11 Tips for Traveling with Baby

Summer calls for vacation plans filled with relaxation, fun, adventure and spending time with loves ones. But before that vacay kicks in, you usually must travel to your destination first. Whether by train, plane, boat or automobile, traveling requires some planning, especially when traveling with a baby or little ones.

The following are 11 parent recommended tips to help you on your next trip with baby:

Give hugs to keep baby comfortable. Traveling with an infant can feel nerve-racking: What if your baby gets fussy on the plane? What if they won’t sleep? How will I know when to change a diaper on-the-go? Babies can sense tension and stress from their parents so if you are uneasy traveling, your baby can feel it. Nothing is more reassuring to a baby than the comforting voice of their mom and dad. Some calming words, gentle touches, and many hugs help to soothe a baby and make them feel secure in a different environment.

Huggies diapers and wipes are inspired by parents’ hugs that nurture and care, designed to emulate a parent’s embrace at every moment. Huggies Little Snugglers Diapers provide gentle skin protection for babies’ sensitive skin and Huggies Natural Care Wipes are ideal for a gentle clean. When traveling, babies might have to sit for extended periods, Huggies Little Snugglers Diapers has a helpful wetness indicator to know when it’s time to change baby and its soft cover helps keep baby comfortable and lets the skin breathe. Visit Huggies.com to get $2 off a pack of Huggies Little Snugglers Diapers, so you can nurture and care for your little one.

Some ways to help soothe a baby during a trip is to gently put your hand on her head or feet; wrap baby in a blanket; hold or rock baby gently while you make a “shhh” sound; sing a favorite lullaby or song to baby.

Try to schedule travel during your baby’s main sleeping time. If you can travel at night while baby sleeps or whenever the baby has a longer sleep/nap time, you might find it to be an easier and more peaceful solution to travel.

Be sure to pack all the essentials. Diapers, wipes and snacks are key, but try not to overdo it since you’ll want to find what you need easily and quickly. It can be a challenge when you have an overstuffed diaper bag, so place items in a separate compartment within the bag so you can easily find it with one hand. When changing on-the-go, convenience and portability are key. Huggies Clutch ‘n’ Clean Wipes hang anywhere–making it versatile and accessible, from the diaper bag to the stroller, to the car and more. It’s refillable so it’s easy when you run out to reload with a new pack of Huggies Wipes making it perfect for tackling messes while out and about.

Bring a form of entertainment A couple books you can read to baby and one favorite toy. Remember babies can easily be entertained by a game of peekaboo, singing, and just making funny noises.

Prep meals and bottles ahead of time. Measure out the correct amount of formula for each bottle and have water ready or use a travel-ready product, which requires no hand washing and easily dispenses formula directly into your baby’s bottle.

Nurse whenever you need to. A full tummy will help soothe and make a baby comfortable. Don’t try to go long stretches without nursing. Pull over or stop to feed when necessary. Keeping baby on schedule will help you with your planning and will help with not having a stressed out or overly cranky baby while trying to travel.

Keep an extra bag close by. Use the bag to separate used items like wet clothing, used snack containers, etc.

Create a kitchen (even when there isn’t one). Even if your hotel room doesn’t have a kitchen or bar area, establish a spot where you’ll keep bottles, dishes, baby food, snacks, formula and dish soap. Sometimes the bathroom is best if it has the only sink in the room.

Pack all medications. Assemble a first-aid kit with the supplies you’ll need to deal with minor medical problems while on the road. Don’t forget prescription medications, even if your baby needs them only on occasion.

Protect baby from the sun in the car. Get removable shade screens for the car’s side windows to shield eyes from the sun and keep the car from getting too hot. Peel-and-stick shades are more secure and safer than those that attach with suction cups.

Rent a crib or portable play yard. If you can’t bring your own, request a crib when you make your room reservation or you may be out of luck when you arrive. Inspect it carefully to make sure it’s safe and in good condition before using it. You can also rent equipment from a baby equipment vendor or rental company. (Search “baby equipment rentals” or “stroller rental” on your search engine). A portable play yard makes an instant, child-safe area that you can plunk down in relatives’ homes, hotels, or other places that may not be childproofed.

With a little preparation (and a whole lot of hugs), traveling with baby can be a stress-free and an enjoyable experience!

Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Huggies. Any opinions stated here are our own .

Huggies believes deeply in the Power of Hugs, which is why every diaper and wipe is designed to emulate a parent’s embrace. The Huggies No Baby Unhugged program helps ensure all babies get the hugs they need to thrive by supporting hugging programs in hospitals and donating diapers across the country. Learn how you can help at Huggies.com #HuggiesCouncil #ad

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Joscelyn, Owner of Mami of Multiples & Mami Innovative Media

Joscelyn Ramos Campbell has more than a decade of experience as an award-winning former federal government public relations executive under the Bush and Obama administrations. The “super-connected power mom“ was recently named by Latina Magazine as one of “The 10 Best Latina Mommy Bloggers on the Web“; by CBS News as one of the “Top Bloggers in the Business“; by NBC Latino Work-Life Balance series as a “Top Latina Mom Blogger“; an Empowering Latina in the Marketing Field; by CNBC.com as a Top Latino Social Media Stars and Leading Hispanic Bloggers. She is the owner of Mami Innovative Media and founder of Mami of Multiples, one of the nation’s leading Latina American parenting and lifestyle sites offering resources and helpful tips for families. She is a nationally syndicated Parenting Columnist and co-hosts a Talk Radio Show. Joscelyn is a public speaker, military wife and mother to a teen son and identical twin boys. Connect with Joscelyn at @JoscelynRC & @InnovativeTalk.