| Having and raising a baby is undoubtedly | | | | are made for baby milk, formula, and |
| both the most difficult and rewarding of | | | | baby food. |
| women's life experiences. During the | | | | Babies in Cars |
| year after we give birth, women's bodies | | | | Needless to say, you must have an |
| are still recuperating, our hormones are | | | | appropriate car seat for your baby when |
| fluctuating, and our schedules - if we | | | | you travel by car. Beyond that, plan on |
| manage to have even a semblance of one - | | | | frequent stops for diaper changes, |
| are topsy-turvy at best. Each of these | | | | feeding, and nurturing. Even if you're |
| factors is exacerbated whenever we are | | | | traveling with another adult, resist the |
| traveling with our babies. | | | | temptation to take the baby out of the |
| Some people (likely those who have never | | | | car seat in order to comfort him or her. |
| had children or whose children are | | | | Instead, find an off-ramp and take the |
| older) think we're nuts to travel with | | | | time to get out and stretch your legs. |
| our babies. But, even though we've given | | | | In the long run, it's best for everyone. |
| birth, life marches on. There are new | | | | Babies in Hotels |
| grandparents to visit and vacations to | | | | One of the most difficult aspects of |
| take and sometimes, we're even faced | | | | traveling with babies is bringing all of |
| with taking our babies on business | | | | the supplies you'll need while you're |
| trips. | | | | away. If you're traveling by air and |
| I had my son relatively late in life. I | | | | will be staying in a hotel, consider |
| was 37 when he was born, so I was well | | | | shipping your supplies to the hotel |
| established in my career as the | | | | prior to your arrival. Most hotels will |
| executive director of a non-profit | | | | hold packages for one to three days |
| organization. My job entailed traveling | | | | before a guest checks in, so take |
| throughout the United States, and as a | | | | advantage of it. Shipping may seem like |
| single mom, I didn't have many options | | | | an unnecessary expense, but it beats |
| when it came to attending multi-day | | | | having to haul everything from the |
| organizational conferences. When he was | | | | airport to the hotel. Another option is |
| four months old, I flew with my baby to | | | | to use an expeditor that specializes in |
| Los Angeles for four days, and when he | | | | shipping baby supplies to hotels in |
| was six months old, we flew to New | | | | anticipation of your arrival. |
| Orleans for a week. I also took him on | | | | When you make your hotel reservations, |
| more than a few road trips, and learned | | | | be sure that you request a crib. When |
| some things along the way. | | | | you check in, ensure that the crib is |
| Babies on Airplanes | | | | both sturdy and meets safety standards. |
| Pre-motherhood, we may have been annoyed | | | | You may want to consider packing bedding |
| by infants crying on airplanes. Now that | | | | for the crib, as hotel sheets are |
| we're mothers, we're sometimes mortified | | | | notoriously scratchy. Both the texture |
| when our own baby starts wailing when | | | | and the detergent hotels use to wash |
| we're in the air. Crying is sometimes | | | | sheets can irritate your baby's skin. |
| due to air pressure that builds up in | | | | Babysitting |
| the baby's ears, so it's helpful to have | | | | One of the hardest things to do is to |
| something for your little one to suck on | | | | leave your baby with a stranger when |
| - like a pacifier or bottle - during | | | | you're in a strange city. Although it's |
| take-off and landing. A small stuffed | | | | a personal decision each woman needs to |
| animal or a teething ring can also offer | | | | make, when I was traveling on business, |
| a welcome distraction. Beyond that, and | | | | I made sure to stay in premium hotels |
| the techniques you normally use to | | | | and called the concierge well before my |
| comfort your baby, there's not much you | | | | visit to get recommendations on licensed |
| can do, so don't feel badly. | | | | child care providers. Based on his or |
| Most airlines offer infant fares, so if | | | | her recommendations, I would call and |
| you have the means, you should reserve a | | | | interview nanny services, check their |
| seat for your baby and bring along a car | | | | reputations, call their referrals, and |
| seat. This is not only much safer for | | | | check on their licensing status. I would |
| your baby, but it will also allow you to | | | | then have a nanny come and stay in my |
| have some elbowroom so you can take care | | | | hotel room with my baby. I would go to |
| of him or her. Airlines generally allow | | | | my conference, but check back every hour |
| you to hold children under two years old | | | | or two for updates. I was fortunate |
| on your lap, but if it's a long flight, | | | | enough to have excellent childcare |
| you'll be glad you bought the extra | | | | providers who understood both my baby's |
| seat. | | | | needs and my anxiety. |
| With tougher airline security measures, | | | | Traveling with babies can be daunting, |
| it may take you extra time to go through | | | | but it doesn't have to be a nightmare. |
| security, so plan ahead and give | | | | When you plan ahead, you can succeed in |
| yourself plenty of time. Although | | | | taking care of both your baby and |
| bringing fluids past the security | | | | yourself. |
| screening area is prohibited, exceptions | | | | |