I have previously written blogs for flying with a baby and for taking a road trip with a baby (click the links to read them), but this post is different. These tips will focus on being out and about for long periods of time while sightseeing and partaking in touristy things, along with staying in the hotel for an extended period with the baby.
Plan for baths
If you have space, bring a collapsible basin which you can fill with water and bathe your baby standing up. Or you can bathe your baby in the sink. We did this and it works fine but hold him/her tight and make sure you bring the soap/body wash.
Research where to buy distilled Water
Depending on where you’re going, and how safe the drinking water is, you need to be careful with the water you use to make milk. In the Philippines we made sure we had lots of distilled water, not only for her milk but also for bathing, we didn’t want her accidently drinking any bath water and getting sick. And in Japan, we had a hell of a time finding distilled water without minerals. After roaming the busy Tokyo streets and searching endless stores, we finally found “water for babies” at the Matsumoto Kiyoshi drug store.
Sterilize your bottles
Your baby will need milk/formula and if you’re staying longer than 2 nights, chances are that you will need to bring either a ton of bottles or wash and sterilize them. Plan for the later. Bring a Doctor Brown’s Microwave Stream Sterilizer Bags, a brush and soap to wash them with. Wash them in the sink and ask for a microwave to sterilize them. If you cannot access a microwave, sterilize them using the kettle.
Skip the car seat (if possible)
A car seat takes up a lot of space in your hotel room and is a pain to lug around the airport, if possible avoid bringing it. Research the place you are travelling to and see if it’s mandatory in ride sharing apps and taxis. And if it is, there is always an option in Uber to request a car seat. If you’re mostly taking the train or bus, you won’t need it anyways.
Request a crib at the hotel
This is obvious, but I’ll throw it in anyways. Even if you plan to let the baby sleep in your comfy king size bed while on vacation, it doesn’t harm to have the crib to put him/her in while getting ready for a day of exploring. Or you can enjoy the bed to yourselves and have a crib right next to it with your baby sleeping away.
Plan for naps on the go
If you’re like us and like to do and see a lot, sometimes there won’t be time to head back to the hotel for a nap. Bring milk and bottles along and plan for the baby to nap in the stroller. We did this in Japan and The Bahamas. Just make sure you are prepared for the weather, in Japan it was winter, so she was bundled up and we brought a blanket. In The Bahamas, we found a shaded spot when touring the Atlantis Resort, gave her milk and we took turns staying with her under the shade and holding a mini fan to keep her cool. One of us would swim while the other would stay with our baby.
Pack/buy lots of snacks
Bring lots of snacks in your luggage that you can give to your baby and bring while you’re out sightseeing. Good snacks will keep your baby satisfied and sometimes you may be in a pinch. Or you can buy snacks there… depending where you are you might find some cool snacks for you baby that you can’t find back home.
Buy fruits at a corner store
Just like yourself, your baby might not be eating as healthy as they normally would back home. But at least find a corner store or market to buy some fruits to keep up some good nutrition. We would bring fruits and ice from the hotel while out and about and would feed our baby the fruits in the hotel room too. Most babies love fruit and it’s healthy too!
Bring vitamins and Baby Tylenol
Fruit will help your baby’s immune system, but it also helps to bring some vitamins. We would bring Enfamil Tri-vi-sol. This helps boost immunity and keeps your baby healthy. It sucks travelling with a sick baby, but it can happen, as it did with us, especially if you are travelling for a long period of time. Bring some Tylenol too in case your baby gets sick.
Bring a few small toys and books
Bring toys for the airplane, but also ones that your baby can play with in the stroller while out and about. We also like to bring a couple books to read to our baby before bed in the hotel room. It helps at least maintain the minimal routine we have while on vacation.
Bring inflatable floaties (depending where you travel)
Bring floaties which are easy to pack if you’re going on a beach vacation. It makes swimming with your baby more fun, also gives you a bit more freedom to swim and enjoy the water while adding a layer of safety to swimming in the ocean. We use the SwimWays Baby Spring Float which is easy to pack and is fun for our baby to float in while in the water.
Take turns with your partner
Whether that is watching the baby nap while out and about, while the other one swims you may even have to take turns while eating. In the restaurant one partner may eat while the other entertains your baby. You may even have to take the baby outside while the food is still fresh and hot, but that’s part of being a parent, take turns with your partner to make it easier for both of you.
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Cutest little traveler!