Visiting and staying with friends and family sounds like an ideal way to travel with baby. It means a break from your daily routine, and even possibly some doting, loving help with your baby. You may even be lucky enough to squeeze in a date or two sans baby! And while staying with family or friends can certainly be an easy and economical option for travel, you’ll need to plan ahead and be prepared – especially if it’s been a while since a little person lived under their roof.
If there isn’t currently a baby or toddler in their home, chances are it’s not baby-proofed. Do a quick scan of the rooms you are most likely to spend any time in, and you can quickly (and temporarily!) hide or relocate precious collectables and breakable knick knacks. Throw a handful of outlet covers and a roll of painter’s tape into your suitcase, and little fingers are protected from electric shock and various dangling cords from appliances or window coverings can be secured. Whether they’re toddling, crawling, or even just rolling over, regardless of how padded and prepped the rooms are, nothing will protect your baby more than your constant supervision.
We visited my father-in-law when my son was 6-months-old. My son was sitting on his own at that point, but he wasn’t quite steady enough to be sure that he and his Grandpa’s hard tile floors wouldn’t meet in a painful fashion. We did our best with blankets and cushions, but had I given it more thought, I would have purchased or rented an infant seat to use during our stay.
My son was on solids at that point, so I did bring along our portable travel booster seat to have my hands free while feeding him. If your baby is still on a liquid diet, this is one thing you don’t need to worry about. We visited with our daughter when she was 20 mos., and I learned then that not having a high chair or booster seat for meals (when your child is used to sitting in one) means uncomfortable dining experiences for both of you. There are a number of portable travel high chair and booster seat options, or you can rent one. Another option is to purchase an inexpensive high chair and have your hosts donate it after your visit.
Lastly, you need to make sure your baby or toddler has a safe place to sleep. We used to always bring our playpen, though with current baggage fees being what they are, (and clearing TSA being the hassle that it is) it can make more sense to rent one. Many agencies also rent full-size cribs, and will deliver and assemble them as part of their fee. If you co-sleep with your child, remember that your hosts’ guest bed may not be as safe or as suitable as your own, so ensure that you make arrangements accordingly. You can deal with any jet lag issues when you get home.
If you have extended family or friends at your destination, canvass them in advance to see if they have any gear lying around that you can borrow. (Facebook is great for this!) You’ll save on baggage claim and rental fees, and it will make your friends feel good that their outgrown items are still getting use!
