Going the Distance: Long Haul Travel Tips for Babies and Toddlers
The holiday season is rapidly approaching, and for many Vancouver families that means travel. Today guest contributor shares her travel tips to make your adventure with your baby or toddler just a little bit smoother.
When my daughter was ten months old, I decided to take her by myself to Europe for two weeks. I know, it sounds insane. I thought I was crazy. My friends thought I was crazy. My mum, who supports me in everything, thought I was crazy. But, actually, it was fine. Not only did we survive, we both had a great trip.
Common Sense Travel Tips for Babies and Toddlers
A lot of the travel tips I picked up are common sense. First, and perhaps most importantly, schedule your flights at sensible times. I selected the direct overnight flight from Vancouver to London that left right before my daughter’s bedtime, hoping that she would sleep for much of the flight (she did!). However, don’t assume that just because you have a baby who normally sleeps in a crib, that she will happily settle in the airplane cot that hangs in the bulkhead.
And that brings us to lesson number two: don’t assume anything. My entertainment system didn’t work on my outgoing flight, so I was happy to have brought a few things to watch on my phone. The cot didn’t work because my daughter kept popping up every time I put her down in this shallow, precarious contraption. But it also didn’t work because you can’t keep your baby in there during turbulence. And, we had a lot of turbulence. Instead, she slept in the carrier that I brought. I have an Ergo, but any carrier that your baby can snuggle in while you are seated will do the trick. The carrier was the single best thing that I could bring for the trip, both on the airplane and for the rest of our travels.
Pack Carefully, and as Lightly as Possible
Lesson number three: dress and pack carefully and, if you are travelling alone, as lightly as possible. I was staying with friends who had a toddler. As a result, we didn’t have to bring any kit, except for the carrier. If you can’t borrow a crib, stroller, and carseat at your destination, consider renting them (check out www.babysaway.com, www.weetravel.ca, or www.babiestravellite.com). I packed one four-wheel suitcase for both of our clothes, and instead of a purse or over the shoulder diaper bag, used a backpack as my carry on. I also brought a small foldable diaper clutch, which strapped on to my backpack, as well as a reusable water bottle that I could also strap to my bag. Having at least one hand free during boarding, disembarkation, going through customs, and so on was essential.
Final lesson: expect the unexpected. My carefully chosen return flight from London to Vancouver was cancelled and I was rebooked on a connecting flight through Toronto. My baby food containing meat was taken away when going through customs. Thankfully, I also had some vegetarian food for the rest of the journey. We had a three-hour layover, which was perfect for a lengthy lunch and a good crawl in an empty corner of the airport. The flight from Toronto was on a much smaller plane and did not have the space for me to walk around with my daughter in the carrier. The crew would not let me stand in or near the galley, and instead, I relied on the kindness of a few neighbours, who were delighted to hold my daughter for a few minutes to give me a break and let me eat my dinner. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Most of the people on my flights (including many crew members) were very happy to help in any way possible.
It’s All About Attitude
The best way to prepare for a flight of any length, beyond bringing the basics such as extra clothes, toys, books and baby food, is to arm yourself with a great attitude. If you are prepared to roll with the punches, and with a smile on your face, you and your baby will be much happier. Don’t expect perfection: halfway over the Atlantic, I realized that my jeggings were backward.
Will you be travelling over the holiday season? And do you have any travel tips that help make trips with your own kids a little easier? Let us know in the comments.
Hilary Letwin lives in Port Moody with her husband and daughter. She owns Culture Babes, organizing baby-friendly cultural events for new parents and tots. She has worked in a number of museums, including most recently at the British Museum and the Baltimore Museum of Art. She holds graduate degrees in history and art history, and is currently completing her PhD in Italian renaissance art history at Johns Hopkins University. She has written extensively about the arts for a number of international publications, including Montecristo Magazine, and has collaborated in the writing of art historical references on Filippo Baldinucci and the Lishawa Collection of nineteenth-century plein-air sketches.
