I have been told several times that it is such a hassle to take an infant with you on trips, but I oppose that. It is not a hassle if you know what you’re getting into and if the trip is planned well in advance. We decided to take our son Harvey (who is now 3 months old) for his first weekend trip outside of the house since birth. For a practice start, we booked a stay at the Crimson Resort and Spa in Mactan to see how well we can cope all together.
As I have always learned to travel light, I want to do the same for my baby (by adding a little bit of extra essentials just in case). It worked best that I didn’t let anyone else help out packing my baby’s suitcase. I pack, so I unpack as well. I stack the items the way I want. But before that, I made a list of things to take with us and ran through it to ensure that I didn’t miss out on anything.
I have learned that it is important for a baby to have his/her own separate suitcase for hygiene purposes. It has also helped me organize things more appropriately. As I arrange things in order, I ensured to put the clothes and towels into a closed separate corner of the suitcase to keep them clean, bottles in one bag, a thermometer and a baby first aid kit in another, plus a laundry bag and not forgetting to seal all the liquids and powdery items tightly – vitamins, bottle wash, laundry soap, formula, baby tea, distilled water, bath wash, cologne, wipes, oils, body lotion, rash cream, sun protection, disinfectants, incest repellents, etc. Yes, that’s a lot of things to bring for such a little person but just like adults, you may purchase them in travel sizes to avoid the bulk especially when only small amounts are needed. This can save you a lot of space!
On the fun side, other things to take with you that come very useful include a stroller, carrier, toys, play mat, favourite pillow, blanket or any other items that your baby has become accustomed to. If you plan on taking your baby for a swim, swim-diapers (made for infants and toddlers – recommended brand is Little Swimmers by Huggies) are made very practical for your little one. But don’t forget to apply sun protection on to your baby’s skin!
Many hotels/resorts offer a playpen as opposed to an actual cot so do take note of that. You might want to bring a travel mattress with you although I reckon that it is not really necessary – it all depends on the parent and the amount of time being away from home. Two tips I can share are to let your hotel know in advance if you require a cot (you may even ask for an extra baby mattress if they have one) and to also bring your own mosquito net.
But how would you sterilize bottles and warm the milk being a few days away from the baby’s nursery? Although not the same, it’s still very simple. Ensure beforehand that your hotel room has a kettle (most hotel rooms do anyway) or an in-room kitchenette. Though it takes a little longer than normal to sterilize and warm the milk, it still gets its job done! The best thing is that it saves you from taking the actual bottle sterilizer and bottle warmer (both very bulky) with you. (Disposable feeding bootles are best! – Ed)
On a trip away from home, do look at the fun things you can enjoy with your baby rather than to moan about the packing, unpacking, crying and the overall trip. Introduce your baby to the new environment, the sound of the ocean waves, the texture of the sand and even a dip in the pool – things little ones have never seen or done before! Take each moment as it comes, and don’t forget to take a lot of photos, videos and have a wonderful time as a family.