Summer Travel Tips

Thanks to our friends at Patients Like Me for these great tips!

Summer Travel Tips for First Time Moms

Summers are made for travel and whether that’s a couple hour road trip to another city or across the country to a beach, it’s important to keep your little one comfortable. Here are some tips other moms have shared for car or plane travel:

1. Once your baby starts to eat solid foods, give them fortified oatmeal and fruit puree for breakfast. Follow up with either breast milk or formula and then head out during their first nap of the day. When they wake up you can give them snacks until the next breastfeeding or bottle time.

2. Time in the car rules. 0-3 months stop after 30 minutes to stretch them, 3-6 months stop after an hour to stretch, 6-12 months stop after two hours to stretch. Remember at any age to have someone checking that they are in a good sleeping position and can breathe. 

3. Practice sleeping in a pack n play so you can travel in the summer. The pack n play is a life saver if you are heading out to see family, go camping or travel to other cities. 

4. Get a travel booster chair for dining out

5. Get a stroller for home and a travel stroller meant for overhead bins

6. Get a cheaper car seat that has a lockoff feature and a roller bag for it. Make sure it is FAA compliant to fit on any economy plane seat. This is also great for rental cars, ubers, and long distance bus trips. 

7. Most airports have breastfeeding pods or rooms you can reserve during layovers. Use them!! 

8. Take puppy or incontinence pads to change your little one on any surface without risking pee or poop on floors or furniture.

9. Instead of getting a big diaper bag, get a folding makeup or hygiene bag with a hook to keep in your purse or travel bag. You can sort diapers, wipes, pre rolled clothes, etc. It helps to hang it in a room for easier access to all your essentials. 

10. Build your own first aid kit! Pack all the essentials and remember to replace neosporin with vaseline or aquaphor, as it is not safe for infant use.

11. Take an infant first aid course. 

12. Try not to travel during peak sickness seasons like January or February for flu or RSV and August or September for covid.  

13. Send someone to the car to get the AC started before you bring the baby in. This helps keep them comfortable and avoids hot seat belts. 

No matter where you go or how far you travel you can never be too prepared. As long as you bring more than you think you’ll need like extra onesies or extra diapers, you’re in a good spot.