EE ndless screaming in a confined airplane seat,uncontrollable crying while waiting in line for

some cheap burgers because you simply did not

have the time to eat, terrible tantrums in the middle

of a shopping mall and food stained clothes, the mark

of a true parent. All these horror stories are enough to

cripple your grand idea of walking out the door with a

suitcase packed for a holiday.

I was determined to prove my fears wrong. When my

little boy, Seth was three-months old, I headed to

Cambodia for a community service trip. The trip was

planned many moons back and I had promised some

local friends that Id be there to help run an English

camp and bring a group of 25 youngsters with me. Of

course, I didnt do it alone, my husband, who was

then a new dad too, came with me. The experience

of travelling with a tiny person was new and

beautifully strange for both of us.

The trip was a great success. I had Seth in my sling

most of the time, I breast-fed him in empty

classrooms, he slept through most of the days

activities and was a bundle of joy to the village folk.

He even snoozed off in a hammock while I taught in

the village. Of course, there was the occasional

whimper but it wasnt too much to bear.

FROM ZAFIGO STORIES TIPS

What new moms need toknow about travelling withyour babyBy Deborah Chan on June 15, 2015

570 shares 1,674 views

Travelling with Seth at 4 months (Pic credit: Deborah

Chan)

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I learned three incredibly profound lessons after the

trip

Lesson #1: Life doesnLesson #1: Life doesnt stop after we have childrent stop after we have children ..

They are part of us, if we stop, then they lose out on

the opportunity to experience and see the real us.

And travel was a big part of me.

Lesson #2: Traveling with a baby is a case of mindLesson #2: Traveling with a baby is a case of mind

over matterover matter. . Once I have determined to go, there was

no turning back and I just dealt with situations as they

came along. This lesson empowered me to believe

that I can (and will) be stretched but holidays dont

have to be stressful.

Lesson #3: Excuses are just lame reasons to cover upLesson #3: Excuses are just lame reasons to cover up

our fears. our fears. Ive heard parents say:

I will travel after my child turns one (Then No.2

comes alongthen what?)

Its too troublesome

Way too much stuff to bring

My baby wont even remember it. Whats the point?

He needs to stick to a strict schedule if not

Im certain Seth wouldnt remember his first trip to

Cambodia when he slept in a hammock in a village

among cows, chickens and dogs while I chatted away

with village folks but photos will tell and more

importantly, I learnt that children are way more

adaptable and versatile than we think. So let go and

be open to new experiences.

First Community Development trip with Seth (Pic

credit: Deborah Chan)

Once youve decided on making that trip, here are

some things you should do:

1. Research on the destination. Research on the destination. Is it child-

friendly? Do you have easy access to babyproducts if you need them? Are there anyactivities suited for your child? How long doesit take to get there and what is the mode oftransport? Does the hotel provide a baby cot?You will need all this information to plan andprepare your checklist.

1. Choosing your flight itinerary. Choosing your flight itinerary. It is advisable to

purchase flight tickets with the flying timeoverlapping your childs nap time. This insome ways ensures that you have a peacefulride. Most airlines will also give priority forfront row seats (more leg room and space fora bassinet, which you would need to request)to passengers flying with infants.

2. Planning your itinerary.Planning your itinerary. Things will change

especially when you least expect it. So keepyour itinerary fairly flexible but make anattempt to have a MUST DO LIST of at leasttwo items so that you dont end up sitting inyour hotel room for most of the holiday.

3. Consult your family doctor or paediatrician.Consult your family doctor or paediatrician.

Even if you are super adventurous, you willneed to do the necessary as a parent. Ifyoure bringing a baby with you, make surehe/she is properly vaccinated and that yourdoctor knows where you are going and forhow long to adequately advise you. For myfirst trip, I consulted three doctors!

Seth in a hammock (Pic credit: Deborah Chan)

Tip: Tip: Try to go somewhere

nearby or on a road trip just

to get the hang of moving

about with your child

outside of your usual

surroundings.

TipTip: If youre on

an extended holiday

(longer than two weeks),

bring some basic

medication for your child,

1. Packing for your trip. Packing for your trip. While this might initially

sound like a daunting task and everything inyour babys room may seem to be a necessity,you dont actually need to lug your entirehouse with you to have a great time (andsurvive!). Heres my basic baby (1-18 months)travel checklist, mainly for tropicaldestinations. Depending on the type of traveland the expected weather conditions, I willadd to this list as required:

On the body:On the body:

Onesies / Rompers

Pants / Shorts

Pajamas (usually long sleeve onesies to keep

warm)

Hat

Shoes and socks

Baby lotion

Sunscreen

Sudocream Essential for nappy rash, heat

rash and it even works on insect bites.

Mosquito patch Doubles up as protection

for you too if youre carrying little bub.

Bibs Try to get the lightweight silicone ones

that are washable.

Diapers

Wet wipes

Small plastic bags for soiled diapers to keep

the nasty smell at bay

Essentials:Essentials:

Bottles Usually one would suffice, but for

long haul trips, I bring two just in case.

Sippy cup After Seth turned 6 months, I

added this to the list.

Washing detergent for bottles

Bottle brush

Milk powder After 7.5 months, Seth was

taking formula milk. If you are still

breastfeeding, you have less to carry!

Food & Snacks Read the Food & snacks

section below for a variety of travel friendly

food I love to have with me.

Portable blender A friend gave this to me

and its the handiest tool. Im not selling the

brand, but you will probably find similar

products in the market that blends baby food

without the need to be electrically powered.

Failing which, a fork would do the job too!

Hot water flask One of the most essential

for flu, fever and cough. It

will save you the hassle

of hunting down a

pharmacy. A thermometer

is also handy.

items to bring along. Hot water on the go

anytime, anywhere.

Diapers Bring enough for 5-7 days as

diapers can be bulky and heavy to carry. If you

run out, you can buy it at any town or city you

are visiting.

Baby carrier Best invention ever. Believe it or

not, Seth has never used the pram since his

birth. I just found using the carrier a lot more

convenient and hassle free. A good one like an

Ergo keeps shoulder and back aches away.

To keep him happy:To keep him happy:

A toy and a book Something to keep baby

entertained. Dont go overboard with toys, one is

really enough for comfort sake. What I found

interesting was, Seth loved travel brochures and

magazines and we often read from these, making up

stories of places and people. Tip:Tip: Improvise. Babies

are easily entertained (eg. toilet roll, mint boxes,

remote control).

Just in case:Just in case:

Medicine For extended trips (more than a

week) I usually stash the basic flu, cough and

fever meds with me and a syringe. Thankfully I

never had to use the stash, but its wise to

have it with you to avoid hefty medical bills or

hunting for a pharmacy.

Toys (Pic credit: Deborah Chan)

Carrot sticks (Pic credit: Deborah Chan)

Food & snacks:Food & snacks:

Depending on how old your baby is and how long

you are gone for, the food selection can vary. At six

months, everything that Seth ate was bland (no salt,

no sugar as is). After eight months, the taste

experiment started and since then, Seth has been

pinching from our plates every time we eat. I will feed

him till hes almost full and then leave room for

tasting. Now, Seth at two years old eats everything

and anything.

Must have for six to eight month olds is a

small container of rice cereal to mix with

veggie or fruit. Weetbix works too.

Purees I make these ahead of time, store

them in small containers and pack them in

freezer bags with ice packs. I carry the freezer

bag with me on the airplane if Im flying. At the

hotel, I transfer them into the fridge. But if Im

camping or theres no fridge available, I will

bring or buy mashable foods such as bananas,

papayas and avocados.

How much food to bring? I will bring

anywhere from 4 8 servings and spread it

out throughout the trip. There is no point in

bringing more than 8 servings as you would

want the food to be as fresh as possible.

When my supply depletes, we order baby-

friendly food such as steamed veggies on the

side, porridge or stews.

Snacks The last thing you want is to feed

your baby some Twisties or Cheezels because

you dont have anything at hand and your

baby is hungry. And when your baby starts

teething, thats also when they start snacking

the most. Seth loves cucumber and carrot

sticks, especially when they are chilled,

healthy rice crispies and water crackers are

great too.

Thats it! Now giddy up, plan the next trip, pack away

and have a fab time exploring the world with your

little one!

Note: This post was updated on 17th June 2015 to

include additional tips on vaccination and more

based on our readers feedback and questions.

Thank you, our dear readers, for your responses.

TAGS:

Travelling With Baby Travelling With Children

More from Zafigo:More from Zafigo:

Travelling with a child? Fret no more!

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DEBORAH CHAN

Deborah is behind the Ardent

Traveler website, a travel site

focused on sustainable travel, unique

accommodations, personalities while

on the road and travelling with a

toddler. Deb's writing has appeared in

Travel & Leisure, Asian Geographic,

The Star, Wild Asia, Greenty, Asia

Rooms and Live & Inspire. Follow her

adventures with her toddler in tow at

www.ardenttraveler.com .

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