How to spend a vacation with a baby and what to take with you?

Carry-on luggage: a worry-free journey

The first step is to decide which children's things will go into the luggage compartment, and what you need to have in your carry-on luggage. If you go on a trip with a child under one year old, you should always have at hand:

• sufficient diapers for the trip;
• wet wipes for baby hygiene;
• several disposable diapers;
• a supply of formula, purees, and cereals to feed the baby on the road;
• drink for the baby, the required number of bottles with a nipple;
• plastic spoons;
• a bib or paper napkins so that the baby does not get dirty during feeding;
• a set of spare clothes in case the child gets dirty (it’s worth preparing a change of clothes for the mother as well);
• additional clothing in case of cold on the plane or cool weather;
• 1-2 favorite toys;
• a lightweight cane stroller, sling, kangaroo or baby carrier.

Tip: stock up on tightly sealed bags - you can put used diapers or soiled clothes in there on the road.

Children's luggage: the most important

The baby needs a lot of clothes, especially if you are not going to a warm resort. The principle of forming a children's wardrobe is as follows: there should be more underwear, less other clothing; what gets dirty the most should be replaced more often; A light windbreaker is preferable to a heavy denim jacket. Warm clothes and shoes are selected depending on the place of vacation, but a light jacket will also come in handy during a trip to hot countries, in case the weather worsens. For a trip to the sea, you will definitely need a Panama hat and a light, light-colored long-sleeved shirt. Also take care of indoor shoes or socks with non-slip soles for a child who has already begun to walk.

Tip: when deciding on the amount of clothes for your baby, find out whether you will have the opportunity to use a laundry or washing machine. Washing will reduce the number of clothes several times.

But on vacation with a baby, you will need a lot more. When going on vacation with a child of this age, pack in your suitcase:

• usual children's cosmetics;
• cream or other remedy for diaper rash;
• supply of diapers, baby food, drinking water for 2-3 days;
• bottles for water or formula (see if your hotel can rent a bottle sterilizer);
• children's dishes;
• a children's first aid kit, which includes medicines for the child;
• sunscreen;
• light blanket or blanket;
• a small oilcloth or waterproof diaper;
• if necessary, use insect repellent.

Do you have any free space left in your suitcase? Put a shovel and a bucket there if you are going to a seaside resort - neither you nor your child will get bored on the beach.

Advice: you shouldn’t stock up on diapers and baby food for future use; usually all this can be bought on the spot. Before your trip, find out where the nearest supermarket or pharmacy is.

Is it possible to go to the sea with a baby? What to take with you?

Summer is ahead - a time of long-awaited relaxation, but the family has recently welcomed a baby. What to do? Going to the sea with a baby? Wait? Some say that before a baby is one year old, a sudden change of environment is contraindicated.

Others argue that traveling to Bulgaria, Turkey or Crimea is feasible even with a newborn. Let's try to figure out when and where you can go with a baby under one year old.

Let's find out what to take with us and how to organize a vacation that will only benefit you.

Benefits of traveling to the sea with a baby:

1. the baby will be able to breathe air saturated not with exhaust gases, but with iodine and oxygen
2. thanks to the sun, his body will begin to actively synthesize vitamin D
3. Swimming in sea water is an excellent way to harden and improve the protective properties of the skin

A holiday at sea with a baby is fraught with certain difficulties. Main arguments against:

1. significant material costs associated with choosing a suitable location and creating normal conditions
2. the need to think through all the details of the trip, especially those related to the health of the baby
3. parents do not have the opportunity to fully relax (have an intense time), because the child requires attention and they have to adapt to his schedule (a trip with a nanny or the provision of such a service by a hotel solves the problem)
4. the need to take a huge amount of things: you will need food, a first aid kit, water, clothes, swimwear, a supply of diapers

You can go to the coast (Crimea, Sochi, Spain) with a baby under one year old, but you need to take many points into account.

It is not advisable to go on a trip with a newborn: the baby adapts to the conditions of the outside world and does not need drastic changes. Pediatricians advise waiting until the child is six months old. But this is debatable: a breastfed baby is protected by the mother’s antibodies and does not need provisions, which is very convenient.

• A trip to the sea for a toddler aged 9-12 months will be an exciting adventure. He is interested in the world and will be delighted with sand, water, and shells. But he needs supervision; it is better to go with a nanny, otherwise the parents will not be able to get distracted and see Crimea, Sochi and other interesting places.
• Before planning a vacation, you should consult your pediatrician. The doctor will take into account all the nuances of the child’s physical development and tell you whether it is possible to go to the sea with him.

When to go to the sea with a baby? There are two points to consider:

1. sudden changes in weather conditions are undesirable;
2. Extreme temperatures are harmful to the baby - it is better to go south in May - June, August - September.

The optimal duration of rest is three weeks. During the first 14 days, the child gets used to the environment, acclimatizes, then rest begins.

September is a velvet season, an ideal time to travel with your baby south to the sea. The bulk of the vacationers have left, the sun is not so dangerous, gentle, the sea is warm and clean.

Where can you go with a baby under one year old? Everything is determined by the capabilities of a particular family and the age of the baby. Dr. E.O. Komarovsky believes: the best places are a country house near a river and a well-maintained, uncrowded sea coast.

Where to spend your holiday?

1. Black Sea (Crimea, Krasnodar Territory) - a minimum of problems with acclimatization, medical care, and food. You can travel even with a newborn or a month-old baby.
2. Egypt - fast flight, good infrastructure, warm but overly salty sea.
3. Cyprus – 3 hours by plane, warm weather.
4. The UAE is a long road, an opportunity to relax in the fall.
5. Greece is a place for a relaxing family holiday.
6. The Red and Dead Seas are an excellent option for recovery.
7. Tunisia - beaches with clean sand and sea, but cool nights.
8. Europe, Türkiye, Egypt - high level of service, mild climate.
9. Exotic countries - long flights, high risks of catching an infection, getting poisoned by local food, the need to get appropriate vaccinations for the whole family.

Crimea and nearby resorts are convenient:

1. close location
2. "native" climate
3. no need to prepare foreign documents

Residence requirements:

1. lack of noisy entertainment venues
2. proximity to the beach with a gentle slope to the sea
3. availability of medical care - your own first aid kit and a doctor nearby are required
4. compliance with hygiene and safety rules
5. ability to prepare (store) food
6. Availability of a sleeping place and various accessories for a child in the room
7. social infrastructure - shops, playgrounds, pharmacies

Transport

When choosing a vehicle, you should focus on the child’s comfort:

1. The plane is expensive, but fast. Experienced travelers advise buying tickets in the first row (more space). During takeoff, you can give the baby a breast (bottle) so that he does not feel a pressure difference.
2. The train is an economical option, but takes a long time. It is advisable to buy tickets in a compartment, avoid traveling in the heat and carefully monitor hygiene.
3. A car is convenient, but tiring. On the way to Crimea, Anapa or another resort, it is recommended to make regular stops, walk, and ventilate the car. A child car seat is required.

Regardless of the type of transport, the mother should have at hand:

1. food, water for baby
2. wet wipes
3. diaper
4. toys, books (for baby after 4 months)
5. first aid kit

List of things

Having decided on where and when to go, you should figure out what to take with you on vacation. Here is an indicative list of luggage for traveling with a child under one year old.

• artificial feeding - it is worth taking a supply of formula for the entire period; stores may not have the right type of food, especially if you are planning a trip to Thailand and not to Crimea.
• natural feeding - the main concern is a complete, safe diet for the mother, options for solving the problem - provisions from home, clarification of the hotel menu in advance, finding out the list of shops and markets in the area.
• complementary feeding - it is most convenient to use canned puree and “instant” baby cereals; if you are cooking on your own, you will need a set of products and kitchen utensils. If you are planning a holiday at a hotel that provides meals, you should check the availability of a children's menu.
• Drink. It is not recommended to drink local running water. It is better to purchase bottled in advance.

1. Cloth. You need a summer wardrobe and a few warm clothes.
2. Diapers, blanket.
3. Regular brand diapers, soap, shampoo, wet wipes, baby cream, oil.
4. Sunscreen and after-sun products suitable for babies up to one year old.
5. A basin in which you can bathe the baby, a pot.
6. Sling, stroller-cane.
7. Favorite toys, accessories for sand and water.
8. Beach umbrella.

First aid kit

A mandatory item on the list of things you need to take with you is a first aid kit:

1. antipyretics, painkillers
2. sorbents
3. rehydration products
4. antihistamine gel
5. spray (gel) for burns
6. alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, brilliant green
7. vasoconstrictor nasal drops
8. cotton wool, bandage, plaster
9. thermometer

The first aid kit can be supplemented with other medications if the child has specific diseases. It wouldn't hurt to take his medical card.

Acclimatization

Holidays with a baby under one year old are accompanied by acclimatization. Its symptoms are restless sleep, tearfulness, loss of appetite, hyperthermia, and digestive disorders. Their severity depends on the characteristics of the baby’s body and the contrast of weather conditions. A trip to Crimea with its mild climate is well tolerated.

The task of parents is to facilitate adaptation as much as possible by creating a comfortable environment: pick up the child in their arms, put them to the chest on demand, take “household” things with them, postpone swimming in the sea for a few days. You can use the medications contained in the prepared first aid kit or consult a doctor. It is worth finding out the phone number of the nearest doctor and taxi in advance.

Finding yourself in a new place with a baby who can move independently, you need to secure the room - close sharp corners, sockets, remove tablecloths, raise breakable objects higher.

It is recommended to go to the beach before 11:00 and after 17:00. But even during “auspicious” hours, a child up to one year old must be protected from direct rays: let him be under a canopy, a tree with dense foliage, or an umbrella. Before going outside and after bathing is completed, the baby’s skin should be lubricated with cream. His head should be in a panama hat; it is better to wear a thin cotton blouse on his body.

For the first sea swim, the baby should simply be dipped into the water. The duration of the procedure can be gradually increased to 10-15 minutes. Bathing should be done together with a person close to the child - mom, dad, nanny. There is no need to force a naughty baby to go into the water. You can just frolic on the edge of the surf. After being in sea water, the baby should be rinsed with running water.

You should practice swimming in the sea with a one-month-old baby if:

1. the water is clean, warm, without waves
2. he doesn't show concern

Some doctors advise waiting up to 3 months for sea procedures.

Holidaying with a child under one year old, with careful preparation, is not a gamble. Staying in the fresh air, warm rays of the sun, swimming in water saturated with minerals - the benefits of traveling to Crimea, Sochi, Greece or another resort for a child are undeniable.

But there are arguments against: material costs, scrupulous preparation, an impressive list of things that need to be taken. The main thing is to put the safety of the baby first: a first aid kit cannot save you from everything, so medical care in the place where you are vacationing should be accessible.

• Before traveling, be sure to consult with your pediatrician to see if your baby has any contraindications. Be sure to take out high-quality health insurance for your child and, if necessary, get vaccinations;
• Pediatricians do not recommend sudden changes in climate and time zones for children under three years of age. Choose places with similar weather conditions and preferably in the same climate zone;

• If you live in cold regions and go to the sea, do it in the cool season.
• Go to a civilized country to minimize the risk of contracting an infection or disease. In addition, it is important that the country provides qualified medical care;
• The best choice would be a trip to the sea or to cities with a small number of attractions and a compact location. Please note that walking long distances around the city with a baby is tiring and not always realistic. Remember that your child needs to change his diaper and feed him regularly;
• For hiking and excursions, use special devices for carrying children (carriers, slings, backpacks, etc.);
• Carefully select the wardrobe of mother and child. For mom, things should be comfortable. It is important that a woman can easily feed her baby without changing clothes or unnecessary movements. For your baby, take clothes for different occasions, because the weather can change dramatically;

• Take your child's favorite toys; if necessary, they will occupy and calm the baby. You can also take new toys, which will take more time to learn;
• Plan your route carefully. Read reviews, find out about places, whether there is a room for mother and child, playgrounds, etc. Plan a route with stops so that you have the opportunity to feed and change clothes, and when traveling long distances, to take a walk and get some fresh air;
• Relax in the mother and baby room. Similar premises exist in modern airports and train stations. Don't be afraid to ask for help;
• Try not to change the nursing mother’s usual diet while breastfeeding. Remember that new and exotic foods can cause bowel problems, allergies, poisoning and other negative consequences in the baby. Read more about the principles of nutrition during breastfeeding here;
• Monitor your child's nutrition. Due to the trip, the intensity of attachments and feedings may change from usual. However, pediatricians recommend maintaining the diet to which the baby is accustomed;
• Try to maintain your baby’s usual sleep and walking routine;
• Do not take perishable food products if it is not possible to comply with storage conditions while traveling. If necessary, bring a portable cooler;
• Be sure to take a thermometer, medicinal and protective (against bites, ultraviolet, etc.) products on the road.

Abroad with a child under one year old: medical insurance

Medical insurance is mandatory for travel to Europe. But if you are going on vacation with children to countries where insurance is not required (Turkey, Egypt), we still recommend insuring your child. The policy must take into account the features of insuring children in the first year of life. At the same time, set aside a certain amount for treatment if reimbursement of expenses will occur only upon return or if the illness is not an insured event. Medical insurance should always be at hand, so put the policy in your hand luggage. It is advisable to write down the phone number of your pediatrician in order to get advice if your child is ill.

Has the suitcase with baby clothes closed? Great! Reasonably packed luggage will not burden you on the road, and you will be able to make sure that vacationing with a child under one year old is a pleasure and not an endless hassle.

Leave for children: by law - at any time

The conditions for granting leave to employees raising minor children are regulated by Article 262 of the Labor Code of the Russian Federation. Guided by its provisions, we remind you that parents of children under 7 years of age have the right to choose to go on vacation at any convenient time of their own free will, and the employer has no right to refuse them. However, the employee, in turn, is obliged to notify the employer of his intention to go on vacation a week before departure.

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