Christmas travel guide

A festive visit to family or friends can be exciting, but can also leave first-time parents feeling daunted. It’s lovely to be able to show off your little one, but how will you and your baby cope out of your usual routine? Here’s our handy guide to making your first Christmas away as smooth as a ride on Santa’s sleigh…

Be prepared

How much you pack will depend on how you’re travelling and where you’re going. Find out what’s available at your destination. Is there a microwave or washing machine you can use? Is there any chance of borrowing a high chair, travel cot, play mat or baby bouncer?

Travelling by plane

If you’re flying, space will be at a premium so less is more. Don’t forget to check with the airline about what equipment, such as car seats and travel cots, you’re allowed to put in the hold. Find more tips about travelling by plane here.

Car journeys

It’s surprising how quickly you can fill a car with just your baby’s day-to-day essentials. Don’t forget to allow space for your own luggage, any presents you’re taking and any you’ll be bringing back.

Save time by checking your tyre pressure and filling your car up with fuel the day before you travel. Check the weather forecast and if it’s an unfamiliar route look at a map beforehand, even if you have sat nav it’s useful to have a rough idea of where you’re going.

Home comforts

Take familiar things with you for your baby. The feel and scent of their favourite cuddly toy, sleeping bag, blanket or book can all help them feel at ease.

Feeding

If you’re weaning, a travel high chair is invaluable. You can strap it on to most chairs so you don’t have to rely on restaurants or your hosts having one. Christmas dinners tend to be long affairs, so this will save you having baby on your knee for the duration.

If your baby is over six months old and you’re no longer breastfeeding, don’t forget to pack plenty of your usual brand of follow-on milk. For sterilising bottles, a travel steriliser, or microwaveable steriliser bags are both handy space-savers.

Sleeping & napping

Travel blackout blinds are fantastic if your little one is used to sleeping in a dark room. They stick onto almost any window with suckers creating a dark, cosy environment. Similarly you can get a blackout shade that attaches to the buggy – great for napping on the go at times when your baby’s routine needs to be a bit more flexible.

If your baby uses a soother it’s a good idea to bring a few spares with you, just in case… It’s amazing how easy it is to mislay things when you’re not in your own home.

Changing

Bring a large stash of nappies – you don’t want to be dashing around on Christmas Eve trying to find a shop that stocks your usual brand and size. If you’re short on space, you could ask if your host could buy some in for you when they do their big Christmas shop. (The same goes for other bulky items such as wipes and jars of baby food).

Other essentials

Don’t forget teething gel, nappy cream and medicines. Some infant medication such as paracetamol and ibuprofen are available in sachets, which make it easier to pack light.

If you currently use a big pram or pushchair, this could be the time to invest in a smaller collapsible buggy or stroller. You’ll probably move onto one of these anyway as your baby gets bigger. Most are suitable from birth with lie flat options for napping.

Take a couple of your baby’s favourite toys and books but keep these to a minimum. They’re bound get a few Christmas presents to play with and you can hopefully rely on friends and relatives for entertainment!

Draw up a master travel checklist to use each time you travel. You may find it helpful to break down your list into categories e.g. sleeping, feeding, changing, bathing, play, transport, out and about.

And relax…

Lastly, try to relax and enjoy the time away. Accept all offers of help, and be sure to take lots of photos of your first Christmas together.

IMPORTANT NOTICE: The best way to feed a baby is to breastfeed, as breast milk provides the ideal balanced diet and protection against illness for your baby and also many non-nutritional benefits for both baby and mother. We recommend that you speak to your healthcare professional when deciding on your choice of feeding your baby. Professional guidance should also be sought on the preparation for and maintenance of breastfeeding. If you do choose to breastfeed, it’s important to eat a healthy, balanced diet. Infant formula is intended to replace breast milk when mothers choose not to breastfeed or if for some reason they are unable to do so. A decision not to breastfeed, or to introduce partial bottle-feeding, will reduce the supply of breast milk. If for any reason you choose not to breastfeed, do remember that such a decision can be difficult to reverse. Using infant formula also has social and financial implications which must be considered. Infant formula should always be prepared, used and stored as instructed on the label, in order to avoid risks to a baby’s health. Follow-on Milk is only suitable for babies over 6 months as part of a mixed diet. It should not be used as a substitute for breast milk during the first 6 months. The decision to start weaning or to use this product before 6 months, should be made only on the advice of a doctor, midwife, health visitor, public health nurse, dietitian or pharmacist, based on baby’s individual needs.