Peter and I have always traveled as backpackers – on our own, with others, and now together. It’s our way of traveling. The freedom we feel when planning and shaping our own journey means a lot to us. Traveling as a backpacker isn’t easy, but we’re not looking for ease when we set out. For us, it’s a boost and a sidekick in life every time we return, not only because it satisfies our curiosity but also because we thrive and feel alive by overcoming the challenges that backpacking presents.
That’s exactly how we felt when we had our son, Sebastian. Summer was approaching, and the backpacking life was calling us again. We wanted to go – this time with our six-week-old son. We had barely settled into parenthood, and our routines, to put it mildly, were still quite unpolished. But we were determined to go, and the doubts we had – especially me – about whether it was a good idea simply had to be put to the test.
Our experience traveling with an infant as new parents
We decided to go to Sardinia for a couple of weeks. We rented a car in advance and booked a hotel for our first few days in the country. After that, we planned to hit the road, let curiosity guide us, and stay open to new, unexpected adventures. We thought it would be easy to find new places to stay along the way. We quickly learned otherwise.
Before leaving home, it looked like there were plenty of available rentals we could book as we traveled. That turned out not to be the case. The rentals existed, but they were all booked – Italian hosts simply hadn’t updated their websites (year 2009). There was nothing available. As in nothing.
So, we decided to take the ferry to Corsica (Sardinia’s French neighbor) in search of accommodation. It turned out to be just as difficult. Eventually, we managed to find a terrible place to stay, which we paid a small fortune for. The next day, however, we found a place we fell in love with – and have returned to again and again since. (Read more about our trips to Corsica here.)
Had it been just Peter and me, it probably would have been fine – just another experience to add to the list. But as brand-new parents with a six-week-old baby? It was far from ideal.
Our trip gave us memories for life, but it also taught us lessons I wish I had known back then. I hope this post and our experiences can help you and your family get even more out of your first trip together.
Here are some helpful tips that I hope you and your family will benefit from.
Helpful tips for your first trip with an infant
Are You Ready to Travel?
That can be a tough question to answer. It can also be hard to admit. I found it difficult. I wavered between my deep urge to explore the world and my new identity as a mother, with everything that entailed. I had only been a mother for six weeks, and I didn’t fully grasp what I was experiencing at the time. Looking back now, I remember feeling torn – should I go, or should I stay home? My inner backpacker was pulling at me – Come on, Lise, it urged. But another part of me wasn’t particularly interested in seeing the world. I was perfectly content just being Sebastian’s mom, holding the very best thing in the world right there in my arms.
In the end, we decided to go. To try it out. To see if it was right for us. We left a backdoor open, allowing ourselves the option to return home if the trip no longer felt right. In that sense, our decision not to plan too much in advance turned out to be perfect. In fact, we ended up cutting the trip short by three days because, at some point, the experience of traveling felt less important than the desire and need to be home in familiar surroundings.
And this is a process that’s different for everyone.
But what about you? Are you ready to travel?
Lay it all out
Back then, I struggled to push my inner backpacker aside simply because I had just become a mother. After all, I’m still a mother when I travel. So what difference does it make to bring a child along? More planning – yes. New routines – yes. New needs – yes. There’s no doubt that traveling with a baby for the first time is different and that it depends on how comfortable you feel in your role as a parent. But at the end of the day, the most important thing is to stay true to your needs and desires – and to be open about them. Lay it all out on the table.
Align your expectations with each other. Do you want the same things? Where is the compromise? Are you worried? Talk openly about your doubts and concerns – maybe there’s a solution. Express your thoughts, and take the time to feel into yourself and each other in these new scenarios. Pay attention to whether your concerns stem from a lack of experience, a lack of solutions, or something that genuinely needs to be addressed. Once your doubts and reservations are out in the open, it becomes easier to determine if you’re ready to travel. Seek answers to any lingering questions, and only make the final decision to go when you truly feel ready.
What kind of trip do you need now?
What you needed before becoming parents is likely different from what you need today, now that you have more than just yourselves to think about. Is your preferred way of traveling still possible now that you’re a family? What do you need? What does your family need? When do you feel your best as a family?
What values must your trip include for you to feel safe and relaxed along the way? What conditions need to be in place? For example, is it important for you to stay in one place the entire time? Or do you need to be in a house surrounded by nature? Would you prefer an apartment where you can easily take the stroller down to a café and enjoy some social life around you? Do you need a lot of space?
Which elements are essential for your trip to feel comfortable so you can truly unwind and enjoy it?
It can be hard to answer since it’s your first time traveling with a baby. But one thing is certain – the values that work for you at home will likely work for you on the road as well.
What do you need to bring?
Packing for just ourselves was easy enough – we had that down. But what did we need to bring now that we were three? Our solution was to go through everything we used for Sebastian at home. We scanned our days, hour by hour, noting which items were essential for his well-being. What we used at home, we would likely need on the trip as well. And whatever we needed for ourselves, Sebastian would probably need some version of too.
So far, so good. We made a long packing list well in advance, and whenever we realized something was missing, we simply added it.
We decided to bring only the most essential items. But at times, we also compromised – sometimes for practical reasons, but mostly so that I felt secure enough to travel with an infant. For instance, we chose to bring our own diapers. Of course, we could have bought them abroad, but it was important to us that he wore diapers free of dyes and additives. Thankfully, they took up the most space on the way out…
Other essentials we packed included baby sunscreen, a sun hat, a first-aid kit, band-aids, a play mat, and a baby monitor.
To go at all?
First and foremost: Before traveling abroad, it’s a good idea to consult your doctor or health visitor to check if there’s anything concerning your body or your newborn that you should be aware of.
What should you research before traveling?
Look into any special considerations for the countries and regions you’re traveling to. Are there specific health precautions to take? Which vaccinations are required for each destination?
You might also want to research the medical and hospital facilities in your destination. Is it easy to contact a doctor? Will you be able to communicate if necessary? You can search online and make a list of phone numbers for local doctors, hospitals, and emergency services. Having this information on hand can provide peace of mind in case of illness or an emergency. I personally kept (and sometimes still keep) a list of emergency contacts just in case.
Also, remember that your infant needs their own passport. If you’re traveling in the summer, it’s a good idea to apply well in advance due to potential processing delays.
Transport
Each airline has its own individual rules when it comes to traveling with an infant. Check online to see how your airline handles aspects such as ticket prices, seats, bassinets, and possible changing facilities. There are also specific regulations regarding how much luggage a baby can bring for free.
The air pressure in the plane changes during takeoff and landing. This can sometimes be felt in the ears and cause discomfort. Infants do not have the ability to equalize the pressure in their ears on their own, which can make it painful for them. A good idea is to breastfeed your baby while the plane is taking off and landing. You may also bring a scarf to cover yourself and the baby, both to create a calm environment and to ensure a more private setting between you and your baby.
Consider contacting your airline to find out the best way to bottle-feed your baby on board. They may offer services such as warming the milk in a microwave or other useful tips to make the journey easier. In general, it is a good idea to check with the airline you are traveling with to ensure a smooth and stress-free part of your trip.
Accommodation
During our trip, we stayed in several places without air conditioning. We wouldn’t recommend it. It can get extremely hot in the summer, and even if you’re fine with the heat, your baby might not find it as easy to handle. If you’re traveling to a warm country, it’s worth considering a place with air conditioning. Your baby (and you) may need to cool down during the day – and at night. Additionally, it might be easier to get your little one to sleep in a cool room rather than in a hot one.
Where should you stay? Consider whether you’ll need to sterilize pacifiers and bottles, and whether you’ll need access to laundry facilities or hotel services for washing clothes. You’ll go through a lot of muslin cloths and plenty of outfit changes throughout the day – but you probably already know that! 🙂
The Feeling of Safety
Everything feels new and different when you’ve just become a parent. Your world is turned upside down, you might not be getting much sleep, and your body has just been through an incredible transformation. This is one of those periods in life where anything that can function smoothly should – and that rarely happens when traveling. The more calm and stability you create on your journey, the more you can relax and enjoy this special time with your little family. You may be used to facing challenges together, but does this really need to be the time for extra challenges?
One thing I did to give myself peace of mind was to prepare for the worst-case scenario. I would ask myself, “What if…?” and then answer, “Then I’ll do this…” I made a Plan B to calm my brain, which was constantly trying to anticipate every possible risk or mishap. This approach helped me acknowledge and accept my worries, manage the ones I could, and try to let go of the rest. I wrote everything down in a small notebook that I brought with me, and just having it with me made me feel more secure when facing challenges along the way.
Enjoy the Moment
Try to focus on the joy. Things might not go exactly as planned or as smoothly as you had hoped. But then it will turn into something else. And I promise you, no matter what, this first trip as a family will be something you remember for the rest of your life. Memory has a way of adding a layer of sweetness over all the challenges and will leave you with those moments where you and your family experienced the world in a truly special way.
I often think back to the nights when I sat nursing Sebastian while the cicadas buzzed outside and the morning light slowly seeped through the gaps in the curtains. Peter and I still laugh about how little we actually got to swim on that trip, or the time I panicked over Sebastian’s very first ingrown nail, or the time I sent Peter off on a long drive because we had forgotten Sebastian’s blanket at a hotel.
And yes, we remember the frustrating moments too… but would we have wanted to skip them? No. Would I have preferred to wait a month or two? Maybe a little. But not completely. I love that we did what we did. It was all worth it.
Wishing you and your family a wonderful journey.
Enjoy it.
