Tips for Going On A Holiday With a Baby for the First Time
If you have never been on holiday with a baby, it can be overwhelming thinking of all the things you need to pack and bring with you. When your home feels absolutely filled with baby things, the idea of taking all this abroad and not forgetting anything can feel nothing short of a miracle. Yet when you actually break down what you need for your little one and get a plan in place, it doesn’t need to feel so overwhelming. In this article we take a look at some top tips for going on holiday with a baby that should make it that bit easier.
Decide on the type of accommodation you want to stay in
One of the biggest things to think about when you are going on any sort of holiday, is the accommodation you are going to be staying in. Think about if you want a hotel or a self catered option and what the benefits are for the different choices. A hotel can be great if you want everything done for you, but can also provide you with less privacy. A villa or self-catered apartment can come with things such as a microwave and kitchen area which can make it a lot easier to sterilise bottles and prepare food for your baby if you need to. The downside to this is you have to do all the cleaning and tidying yourself and that there might be less amenities on offer.
Think about the method of travel
If you have never travelled with a baby before, you might feel apprehensive about it. Weigh up all the different methods of travel, how long they take, and what destinations you can get to through these. For example, you might want to consider a cruise which you can get from a city near you. This can enable you to bring more luggage, not be restricted to a travel method where you have to sit down in a seat the whole time, and means you can see a lot of places in one go. On the other hand, a plane can get you to more exotic places and can be cheaper than booking a cruise for the family. Alternatively, you might choose to do a road trip in your home country, taking the car and having the freedom and flexibility this brings. It is all down to you.
Take some down time for yourself
It can be quite intense travelling with a baby, and you might find yourself getting overwhelmed and not having much of a break. Ensure you take time for yourself, where you can leave the baby with your other half or a family member and just go and relax. This could be anything from putting your earphones in, listening to music and playing solitaire on your phone, to going to the spa and getting a massage. Remember, it's your holiday too, so you deserve to kick back and relax as well, it shouldn’t all be about you having to parent the whole time.
Pack strategically
Packing is one of the most important elements of your trip and you need to make sure you do this properly. Have a separate bag for baby things, where you include items such as your bottles, nappies and wipes, toys and any food pouches they might need. You then want a separate suitcase with their toys as well as spares of all the items mentioned above in case you lose anything. You don’t want to be spending your time in a new country having to run around trying to find baby essentials when you should be enjoying your trip abroad as a family and just having fun.
These are just a few things you can do when going on holiday with a baby for the first time that can make it that bit less stressful. It is great fun going away as a family or with your little one, but there is a lot to consider and it can all feel very overwhelming, very quickly. By packing well and being careful with your decisions, you will find it much easier to enjoy yourself, settle into a routine and see that it’s not as hard as you perhaps thought it was initially. What are some top tips you have for going on holiday with a baby for the first time? Let us know in the comments below, we’d love to hear from you.
