Remember the wild spring break adventures of your youth? Neither do we. Well, get ready for a different kind of excitement this year as you embark on your first spring break getaway with your little one in tow. While it may not involve beach parties and all-nighters, traveling with your baby can be just as thrilling – and let's face it, a lot cuter.
From mastering the art of travel times to creating the right sleeping environment for your baby, we've got the tips and tricks to make this spring break one for the books (unlike that trip to Cabo). So leave the tube top at home, grab your diaper bag and get ready for a spring break adventure like no other..
1. Mimic The Nursery
According to Dr. Natalie Barnett, pediatric sleep expert and vice president of clinical research at Nanit, the first thing you’re going to want to do is recreate your home environment on vacation. That includes a dark room, full sized crib (or pack and play) and a white noise machine. “Those three things will make traveling that much easier,” says Natalie. Put some garbage bags on the window, take your Nanit Sound + Light and Pro Camera and basically just set up your home environment as best you can.”
Our cutting-edge 3-in-1 sleep solution combines a night light, sound machine, and audio monitor, helping you create consistent routines, soothe your child, and improve sleep habits from infancy to toddlerhood
Fortunately, our Flex Stand is the perfect take-anywhere add-on to your Nanit arsenal that allows you 130 degrees of room monitoring with on-the-go ease - whether you’re halfway across the world or at your mother’s house. Throw it all together in our Travel Pack, which includes the Flex Stand, power adaptor and Pro Camera. Our Traveling Light Case is the ultimate travel bag solution that securely protects the Pro Camera, Sound + Light, and Flex Stand.
FYI, since your privacy and security is of the utmost importance our pro-cameras are not compatible with public hotel wifi. We highly recommend an inexpensive travel router so you can connect with and monitor your baby from any hotel.
2. Choose Your Accommodations Wisely
If you’re heading to a hotel, consider securing a one or two-bedroom suite. That way, you can put your baby down at their usual nap or bedtime hour and you’ll still have some space to binge a show or attempt to drink the frozen margarita you ordered hours ago back at the splash pad. Even a balcony could do the trick, so that you can dig into the latest Ann Patchett novel in the sunshine, rather than being stuck inside. If you’re together in one room, see if your pack and play can fit inside a walk-in closet or even the bathroom! (Trust us, it works). You can also opt for an Airbnb for added space and if you’re lucky, maybe even your own pool, bedroom, or at the very least, a wall.
3. Bring On the Sun
According to Natalie, you’ll want to get your baby in the sunshine as soon as you get to your destination, particularly if you swapped timezones, which will help their circadian rhythm adjust. Speaking of which, similar to Daylight Savings prep, you might want to start getting them on your vacay time in advance - especially if you’ll be away for one week or longer. “If you’re going to California, for example, change their schedule by an hour and a half - not the full three hours,” says Natalie. “That will make things easier coming back.”
If you’re headed east, to Europe for example, the time change might be in your favor. Your baby will be more likely to stay up later and go to bed later, which will make them easier, and more fun to travel with. “You can take your baby out to dinner, come home at 10pm and everyone will go to bed,” says Natalie. “You can be with your baby more in the evenings, which can be nice.” Again, don’t do the full six hour time change for a trip to Paris, but about half that, which will save your sanity once you’re back home.
4. Get Your Gear Sorted
Arguably one of the more important tips to traveling with your baby is to have the right gear you can count on to get you everywhere from security lines to sand-in-your-toes fun with relative ease. You’ll want a great travel stroller system like the Babyzen or Doona - one that can adjust to fit a carseat and get stowed overhead on a plane so that you don’t need to gate check it. Speaking of which, consider purchasing your baby a seat on the plane next to you. That way, they can sit in the carseat and you can get your hands back. “It sounds excessive, but it will make the flight a lot easier,” says Natalie. “You can rest, eat meals and you’re not holding your baby for eight hours straight.”
If your baby is under six months old, or less than 20 pounds, you can call your airline to reserve a bulkhead seat with a bassinet, but they’re often very small and you won’t be guaranteed the offering (nor are you guaranteed that your baby will like it!). Depending on where you’re headed, you can request that a travel crib or pack and play be added to your hotel room, and certain Airbnbs advertise similar family friendly amenities on site. Do your research in advance and don’t wait until the last minute to make these requests.
5. Timing is Key
Whether you’re driving or flying, schedule your trips around your baby’s nap schedule. Natalie recommends that for domestic flights, leaving in the morning will allow your baby a full day to acclimate to where they are. For international flights, opt for a red-eye so that they can get some rest.
For older babies, make sure you bring entertainment with you on the plane, like sticker books, stackable cups or toys. Don’t forget more formula or milk than you need, plenty of snacks (if they’re eating) and an extra pair of clothing for both yourself and the baby. Keep important documents, such as passports and vaccination records, easily accessible. Use travel organizers to keep your baby essentials organized and readily available.
