Although travelling with a baby may sound daunting, it doesn’t necessarily need to be. We travelled for our first long trip with Frog when she was 9 months old and, although she wasn’t newborn, we still had all the usual baby paraphenalia and nerves about long stints of crying on a cramped plane.

It was pretty special when we got there though, so the hassle of travelling was worth it for the amazing holiday we had.

This post is intended to cover a few of the things you might need to know if you find yourself about to go on a long trip with a baby in tow.

When is it safe to travel with a baby?

While some airlines – including low cost airlines – allow newborns to travel a few days after birth, most doctors recommend parents to wait until their child is at least three months old.

Newborn babies have relatively weak immune systems, meaning they aren’t as able to fight off airborne contaminants. Have you ever caught a cold during a long flight? Even healthy adults are prone to viral infections while on a plane, which goes to show how vulnerable a tiny baby can be.

How can I make travelling with a baby as easy as possible?

It goes without saying that any travel by car should be done with an approved baby seat. For longer journeys, it can help to pack a little bag of helpful first-aid type items. For example, Infacol for before feeds, nasal congestion drops, calpol and teething gel (don’t forget to check the rules about fluids allowed on the flight though).

Just like adults, babies can get poppy ears during take-off and landing. This is why it helps to have a dummy or bottle ready, or to breastfeed during these periods, as the sucking motion will help your baby avoid painful blocked ears.

If you’re able to, book seating in advance. It will help if you can be near the front of a row, with more leg room, or near an aisle in case you need to wander about to soothe a cranky baby.

Be aware that the in-flight entertainment might not be all CBeebies and baby-friendly films. So take some of your baby’s favourite picture books and toys along to keep boredom at bay during times of wakefulness.

And relax! It’s not as scary as it seems. (Mind you, I haven’t travelled with more than one child before – I’m sure that’s a whole different ball game!)

What tips have you got for parents travelling with a baby for the first time?

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