Travelling Overseas with a Baby

My friends had been very interested in how I manage to travel with a dependent - toddler and how I actually plan and execute the actual trips. As I am also a logical person and risk adverse, I started with a trial run to somewhere nearby.

Subject: 10-month old girl

Trial run key objective: Flight test, public transport travelling test, hotel bed sleep test.

Preparations: Toys and activities to keep the 1 year old entertained and occupied. Backpack carrier for baby. Clothes and loads of medicine spares for cough, runny/blocked nose, fever, diarrhoea, vomitting.

Considerations: Supermarket, departmental toilets, baby changing facilities, ease to get baby supplies/food, and security (risk of riots/protests at airport/child kidnap).

Duration of trip: 3D2N

Destination: Penang, Malaysia

Hotel: Traders Hotel Penang

Test observations:

1. Our girl was generally tame on flight. However, this behaviour was suspected to be due to exhaustion pre-flight. This was achieved by arriving at the airport early and allowing her to play at the baby entertain rooms, walking, climbing stairs, and simply observing all the sights and sounds at the airport.
2. Choose a seat where you think will have a higher chance of an empty seat, so when we choose seats, we choose seats with 1 empty seat in-between and hope that nobody sits there.
3. Meals on flight was difficult to handle single-handedly because of space constraints. She would grab the cutlery, cups, and anything shiny. I never knew I could finish my meal with 1 hand until that fateful day we flew on the plane with her on my lap for 1+ hour.
4. Take-off and landing was a jittery affair as she did not like to be buckled up. The stewardess were understanding and allowed me to only buckle just before the plane took up. This was also to minimise the restrained period and was critical to maintain good temperaments. Snacks like baby puffs and biscuits were essential to keep her occupied for that short 10 minutes.
5. Bring in an empty water bottle to fill water after the immigration counters. This is also to help hydrate both baby and self before the flight. Always change diapers before the flight.
6. The baby cot provided by the hotel was not comfortable and she ended up sleeping on the bed with us. Using a pillow to block the edge of the bed was sufficient to keep her from rolling off.
7. Having a big variety shopping centre near by would be very useful to get the much needed breakfast, lunch and dinners when you are exhausted from the full day of baby sitting and travelling.
8. Keep her warmer than normal to prevent any chance of catching colds. Err on the side of caution and make her sweat instead of feel cold.
9. Always upkeep good hygience through the trip by washing hands whenever there is a toilet in sight and before and after meals.
10. She enjoyed her trip a lot because her smiles lasted the whole day and everyday.

The Deuter Backpack carrier that allows you to place her on the floor when at the restaurant.

She sits and sleeps comfortably throughout the trip.

With an empty seat, she can comfortably sleep on the plane.