Tips And Tricks On Traveling To Ireland (Or Anywhere Overseas) With A Baby
Traveling with a baby is always adventurous, isn’t it? Parents, you know what I’m talking about. There’s just so much to think about, and so much to pack. God forbid you leave anything at home. But then on the other hand, don’t overpack! Sometimes it feels like there’s no winning. But, I’m here to help in any way that I can with some tips and tricks.
In February we traveled to Ireland with our 18-month-old son, Barrett for eight nights. It was a lot of fun, but honestly, a lot of work. Let’s start with how I picked our hotels.
Pick Hotels That Will Accommodate You
When picking hotels along our journey, it was important to select hotels that had free cribs available. We found all of our hotels on Hotels.com. When you’re looking for specific properties you can filter your selections to find hotels with cribs. That was a must for us because he’s still too small to sleep in his own bed.
The next important thing when traveling to Ireland was to purchase Barrett his own airplane seat. Let’s be honest, these airplanes are small, and with three people to a row, it gets tight. While he’s under the age of 2 and could have technically flown for free, it would have been a nightmare for other people if they were sitting in the same row as us. Because of his size and very mobile age, it was important to purchase a seat for him. It set us back a bit on our budget, but worth it.
Just another friendly reminder when flying with a child. The airlines don’t automatically book you in seats next to each other. I made the mistake thinking that they would set us all in the same row. Come to find out, they don’t put families in seats next to each other unless you purchase specific seats for even more money. I think it’s completely ridiculous that they do this, but what are you going to do, not sit together?
Other Pointers For Traveling With A Baby
This isn’t our first time traveling with a baby. Last year we went to Mexico with Barrett. It was his first time on a long flight, or any flight for that matter. We learned so much. So here are some tips and tricks for traveling with a baby!
Traveling With A Baby? Don't Forget These 11 Essential Items!
11. Big Suitcase
Don’t forget to bring the largest suitcase you can find. You’ll need to fit things like diapers, wipes, clothes. And then there’s all of the swimming essentials too!! A big suitcase will be very important.
I would get a bag that’s long enough and big enough for EVERY SINGLE ITEM on this list. If you don’t have a big enough bag, buy one now. Your baby needs a lot, so get a bag that will travel with enough space for them.
10. Baby's Passport
I know it sounds obvious, but don’t forget a passport for your baby if you’re traveling out of the United States. It takes about 5 weeks with expedited service. You’ll need your baby’s birth certificate when applying for a passport and a check. We completed the form at a US Postal Office. Baby’s passports last for 5 years. If you are traveling within the USA, bring your baby’s birth certificate.
