How to Survive Traveling with an Infant

If you’re a parent, you know that traveling with an infant can be a nerve-wracking, stress-inducing experience. Whether you’re traveling by car, plane, bus or train, altering a baby’s normal eat-sleep-poop routine can be nothing short of catastrophic. If you’re planning on taking a trip with your tot in tow, there are steps you can take to ease your anxiety and focus on the fun.

Prepare to be Unprepared
Traveling with an infant is, first and foremost, unpredictable, says Dr. Bobbi Wegner, a clinical psychologist at Boston Behavioral Medicine who works with parents on managing stress. Her advice is that parents should be prepared to expect the worst, since doing so can “normalize” a stressful situation and help you react better.

“As difficult as it is, plan for all of your plans to go out the window,” she says. “Expect that your baby will cry and annoy people. Expect that your baby will take a big, disgusting poop at the most inconvenient time. Understanding and emphathizing with the baby will help you be a soothing presence, rather than an agitated parent who makes the situation worse.”

She stresses that if and when the plan fails, it’s not a reflection on you as a parent; rather, she says, it’s just a normal part of traveling with a baby.

Pack Smart
When you’re home, you have an arsenal of supplies at your fingertips to occupy and soothe your little one: cribs, bouncy seats, swings, high chairs, changing tables and plenty of toys. But what about when you’re on the road? You might be tempted to bring along as many items as you can “just in case,” but this can cause more strain, says Dr. Wegner.

“Pack simply,” she says. “Leave the bulk at home and take only what you need. Traveling with extra bags, pack ‘n plays, et cetera creates more things to keep track of and stress over.”

Aside from the basic necessities like diapers, food and a few favorite toys, you should also pack a few extra pacifiers and infant medicine, says Dr. Dyan Hes, medical director of Gramercy Pediatrics in New York City. This can be especially helpful when flying. Dr. Hes says that babies typically don’t experience ear pain from flying until they’re toddlers; still, she recommends that babies 9 months of age or older suck on a pacifier, drink from a bottle or nurse during takeoff and landing, just to be sure that their ears equalize.

“It’s always wise to pack children’s acetaminophen and some children’s diphenhydramine [Benadryl] in case of an allergic reaction,” Dr. Hes says. “It’s is also wise to carry children’s acetaminophen or ibuprofen in case of pain.”

Handle the Tears
What if you’re traveling and your baby starts to cry uncontrollably? If you’re in a car, you obviously only have to worry about yourselves. If you’re on a plane or other form of public transportation, however, you might stress out about the effect your baby’s wailing is having on those around you, which can lead to more stress and can more crying (from both you and the baby). While some parents may be tempted to use Benadryl to make their children tired, this plan can backfire, says Dr. Hes.

“Just remember that 10 percent of people have a hyperactivity reaction from Benadryl and do not become sleepy at all,” she explains. “You never want to be that family with the hyperactive child running up and down the plane! Try Benadryl at home one day on the weekend before you fly.”

If your baby won’t calm down, the best you can do is try to console him.

“If your baby has a favorite transitional item, a pacifier or a blanket, that can help,” says Dr. Hes. “Rocking your baby can help. Walking up and down the aisle on the plane can help.”

What About Naps?
Traveling into a different time zone—or even simply breaking out of your normal, daily routine—can turn an otherwise passive child into the Tasmanian Devil. Still, maintaining a standard sleep cycle while traveling can be tough and unpredictable. While Dr. Hes states that nighttime travel is best for international flights, there’s not much else parents can do to prepare for this shift in shut-eye.

“Parents always ask me what to do with a child’s schedule when traveling,” she says. “The truth is that there’s not much you can do. For each hour of time difference, there is about one day of jet lag. By the time your baby is adjusted, you are usually on your way home.”



Jennifer Brozak is a freelance writer from Pittsburgh who has a passion for all things parenting and education. She contributes to a variety of local and national outlets and blogs about her family’s escapades at One Committed Mama.