Are You Ready to Travel With Baby?
Here’s How to Quickly Plan a Family Trip
That’s Smooth, Safe, and Fun!

Whether you’re planning a trip to visit family, a relaxing vacation in the sun, or an exotic adventure in faraway lands, preparing to travel can be stressful and overwhelming…

… and when you add a new baby to the equation, just thinking about travel can be flat-out terrifying.

In fact, when you start adding up all the things you need to research, pack, purchase, and prepare, it can feel so overwhelming that you’re tempted to give up while your trip is still in the planning stage!

Why do some families enjoy smooth, relaxing trips — while others suffer through a series of disasters?

Few things in life can make you feel better than a great family trip. Whether it’s a year-long adventure of a lifetime or a spur-of-the-moment weekend getaway, nothing compares to the feeling of freedom you get when you set out for someplace new (or familiar) with the people you love the most.

Unfortunately, some people confuse that feeling of freedom with lack of a plan – and that’s where things can go wrong.

I’ve spoken with a lot of new parents who feel so overwhelmed at the thought of planning a trip that they decide to “just wing it.”

And sadly, those are the same parents we’ve all seen having a meltdown in a crowded airport, a hotel lobby, a busy street… or at 30,000 feet!

Before you travel with baby, you OWE it to yourself and your family to take the short time needed to create a plan that ensures you’re ready to answer each and every one of the following questions:

• “What documents do I need to travel safely?” Depending where you’re traveling, you may need passports, travel visas, and extra medical insurance for you and your family. When do you need immunization records or consent letters? How can you be sure you’re covered against emergencies? And how on earth do you get a baby to pose for a passport photo?
• “What’s different about booking transport with a baby?” How do you know if you’ve picked a baby-friendly destination? Where are the best seats on the plane when you’re with a baby? Will your baby sit on your lap or in a separate seat? How do you decide between bringing your car seat and renting one when you get there?
• “What should I pack — and what should I leave behind?” Do you bring the car seat AND the stroller? What do you need in your carry-on bag to make the flight go smoothly? Which travel accessories and gadgets are actually worth bringing? And do the things YOU need to pack change now that you’re a parent?
• “How do we get through the airport in one piece?” What’s the best way to get through airport security quickly when you’ve got milk, baby food, and formula? What can you do during those long layovers? And how do you change a diaper when there’s no change table in sight?
• “How will we make it through a long flight?” Will your baby get an earache during take-off and landing? How can you help your baby sleep when you’re packed into airplane seats? And how the heck do you change a poopy diaper in a tiny airplane bathroom?
• “What can I do to keep my baby’s sleep schedule?” How can you avoid the mistakes most parents make that prevent babies from sleeping well during travel? Do you need to adjust baby’s sleep schedule before you leave? How can you help your baby overcome jet lag?

Without a plan that helps you easily answer all these questions and more, you’re at risk of being caught unprepared at the worst possible times.

What’s the difference between a safe, smooth family trip and a total disaster? A great plan.

Look, it happens. Things go wrong. Diapers leak. Flights get cancelled. You get the airport security guy who got up on the wrong side of the bed.

But if you’ve got a solid travel plan in place, you’re prepared to deal with the things that inevitably come up.

You’re in charge of the safety and security of your family. You’re the one they need to keep it together when things threaten to come apart.

And you’re the one who can keep this thing on the rails and make it a trip you’ll all remember forever. (Fondly, at that!)

Why trust me to help create your family travel plan?

I’m a mom of two who loves to travel. In fact, in the past few years, I have:

• Taken 18 flights with my baby and toddler. (I’ve even received a lot of compliments from other passengers on how well behaved my little ones were!)
• Set sail on more than 20 ferry trips. (Living on the West Coast, I’ve learned a thing or two about how to keep little ones happy on the water.)
• Packed the car for dozens of family road trips. (And enjoyed them thoroughly, even with all the inevitable little disasters along the way.)

I’ve blogged about travel, had a story published in a travel anthology, and have been featured in newspaper and magazine articles on travel.

But my favorite thing is speaking to groups of new moms and dads, listening to their concerns and answering all the questions they have about traveling with their wee ones.

(One of my favorite things about speaking engagements, in fact, is how much I always learn when these parents share their best tips and tricks for surviving travel with children!)

While spending all this time in the air, at sea, and on the road with my own wonderful sons, I’ll admit that I’ve made a lot of mistakes and learned a lot of hard lessons.

But it’s all for the best – because everything I’ve learned can help you avoid making those mistakes.

How to plan the best trip for you and your family

Every family is different, and so is every trip. So if anyone tells you there’s a “foolproof blueprint” for a perfect family trip, be very, VERY skeptical.

I’m not going to promise you an ironclad travel plan that can’t fail – because that travel plan doesn’t exist.

However, what you’ll find in The No-Nonsense Guide to Surviving Travel with Baby is tested, proven, real-world strategies and advice for creating the best travel plan possible for you and your family:

• Preparing to travel with baby. I’ll walk you through the tricky process of getting passports, visas, and medical insurance in order. (And share a few VERY helpful tricks for getting a passport photo of your little one.)
• Choosing the destination that’s right for YOUR family. With the right plan, it’s not always necessary to restrict your plan to “baby-friendly” destinations. Learn how to tailor your trip plans for the travel styles and destinations YOUR family enjoys.
• “Special” travel situations and requirements. Some travel situations require special preparations and documentation. Learn how to know whether you need to follow any of these procedures so you don’t get caught at the flight gate without being prepared.
• Booking flights. Should you fly in the day? Is it EVER a good idea to take your baby on the red-eye flight?
• Choosing seats. Will baby sit on your lap? In a separate seat or car seat? And should you book a bulkhead seat? (Hint: They’re not for everyone!)
• Booking transport and accommodations. What transport is best at what ages? What do you NEED to know when choosing accommodations with a baby? Learn how to plan these the right way… including some lessons about booking accommodations that I learned the hard way!
• Packing for your trip. This topic could be a book in itself. What to bring for baby? What to bring for YOU now that you’re a parent? What goes in your carry-on? Do you bring the stroller? Car seat? Don’t worry – we’ll get you packed and ready to go.

Getting through the airport and flight without losing your cool – or your sanity!

If there’s one travel concern I’ve heard more than any other from new parents, it’s flying.

Regardless of how many flights you took before having a baby, the thought of taking your screeching, pooping, totally unpredictable little bundle of joy on an airplane can be enough to have anyone waking up in cold sweats at night!

Again, there’s no way I can promise to get you through a flight without anything going wrong. However, what I can promise is to share everything you’ll need to know to be ready for the most common (and unexpected) little disasters that can turn a flight into a nightmare…

… so that you, your little one, your family, and your fellow passengers can get there without feeling like you’ve just lived through a war.

Here are some of the crucial strategies you’ll learn:

• Packing your carry-on. It’s not just what you pack – it’s how you pack it! Learn how to turn the humble carry-on bag into an indispensable trip-saving toolkit!
• Selecting the RIGHT travel accessories. There are some amazing travel accessories out there – and some that sound cool but aren’t worth the trouble. Learn how to decide which travel accessories are right for YOUR family.
• Coping strategies for parents in airports. Yes, you can get yourself, your baby, and your bags through the airport and security without going completely crazy. Really!
• Keeping baby calm and happy. There’s a lot to worry about with a baby in the air: earaches, screaming fits, missed naps, and more. Learn common strategies (including some surprising ones!) that have worked for other parents to keep your little one calm and relaxed at 30,000 feet.
• Changing diapers. Tiny seats… tiny bathroom… huge blowout! I hope this never happens to you – but if it does, learn the best way to clean up without turning it into, well, you know what kind of show.
• Eating on the go. If you’re flying with a toddler, you don’t have to resort to “convenient” junk food just to make it through a flight without making a mess. There are plenty of options for healthy foods that little ones actually eat – that aren’t messy at all!

Booking transport and accommodation – and getting your little one sleeping soundly away from home!

Congratulations! You’ve made it through the first leg of your journey – and whatever your destination may be, you’ve arrived!

But whether it’s adventure travel, a two-week vacation, or even just a weekend with your in-laws, you’ll find that having your little one in tow changes everything. Even if you’ve done this plenty of times before, things are different now.

From booking transport to hitting the beach to getting everyone to sleep at the end of the day, The No-Nonsense Guide to Surviving Travel with Baby covers the skills and strategies you’ll need to make the most of your time away from home, including…

• The best ways to get around with baby. Whether you’re in your own vehicle or booking transport, learn some great ways to think “outside the box” for a more peaceful and enjoyable trip.
• Sleeping away from home. When baby sleeps well, everyone sleeps well. That’s why this guide contains an entire chapter written with Dana Obleman, acclaimed child sleep expert and creator of the Sleep Sense Solution. Armed with these expert strategies, you’ll beat the jet lag, settle in, and make sure baby’s all-important sleep schedule gets back to normal starting on the first night away!
• Avoid travel “traps” that disrupt baby sleep. One of the worst mistakes you can make while traveling is to give in to temptation and throw your baby’s sleep schedule off track. Learn the most common mistakes, and how to avoid them so baby (and everyone) gets enough sleep.
• Make the most of the beach. For many of us, the beach is the most blissful vacation destination we can think of – but as you’ll discover, your little one can quickly turn a world-class getaway into a total gong show. Learn how not to show up like a rolling circus tent, and find safe and sensible solutions for shade, sunscreen, and insect protection.
• Coming home. All good things come to an end. When it’s time to come home, learn a few tricks that will help you and baby settle back in quickly and smoothly.

Everything you need to travel with peace of mind

A great trip can be one of the most amazing, life-changing experiences you’ll ever have.

And by getting out there and living the life you want to live – with your little one by your side – you’re giving your child an invaluable gift.

You’re showing your child that the world is a friendly, exciting, magical place. You’re kindling curiosity, wonder, and worldly wisdom – and you’re modeling travel skills that will help your child navigate the wild world of travel safely and with confidence.

To me, the saddest thing is hearing a new parent say, “I love to travel – but I’m just too scared to take the plunge with my little one.”

Life is too short NOT to do this. I’ve done it. You can too!

I’ve distilled my own knowledge, strategies, and hard-won travel wisdom (and the experiences of HUNDREDS of parents just like you) into one start-to-finish guide…

… and it’s yours for less than you’d spend in the airport Starbucks for a few coffees and a fancy muffin.

I’m planning to make The No-Nonsense Guide to Surviving Travel with Baby available for the very reasonable price of $27 – but right now, it can be yours at the special launch price of just $17.

You’ll get all the strategies for planning and packing… all the tips and tricks for smoothly navigating the airports, skies, roads, and seas… and all the skills and tips to make the most of your time away…

… so that you and your family have a travel experience you’ll be eager to repeat.

Get the guide today – and claim these two FREE bonuses!

When you claim your copy of The No-Nonsense Guide to Surviving Travel With Baby today, I’ll throw in these two valuable bonuses – absolutely free!

If you choose to place your trust in me and give The No-Nonsense Guide to Surviving Travel with Baby a try, I know you’ll be delighted with the confidence and security that come from the skills and strategies I teach…

… and to prove how confident I am that these skills and strategies will work for you, I’m offering the fairest guarantee I can think of:

You can get your money back for ANY reason within one year of purchasing – with no hassles.

In other words, there’s NO RISK – and no excuse not to give it a try!

It’s time to start sharing the joy of travel with your little one.

It’s one of the greatest gifts you can give as a parent. And I know – I KNOW – you can do it.

Looking forward to seeing you out there.

Happy traveling!
Lindsie Tomlinson

 

P.S. When you’re feeling unsure about the next step, sometimes it really helps to hear from someone who has been where you are.

If you’re looking for a little advice, or if you have some travel tips and strategies of your own to share – please reach out and connect with me on Facebook or Twitter.