By car
Most parents take their car for their first trip with their baby. Planning carefully will help you to avoid stress:
- Make your trip on a day with no likelihood of traffic jams.
- Start at a time when the baby is tired and will most likely fall asleep.
- Change diapers and feed the baby before you head off.
- Provide sun protection in your car, e.g. put a towel or sun protection film on the car window. Be careful with air-conditioning: babies cool quicker than adults. Make sure that your baby is not sitting in the draught when the window is open.
- Take a half-hour break at least every 2 hours.
- Pack some HiPP Fruit & Cereal or Fruit for the journey. Don’t forget to pack enough drinks such as HiPP Organic Juice & Mineral Water or HiPP Organic Tea & Juice.
- Keep the food in an easily accessible place and in a cooling bag, but do not keep it too cool. Remember to bring towels, wet wipes/napkins, waste bags.
- Always keep babies belted in a child seat suitable for their age whilst driving.
By train
- Book in time (3 months earlier), so that you can reserve a place in the toddler compartment. This has seats at a table, which is useful for drawing or playing. In addition, there is usually a power point there for plugging in a bottle warmer.
- Let the train operator’s courier service pick up any large baggage and have it delivered right to your holiday resort. For preparation of milk formula it is best to take a thermos of boiled water with you.
Intercity trains usually provide spacious toilets with changing tables (disabled WC). Sometimes the toddler compartment has a fold-out changing table.
By plane
- Even paediatricians have no reservations against holiday flights.
- With one exception: a cold! The pressure equalization can cause bad earache. Nose drops help, but for safety’s sake you should get your child examined by a doctor.
- Ask your flight carrier for a special seat for families with babies. Many airlines provide a baby cot for long-distance flights.
- In any case you should have bottle and pacifier, thick socks, a blanket, diapers, wet wipes and toys or a picture book to relieve boredom in your hand luggage. Flight assistants will warm baby food or bring you hot water for mixing formula if you need it.
- Attention: liquids can only be carried in hand luggage in restricted amounts. Liquids and gelsmay not exceed 100 ml and must be carried in a transparent, re-sealable bag. It is therefore best to take necessary care products for babies in travel size). Baby food that is needed during the flight is an exception and can be carried outside of the plastic bag.
- During takeoff and landing, breastfeed your baby or keep your tea bottle or pacifier ready. The swallowing movements help to equalize the pressure. Otherwise your baby will get earache.
- The air inside a plane is dry. Therefore, frequently give your baby something to drink.
Babies usually fly for free or only pay 10% of the air fare. Therefore, they are usually not entitled to a separate seat.
