Some people may find the idea of taking a two-month old on an international flight to a former communist block country a little crazy.Well, they might be right if you’re not prepared for such an adventure!We have obviously had some practice flying into unfamiliar locales without knowing a soul or having any type of guide; but, that was just the two of us.Now we were on our way to Budapest and had a tiny helpless person to watch out for. Taking a trip with an infant requires some preparation, especially if you like to travel light and not bring everything including the kitchen sink.
While traveling with an infant is certainly possible, before you even consider it, consult with your child’s pediatrician.It’s no fun for you or baby if the little one isn’t thriving.If the baby is healthy, at least you will have the peace of mind knowing that your child is fit to travel.Once you’ve got the doctor’s clearance, the real preparations can begin!So the following are a few steps to make life a little easier when you actually get on the road.
The List of Emergency Contacts.Before you venture off far from home, make sure you get the number of the closest American embassy in the city you are visiting.If a medical emergency arises, you will have an English speaking liaison to assist you.The American embassies should be able to refer you to local doctors, and often times, these are English speaking doctors who have even treated the embassy employees themselves.
The Flight.As even adults have experienced, children’s ears can bother them when the cabin pressure changes during takeoff and landing.To prevent any discomfort, ensure that the baby is sucking at these times by offering a pacifier or breast feeding.Angele breast fed Rio each time we anticipated a pressure change and thankfully, Rio ears didn’t bother him once during the ascent or descent (or maybe this kid was just born to travel)!
The Accommodations.We’ve found that the best option for traveling with an infant is to rent an apartment.This way, you have a kitchen with a microwave or stove to sterilize bottles and a fridge to store milk.Even if you are breastfeeding, having a few supplementary bottles can save you if you end up in a place where you don’t feel comfortable breast feeding in public.Be rest assured that in developing countries, you won’t find discreet facilities for you and baby to take a “lunch break.”
Besides having a kitchen, in an apartment you will most likely have more than one room.If the little one sleeps on his or her own in a nursery at home, then you will appreciate having the same convenience on the road.Don’t worry about packing the baby monitor though.If you are traveling internationally, the voltage may be incompatible anyway and honestly, holiday apartments are so “cozy” that you will probably hear your little one without any strain.
The Location.Book in the most central location you can find with easy access to city sites.Keep in mind that the most central will not always be the most picturesque.We stayed on one of the main boulevards in Budapest.We didn’t have a view of the Danube like guests of the Sheraton or the Four Seasons, but we got to observe the charm of the locals and were in walking distance to everything.
First, if you are close to all of the sites, you may just be able to do without signing up for a tour.The last thing we wanted to do was get on a tourist bus at 7:00am after being up for a feeding at 3:00am.Most days we didn’t even get out of the apartment until the afternoon anyway; fortunately, we found the dusk hours to be the most enchanting time to experience Budapest.The sun would be setting, the tourist crowds would have thinned out, and the monuments, like Buda Castle, Parliament, and the Chain Bridge would be aglow with flickering lights shimmering over the Danube.
Second, the more central you are, the less you will have to rely on public transportation to get around.If you have a stroller in hand, getting into and out of buses or climbing up and down the stairs of metro stations would be no fun at all!
The Baby Carrier.Instead of a cumbersome stroller, most of the time we used a baby carrier, like the Baby Bjorn.This harness strapped to our chest, kept Rio close to our body, where he was warm and snug, and freed our hands to take pictures or hold a guide book.It also allowed us to go anywhere we wanted.Some of the best sites and views of Budapest were atop hills which required walking several flights of stairs, like Gellert Hill, which provided commanding views of the Danube separating Buda and Pest.
The Photos.Take pictures of everything your baby experiences for the first time!Rio had his first plane ride, first subway ride, and first hike on this trip to Budapest (check these photos out on the site).He was quite a trooper and all of the Hungarian women fawned over him.The Hungarians absolutely adore children, so if you are thinking about your next family vacation, try Budapest.We loved it and so will you!
