You may consider yourself an expert in traveling and an Olympic light packer but traveling with a baby is an entirely different ballpark. Babies need a lot more than you and your significant others. Everything on this list could be considered essential for your baby!
It may seem like baby travel products are gimmicky, but more often than not, new parents will realize you may need the whole arsenal of products for your child. Being a parent is hard and having some help should not be something to shy away from. It will take some practice to figure out what is best for you and your child, but this list is an excellent way to start. Alongside diapers, pacifiers, and wipes, you should consider these the next time you take a road trip or flight:
Swaddle
Everyone who has ever been near a baby knows they sleep a lot, but they do not do so quietly. Babies will often cry and whine in between their naps, which is more than a headache when traveling. It can put you in an awkward situation if others are traveling with you. New parents should consider a swaddle when traveling and also at home. Swaddling is the practice of wrapping your baby, so they feel secure and stop babies from waking up with their natural reflex. This means better sleep for the car ride or flight. Babies are easily stressed, and swaddles have been known to help calm even the fussiest of babies. You will be grateful for a swaddle when you spend your 12-hour international flight majorly spent sleeping.
White Noise Machine
When traveling, you do not know how loud your hotel or destination will be. If you are traveling in a city, the environment will likely be full of loud noises, and this is when you can be thankful for a white noise machine. White noises are generally soothing rhythmic sounds such as rain which encourage sleep, both in parents and children. With the help of a white noise machine, your child can fall asleep within minutes, and you and your partner are more likely to enjoy a quiet night. Using a white noise machine can also help babies accustomed to a loud environment and have difficulty falling asleep in too calm of an environment. Some devices are even quiet enough to be used on airplanes.
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Baby Carrier
Baby carriers are generally slings that new parents can use to wrap their child around them. It may seem silly to attach your baby to your body when you could hold them instead, but it is definitely a travel essential. Having a baby carrier allows for you to be hands-free which can often be necessary when traveling. Babies crave touch since they were held in the womb for nine months. Having a carrier allows your child to always feel close to you even when you are preoccupied. In the first year of their life, babies love human touch, and having a baby carrier allows you to always do so. Baby carriers are very easy to use, and they are as varied as people are. You will definitely find out you love.
Car Seat Support
Babies lack neck muscles which cause their heads to wobble from side to side. Generally, this does not harm them, but forward movement can be very dangerous for an infant. Many car seats have accounted for your infant’s spine, but some still lack the needed support for your child’s head. Babies have very flexible ligaments and tendons, which means they can be significantly hurt from a minor accident that causes their heads to move forward. Getting head supports for car seats can be a great way to combat having your child’s head falling to the wrong angle. When embarking on a road trip, this should be something that is heavily considered. Even the smallest road bump can lead to an unwanted injury.
Changing Pad
When you are trying to travel safely, it can be challenging to find the proper place to change a baby’s diaper. You could be hiking or in an area without a baby changing station, so having a diaper change pad is another essential on this list. Things will become messy once you have a child, and you won’t always know your next move, but there is solace in a diaper pad. It can ensure you stay poop-free. And while traveling, that is a huge plus. No longer will you have to struggle to find an area to change your child. With a diaper change pad, you can change your child’s diaper on your hike in Yosemite! Bringing a changing pad will also help keep messes in one area, and that can be a great help when you are not in your own home. It also keeps your baby from coming into contact with any public changing spaces that may have dirt and germs.