Travelling with a baby or toddler

The first holiday with a child in tow is daunting to any new parent, so it’s pretty normal to feel out of your comfort zone and worry about fitting all you need in your cases or car. Many parents find that going for a break in Ireland, possibly by car in a self-catering flat or house so you can take all you need and recreate a home from home is a little easier at first than flying to a foreign country with a young baby. If you do fly you have baggage weight restrictions and it’s a hassle to take liquids on board due to anti-terrorist measures. If you are thinking of flying, some experts recommend waiting until your child is at least a week old, to make sure there are no health complications. However, be realistic and allow yourself plenty of time to recover from the birth and get used to your new baby and your new routine. Don’t plan any holidays for too soon after your due date as you may find, when the baby arrives, that you are just not interested in travelling too far from home for a while.

If you are going abroad, health insurance is a must - if you are travelling in the EU, you can apply for an E111 card, also known as European Health Insurance card, entitling you to free emergency treatment. However, this is not a substitute for having full insurance, which might cover other mishaps such as losing your luggage and flight cancellations.

If you suffer from travel sickness and are worried about your child, you needn’t worry as it doesn’t usually occur in children under 18 months old. For older children, keep snacks light and allow them to get plenty of fresh air. If you need to buy travel sickness medication for your child, ask your pharmacist which tablets are suitable for their age.

If you are planning a sun holiday, bear in mind that children under a year old should be kept in the shade as their skin is more vulnerable. Use a high factor sun cream when out for walks and consider a screen for the pram. For older children, do use sunscreen and reapply regularly. Full body swimming costumes are available and don’t forget a sun hat! Remember that children dehydrate faster than adults, so always carry a bottle of water with you.

If you are breastfeeding, you need to take less equipment with you and can offer a drink whenever your baby asks. In the unlucky event that you suffer from food poisoning while on holiday, you can still breastfeed as the milk contains antibodies that will protect your baby from infection.

Wherever you go, do pack a first-aid kit including:

• Pain relief suitable for your child’s age (such as liquid paracetamol). You can buy single dose sachets to bring onboard a plane if you are flying as large bottles will not be allowed.
• Assorted plasters and antibacterial cream for cuts and grazes
• If flying to a hot country: mosquito repellent, sun cream and calamine lotion for sunburn or rashes, plus sting reliever spray for insect bites
• Antihistamine cream
• Thermometer
• Oral syringe for administering medicines
• Scissors
• A first-aid manual (you can download it from the internet or photocopy the relevant pages of your baby manual).

If you are flying, you will need to pack some of these items in your check-in luggage as you cannot bring them on board (eg. Scissors).

If you are bottlefeeding, you might be worried about sterilising. If you don’t know what the facilities are at your destination, you might want to go for a liquid sterilising solution. You will need a container to submerge your bottles and teats or if there is a microwave, you might consider a microwavable steriliser (or buy special sterilising bags for the microwave, which are reusable). If you are worried about baby food or formula, check online which brands are available in the country you are holidaying (to) in as many brands sell their products worldwide. If you are gong for a week or two it is probably advisable to bring enough formula with you so that you do not have to look around for a similar product when you are away.

For car holidays, you will need a child car seat (if you are hiring a car, you can hire the child seat too) and have some snacks handy for long journeys. These might include bananas, apples, pears, dried raisins, crackers, cereal bars and bottles of water(fruit should be chopped in small pieces and boxed for a younger child. Include a bib and have your changing bag handy. For older children, there are portable potties too. And if you need some in car entertainment for a baby, you can attach a mobile on to the back of the seat for your child to play with and have some toys and books for older child (delete gets bored).

Last but not least, it’s wise not to go to exotic destinations with a small baby as they are more at risk of diseases and food poisoning. It’s best to opt for a family-friendly destination where there is a playground, possibly a swimming pool and activities suitable for children.

If the accommodation at your destination doesn’t provide a cot for your child or you’d rather bring your own, consider a travel cot for a baby or young toddler and an inflatable bed for a toddler. Good travel cots can double up as play pens at home, making them more versatile. A lightweight pushchair that is easy to fold and carry is preferable if you are flying.