Travelling tips and advice from Alice Griffin 'Tales from a Travelling Mum'

Beach

A Factor 50 pop up beach tent, small enough to fit into your luggage and perfect if your baby wants a rest on the beach. They get quite hot so try and pitch in it the shade.

Little Swimmer nappies or waterproof swimming knickers are perfect for small babies who can splash about to their hearts content without you worrying that they are leaving a present for fellow bathers. Can be dried and reused if clean. Try to get out to the beach first thing in the morning. By the time it gets really hot you want to be back in the shade of your balcony enjoying a cool drink while baby takes an afternoon nap.

Camping and Caravanning

Consider how much space you will need to move about in when changing baby or having a little space of your own once baby is in bed. A top notch camp site does have something for all the family especially in France, so if you are on a camping getaway or a long road journey indulge in a bit of luxury for the first few nights it will be worth it. When baby insists on keeping fellow campers up all night best way to deal with the fallout is deal with it headon. Smile and apologise and you will find that they will be very understanding.

You can easily find places to stay for free, designated sites can be found all through Europe usually with water and loos, once again France is especially good at providing these facilities. The hardest thing to deal with while camping either in a tent or caravan is rain. Remember to take games with you, and for younger children make a bouncy castle out of cushions or have a musical afternoon using all your pots and wooden spoons.

Car

When you are heading off on a long journey travelling with children make sure you have a good selection of stories and childrens nursery rhymes on CD. They are a godsend when there is nothing else to do. Take emergency toys, toys that they are unfamiliar with, or don't play with very often, whip them out at different intervals. There is nothing like something new to recapture interest. If you do not have an airconditioned car and you are travelling in the summer make sure you travel in the mornings, and or through the night and not in the mid afternoon. Also take plenty of water in the car. A long road trip is much easier when baby is young.

Changing and Toileting

A backpack is more practical as a nappy bag than a shoulder bag. Having two pairs of hands is best but if you can't manage that make sure you have everything laid out on the seat ready to go, you don't want to be looking for wet wipes in a bag on the floor with one hand and trying to stop baby rolling off the seat with the other. You really don't need to pack huge amounts of nappies, there are babies everywhere, just pop to a local supermarket or chemist. Make sure you pack a portable changing mat as some facilities are basic to say the least. When travelling with baby there is no room for shyness, if the baby needs changing they need changing just find the most comfortable place possible.

City Breaks

Consider self catering accomodation in a city as it provides a home from home environment for you and your baby. It would be wise when visiting a city with a little one to think about when it is likely to be a little quieter. When visiting a city choose lots of activites to keep your baby happy, let the little one/s run free in parks inbetween doing the things you may want to do. Small relaxed cafes are a better option when travelling with children than sitting down in a fancy restaurtant. It is possible to visit cities with a little one you just need to be aware of what you can and can't do. Try not to drive around or through cities in the heat of the day with a baby on board, they will probably be fine but you will be at risk of injecting unneccessary tension into your relationship.

Confidence and Consideration

You must develop a thick skin when people are negative about your travel plans with a young baby. Have a stock of handy phrases to hand. Get in as much travel as you can with a newborn, they get used to it fast and you will learn from your mistakes. If you are not sure whether independant travel is for you then consider whether you would have gone for such options before becoming parents. If you were not up to it when you were single you certainly won't be with a child on board. When it comes to long term options, travelling before your child reaches school age is an excellent idea. If you intend to long term travel with a young baby, it might be as well to wait until they are about a year old, when they will have had their main and most important jabs.

Feeding

If you are in the car take hot water in a flask to warm bottles on the go (tip from Tiny Tot Travellers use an incar bottle warmer). Most restaurants and bars in Mediterranean countries are happy to provide a bowl of hotwater for your baby's bottle - dont be afraid to ask. Pack a few cartons of the readymade milk if you are not breast feeding. To save on packing try local formula from the chemist, you will recognise International brands. A rucksack with a cool department for made up bottles is handy if you are heading out for long walks. Take sterilising tablets and sterilise bottles in a sink or a bowl. Expect the proprietor to take your baby on a restaurant tour while you eat, this happens alot in Europe.

Packing

You never need as much as you think. Most babies will go through two outfits a day. If you are going somewhere hot for a week take seven outfits and wash one daily in the shower. Forget suitcases, a large backpack is much easier to handle. Always carry a First Aid Kit to include Calpol, insect repellent, plasters, antiseptic cream and sun lotion.

When you are going somewhere cold, take an all-in-one weather suit, you will never regret it. When heading off on a varied trip with lots of different modes of transport travel light when it comes to clothes. Always work out how many outfits you can handwash and get dry.

There is no need to take a huge number of large toys on a long road trip, there is usually so much more going on and you will find yourself lugging them about for no reason.

Tips for Peace and Quiet

Little boxes of sultanas are healthy and picking them out of boxes keeps babies content for quite some time. When babies are past the newborn stage they must have plenty to keep them to stay cheerful while you're knocking back cappuccinos and chatting to friends. A little rucksack containing books, a pull-along toy and various other bits and bobs works a treat, for a while. If the pressure gets too much pull out a handful of new toys they haven't seen before.

Plane

The biggest misconception is that short -haul plane travel with a newborn is difficult. When they are very small it is about as easy as it gets. They will normally sleep peacefully in your arms whilst drinking milk as and when. When they are abit older you'll be wrestling with a boisterous child who requires constant stimulation, whether they are used to travelling or not. Travelling with babies is not as difficult as you might imagine.

Do your best to book a flight around nap or evening sleep time. There is nothing better than giving your baby a bottle at take-off and watching them slip in to slumber for the rest of the flight. Make sure you go to the loo first though - you don't want to disturb them.

Preparation and Planning

Pay extra for the Post Office to check through your passport application form before sending it to the passport office. It saves them sending it back and delaying the proceedings. Babies are NOT expected to keep their eyes open for passport photos. Make sure you consider your own needs when it comes to planning a trip. What might have been a simple nighttime adventure when you were single could leave you looking like an extra from Thriller with a baby in tow. There is no good or bad time to leave your life behind to enter into open ended travel you simply have to remind yourself of the dreams you have and work toward them.

The one thing you don't have to worry about is your child. If they are young they will surprise you with their acceptance of new routines and new surroundings. One of the biggest benefits of longer term travel when your child is small is the time you are able to spend together as a family. School and independance comes all too quickly.

Sleeping

If you want your baby to be transportable invest in a pop up bubble cot, it will fit in your luggage or be taken as hand luggage, and for the little one it is a home away from home. In the absence of a cot you can make a bed from pillows and quilts. A traditional travel cot is a must when you are on the road certainly up to the age of 18 months. Not only is it the perfect sleeping place  but when you are busy putting up your tent or camper you will be glad of somewhere to put your baby safely. You will be surprised at how adapable babies are and also their ability to sleep amidst unbelievable noise.

Travelling ( while you are there)

When your child looks at something, no matter how simple look at it with them. Hold your usual dismissive judgement that it is something boring and dig deep. Make snow angels, go on woodland walks to the unknown, be reckless; think less. You might be surprised at what you find.

Travelling in Mediterranean countries with a baby is really quite something. You will quickly get used to walking into any shop, from the bakery to the supermarket and being given free gifts for your little one. And when people reach out to take your baby, don't worry it is perfectly normal for this to happen so sit back and enjoy. If you embrace your child into your life they will become comfortable with all you do. Don't be afraid to step out of your holiday comfort zone .... you might be surprised at what you find.

If you plan to spend a few months in a different country to that of your own you will need to consider carefully what this might mean for your young child/children. If you don't know anyone there is always a park or nursery where you can go armed with a dictionary. If your child is very small you might like to think about hooking up with fellow ex pat mums in the area. Althought he idea of only mixing with locals is romantic and authentic, it is important to find a few friends who share your language.

Spanish and Greek bars and restaurants are different. Yes they are family orientated, but people can and do smoke happily around children. This would upset many people especially those of us aware of the danger this puts on small children, you do need to be aware and consider these factors before you head inside.

Useful Items

Slings are a great option for travel when you're baby is small. Attempting to fold and unfold your buggy whilst simultaneously trying to remove or strap your baby in and hail a taxi is a nightmare. Strap your baby to you as soon as you exit the plane and keep them there - it will also give you piece of mind when it comes to taxi rides. A Mountain Buggy is great for many terrains, doubles up as a sleeping place and you can strap the bubble cot to it in transit, thus getting away with loading them both into the hold!. ( Normally you are limited to one cot or one buggy). Another good product was the Bumbo a kind of seat that sits steadly on most surfaces and keeps baby in a good sitting position.

Walking

A Backpack is indispensable from about the age of 8 months to 3 years. It is perfect if you are walking or navigating your way through the cobbled and steep alleyways of traditional French towns.

Working Holidays

HELPX.net is a great place to find volunteer opportunities on farms all over the world. There is often the opportunity to negotiate terms ( usually on board and food in return for work) to allow the whole family to take part.

Find Alice Griffin's book 'Tales from a Travelling Mum' at Amazon  or go to her website  www.alicegriffin.co.uk