The National Day holiday is coming. Do you have plans to travel with your little one? If your baby is still very young, parents might have all kinds of concerns and may not know what preparations to make. Is traveling with a baby really that difficult?
Many working moms seem to only be able to travel freely during their maternity leave, but... can they really just pick up and go? What about the baby? That’s when the criticisms about breastfeeding are sure to resurface—like those endless “whack-a-mole” questions popping up non-stop... So, does being a mom mean you can’t be “carefree”? Does being a mom mean you can only stay at home, disheveled and overwhelmed? Does being a mom mean you can only complain and vent online, like so many negative comics in the WeChat circle, while envying foreign moms hiking mountains with babies on their backs?
Of course, being a mom comes with a most important responsibility—but importance doesn’t equal “burden,” let alone a “heavy” one. There’s no such thing as a “sweet burden.” A newborn is a new member of the family who needs to learn about the real world and also get to know her own family. So, moms, let’s enjoy this rare long holiday—“maternity leave”—and take a spontaneous trip with our little ones.
Since we’re going out, we’ll need to think about clothes, food, accommodation, and transportation. Let’s dive into how we can manage all of these and still “travel with ease.”
1. Clothing: Stock up on diapers
For a child, the most important clothing isn’t underwear, outerwear, or trendy outfits—it’s diapers. When traveling, diapers are the only real option. You can’t exactly wash diapers on a train, and aside from the inconvenience, what if your baby pees on you? What if they pee on the train (or airplane) seat? So, the first essential for any trip is a good supply of diapers.
Buy in bulk and ship them
Now, moms will surely ask: how many diapers should I bring? Forget the weight—space is the real issue. This is where the “magic helper” comes in—your courier service. What era are we in? The internet age? No, no, no—we’re in the golden age of couriers and widespread logistics. Just carry enough diapers for the trip itself, and ship the rest ahead (but use this method cautiously during the National Day holiday, note from Lulu)!
Have the delivery sent to your accommodation address (hotels can usually hold packages at the front desk for pickup upon check-in). And since you’re shipping anyway, don’t waste the opportunity—pack along extra clothes, toys, utensils, wet wipes, picture books, toiletries, and send them all together. Who says you can’t check luggage on a train? Moms need to think outside the box and find every possible way to make things easier.
Of course, this method might work better for domestic trips. For international travel, postage and other issues could be more complicated—but then again, overseas destinations usually have well-equipped baby facilities, so buying things there is also an option. These days, prices abroad might even be more reasonable than back home. Make a list of things you’d like to buy for your baby, pick them up when you arrive, and use them fresh.
Tips for packing clothes
Aside from diapers, you’ll also need extra clothes for your child, especially if you’re traveling across regions with big temperature differences. Moms, it’s best not to pack too many heavy clothes—just one or two will do. You can always layer them up as needed, which also makes it easier to adjust to changing temperatures.
2. Food
Now that we’ve covered clothing, let’s talk about food. Actually, I’ve always questioned the order of the phrase “clothing, food, housing, transportation”—it’s probably just because it rhymes. Otherwise, food would definitely come first. Especially for babies just a few months old or even under two years old—how do they eat while traveling? I’m sure this is one of the biggest concerns for many moms.
Exclusively breastfed babies: bring a nursing cover
First, for exclusively breastfed babies under six months who haven’t started solid foods yet—moms, let’s all sing “Hallelujah!” You don’t need to bring anything for feeding, because you are a wireless, mobile, never-expiring, high-quality, safe, and eco-friendly supply station. No worries about temperature, sterilization, or preparation—just maybe bring a large shawl or a dedicated nursing cover to protect your privacy in public.
Formula-fed babies: use liquid formula or formula dispensers
So what about mixed-fed or exclusively formula-fed babies? The simplest solution is to ship your bottles ahead instead of carrying them—yes, moms, you might feel faint reading this, but how will your baby eat? It’s easy. Just prepare liquid formula. It’s now quite easy to buy pre-mixed liquid formula, and there are even disposable nipples—you can just pour it in and feed your baby. And again, just bring enough for the trip.
What if you can’t find fancy liquid formula? No problem. Ship your formula powder. Get a portable formula dispenser and divide the formula according to how many meals your baby will need during the trip (you might want to pack one or two extra meals). You can also use resealable plastic bags from the supermarket to portion it out, throwing away each bag after use to lighten your load.
Babies eating solids: use a vacuum flask
Now we come to what might be the most headache-inducing issue for moms—the baby who’s just started eating solids (around one or one and a half years old), but can’t have seasoning yet, or the baby under eight months who can only eat pureed food. What do you do? Open your mind, open your mind. Once you start thinking creatively, everything becomes easy. Here’s another must-have gadget—the “vacuum flask.” Don’t worry, we’ll explain how to use it.
First, for babies eating pureed food, it’s simple—buy a suitable amount of canned baby food for the duration of your trip and have it delivered to your accommodation. During the trip: 1. Divide rice cereal into individual servings in sealed containers. 2. Now it’s time for our star gadget—the vacuum flask. You probably know it as a highly insulated container—especially the well-known Japanese brands that can keep food warm for up to 10 hours.
But moms, insulation means keeping temperature stable—it doesn’t mean keeping it hot. It also preserves cold temperatures (trust us, cold is just as important). Before leaving home, pre-chill the flask with ice cubes to bring the temperature below zero. Then right before you head out, replace the ice and separate each meal’s puree (different combinations of veggies, meat, and fruit) into individual servings in small bags. Seal them well and place them in the ice-filled flask. You can label the bags with numbers or use a marker to note which meal is which. Use one bag at a time and discard it afterward—then toss the ice.
Baby’s eating utensils
What about utensils for the baby? 1. Trains and planes often provide disposable paper or plastic cups that you can use. 2. Some vacuum flasks come with spoons, so you might not even need to bring one. 3. If not, you’ll just need to carry one spoon.
Loving tip
The vacuum flask isn’t just useful for travel. It’s also great for babies aged 8 to 18 months who can’t eat seasoned food, or even older kids who shouldn’t eat out every day. You can buy small packages of fresh ingredients at your destination and use the flask to cook rice, porridge, or noodles. Simple and convenient.
3. Accommodation
Now that we’ve covered food, let’s talk about accommodation. There are definitely many moms here—especially those who have just started following the PDF method—who may have a lot of concerns. Since routines at home can’t be as stable when traveling, and children are bound to struggle with a change in environment, finding a place with an independent small bed for them is often difficult.
Don’t Be Bound by “Routine”
First of all, I must say, since you’ve decided to go on a trip, enjoy it to the fullest. A different schedule while traveling is simply flexibility built on a foundation of routine. Moms, please relax and don’t put too much pressure on yourselves. Don’t let the idea of “routine” restrict or confine you. We teach our children about routine not to tie them down, but to give them a true understanding of the world and long-term blessings. Learning to adapt to various environments is a huge blessing for one’s future life. What we need to pay attention to is restoring the home routine as soon as we return. Of course, children will need some time to readjust, so moms should understand this fact, be mentally prepared, and just relax.
How to Solve the Problem of Your Baby Sleeping?
When it comes to accommodation, the most important issue is definitely sleep.
First, if we’re staying at a hotel, we can request a baby crib when making the reservation.
Second, make good use of resources. For example, if the hotel room has a “kotatsu” (low table with a heated base), you can ask the staff for a chair with a backrest (one that’s heavy enough) and prop it up against the edge to block the child and prevent falls.
Third, if things are really this “miserable”—and there’s absolutely nothing available—what do you do?! The safest option is to sleep on the floor. For younger babies, avoid laying down thick quilts; instead, use a firmer blanket or a floor mat.
If you can’t take it anymore, push a single bed all the way against the wall—the child sleeps inside against the wall while you sleep on the outside to block. If you must share the bed, avoid using large quilts. If mom and dad are too big to sleep next to the baby, safety should always be the top priority.
In short, adults should learn to “go with the flow.” If staying at a relative’s house, the same principle applies. But one thing to highlight: if staying with relatives—especially where there are many family members—it’s best to inform them in advance so they can respect the child’s living habits. Otherwise, staying at a hotel might be more convenient.
How Does the Baby Take a Bath?
Aside from sleeping, the second biggest issue is bathing. What do you do about bath time? The simplest solution for a little baby is: the sink.
Use the hotel sink—turn on the tap and hold the baby with one hand to wash. While traveling, don’t be as fussy as at home about giving baths with toys or soaking—since you’re out, do things you can’t do at home. For older children (those who can stand or hold themselves up), you can bathe them directly in the shower. Moms, just ensure the baby’s safety. Have fun splashing around naked together—keeping your inner child is also one secret to staying young. Dad can wrap the baby in a towel and carry them away afterward. (Lulu’s note: For babies over 2 years old, this can also be a chance for simple sex education.)
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I believe this is also a major reason why many moms are intimidated by the idea of a “spontaneous trip.” Such a young child who can’t walk or sit still needs to be held the entire time—exhausting just thinking about it, not to mention squeezing onto trains or catching flights. It’s enough to make anyone hesitate. Here, I really must say: the human-friendly facilities in China still have a long way to go to improve. Faced with such a tough environment, must we really just give up? No way. So what should we do?
Frequent Transfers Require Car Safety Seats
First, we must respect our children—as independent individuals who just need special care in certain areas. Based on this key principle, we develop suitable travel plans.
For example, will we need to use vehicles frequently at our destination? If yes, we must ensure the child’s safety while riding in cars there, which likely means having a proper car seat suitable for our child at the destination.
Make Clever Use of Infant Carriers
If you haven’t bought one yet, you can have it delivered online directly to your accommodation. If you already have one, here are some solutions: First, bring the car seat. This only applies to infants who are young or lightweight enough for an infant carrier. Also, when buying an infant carrier, moms, please note that many car seats today are designed to be very convenient—they can be combined with many strollers (like foldable umbrella strollers). So bringing one car seat is actually like bringing a stroller + high chair + daytime napping bed for your child. Though it may seem heavy, it’s extremely practical.
Even in restaurants without high chairs, you can place the carrier on an adult’s chair so the child can eat with you. On trains or long-distance buses, the child can sleep or play inside it. Second, depending on the destination, you might choose to rent or borrow essential travel tools for babies—including car seats, strollers, etc.—including larger car seats for toddlers.
Suggest Buying a Ticket for the Child
If you don’t need to use transportation frequently at your destination, you can naturally reduce the amount of gear you carry. But moms, please note: whether it’s a newborn or an older infant, it’s recommended to buy them a ticket. Though babies this age may not need a ticket for trains or other transport, you’ll find that having their own “seat” during the journey brings “happiness” and “comfort.” Older babies who can sit or stand can play, eat, or hold onto the window to look outside. When children have something to do, they’re less likely to get fussy.
Moms don’t have to hold the child the whole time, preserving their physical energy and reducing emotional burnout. When it’s time to sleep, the child can lie on their own seat, allowing both parent and child to rest well. This makes everything better and more relaxing.
Special Essentials for the Child
Finally, let’s discuss a few other potential issues that are closely tied to the principles mentioned earlier: “We must respect our children as independent individuals who just need special care in certain areas.”
First, take inventory of your child’s essentials. Beyond what we’ve already discussed—clothing, food, accommodation, and transportation—you may also need to bring some special items for your child, such as: waterproof mats, special sheets or blankets (some children are attached to certain bedding), or a favorite bedtime stuffed animal. Other ideas include books, building blocks, crayons, or other toys your child enjoys. When the child is able to express preferences, moms are encouraged to prepare their child’s luggage together with them.
Written in Closing
Being a mom is indeed the hardest job, and one that often seems to yield little visible reward—but its importance, and the happiness, fulfillment, and memories it brings, are truly irreplaceable. Being a mom—especially a stay-at-home mom—is absolutely not about being constantly covered in messes and feeling disheveled and overwhelmed. It’s a beautiful and enriching experience that you’ll cherish for a lifetime.