Stress-free travelling
By car
Most parents take their car for their first trip with their baby. Planning carefully can help you avoid stress:
- Make your trip on a day with the least likelihood of traffic jams
- Start at a time when the baby is tired and will most likely fall asleep.
- Change diapers and feed the baby before you head off.
- Provide sun protection in your car, e.g., put a towel or sun protection film on the car window. Be careful with air-conditioning: babies cool quicker than adults. Make sure your baby is not sitting next to an open window, where there is high chance of a draught.
- Take a half-hour break at least every 2 hours.
- Pack some HiPP Fruit & Cereal for the journey. Products in plastic pots are particularly easy to transport. Don’t forget to pack enough drinks such as HiPP Juices.
- Keep the food in an easily accessible place and in a cooling bag, but do not keep it too cool. Remember to bring towels, wet wipes/napkins, waste bags.
Always keep babies belted in a child seat suitable for their age whilst driving
By plane
- Even paediatricians have no reservations against holiday flights.
- One thing to take note of is a cold! The pressure equalisation can cause bad earache.
Nose drops help, but to be on the safe side, you should get your child examined by a doctor. - Ask your flight carrier for a special seat for families with babies. Many airlines provide a baby cot for long-distance flights.
- In any case, you should have bottle and pacifier, thick socks, a blanket, diapers, wet wipes and toys or a picture book in your hand luggage, to relieve boredom. Flight attendants will warm baby food or bring you hot water for mixing formula if you need it.
- Note: Liquids can only be carried in hand luggage in restricted amounts. Liquids and gels (e.g., body care products) may not exceed 100ml each, and must be carried in a transparent, re-sealable bag. It is therefore best to take necessary care products for babies in travel size. Baby food that is needed during the flight is an exception and can be carried outside of the plastic bag.
- During takeoff and landing, breastfeed your baby or keep your bottle or pacifier ready. The swallowing action will help to equalise pressure. Otherwise, your baby will get earache.
- The air inside a plane in dry. Therefore, give your baby something to drink often.
- Babies usually fly fore free or only pay 10% of the air fare. Therefore, they are usually not entitled to a separate seat