Newborn passport and other baby holiday essentials
Preparing for a holiday takes time and as every first time parent finds out with new baby it takes more time than you would ever expect. You can forget the idea of travelling light once a baby comes along. While a baby may be small the amount of luggage needed to care for your child during the holiday is anything but small.Here is our list of holiday essentials that any new parent must remember to bring when taking a holiday with a baby.
Passports tickets and other travel documents
In the rush to pack your bags it is easy to forget to check that everyone’s passport is up-to-date and that all the travel documents are in order. One thing that is often overlooked is that is no longer possible for children to be included on an adult passport. Even though your baby may be a newborn passport and ticket are both essential items to pack. You will need to think about this in advance as taking newborn passport photos are not always easy to manage and it takes time to process the passport.
A cot
When you make your reservation at your holiday destination don’t forget to ask if there is a travel cot available. Your accommodation provider may be able to supply one or you may need to bring a carry-cot or travel cot with you. It is important to check these details in advance. There is nothing worse than arriving at your accommodation and discovering that there is nowhere for your baby to sleep.
Blackout blinds
This may not be top of everyone’s list but a pair of thick curtains or a blackout blind can certainly help make your holiday more enjoyable. Many babies wake up as soon as their bedroom becomes light. If the curtains in the room are thin and let in lots of light then your baby will wake up early and you will miss the benefit of a relaxing lie-in during your holiday. If you can ensure the room does not become light until later in the day you can gain a few extra precious hours to sleep.
A plug-in baby monitor / night-light
If you use a baby monitor at home then it makes sense to bring one along with you on holiday. They offer peace of mind and you will be free to enjoy an evening in your apartment without going to check on your baby every few minutes. If you can find one that incorporates a night-light then that will be one less thing to pack a night-light avoids the need to leave a light on during the night in your apartment.
A baby sun pod
If your holiday is going to involve spending any time on the beach then a baby sun pod will help to protect your baby from the sun. No-one wants to go on a beach holiday and spend all of the time sitting in the shade because the baby can’t stay in the sun. Bringing a sun pod provides the protection your baby needs. For similar reasons you may also want to consider a sun canopy or a sun umbrella for the pushchair if you will be bringing it along. If you will be doing much walking in the middle of the day when the sun is at it’s hottest providing shade for your baby is vitally important.
These are a few of the holiday essentials that you should think about bringing on your holiday so take your newborn passport photos and pack your bags carefully to ensure you all have a fun relaxing holiday this year.