Planning a Vacation to Travel Internationally
Are you getting ready to travel internationally with an infant? Are you worried that it may not be the right time to do so because you have a baby? Well let me tell you it is not hard to do and it’s not a scary thing to try as long as you are prepared.
It has always been my dream to travel the world so why not start traveling while your young. The summer that our daughter turned one we decided to travel to Mexico. This was the first time I had been out of the country but this was not our first time on an airplane so we had an advantage there. I had read a lot about traveling internationally with an infant before deciding to go through with this trip. I had my self quite worried before leaving. I thought it was going to be a very difficult trip. Well let me tell you traveling with an infant is not as hard as everyone makes it seem.
Packing Tips
While traveling with an infant your allowed to have your carry on and your personal item along with a diaper bag (this is most airlines but check yours first to be safe). I managed to pack all of her things in her diaper bag and a little in the carry one then we used one check bag for the rest of our items.
1. Pick out the outfits for the trip. Do the bare amount possible. I recommend one or two extra outfits for a full week if they get dirty you can always wash them at the hotel.
2. Set the outfits out for each day. Make sure you have socks shirt and bottoms. Then roll each outfit up and put it into a quart size bag. Depending on the age of your child and the size of their clothes you may need to use a bigger bag. You can also put a pair of pajamas in the same bag if there is room. I like to wrap the headband she will wear that day around her cloths so it will also be ready with her clothes.
3. Put two of these bags into the diaper bag and the rest in your checked bag.
4. Diapers and wipes. Put a pack of wipes and 10 or so diapers in the diaper bag. The rest can go in the checked bag.
5. Put as much possible of the other items in your diaper bag
For my diaper bag I had diapers, wipes, two days of clothes, toys, snacks, soap, two pjs. It will all depend on your diaper bag size
Should I Buy a Ticket for an Infant?
I have done it both ways. If you’re wanting to save as much money as possible I would pass it up and have them ride your lap. They can do this till age two. Buying a seat for them they can ride in their car seat and it can create more room for you. The thing I consider here is will your child sit in their car seat without fussing? Nothing is more annoying the fighting with a crying baby on the plane. People give you so many dirty looks!
Another tip I’ll give with tickets and boarding the plane. Talk to the attendants before boarding time. Most companies will allow you to board with the first group of you have an infant. This is extremely nice because you don’t have to struggle through the tiny plane isles packed with people while carrying an infant.
What Equipment Should You Take
I like talking a car seat and a stroller both of there can be processed at the gate. Taking both these makes life so much easier while walking through the airport. Make sure your car seat has no dangling toys. We lost ours sometime during our flight from Texas to Mexico. Honestly we did not use the car seat at all but I’m glad we took it just as a precaution. If we would have rented a vehicle we would have needed it. We took a shuttle from the airport to the resort and there was not a seat to buckle the car seat in.
Traveling with Infant is not Hard
Traveling with an infant does not have to cause a headache. If you use these simple tips it can be an experience of a life time. Pack light, plan ahead and be prepared.
