Traveling with Baby

It’s almost summer time. Vacation is just around the corner. You may be wondering if it’s okay for your baby to travel with you. The simple fact is, these days babies travel from the very beginning. It’s probably a good idea to start bringing the baby out in a crowd after the first 6-8 weeks of life. Up to this age pediatricians worry about fevers, even as low as 100.3F. Any infection can spread very quickly. During this time, too, your baby will receive the first set of vaccines.

Traveling by car and bus:

Traveling by motor vehicle is probably the easiest to negotiate with a new baby. You control your trip and also what you decide you need to take along, without restrictions. Stop often to feed and change the baby. Make sure that the car is not overheated. Always check that the seat belt in the car seat is comfortable.

Traveling by bus is somewhat more restricted as far as what you can carry with you. And, of course, you can’t control the stops.

Traveling by plane:

Many babies travel on planes these days. Notify the airline before your trip that you’ll be traveling with a baby. Some of the airlines may offer special accommodations. Ask them if you can bring liquid formula. If that’s not possible, bring formula in powder form and buy bottled water after you’ve passed security. It may not be possible to bring expressed breast milk in bottles. In this case, the baby can either drink formula that you prepare or you’ll breastfeed on the plane. It’s not advisable to keep the baby in your lap. Some airlines will allow a car seat. Your carry on luggage should have all of your baby’s things.

Keep formula or breast milk in a cooler or the plane’s refrigerator.

When the plane takes off and lands, there’ll be a change in the pressure. Breast feed or give the baby a bottle of formula to ease the discomfort.

Leave yourself plenty of time to get to the airport, go through security, install the car seat, if permitted, and get you and your baby comfortable. The newer security devices are purportedly safe, but you can ask the security officer to manually check you and the baby instead of going through the usual screening process.

Find out if you need a separate passport for the baby well before you travel so there are no surprises when you arrive at the airport for your trip. Before you travel, please remember to check a few items:

• Baby’s clothes: Always bring many changes of clothing and dress the baby in layers. It could easily be hot outside while the air conditioning is blasting inside.
• Diapers: Make sure you have enough diapers, wet cloths, a changing mat, and diaper rash cream.
• Bring formula (powder) and buy bottled water after the security check.
• A small cooler
• Baby food
• Rehydrating solution
• Sunscreen lotion: This is for a baby over age 3 months.
• Medication for fever reduction: You should have this with you, but this medication should only be given after consulting with your pediatrician.
• Antihistamines: This is to be used in case of an allergy.
• Any medication or device that the baby may use on a regular basis must be carried.
• Toys and books: Hopefully, these will help to keep the older infant busy.
• A baby carrier
• A portable stroller, car seat, and portable crib should be checked.

Before your trip (either domestically or internationally), investigate health insurance for travelers. Hopefully, you won’t need to use this, but having coverage for you and your family will give you some peace of mind. If possible, try to book a flight that is as close to your baby’s regular schedule as possible.

At the hotel:

The hotel should have a crib that meets FDA standards for safety. Ask for a room with a refrigerator or a room that can accommodate one to store milk or formula. Ask the hotel to supply you with a local pediatrician’s name and contact information, in case of emergency. Watch your baby in the hotel room as you would at home.
Have a safe trip. Stay healthy and have fun.

Erika Landau, M.D., co-author of The Essential Guide to Baby’s First Year, is a board certified pediatrician in New York and has been in private practice since 1998. She is an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics and Director of Student Health at The Mount Sinai School of Medicine. Born and educated in Romania, Dr. Landau completed her internship and residency in Pediatrics at The Albert Einstein College of Medicine and was a Research Fellow at The Rockefeller University. Dr. Landau lectures nationally and internationally about child advocacy and women physicians’ issues. An award winning artist, Dr. Landau loves to paint and cook. She is married, lives in New York and is the proud mother of a wonderful daughter.