A vacation gives moms and dads a chance to take a breather from their busy professional lives and affords them time to bond with their children. Traditionally families choose to spend their vacations away from home. After all, an opportunity to enjoy a different environment does not come very often. Needless to say more preparation and greater responsibility are expected from parents who are traveling with a baby or a small child. And it pays to prepare early because the sooner you hit the road, the more time there is to have fun!

Before traveling. Before you leave, bring your child to your doctor for a check up. It would be best to postpone your vacation if your child is ill. If your doctor gives you the go, you may want to bring along your child’s identification information and his health records as you might find them useful in case he gets sick on the road.

When packing. Remember to bring essential items like an insulated storage cooler, which can keep infant food and formula fresh, as well as several bottles so you don’t have to wash them along the way. Also bring several changes of diapers and a well-stocked first aid kit with topical antibiotics, bandages, and thermometer, along with any medications and prescriptions for your little one. In case you are staying in a place where there are a lot of insects, bring along a mosquito netting to protect your baby from bites. If you’re staying in a hotel, you may want to bring along a childproofing kit which includes items like cabinet locks, outlet plugs, cord wraps, safety gates and others. And in case you’re wondering what to do with germs, we suggest you use safe and natural personal care solutions. The Germinator Hand Sanitizer from BabyGanics, for example, is not harmful to you or your baby because it doesn’t contain toxic synthetic chemicals.

Traveling by road or by plane. When traveling by car, use a recommended car seat for your child and bring along sunshades if your car’s windows aren’t tinted. When traveling by plane, remember to bring all essential items (diapers, infant formula, etc.) in your carry-on luggage. Make sure you bring along a car seat for the rental car! Use a rear-facing child restraint system for babies less than 20 lbs and a forward facing one for those weighing 20-40 lbs. Make arrangements with your airline to not seat the child by the aisle to avoid being accidentally injured by people passing by or by passengers getting something from the luggage compartment.

A note about hotels. You can ask the hotel management to childproof the hotel room before you arrive. Otherwise you can do it yourself and check for possible hazards like open windows, breakable items, electric cords and outlets. It will be best to bring along your own play pen or crib to ensure that it is the right product for your child.