our Hong Kong trip this year and we’re looking for nice apartments as early as now:
Roomorama Hong Kong
And how lucky can we get that one of the apartments has a playground too…
2. Bring medicines for fever, etc.. and vitamins. You need to boost baby’s immune system while traveling.
3. Plan your itinerary. Traveling now is no longer a shop til you drop or walk til you drop, allot some rest times in between for naps and feeding times.
4. Just bring minimum number of bottles and just wash at the apartment. Or buy those Avent Tempo Liners to avoid bulky luggage. Or better yet, breastfeed!
5. Bring lightweight strollers or baby carriers. This will be a big help and will save your back from carrying baby.
I think the most important tip is just to enjoy! Consider your travels as a bonding and learning experience for you and your baby too. Start your child early in learning different cultures and walks of life.
very true! i myself was very scared when i brought my lia to singapore without a yaya and her lola in tow. but like you, i survived!! and i feel we became closer because of that trip. traveling with a baby is really possible if you make yourself equipped beforehand 🙂
This is a nice read! I think you have a very helpful blog. I especially liked your puree recipes! I’m thinking of buying a high chair, and im browsing all your entries about it! Thanks for sharing these stories, they’re very informative!
Some people stop going on holiday the minute they have a baby. You do have to adapt things slightly, but it can be done. It’s not always easy and the key is to be flexible. Both my children took their first flights at only a few months old.
I agree with all your points, and although Roomara sounds great, where you stay doesn’t necessarily have to be homely and well-equipped. We recently stayed at Railay Bay, Thailand. My baby was 6 months old. The hotel (which was fairly basic) washed our bottles, I took disposable steriliser bags just to make sure the bottles were extra clean as you can’t drink the tap water there and I took jars of food for her to eat.
I don’t have kids yet but I have experience traveling with my baby nephews and nieces…. but with their parents.. Hehe. But we always plan our trip with them in mind from the type of accommodation, their food and other supplies. “they” are carrying a lot… Hehe I’ll just carry the baby…. 😉
Travelling with a baby is truly hard.
But you can still enjoy it as a family .
I’m happy you found ways to still pursue your travels. That bundle of joy is a gift.
“Consider your travels as a bonding and learning experience for you and your baby too. Start your child early in learning different cultures and walks of life.” – i love this! … yes all is possible!.. just not sure if I want to do it all again lol! From Gems of My Dailies
Thanks legallymama. Heading on to your blog too!
Yay, thanks for sharing Roomorama! I have two kids and it’s always a production number whenever we travel. Although they’re big enough naman that we don’t have to bring a yaya anymore.
nice Advice dear and nice blog for parenting too! I have a 4yrs old daughter now and i never had a hard time bringing her out of the country since she’s 2 yrs old. so now were planning to have a baby this blog would really help for me when travelling! good job dear! God bless xx tauyanm.blogspot.com
hay off muna aq in traveling with my baby, sobrang hassle(for me lang jejeje) can’t enjoy the place and the moment minsan cguro pag nasa right age na lng pag naaapreciate na rn nya jejeje
This is indeed a helpful entry mostly to those couples who loves to travel and worries about their kids with them… Na excite naman ako magka baby na! aaahahah
I really haven’t thought of this yet, not that I’ll have a child soon or what. But I think at the back of my mind, I believed traveling with a baby is super hard and spells s-t-r-e-s-s. I’m glad to have read your post though ’cause it can be enjoyable pa rin pala with proper planning and execution.. 🙂 I’ll definitely take note of these tips and try it out when I have a family of my own.
I agree, traveling shouldn’t stop once you have a baby. It may not be like before that you’d have to stay out up until midnight to shop but it’s going to be a different kind of travel when you’re with your baby.
For me, I just make sure the hotel can provide baby cot and i’m all set. Yes, the disposable liners for travel feeding bottles help a lot! when cleaning bottles, i just ask for dishwashing liquid from the hotel’s housekeeping and i’m all set. I always bring my brush and sterilizer along 😀