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Travelling with an Infant: Things you must not ignore

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Published on June 23, 2023. EST READ TIME: 3 minutes

You have missed out on a year or two of travels and want to get going again. However, a new factor has come into the picture this time, your infant. If you are worried about your upcoming travel plans, here are a few things to keep in mind. Travelling with infants can be a lot of fun if you take the right precautions. After all, the chances are high, it might be your first outing in a while.

Knowing the right time to travel

One of the first things that you must consider during your travels with infants is their age. You must avoid any sort of travel or trip during the initial few days. The reason being infants are prone to infections and other diseases due to their low immunity.

It is best to avoid any travel for the first three months. However, if it is unavoidable, you can travel with them in other modes apart from a flight since airlines have strict policies for infants. To be on the safe side, travelling with an infant who is at least 6 months old is highly recommended. Not only would they have strengthened their immunity a bit, but also would have settled down into a regular pattern of eating and sleeping.

Steps to keep your infant safe

The way you travel and the activities that you usually do will change considerably when you have an infant along. It is important to keep a few things in mind. For starters, ensure that you do not plan for hectic days. Keep it light and easy for most of the day and do not plan long travels. If you are someone who likes to undertake a lot of activities, it is recommended to adapt and make it as few as possible for one day.

This way, you will not exhaust yourself and the baby. You will also need to consider the sleep and eating schedule of your baby for planning the day.

How you can feed a baby when travelling?

When you are travelling with infants, you must spend some time packing the right kind of food, to make it a little easier on yourself and your partner. Here are a few simple tips.

1. It is a good idea to carry food that can be easily mashed so that feeding becomes a tad easier. Some examples include berries, mangoes, bananas, etc.

2. Though it largely depends on the place that you are travelling to, scrambled eggs, shreds of chicken, pasta, cheese, etc. can be good eating options.

3. You can even consider booking an Airbnb that provides you access to a kitchen. This way, you can cook some vegetables and feed your infant.

4. Greek yoghurt can be a good food option if your infant has started eating dairy products.

5. Do not forget to pack in additional wet wipes and bibs, because you might need plenty of them.

6. Infants are prone to ear pain due to the change of pressure while landing and taking off. You can plan to feed them during these times, to help them avoid any ear pain.

7. For an infant who is just starting to consume solid foods, single-grain cereals that are typically iron-fortified can be a great option. You can either mix them with formula, breast milk, or water.

8. And ensure that you provide them with boiled water over packaged water, to avoid any issues with the tummy.

What to bring for your infant on a trip?

You might end up spending more time packing for your infant, than for yourself. Though it largely depends on the duration of the trip and the kind of place that you are travelling to, here are a few basics that you cannot miss.

1. Even before you start packing things, creating a checklist can be quite useful. It will help you avoid missing out on any items.

2. For infants who can sit up and eat solids, it might be sensible to pack a portable folding seat.

3. Utensils for your infant and a sippy cup.

4. Clothes that are specific to the weather of the place that you are travelling to, such as gloves, hats, jackets or coats, etc.

5. A lightweight pram or stroller, so that they can travel comfortably.

6. Enough clothes to last them for the entire duration and do not shy away from packing a few more.

7. Carry the essentials such as diapers, wipes, bibs, soaps, rash creams, and lotion.

8. Make sure that you pack their favourite toys and things that they enjoy playing with.

Other tips to keep in mind

Apart from the above, there are a few other tips that you must keep in mind.

1. If you are travelling abroad, ensure that you opt for family travel insurance. A travel insurance policy will safeguard you against a lot of pitfalls, ensuring you can focus on your infant without worrying about other things.

2. It is important to hydrate your infant at regular intervals since they might not be able to indicate when they are thirsty.

3. Carrying a light blanket can be useful, especially if you are travelling by train. You can use the blanket as bedding for better protection against germs. And look for lower berths.

4. Starting a bit early will make your journey a bit easier since infants are usually happy during the day.

Conclusion

Planning your first few trips with an infant will require some effort and additional precautions. However, it will also make sure that you can travel with your little one and they will also have fun all the while. For international trips, it is always a good idea to check with an airline about the ticket of the infant, even if they sit on your lap. Getting international travel insurance can be mandatory, depending on the country that you are planning to visit. However, it is a good idea to buy them irrespective of the visa requirements.

Disclaimer : The above information is for illustrative purpose only. For more details, please refer to policy wordings and prospectus before concluding the sales

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