As you gear up for a trip with your baby, we suggest you think of your young traveling companion as someone who'll add a whole new dimension to your travel experiences. Be sure you dial down your expectations, set realistic goals, and take it nice and easy. Here are some parent-tested suggestions for traveling with a young child:
Be flexible
Traveling with children can be a wonderful experience – if you go with the flow. At this stage, your baby probably won't like sitting still or doing "grown-up" activities for too long, so keep your itinerary simple. Limit it to one big activity a day and give your baby plenty of time to explore at his or her own pace.
Pick a family-friendly destination
Choose a relaxing destination that's used to young visitors, so you don't have to sweat the details. We recommend a lazy beach retreat, family camp, nature resort, or similar kid-friendly place. Skip the crowded, overstimulating tourist destinations, places without shade, and other spots that will pose an added challenge when you have a young one in tow. Look for family-friendly hotels and resorts that provide free meals to children or buffet-style breakfasts included in the price of the room.
Bring drinks and snacks
Make sure to tote along plenty to drink and a bag of snacks on any trip. Best bets are easy-to-pack snacks like baggies of whole grain cereal, precut fruits and vegetables, and other age-appropriate nibblers. Dispensing snacks at pre-announced intervals will give your child something to look forward to. Bring wipes for easy cleanup.
Plan frequent stops
If you're driving, break up your trip so your child can stretch his or her limbs and move around to blow off some pent-up energy. Pick out parks and picnic areas on your route. End your driving day early so all of you have time to unwind after a long day on the road. If you're flying, keep in mind that layovers can be a good thing, as long as they're not too long.
Think safety
Be sure to pack a basic childproofing kit
to use at your destination. If you're taking a road trip, make sure your child's car seat is properly secured. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, up to 85 percent of car seats aren't installed correctly. If you're traveling by plane, the safest place for your baby is in a car seat (approved for air travel) that's securely fastened to a seat.
Pack a goody bag
Take along a goody bag filled with more toys and doodads than you think you'll need. Try an array of books and favorite playthings, and a few new items like stickers. Wrap some of them before you leave and present your child with a surprise every once in a while. Start building your goody cache a few weeks before the trip.
Take practice trips
To get a feel for what works and what doesn't when you're on the road and away from home, you might try leading up to a big trip with some short day trips or weekend getaways. The trial runs could provide key insights – about things like what supplies you should pack, how long your child can last in a car seat, and which toys keep your child happy (or drive you nuts).