Traveling With High Needs Babies
A high-needs baby is one who needs constant attention and has trouble entertaining or soothing himself. Raising this type of baby is often challenging on its own, but traveling with your high-needs baby poses special difficulties. Understanding your baby and being prepared can make the trip less grueling and ensure a vacation that is enjoyed by your entire family.
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Challenges
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Your high-needs baby is likely to want all of your attention and when she doesn't get it, she throws temper tantrums and cries. Many mothers of high-needs infants find that no one else can calm their babies, including the father or grandparent. Some high-needs infants are sensitive to outside stimuli, such as noise and lights or the feel of their clothing. In addition, many high-needs babies crave constant motion, which tends to calm them and allows them to sleep. These factors make it difficult to travel because your baby's routine is disrupted, you can't hold her the entire trip, and she may become over-stimulated in her new surroundings.
Being Prepared
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Tuning in to your child allows you to understand what factors cause him to cry or need attention. This allows you to prepare for travel by being ready for these types of situations. If you are flying, check with the airline to be sure there is a place you can nurse your baby to calm him. If you are traveling by car, map your route to include plenty of stops for breastfeeding or rocking your high-needs baby. Having a plan allows you to stay calm, keep your baby calm, and enjoy your travels. Write your plan down if you tend to panic in public with your baby, and keep it close by to refer to if you have trouble remembering what your response to a situation is going to be.
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Tips
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If your high-needs baby likes motion, bring his carrier or sling so that you can rock him in the airport during a layover or take a walk with him at a rest stop on a road trip. If he seems to calm down in the presence of a certain toy, make a point to pack it and keep it handy. Bring familiar blankets and clothes you know your baby is comfortable wearing or having near, and try to stick to his routine as much as possible. This means feeding him on schedule, changing his diapers often, putting him to sleep at the same time you do at home, reading the same stories, and singing the same songs you do at home. Enlist help from your partner if you need to take a break and regroup.
Considerations
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If your high-needs baby is particularly intense or suffers from additional problems, whether they are emotional or health related, you may have to consider skipping a vacation until she gets a little older. Invite family to your home for the holidays or take a mini-vacation in your own hometown during this time. If you are ever concerned about your baby's needs, talk with her pediatrician.
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References
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