Single Mom Traveling with a Baby
Traveling has always been the best bonding activity for most families. The time shared away from home and from all the everyday distractions provides you with enough time to talk and experience new things together. The experiences gained teach kids to become more flexible, adventurous, and curious. Moreover, these kids learn many things around the world, including history, geography, and various cultures. However, like most of the good things we enjoy, this comes with challenges, especially for a single mother trying to keep everything in place. It is in mothers’ nature to worry so much about their babies, and when it comes to traveling with them on vacations, the situation worsens. A trip with a baby keeps a single mom thinking a lot. Here are some tips to help a Single Mom Traveling with a Baby conquer this trip with ease.
Getting to the destination
Being on the road or air with babies regardless of their age can prove to be a difficulty. A baby needs attention all the time. Depending on the means of transport you choose, the following tips can help.
- Do prior preparations before the journey. Make sure to organize the entire luggage you will need on time. If there is documentation to be done, do this early enough so that you avoid waiting for long in the lines.
- If you are going through air, consider using a family lane when you going through security
- Check out for any additional paperwork because this is compulsory for single parents traveling to another country.
- Organize yourself early, even when you are going to a nearby place, so that you make your trip full of fun. Also, take breaks along the way.
- Ensure you are comfortable in the car, on flight, and at the destination
Babies get too tired and nervous when they are made to sit somewhere for too long. Also, they get nervous if they have to walk for too long. This situation can become worse when they are made to wear tight clothes and shoes for a long time. This applies to you as the mother too. This, therefore, calls for your attention to choose a comfortable outfit and shoes to handle the baby. You can consider wearing simple yoga pants and a t-shirt to make you comfortable.
Keep the baby’s hands full
Babies are different from older people. Most of the time, they get bored and cannot keep up with one activity. When babies travel, having to sit for long bores them. The best thing to do is play with them and if you are doing something different at the time, like driving, find other ways to make your baby occupied and have fun. Let them have their toys and fun books. If you are using a car, you can have packed food and snacks. Also, plan places where you will be stopping to eat and stretch before proceeding with the trip.
Choose a place that is babies- friendly to stay at
As you look for places you can stay, do not be fooled by what most hotels include in their descriptions since most will say that they are kids friendly. Look for the following things when choosing accommodations.
- Children discounts
- A place that has a separate pool for babies
- Rooms with fridge
- Offer entertainment programs for children
- A complimentary traveling cot
Get organized earlier
Conduct good research of the place you will be staying in early enough. Know how you will get to the hotel of your residence from the airport. Look up for information about the places you will visit with your baby and know whether you can access them by foot. Since you will have a baby with you on this trip, make sure to come with a carrier or an umbrella stroller if the baby is a toddler. This will make it easy for you to move around.
Be healthy and safe
Listen, being Single Mom Traveling with a Baby isn’t easy, but that means being in good health to take care of the baby is that much more essential. This is why it is important you ensure that you bring with you a first aid kit. Being a single mother denies you the luxury of sending someone else to the pharmacy as you watch the kid. Have everything you might need in case of a medical emergency and carry them with you. Also, ensure that you have checked for your travel insurance so that you and your baby can easily access medical care in whichever place you are visiting.
Make plans for emergency situations
As a single mother, journeying with a baby can come with a lot of risks, and when the baby is involved in the journey, the risks keep on multiplying. It is important to have an emergency plan and let your kids know what to do in case of anything. However, if your baby is still little and cannot even use a cell phone, always have your cell phone number written down on paper and in their pockets. Also, you can have a tracking device designed for your baby so that you can monitor the baby’s movement.
To sum up, vacation with your baby as a single mother can be an incredible adventure that allows you quality time with your baby. Although the challenges are many, with the above tips, make the most out of this journey and use the opportunity to bond and create memories together.