Is there anything nicer than being on vacation with the family? It’s a chance to bond and spend time together, have fun and make memories. You get to introduce your loved ones to new sights and sounds, new foods, new activities and so much more. But if your little family has gained an extra member in recent times, this can make things a little trickier when it comes to travel. However it’s no reason to simply stay at home, and you can still have a wonderful time together. Just bear these things in mind.
How Long Is The Flight?
Flying can be a little stressful for babies and young children, and so for your first trip together it might be best to choose a destination that’s not too far away. A flight lasting a couple of hours or less will be far more manageable with less pressure on you to keep them happy than one lasting several hours or more. Have a look at destinations that aren’t too far away and see how things go, that way if you want to take a trip a little further out next time you know exactly what to expect. Planning ahead is always recommended, you need to make sure your baby won’t be cold or hungry, and that they’re comfortable. Depending on how old your baby is when you want to go away, you might need a GPs note stating that you’re fit to fly. Don’t leave anything up to chance, you don’t want to end up having a nightmare journey when some stresses were unavoidable.
What Will The Weather Be Like?
When you’re taking a baby or small child away, you ideally want to be in a climate that’s neither too hot or cold. Extreme temperatures can be dangerous for babies and you don’t want to spend all of your time making sure they’re not too hot or cold. Choose your location, as well as the time of year you travel carefully. Do plenty of research into the likely weather conditions so you can be prepared and know that you won’t be spending the whole time seeking out warmth or hiding in the shade from the sun. Of course, the weather is never guaranteed but you can still be prepared for what you’re most likely to get.
Is it a Safe Country?
Keeping your family safe will of course be of the utmost importance to you, so when you’re going away there are a few precautions you might need to take. First of all, you will need to check out the foreign travel advice page of your government’s website, and check that it’s safe to travel. Some countries have high rates of crime, political instability, war and much more so certain areas are best to be avoided. Another thing to be aware of is the health of the country, for example in some parts of the world malaria and other illnesses are high risk especially at certain types of year. You might need travel vaccinations, and your baby might need to have their regular childhood injections pushed forward so they’re immune from these illnesses too. Even in very safe parts of the world you should always be aware of risks. Food poisoning, slips and trips and other accidents can happen to any member of your family. Make sure you have good travel insurance to cover you, and speak to a personal injury professional such as https://www.gograylaw.com when you return home if you’ve been ill or injured abroad. They can help you get the compensation you’re entitled to if it was a result of someone else’s neglect.
What Will You Need to Bring?
Most of us overpack when it comes to vacations, and you will probably find yourself packing far too many outfits, shoes and accessories for yourself. But when it comes to packing for a baby it can be even more of a minefield, as they actually do need and use so much stuff. You will need to consider everything from a portable steriliser to bottles, they need enough clothes and diapers, toiletries and much more. Do lots of research here, read articles and ask on forums if you’re unsure. Compile a list, and make sure you have everything you need. The weather and location will come into play so you’ll need to ensure you’re well prepared. Instead of giving every family member their own suitcase, it’s advisable to include some of everyone’s belongings in each case. At least that way if one of your cases goes missing (as they often do when it comes to airlines) you all still have at least some of the items you need. Another thing that you’ll of course want to remember is a camera with a memory card which has plenty of space on it. These will be magical moments on your first trip away together, and you will want to capture as many as possible.
Don’t Stress
When you’re stressed, your baby will also feel stressed. Be mentally prepared beforehand that the journey might not be the easiest. You little one will probably cry, there could be delays and your vacation will be a lot different to how it was when it was just you and your partner. But it’s so worth getting away, building these memories together and enjoying the company of your little family. Be prepared to take the bad with the good, and don’t sweat it if things don’t go exactly to plan. Do plenty of research and planning to avoid as many surprises as possible, but be aware there will probably still be some! Take it as it comes and don’t worry too much. People might think you’re mad taking a baby away when they won’t remember it, but you will! It will still be special to you. Just like the reason we celebrate our children’s early birthdays and throw them parties, the fact that they won’t remember is neither here nor there- it’s still fun for them at the time and something we will remember all of their lives. Our children are young for such a short period, it’s important to embrace this magical time.