Traveling with a Baby in Diapers

With so many all-inclusive resorts catering to families these days, traveling with babies and small children has never been easier. Which is not to say that it’s easy…but here are a few tips we’ve gathered from family vacation pros:

Get baby used to their travel accommodations. If you're bringing a portable crib, or a collapsible stroller you don’t normally use, pull them out a few days before you leave so they can get familiar with a different routine. That includes room-temperature food or formula as well.

Generations Maroma Family Room

Make sure you check to see what baby amenities the resort has—you may not have to pack as much as you thought. Azul Hotels and Generations Resorts, by Karisma, have everything from changing tables to baby food at the buffet, at no extra charge. See our previous post about baby amenities at Azul. If you book a family room at Palace, you’ll arrive to find beach toys in your room along with milk and juice boxes in the minifridge. And Instead of packing (and paying for) an entire checked bag full of diapers and formula, consider a service like Babies Travel Lite, which can deliver diapers, formula and more to destinations around the world.

Try to get the little one fed right before takeoff, so they’re sleepy on the flight. To help deal with the change in pressures, try to keep them sucking, whether that’s by nursing, a bottle, or a pacifier. If their little ears still seem to be in pain, a little bit of acetaminophen will go a long way. Your carry on should be stuffed with diapers and more than one change of clothes, all packed in separate plastic bags (so you can segregate dirty from clean). Foil packets of baby food will take up less space and make less waste to get rid of. Although you can take bottled formula through security (TSA considers it a medically required liquid), it’ll require a few extra minutes of inspection, so powdered formula and bottled water once you get to the gate may be the route to go.

Finest Playa Mujeres Pool Junior Suite

Once you’re there, unpack right away. If baby isn’t exhausted enough for a nap, distract them with toys and take a few minutes to get organized. It will be worth it later. The right room location can make all the difference. If your plan is to spend all day at the beach, you don’t want to lug everything to the shore, only to find you’ve forgotten something and have to trek back across the resort to get it. Plus, it’ll make popping back to the room for naptime easier. Although you’ll want a quiet room, a nice terrace means you can still get some sun during naptime. The suites at the new Finest Playa Mujeres all have terrace beach beds and Jacuzzis—along with furniture designed to resist any mess your little one might make. Finest also has a spectacular Baby Club, with family bathrooms, a kitchenette, outdoor shaded play area, and a baby splash area separate from the kids’ pool.

Generations Riviera Maya Infinity Pool Suite

Last but definitely not least, have wipes handy at all times—on the plane, at meals, at the beach. If you’re a parent, you knew that one already, but a reminder never hurts.

For more tips on traveling with babies, there’s Parenting.com’s Travel With Kids Checklist and our previous post on packing a child’s carry on bag. If you’ve got a great tip we’ve missed, add it in the comments below.