Europe...With a Baby?! Yes, You Can!

One of my most recent adventures was daring to travel to Europe (from the west coast) for two weeks with my husband and 6-month-old son. Yep, there...and back! As I'd imagined, there were some difficulties, but the struggles were worth the experience. In preparation for our trip I tried to do some online research for tips on traveling overseas with an infant. For the most part, I came up empty-handed. So, here's my attempt to share tips with other mommas!

Passports: Your baby will need a passport! Yes, your infant will need a real, $100+ passport, chubby face forward picture and all. To take your own picture (as opposed to paying for one) place a white sheet on the ground and lay your baby on his or her back, taking photo from above. If you can't get him to keep his head straight (photo requirement), there are simple rotating tools in many photo editors you can use.

The Flight:
Well, it sucks. Just plain ol' crap. I wouldn't dare medicate my son for convenience, so on the flight out (3 flights, actually) I had one of the worst days of my life. He became over-stimulated, over-tired and uncomfortable. He cried the majority of the way and was very difficult to nurse discreetly because of his restlessness. I spent a large chunk of time in the lavatory to either nurse him or give the other passengers a break from his crying. Most international flights have bassinet attachments at the bulk head seating, but you do have to ask for it in advance! Even having the space of bulkhead seating is a huge plus. My son, even at 6 months, was too long for the bassinet, so he was on my lap the entire way. We wised up and gave him baby Benadryl on the way back....he slept like a champ! I realized that it was so much better for him, having been medicated, experiencing less stress and anxiety! (Especially since it ended up taking us 36 hours to get back home!) Be sure to carry on plenty of diapers, wipes, nursing pads, extra clothes and a plastic bag for the dirties!

What to pack:  
Bring plenty of diapers for the first few days! There are no Targets in Europe, so it may take you some time to find which stores sell diapers and wipes. Keep in mind many places are closed on Sunday! We learned that the hard way. Luckily, we came across a gas station with Pull-Ups!
If you plan on sight-seeing (why else would you be in Europe?) bring a stroller (os a sling depending on the age of your baby). We took a $20 umbrella stroller and it worked out perfectly. It was super light and portable and was great on the flights (gate check), in the rental car (those tiny European cars), on the metro (perfect baby buffer), in restaurants (good luck even fitting a full-size stroller in any European establishment!), etc.
If you're a germaphobe like me, take some sort of changing pad liner/surface. There are few, if any, European bathrooms with changing tables. You will have to improvise! These work great on the flights too.
If you're planning on driving take your own car seat. They are very easy to check on your flight with your other luggage. We bought a bag from BuyBuyBaby, but any sturdy, recognizable bag would do. Some rental car places have car seats, but you can never be sure of who's used them, who's maintained them, and if they've ever been broken and repaired, etc. The last thing you want is to be unfamiliar with your baby's safety harness (use and quality) in a foreign country!
Find a good, lightweight backpack (we found this one on clearance for $10 and LOVED it) that can serve as your carry-on, purse, diaper bag, etc. Walking through Europe is hard enough without carrying a ridiculous amount of luggage.

Sleeping Arrangements:
Most European beds are two twins pushed together with a wooden slat in the middle...not ideal for bed sharing with baby. If you can share a twin with your baby, more power to you, but if you can't ask the concierge if they have a crib available (you might need ask for a baby "cot"), most hotels have them. If not, ask for extra blankets and improvise!

Other Good Things to Have:
It's a good idea to bring your own first aid/medicine kit with you. There are pharmacies on every corner in Europe, but most medications are available by prescription only! (pack Aspirin, Tums, Benadryl, etc.)
You should carry an In Case of Emergency sheet with you at all times. There are forms online that are easy to print and fill out.
You can also print out a list of the embassies in your area with contact information (address, telephone) from within the area of travel.
Provide your family/friends with a detailed itinerary (dates, hotel address/telephone, etc) as well as embassy information (there is different contact information if calling from the US) in case they need to contact you.

I hope this helps you adventurous, world-traveling mommas out there! The extra preparation is definitely worth the memories! If you have any questions, please let me know, I'll do my best to answer them!

Traveling With Your Newborn

Traveling with your newborn can present you with new challenges, but it is possible! Luckily, newborns require very little: comfort, dry pants, and a full tummy. There is a way to enjoy life outside of the nursery by simply being prepared for these simple needs.

Be sure to pack weather-appropriate clothing. Check the weather report ahead of time and prepare accordingly. You will not need to pack as many clothes if you will be staying somewhere with laundry capabilities; simply pack a small container of detergent or buy some at your destination. With newborns basic onesies will suffice for warm weather. For cooler weather you can exchange the onesies with footie outfits and beanies. Don’t forget a warm blanket.

Think about where your baby will sleep. If you prefer not to have your baby in bed with you there are easier ways than lugging around the massive portable cribs. I found a wonderful Nap ‘N Pack (travel bed) at Wal-Mart for $50. It is a bed, changing pad, and play mat the rolls up into an easy-to-carry duffle bag, with pockets to boot. I have used mine when hiking to the lake for a lake day, camping, and when visiting the grandparents. It is very easy to pack and carry.

Don’t forget the diapers or the wipes. If you are traveling to an area with stores, don’t worry about filling your trunk with diapers and wipes galore; you can always buy more if you run out. However, if you are camping or traveling somewhere rural, you can never have too many diapers. They don’t take up that much space and are a great thing to keep on hand. I keep an extra diaper bag in the trunk of my car with a couple burp rags, a blanket, a pacifier and extra diapers.

Be sure to feed, burp and change your baby just before heading out the door. If you feed your baby formula plan ahead and pack the amount you know you’ll need. Keep a bottle ready to go for your baby. If you are breast feeding you can simply pull the car over when your baby is hungry. If you have a breast pump I would advise bringing the pump with two bottles (and nipples) and extra batteries. I found it much easier to pump once in the car and have a warm bottle ready to go when my baby asked for it (rather than having a cold bottle and have to tow along the ice packs and other gear).

One item that truly made travel easy was my baby sling. It was a great alternative to hauling a stroller. Some slings also double as a nursing cover which is a great thing to have when away from the privacy of home.

Things intended to ease your life as a parent can actually end up hindering you. It is nearly impossible to travel with cribs, playpens, toys, strollers, and all the other items parents tend to rely on at home (refer to the Top Ten Baby Items for the First Time Mom). By planning ahead of time and keeping calm when issues arise, you can successfully enjoy time away from home with your new family.