My Top Tips for Holiday Abroad with a Baby or a Toddler
Some of the best memories I have is our first holiday abroad with a daughter when she was around 18 months. The most daunting part was the flight but we absolutely loved it and it was a lot less stressful than I thought it would be! If you are worried, don't be; there are so many things that can help make it fun, enjoyable and easier!
I spent a lot of time researching to make the flight and holiday as smooth as possible, so here are my top tips to holidaying abroad with a baby or toddler!
If you are staying in a hotel, most will have a cotbed and some hotels will also allow you to add on certain things like highchairs or pushchairs. You may also find companies that provide baby packedges that you can hire and have delivered to the hotel for when you arrive!
Pushchair & Pram Cover
We took a pushchair with us, one that would fold up quite small (we find it easier for going in and out of pubs/restaurants and out and about).
We loved the the Mountain Nano pushchair and it came with a cover but there are so many great pushchair options!
I highly recommend purchasing a pram or pushchair cover if you are taking one. Most airlines will allow you to keep the pushchair with you until boarding and take it off you at the plane gates.
It gets thrown around a bit so a bag helps keep it clean when you collect it off the plane.
Toddler/Baby Holiday Bag
A good old trunki is great fun for pulling them along if you are traveling with a toddler! Lyra loved hers and great for when they need somewhere to sit if you are in queue waiting. I took the trunki on the flight and kept all her basic bits in! There are always great offers on and you can also get them second hand on Vinted and Ebay.
I also took a spare outfit, blanket (airplanes always get cold!) and outfit to change when we got there as knew it was going to be hot. I always have a fear of our luggage going missing so tried to to keep extra bits in just in case! We also packed some travel toys and her sticker books and plenty of nappies.
The Plane
Take plenty of snacks especially if you are weaning or traveling with a toddler! We took things like smoothie pouches (the Ellas Kitchen one's) as they don't need to be kept in a fridge or cool bag. We took things like breakfast biscuits, cereal bars, bananas (you may have to dispose of it before you land in certain countries!). I also took some ready made formula milk (although she had moved on to cows milk by then) it made it easier to have something to hand. If you are staying overnight in a hotel you can even take porridge pots and make breakfast in the morning. kept a separate snack bag (cool bag) so I can easily locate everything and also remove items from customs for them to check.
If you are traveling with a younger baby, feeding during take off and landing can help with their ears and settle them or if you are using a dummy it is always handy to have.
What to travel in
We had an early flight at 6 am and thanks to me booking the wrong date to stay at the hotel the night before we ended up having to get up about 2 am and get there.
I kept Lyra in her PJs as it meant easier to wake up her up put her in the car which I hoped she would nap but she was so excited! I had planned changing her at the airport but due to how busy it was and the airlines telling everyone to get there super early meant we were massively delayed and only made the plane! I ended up changing her on the flight just before take off.
We also had an outfit change when we arrived as it was so hot!
For younger babies, anything that you can easily change them in and out off for changing or if there are accidents!
Time
Allow plenty of time to get through the airport, EVERYTHING is slower with a toddler or a baby. We kept Lyra in the pushchair for as long as possible to make it as easy to get through! We didn't account for having to take her car seat to another check in area so that took up more time then we had thought.
Toy Bags
I got lots of individual draw string net bags with toys in and packed them in her trunki. It meant it was easier to grab her toys without out pulling lots of things out!
Great things to take on the plane are:
Play doh pots
Stickers & Sticker books
Fidget gadgets
Puzzle
Stickers lots of stickers
Puzzles
I kept everything hidden until the plane so it meant it was all new and exciting. We also used an old phone and downloaded lots of BBC kids TV and some Disney films.
Car Seats
If you have transfers included usually you don't need a car seat (do check though before just in case it changes). If you have a hire car or a booked taxi, you can pay extra to hire a car seat.
We got a great deal on a car seat and wanted to know the make so we brought out own and checked it out for free. We also put a bag to keep it in and you can also put some extra nappies (making use of as much space as possible!)
Some airlines you can use the car seat on the plane as an extra cushioned seat.
If you do buy your own one you want to fly with, do check that it can be used in the country you are going to and check for the requirements.
For tips, pros and cons on car seats check out Which, also make sure you practice using it before you fly!
Toddler or Baby Routine
We still stuck to some sort of routine as Lyra is a routine baby but went with how she is feeling and it did mean later naps, later bed times. Kids are so adaptable and if you are worried about being out of routine affecting their routine when they are back, often when they are back in their own surroundings they will fall back into their usual routines.
Meal times
Meal times could sometimes be a bit stressful! Especially if she was tired (feeding a tired toddler can be hard work!). We took sticker books, books and then pulled out TV when we wanted a moment to eat and I didn't feel guilty for it!
We would usually get her meal early (we were all inclusive) so it wasn't a long wait.
UVA Sun Tent
We took our pop up tent with us for the beach and was great for play times in our appartment. Make sure its UVA as some of them are not UVA.
UVA/ Sun Pram Cover
I took both a pram cover and a an extendable hood cover for when we were out and about to protect as much as we could from the sun and for napes. I was lucky to be handed down a Snoozeshade and it was a godsend - not just for holiday but out and about and for naps.
Sterilizing Bags
For younger babies, sterilizing bags can be great on the go sterilizing, there are lots of options out there but you can get cold water ones and microwaveable bags. Another alternative for on the go sterilizing is a sanitizing spray that we used for on the go and we still use it today! I really love Vital Baby one as you could also by a travel mini one and can buy this in lots of places!
Final Thoughts
Go with it and have an amazing time. If you have any doubts about how stressful it is push them aside. For any hard moments you have the amazing moments and fun you will have will be so worth it!
Not affiliated with any of the products or items linked in this post, this is just items that I use and love and all bought by myself!
Updated 3rd July 2023.