Turn traveling with your little one into the most safe and seamless experience that you possibly can, with these tips for safety on the go!
Tips for a Seamless Ride
Here are a few tips to keep in mind while packing. First of all, be sure to pack a few days before you travel. This way, you’re less likely to forget things last minute. Also, you can use a waterproof diaper travel bag to prevent awkward moments. Don’t forget any medications, and be sure to keep them in plastic bags to prevent leaking!
If you’ll be flying, be sure to pack disposable diaper changing pads, because you probably won’t feel so comfortable putting your baby directly on the changing pad on the plane… Also, don’t forget a change of clothes, some sealable plastic bags, hand sanitizer for yourself, and prepared snacks for your baby.
If your baby takes formula bottles, here’s a tip for less mess: Get some premade ready-to-feed bottles for the trip, and keep them in a cooler! No more worrying about spilled formula. We do recommend you try the premade formula at home first and see if your baby likes it, since the taste can be slightly different than regular bottles.
Safety is a priority, of course. To ensure your baby’s safety as much as you can, there are a couple of essentials you’ll want to take along for the trip! You’ll need sunscreen, rash cream, and a baby first aid kit. In your baby first aid kit, you’ll want to include these safety essentials, that are important to have on hand at all times.
- Sterile gauze, tape, scissors
- bandages
- Pair of gloves
- FridaBaby FeverFrida Thermometer or a different baby thermometer
- Age-appropriate band aids
- Nasal aspirator
- Infant motrin
- Infant Tylenol & Motrin
- Card with doctor’s number, child’s insurance info, & any allergy & medication info
Plane Safety Tips
It’s always a good idea to come early to the airport to leave yourself some extra time to get through security, and this is especially true when you’re traveling with kids! It’s no fun to have to deal with untying knotted shoelaces at security - do everyone a favor, and before leaving for the airport, make sure all your teens have shoes that are simple to take off. Keep in mind that this is only for kids over 12 - thankfully, younger kids won’t need to take off their shoes!
Don’t forget to bring along a car seat, since you’ll need it when you get to your destination. If your baby is under a year, we recommend the Doona car seat stroller, since it saves you the hassle of having to bring both the lightweight stroller and a car seat, and it just makes life so much simpler!
The Doona stroller is FAA approved, so technically you can take it onto the plane with you to keep your baby safe in case of an emergency landing. The FAA encourages, but does not require, the use of car seats on the airplane for babies under 2. However, check with the flight airline before doing so, and find out if this requires you to purchase a seat for your baby. (It doesn’t always, since sometimes the flight will have empty seats and it won’t be a problem, but you’re better off finding out just in case!)
If you plan on taking a different stroller with you, try to find a lightweight stroller with an easy fold, since you’ll need to collapse it and have it go through the security belt.
Some people find it simpler to skip the whole stroller business and use a baby carrier, such as the popular BabyBjorn 3D Mesh Baby Carrier. A baby carrier is so much easier to deal with than even a lightweight stroller!
During takeoff and landing, encourage your child to suck on a bottle, sippy training cup or pacifier to prevent ear pain due to the dramatic change in altitudes. If your baby is sleeping during the time, let him sleep! Chances are, he’ll wake up if he feels pain.
If your baby has had an ear infection or ear surgery within the last 2 weeks, be sure to discuss the situation with your pediatrician before flying, and the same goes if your baby has a respiratory infection, or chronic heart or lung problems.
Car Safety Tips
Traveling by car is usually the preferred option when possible until your baby is at least a year, since they’re exposed to fewer germs in a car than they would be on a plane.
Before beginning the trip, make sure the car seat was installed securely. Grip the car seat near the belt path and move the seat, seeing if it can move more than an inch on either side. If your baby is not yet 2, use a rear facing seat (unless the baby’s height or weight surpasses the limits set by the manufacturer). Rear facing car seats are up to 5 times safer than forward-facing ones. Make sure the straps aren’t too tight or too loose by seeing if you can pinch them at the shoulders; if you can, that’s a sign that they need to be tightened a bit.
Dress your baby in comfortable clothes that make diaper changing easy, and be sure to take a break every hour or so to change your baby’s diaper, so that your baby won’t develop a diaper rash from the ride.
Car window sun blockers are a great item to have, to keep strong sunlight away from your baby. Babies should not be given foods while the car is moving, since if a child would accidentally choke, no one might realize, and that can be really scary. Any animals in the car should be secured, for everyone’s safety.
Whether you’re traveling by plane or car, we hope you find these traveling tips to be helpful! Happy traveling, everyone!