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Traveling to see family for Thanksgiving can be fun, stressful, joyous, fulfilling, difficult, and expensive. For families who are going out of town with a baby, the demands can be even greater. By utilizing some simple steps for easier travel, moms and dads can get out of town without going out of their minds.
Ground Rules
The first step to traveling to see family this Thanksgiving is to have established rules for who can watch or hold the baby, and who cannot. For example, a great-grandmother may be perfectly capable of feeding the baby, but at ninety years old, she should probably not be left to care for him while everyone goes shopping to get Black Friday deals. Both parents have to be in agreement about the rules regarding their children because it will ruin the holiday if there is stress or fighting around adhering to the rules.
Be Prepared
The next step is to make sure travel is baby friendly. Does the diaper bag have his favorite toy and book? Is there travel formula? Does mom have a proper cover-up so she is comfortable if she needs to breastfeed on the plane? These questions need to be addressed early on because it is going to be hard to find your favorite baby products at the duty free shop or in rural areas.
Plane Travel
If traveling by plane, understand that the baby will likely cry, and it will drive you crazy if you worry about how other passengers react to these inevitable tears. Most passengers sympathize with you, and some who have “been there” may even offer advice. Your baby may be experiencing mild discomfort from the change in cabin pressure. Try bottle feeding or nursing him; swallowing can help clear his ears and relieve some of that pressure. Keep in mind there is only so much that can be done. You don’t need to burden yourself with guilt over a short plane ride and a few strangers who may have been a little annoyed.
Lodging
Spending time with relatives is the joy of Thanksgiving. While some children and parents enjoy staying with family, others find the close quarters and botched routine too stressful. There is no harm in spending your nights in a motel or hotel, where you can escape for naps and goodnights. Consider what will benefit your young family and let your hosts know that you intend to spend as much time as possible with them but want a private space for your family to rest.
The most valuable piece of advice: Relax. Soak up all the family goodness and delicious Thanksgiving food and enjoy watching your baby interact with his new family.
