Parenting Hacks for Holiday Travel with Baby

• Household items such as painter’s tape and old sheets make great tools for baby proofing your travel accommodations.
• Keep little ones busy during long car rides with activities like road trip scavenger hunts and gift unwrapping.
• When flying, take advantage of extra storage space in Baby’s checked stroller and dress Baby in onesies with leg snaps for easy diaper changes.

The holiday season is an exciting time for growing families! From starting new traditions to visiting relatives for the first time with your little ones, there is so much to look forward to. Traveling with a baby (or two), on the other hand, might feel less exciting and even overwhelming. But have no fear, because we have plenty of parenting “hacks” to help you prepare for long trips and stays with relatives. Keep reading for tips on everything from baby-proofing hotels to keeping the kids busy on the go.

Tips for Baby Proofing a Relative’s Home, Hotel or Vacation Rental:

• Travel with painter’s tape to cover outlets, secure drawers, and tie up cords in rooms where Baby will be roaming free. Hair ties and rubber bands also work in a pinch for securing low cabinets with adjacent handles.
• Use pool noodles to make DIY baby bumpers! Cut them lengthwise, then across a few times to create different-sized bumpers you can use on sharp corners. (The painter’s tape will also come in handy for keeping the bumpers in place!) If you don’t have any pool noodles on hand or can’t pack them, you can buy them from a tourist shop or supercenter at your destination.
• Pack a disposable tablecloth or an old sheet to protect surfaces from Baby’s messes. Tablecloths and old sheets have lots of great uses for traveling with Baby – plus they are easy to fit in your suitcase! And you can always throw them away if they get too messy. Lay it down on carpeted surfaces where Baby may be eating or playing to catch spills, spit up, or other messes that leave stains or crumbs.

Baby Proofing for Travel Checklist

Use this checklist to prepare for baby proofing your travel destination! Download and print a free copy here.

Tips for Long Car Rides with Baby:

• Create a road trip scavenger hunt. Have your little ones look out the window for things like cars with different colors, farm animals, or signs with simple shapes. It may help to have a piece of paper with pictures of the items they are looking for. As you go down the list, clearly describe each object to them while you point to the picture. For example: “Look for a brown cow in the grass.”
  • Bonus: Helps Baby with their communication and executive functioning skills. Try these car games for more educational fun on the go!
• Bring a few small, gift-wrapped toys (old or new) for Baby to unwrap when you need to give them a quick distraction. Be sure to bring a plastic bag for easy cleanup (ask Baby to help tidy up to extend the activity time!).
  • Bonus: Not only will this keep Baby busy for a few minutes, but it will also help hone their fine motor skills!

Tips for Flying with Baby:

• Car seats and strollers can be checked for free at most airlines, so be sure to take advantage of that extra storage space! You can use your car seat/stroller bag to pack additional clothes, diapers, wipes, and other baby essentials.
• Try feeding Baby during takeoff and landing to relieve ear pain. The action of sucking helps pop ears just like yawning or chewing.
• Save the cute holiday Baby clothes for your destination! It’s fun to get in the holiday spirit with cutesy outfits, but too many frills, buttons, or layers can make for frustrating diaper changes in the airplane bathroom. Dress Baby in a onesie with snap legs for easy diaper changing while in-flight.
• Keep a full change of your own clothes in your carry on in case an accident happens. From blowouts to spit up, there are many kinds of baby fluids that can soil your own clothes while Baby sits on your lap or in your arms during your flight. Have a change of clothes close on hand so you don’t have to sit with the mess and smells the entire time.

General Holiday Travel Tips:

• Pack a baby first aid kit. Having a first aid kit on hand is always a great idea when traveling, but it’s especially important to have one with essentials for Baby. Items to put in your kit may include baby medicine and a dropper to dispense it, a baby thermometer, petroleum jelly, baby nail clippers, gauze, scissors, and any other tools you might need to tend to Baby’s medical needs.
  • Bonus tip: If you have a dog, a roll of dog poop bags can also be a handy item to keep in your diaper bag for quick cleanup.
• Does Baby have a comfort item, like a lovey or blanket? Consider buying a duplicate just for traveling. This way, you have the real one at home in case the backup gets lost or left behind during travel.
• Take a Bluetooth speaker with you for dance parties and singalongs when boredom hits. During downtime in your hotel room or holiday gathering, a Bluetooth speaker can work wonders to tire out your hyper kiddos. Dance games like the Freeze Dance, Hokey Pokey, or the Chicken Dance are easy for littles to do and will help them practice coordination skills!

No matter how you’re traveling or what your destination is this holiday season, we hope these parenting hacks help you and your littles have a smoother, more enjoyable trip! Happy Holidays!

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