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Traveling with Babies: Health and Safety Concerns

Crowded places

Going on a trip with your baby involves a lot of responsibility. The younger your baby, the more challenging your travel.  If your baby is only a few months old and you decide that you need to travel for pleasure, select quiet and peaceful destinations with warm, mild weather.  Avoid drastic climate changes and overcrowded attractions.  Babies are weaker and more prone to infections than toddlers and older kids.  Their immunity system has not yet been developed.  They also get tired more easily and need a lot of rest in a quiet peaceful environment. Crowded places are louder, more polluted, and more prone to accidents. When you are traveling with a baby to a crowded destination, you are exposing your baby to all sorts of potential dangers: Someone can accidentally kick or push your baby, you can fall, people may be coughing and sneezing around you... all this will put your baby at additional risk. Traveling with a baby to crowded tourist destinations is dangerous and should be avoided.

Sun screen

If you are traveling with a baby for pleasure, consider going to a family resort somewhere by the sea. Iodine-rich salty sea waters and lots of natural sunshine in safe timing (before 11 a.m. and after 4 p.m.) will be very beneficial for your baby's health.  It is important to avoid sun burns at all costs, but we won't recommend using sun screen, as they often contain dangerous and harmful chemicals.  The rule of thumb is "if you can't take it in, don't put it on either", and that's especially important for infants and babies, whose immunity system hasn't been fully formed yet. Instead of using chemically-loaded sun screens, simply avoid roasting in the sun, but walking, swimming, wave jumping and playing in the sand –are all safe activities that do not require sun screens if you are doing them in proper timing and in moderation. If you are seriously concerned about the sun, take breaks every 15 minutes and keep your baby in the shade, cover yourself and your baby in cotton clothes, put a wide-brimmed hat on your baby's head – and you will be perfectly safe without any sun screen.

Natural fabrics

If your baby's skin is highly sensitive, get some fine cotton or silk clothes and cover your baby well. Ever wondered why you feel tired and unclean after wearing your polyester shirt even for a couple of hours? Unlike nylon and polyester, cotton and silk are natural materials that allow your skin to breathe freely, leaving you with a wonderful feeling of rest and comfort. Try sleeping on 100% cotton sheets for a few days and then switch to polyester sheets – you'll immediately know the difference! So when traveling with babies, bring clothes made out of natural fabrics, like cotton, silk and wool.

Colics and digestive problems

When traveling with babies, keep in mind that a change in the environment and food can lead to digestive discomfort and colic. There are many things you can do to help prevent baby colic.  Some of these things include giving small, frequent feedings and soothing your baby with skin-to-skin contact during feedings.  Feeding your baby in a calm, safe place can help digestion flow more easily. 

If you are breastfeeding, you should avoid gas-producing foods like broccoli, kale, and cabbage as well as onions and garlic, even strawberries! It is also recommended to go easy on the beans, spicy foods and soft drinks. Other foods like chocolate, peanuts, sugar, and white flour can slow intestinal activity and lead to colic, so try cutting these out while traveling with your baby. To ease baby colic during travel, pack some aromatic seeds like dill, anise, and cumin.  Simply pour the cup of boiling water over one teaspoon of any one or combination of seeds and steep for 15 minutes. Pass it through the breast milk or give it directly to your baby. The seed tea offers antispasmodic and carminative effects that will help relieve the colic.  For a small baby, give one dropper full at a time, every half hour until the discomfort eased. It works beautifully!  Please choose the strength level and dosage that feels comfortable for your baby in your situation.

However, when traveling with your baby, do not give your baby anything new that you have not tried before at home. Use only safe time-tested methods to which your baby is accustomed.

 Water

One of the most important things to look after when traveling with babies and young children is water.  Whether you are traveling with your baby nationally or internationally, use only purified bottled water; try to buy purified water that is also chlorine free.  If you drink chlorinated water while nursing, you will pass chlorine to your baby through milk. Chlorine is a poison, it was used as a weapon in the form of a gas during World War I, but because it's cheap, it came to be used for cleaning purposes to kill bacteria. But even small amounts are very harmful for babies, so read the labels and buy bottled water that does not contain chlorine. Chlorine-free water will also taste a lot better!

Traveling with Babies: Vacation Types

First of all, you may ask yourself, if I am traveling with a baby, what kind of vacation should I choose and where should we go? If you are planning a vacation with your baby in the United States, consider avoiding such tourist destinations as Las Vegas and Los Angeles. Although exciting and family friendly, these places are not meant for families traveling with babies.

For family travel and vacations with babies, we suggest that you select less crowded destinations and focus on nature-oriented activities and things to do. For example, you can go to a family resort with an all-inclusive package or you can rent a waterfront condo somewhere near the ocean or on a lake. You can go camping or you can go on a cruise. The first three are the most popular types of vacations for families traveling with babies. Cruises are getting more and more popular but have not yet become the number one choice for families traveling with babies.

• Family resorts with all-inclusive packages
• Waterfront condos or cabins     
• RV camping at national parks or beaches

Family resorts for travel with babies

Resorts are probably the most popular vacation type in the United States for families traveling with babies.  Family resorts are often all-inclusive, meaning that when you buy a vacation package, the price includes air fare, accommodations, your meals, and entertainment. In addition to the comfort and eye-pleasing environment, family resorts offer a wide range of entertainment activities (often at an additional cost) such as sightseeing trips, nature trips, excursions to museum and galleries, dance classes, eating contests, and other exciting things to do.

Family resorts often have daycare centers, so that moms can take some time off and go shopping. Resorts are safe and predictable; everything will run according to schedule. Going to a family resort with your baby is definitely the most relaxed and stress-free option. However, it can be expensive, especially if you are traveling at peak season and aiming at the most popular destinations in the United States. But why do that, really?

Let's face it, a resort is a resort, so whether it's located near San Diego or Portland, you won't notice a great difference, so long as the weather is nice in both places and the customer service is good. When you research weather, check back a few years to see what the typical weather is like in the area you are considering.  If a resort near a small town is not a very attractive option for you, consider finding a resort 1-2 hours away from the famous city. This way, you will avoid the price tag associated with such cities as well as their pollution level while still being in a close proximity to them. You can take a day trip to your famous city while enjoying your leisure time at the resort.

Waterfront condo or cabin rentals

Another attractive vacation type for families traveling with babies is renting a waterfront condo or cabin near the ocean or on a lake. If you don't mind a bit of extra coordination and planning, we recommend inviting another family to join you in your travel and rent a waterfront condo together.

For domestic travel with babies, there are plenty of wonderful locations in the United States where you and your family can have a great vacation.  Consider renting an ocean-front condo cabin, villa, cottage or a vacation home somewhere in coastal communities. Alternatively, renting a lake property can be just as fun. So what if you can't tide pool, you can swim, snorkel, boat ride and even catch some fish for dinner! Here is a list of the most popular condo-rental destinations for family traveling with babies:

Tripwiser Condo Listing in US
California oceanside condos
Florida ocean front condos 
Georgia
Oregon
Orlando, Florida
North Carolina
South Carolina

Note that the condo rental prices range greatly, depending on the proximity to the ocean or a lake, location, and the season. Condo rentals in California are almost double the price of condo rentals in North Carolina. The typical prices cover 4-6 people or even more. The summer time, particularly from June 10 through September 10, is considered the hottest season for waterfront condo-rental destinations (as well as for air and train travel).

When traveling as a family with a baby, condo rentals present a great financial alternative to expensive hotels on the one hand, and less expensive but often inconvenient bathroom-sharing B&Bs on the other.  If you split the cost between two families, your vacation will be very affordable while you'll also have more fun.  Just make sure to invite someone whose habits you know well and who share your tastes and lifestyle.

When getting ready to travel with another family who also has babies, get together for a few trip planning sessions. Create an itinerary and assign roles. Think of things to do, where to go, what to see and where to eat. Condo rentals offer a great deal of comfort and you really only need to bring your toothbrush, personal clothes and baby supplies, but it is best to create a list of things to bring anyway and go over this list with everybody. Discuss what to read, what games to play, what foods to pack, etc. This way, there will be no surprises and everyone will know what to expect.

RV camping at national parks or beaches

RV camping is also a very popular vacation choice for families with babies and kids. If you live in a large city, what can be better than getting away from all the noise, haste and pollution?  Wouldn't you love to go hiking or fishing on a river somewhere?  Wouldn't you love to set up a camp fire and make those incredibly delicious hamburgers that you will never be able to make on the stove?

But where to go and what camp site to choose?  What do you need to go RV camping with a baby?  You can be a minimalist and go with the bare necessities but if you are going camping with a baby, you'll need a lot of stuff.  Write down every little thing you might need and add spares. Having bad equipment or not having enough of it, sleeping in a small tent or on an uncomfortable mattress will spoil your precious vacation time.  That's why RV camping is so popular with families traveling with babies; you can bring as much stuff as you want and there is no magic necessary for packing.

RVs gives families the freedom to travel without being chained to a fixed location.  In addition to bringing the beauty of the wilderness right next to your door steps, RV travel also opens up many touring options but without the boredom of checking in and out at hotels, waiting for your flights at crowded airports, waiting to pick up your luggage, and all other things everyone dislikes about travel.  You can spend one day on the beach or in the forest and then drive to the city the next morning to visit some interesting museums and fancy art galleries. If you're stuck in a traffic jam, you can just turn on your TV, get a drink from your fridge and relax.  Whether your choice is hiking or camping on a beach, the RV will take your family anywhere you want.

For families, RV camping offers complete comfort and safety while also cutting travel expenses associated with hotels and restaurants.  Just calculate 3 restaurant meals per day times the number of people in your family times the days on your trip & you'll see right away that buying food to fix in the RV will save you hundreds of dollars. 

 

For families traveling with babies, RV camping is great because you can take as much stuff with you as you need. Getting supplies is also very easy and stress free. RV camping is probably the most convenient and stress-free travel option for families traveling with babies.  However, if you have never gone RV camping before, we don't recommend you try it for the first time when traveling with a baby. The best way to learn how to camp by an RV is to go on a camping trip with someone else and take notes. But to start, check out these RV resources online.

Whether you are staying at a resort, renting a waterfront condo, RV camping on the beach or cruising, nature-oriented activities will make it easier to travel with a baby and help your family enjoy your long-awaited vacation!

Tips for Family Traveling with Babies

Traveling with babies is a much more challenging task than traveling with older kids. Traveling with babies can be frustrating and tiring. You need to bring so much stuff! If you are planning on traveling with babies, you need to do a more thorough planning than anyone else.  So... what do you need to know before going on your trip? Below are a few tips on how to make your travel and vacation time easier and more enjoyable when you are traveling with babies.  In this blog, we will suggest a few vacation types that are suitable for families traveling with babies, discuss health and safety concerns, share some tips regarding what to pack, traveling as  single parent and more.  If there is anything you'd like to add to this page to help others traveling with babies, please post your comment here or write to us: feedback@tripwiser.com