Things to keep in mind when you're traveling with a baby.
- Assemble a first-aid kit with the supplies you'll need to deal with minor medical problems while on the road with your baby. Don't forget prescription medications, even if your baby only needs them on occasion.
- Fill out an emergency sheet with your child's health information or save it on your smartphone. Include the contact names and numbers of healthcare providers and a list of the medications your child takes.
- Sunscreen is a must if you'll be spending time outdoors – no matter what season. Use one with both UVA and UVB protection that's at least SPF 15, but SPF 30 would be better. Apply small amounts to the face and back of hands in babies younger than 6 months. In older babies, you can use it wherever skin is exposed. If you happen to be using an aerosol sunscreen, be sure not to spray it in your baby's face. Spray some on your own hands first, then gently rub it in the skin.
- In the car, your baby should always ride in the back seat, in a rear-facing car seat. If your car's equipped with top and bottom anchors for your child's safety seat, the middle seat is the safest place to install the car seat. Before you leave, make sure the car seat is properly installed and that the car seat's belts are correctly threaded, you also want to make sure it is completely secure.
- Get removable shade screens for the car's side windows to shield your baby's eyes from the sun and keep him from getting too hot.
- If you've purchased an airplane seat for your baby, bring an FAA-approved car seat for your child to sit in. This is the safest way for babies to fly. If you haven't bought a ticket for your baby, you still might be able to use the car seat if there are empty seats on board.
- If your baby's ears seem to hurt from air pressure changes during takeoff and landing, encourage him to breastfeed or suck on a bottle, pacifier, or sippy cup. This will release some of the pressure from your baby’s ears. If your baby happens to be strapped into a car seat, give him something to suck on in the seat, rather than take him out to breastfeed him. It's safest for both of you to be securely buckled in. Also keep in mind that not all babies will experience ear pain – there are no firm medical guidelines on the topic, so just use your best judgment. If your baby's sleeping soundly, leave him be and he might get through the takeoff or landing without any trouble. If he starts feeling discomfort he’ll wake up and tell you.
- If you're crossing time zones and are worried about upsetting your baby's schedule, take as many steps as you think is best to fight jet lag. You can try shifting your baby's sleep hours for the few days leading up to your departure, and when you get there try exposing him to sunlight. But if you think it would be best for all involved to keep your same schedule in the new time zone then you can do that too.
