Travel is fun. Throw a baby in the mix and it becomes…interesting. Don’t despair! It can be done and done successfully. And it doesn’t even have to break the bank! If you are looking for support, ideas, or even just to know that it’s possible, this post on Traveling with Babies is here for you! I also have posts on traveling with toddlers, traveling with kids on a budget, and traveling with kids.
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Traveling with Babies – Can it be done?
TL;DR – Yes!
Longer version – So my husband and I moved across the country for graduate school right after getting married. During our time in school, we had 3 babies. Our closest family was an 18-hour drive away. Of course, they wanted to see the grandbabies on holidays (and maybe us too?). And we wanted to show off our cutie pies and let them get to know their extended family.
Who can afford plane tickets for 5 on a grad-student budget? Not this family. We drove back and forth from Texas to the east coast regularly with babies as young as 3 months old. It wasn’t always smooth sailing, and there were plenty of tears. But I learned a lot along the way. It helps that I’m a researcher and planner. So I was (at least, I thought) prepared for conquering long trips with babies.
Most of the tips included here are for car rides but can easily be adapted for plane trips as well. I will also include sections with some air travel helps.
Traveling with Babies under 6 months
Car travel
Some babies ride really well in the car. Some babies, let’s just say, do not. I was with a group of mamas recently. And we were all reminiscing about our dearly beloved children and which ones enjoyed exercising their lungs *ahem* any time they were in the car.
For those little ones who are less than excited about being strapped into a car seat for hours at a time, camaraderie. It seemed like all of my (5) children went through an anti-carseat phase. And when we got through that phase, they would still have times here and there when the carseat was a no-go. On those super long trips, my little ones would make it all day just fine and then cry for like 2 hours straight near sundown. The “witching hour” parents know all too well is made ten times worse in the car!
Unfortunately, once they get going on that type of cry, there’s not a lot you can do in the car until they get it all out. The things that are tried-and-true at home just aren’t possible in the car. I can’t blame them at all for being upset. Who would want to be tightly strapped into a seat unable to move for hours? There are a few things you can try to ease their discomfort:
- Bottle with milk or water
- Offering toys (or “grown up” things to play with) Amazon has some adorable carseat toys. Grab one or a few for your long trip.
- Singing
- Playing music
- Turn radio to a static station
- Sit next to them
- Talk/tell a story (babies love to just listen to your voice)
- Play peekaboo
- Touch and name parts of their body (head, arms, toes, etc.)
Sometimes a reset like getting out of the car and walking around outside helps. But they may start back up as soon as you go to put them back in the carseat. It’s up to you if you want to just push through and keep driving or pull over constantly. No judgment here as you know what’s best for parents’ sanity and baby’s health. I am here to say that it’s not forever! They will outgrow the carseat hate. Though, for some kids, it may even take a few years. Thankfully, that’s not the case for most.
Air travel
Traveling by plane with babies under six months is possible as well. It’s a little stressful because their crying bothers not just you but everyone else on the plane as well. Some strangers are kind and understanding while others quickly forget their manners. The good thing is that plane rides are often shorter than car rides. So you don’t have as long to worry about it.
Many of the same activities listed above work great on planes as well. Keeping them entertained and happy is key.
The biggest issue for little bitties is usually take off and landing. The quick pressure changes are rough on little (and big if we’re honest!) ears. Some great tips for managing those moments are:
- Save feeding time for take off/landing. The sucking motion from drinking a bottle or sippy cup or nursing helps relieve pressure and keep it from building up. Similar to chewing gum for adults.
- If times don’t match up to eating, offer a pacifier or something they love to suck on. Even dipping it in something they love but don’t get often (like apple juice) would make it more interesting.
- If your baby is sitting up and can safely eat snacks like baby puffs or Cheerios, then definitely offer those at take off/landing as well.
- When it is safe to do so and nothing else is working anymore, walk the aisles with baby. It gives them a change of scenery and movement. But definitely save it until they are bored with everything else! Don’t want to do that first and then nothing else satisfy.
My rule of thumb for pulling out entertainment is to start with the least engaging and work up to the most. That way (best case scenario) they will be interested in everything rather than finding everything boring if you start with the most exciting. This holds true for all ages.
Traveling with Babies 6-12 months
Car travel
Once babies get over six months old, it becomes a little easier to entertain them in the car. They play better with toys and objects. And they interact better with games and songs. The same list above still applies. There are a few more things we can add to the list as well:
- Snacks. Snacks are such sanity savers.
- Let them sit on the ground and stretch their bodies at rest stops.
- Pack a bag of differently textured objects and bring them out one at a time.
- I don’t recommend screens as a rule. But on a long car ride, sometimes a screen can be a lifesaver when all other options are exhausted. They can help distract baby long enough for them to fall asleep or for you arrive at your destination.You can play baby songs on your phone or tablet. Or if you have a way to play blu-rays or dvd’s in the car, there are plenty of baby-friendly choices out there. My little ones always loved the Baby Einstein and Baby Genius line of videos when Mommy needed a short minute. They both have a great line of educational books and toys as well. Mother Goose Club on YouTube is great for littles too.
- Interactive songs with motions are great for this age. “Where Is Thumbkin?” “Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes,” “If You’re Happy and You Know It,” “Five Little Speckled Frogs,” “Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed.” I pull out some Bible songs too. They often have easy tunes and fun motions. “Zaccheus Was a Wee Little Man,” “This Little Light of Mine,” “Peter, James, and John in a Sailboat,” “Dry Bones.”
Air Travel
Air travel gets a little trickier with this age. Thankfully, they are still babies and many of the same tricks for younger babies still work well for those older than six months. Unfortunately, if an older baby gets mad, they get MAD. It’s harder to distract and calm. All the ideas listed in all the lists above work. A few extra ideas for air travel with older babies are:
- It costs extra, but having an extra seat for baby to stretch out and play is a great idea.
- Having downloaded a few of baby’s favorite songs/videos to play on your phone or tablet helps when baby just won’t settle.
- I can’t emphasize snacks enough. Lifesaver.
- I have seen these cute notes that parents have printed ahead of time and passed out to fellow passengers on behalf of baby. They are thoughtful and cute and are a great way to humanize yourself and baby before the flight begins. People have more sympathy and compassion for people that they see as “real” and equal.
One Last Thing…..
Please don’t ever take your baby out of his/her carseat while your vehicle is in motion. Not only is it illegal, but it is also incredibly unsafe. The most loving thing a parent can do is to protect their child from harm even if it means the parent (and the baby) are uncomfortable for a short while. Be smart. Be safe. Even tears are temporary.
For breastfeeding moms, pull over to nurse. Stop at a rest stop or safe gas station or restaurant. Baby will enjoy the snuggles and the chance to stretch out. If you have another driver with you, pump in the car and give baby a bottle of pumped milk. That worked great for us on our long drives. But please, never nurse while the vehicle is in motion. One quick decision like that and your life could change forever. Don’t take the risk.
Do you have any tried-and-true tricks that have helped you survive and thrive when traveling with babies? I’d love to hear about them in the comments!
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