Your first trip with a baby rarely feels like planning a normal holiday. New surroundings. New routine. And a little one who couldn't care less about flight times.
The good news? With a little preparation, it gets a whole lot easier. You don't need to have everything under control — just the things that actually matter. Here's what makes the biggest difference, from packing at home to landing at your holiday destination.
Pack smart, not heavy
It's tempting to bring everything "just in case" — but less packing means less to carry and less to dig through when your baby is screaming at a rest stop. Focus on what actually gets used every day:
- Diapers — count a little generously, summer heat often means more changes
- Several sets of light, airy clothes
- A sun hat and thin long-sleeved layers to keep skin in the shade
- A pacifier, comfort blanket or anything else that soothes in new surroundings
- Fever reducer and something for mosquito bites, just in case
One small extra tip: bamboo wipes are exactly the kind of thing you never think about at home — but they save the whole trip when things get messy in the car, on the plane or in the middle of a diaper-change emergency with no sink in sight. Pack plenty. They take up no space but make a big difference.
A good rule of thumb: pack as if you'll be away one day longer than planned. Bags can be delayed, car journeys can drag on, and the last thing you want to do in a new city is hunt for a shop to buy diapers at ten o'clock at night. Keep the essentials — diapers, a change of clothes, wipes — in your carry-on or within reach in the car, so you don't have to dig through the bottom of a suitcase when you're in a hurry. You'll find the full range in all products, if you want to stock up before the trip.
Car trips in the heat
A car heats up fast, and a baby regulates heat less well than an adult. A few simple habits make a big difference:
- Never leave your baby in the car, even for a short while, even in the shade
- Use sun shades on the windows to reduce direct sun on the car seat
- Plan more breaks than usual — stretch your legs, change the diaper, offer a drink
- Dress your baby in thin, breathable materials in the car seat
In short: more stops, less stress. That goes for the parents too.
It's also worth thinking about what time of day you drive. A trip set for early morning or late evening, when it's cooler and your baby is often asleep anyway, can make all the difference compared with driving in the middle of the day in blazing sun. If you can split a longer journey over several days instead of one long stretch in a single go, it's often more pleasant for everyone — even if it feels slower on paper.
Flying with a baby
Flying with little ones is easier than its reputation suggests, but a little planning helps:
- Book an early or late departure if you can — often a calmer atmosphere and fewer crowds
- Breastfeeding, a pacifier or a bottle during take-off and landing helps with pressure changes in the ears
- Pack a complete change of clothes in your carry-on — airplane tummies can surprise you
- Ask the airline about a bassinet or extra space — many offer it for the littlest passengers
Many parents worry needlessly about how other passengers will react. The truth is that most people either have children of their own or remember what it was like — and the vast majority care far less than you'd think. Focus instead on what you can control: comfortable clothes, something good for yourselves to eat, and a plan for diaper changes that doesn't require acrobatics in a toilet the size of a cupboard.
Protect their skin while travelling
A baby's skin is thinner and more sensitive than ours — and that matters even more when travelling, far from the usual routines. Shade, thin clothing and the right sunscreen do the most good. We've gathered everything you need to know in Sun protection for babies – what are the actual rules?, worth a read before you set off.
New climates can irritate skin in other ways than sun, too. Chlorine on a pool trip, salt water at the beach, sand that gets stuck in skin folds and along the diaper edge — all of it can make skin a little more sensitive than usual. A quick rinse after swimming and a bit of extra diaper-free air now and then often goes a long way toward keeping skin calm throughout the trip.
Keep up with diaper changes — even on the go
New surroundings, warmer weather and longer days without set routines make it easy to forget diaper changes. Pack a few extra and aim to change a little more often than at home, especially in the heat. Bammies diapers are made from soft bamboo fibers that breathe against the skin and keep your baby dry for up to 12 hours — good to know when the days are packed and the routines are on pause.
How to slow things down — literally
The best holiday tip with a baby might also be the simplest: lower the bar. A couple of calm activities a day is plenty. Your baby picks up on stress faster than you'd think, and a relaxed parent is the best travel companion a little one can have.
Fewer must-dos. More time to just be. That's really the whole secret.
Frequently asked questions
How many diapers should you pack for a trip? Count on a few more per day than at home, especially in a warm climate. Better to have a few extra in the bag than to go hunting for a shop at the last minute.
Is it dangerous to fly with a newborn baby? Most airlines allow babies from a few weeks old, but check with your paediatrician about your particular situation before you leave.
How do you keep a baby cool in the car in summer? Breathable, thin clothes, sunshades on the windows and more breaks than usual. Never leave your baby alone in the car, not even for a moment.