What to pack 3-6 month old baby?

[NomadicNarwhal]

Planning ahead here with a heart full of hope but I work in a role that comes with a lot of travel, a lot of flexibility but a lot of travel. I don't get paid maternity leave other than Maternity Allowance and so will need to go back to work quite quickly. I'm looking at the sales that are upcoming for what I will need for travelling with a young baby in an effort to save some money.

Interested to know what you would pack for a 3-6 month old baby for European (months 3/4) (Winter) and Far East Asia (months 5 / 6) (Spring)?

And yes, it's flexible enough that the baby will be coming with no questions asked... actually the baby may enhance some of the work perspectives in many ways.

Same as what you use at home tbh. Asia probably more warm weather clothing.

You might need to take more clothing if no laundry options

Get a good travel stroller - ideally one that can go in the cabin but that’s not a deal breaker. Also, a baby carrier and a travel blackout blind www.amazon.co.uk/Tommee-Tippee-Anywhere-Blackout-Blind/dp/B08BD8YCC7/ref=sr_1_5?keywords=travel+blackout+blind&qid=1687975780&sr=8-5

In terms of clothing, it really depends on where in Europe. For Scandinavian or alpine countries like Austria for example, I’d get a snowsuit. If you’re going to Portugal or Spain, then no need.

Thanks for the suggestion of a travel blackout blind, I hadn't thought of this at all.

What would you say is a good travel stroller? At the moment I am planning to buy the MB Urban Jungle and the MB Nano (this is sold as a travel pram) plus a carrier, but some trips I will have to chose between the prams. The MB Nano does fold down to cabin-sized baggage, and I get decent (premium class) baggage allowance so it won't be an issue. I normally only take one hold bag and one cabin bag so the limit will be on me carrying stuff through the airport rather than the airline allowances I think.

I need to figure out carseats - cannot get my head around them at all at the moment as there's such a lot of conflicting evidence. Also unsure how much I will actually use them abroad given these trips are specifically organised to stay in one location.

A good travel stroller has a decent sized underneath basket, extra features like a sun shield and rain cover, full recline, one-handed fold and some kind of suspension.
Regarding the car seat, there’s no right or wrong answer, it 100% depends on the situation. If you plan to take a taxi, its worth noting in many countries such as Singapore, they will not take children of a certain age unless they are in a car seat. Most airlines will allow you to check a car seat into the hold for free in addition to your baggage allowance.

I use the babyzen yo-yo pram to travel. We have the larger mountain buggy at home, but when I looked, the nano folded too big for many airlines hand luggage ( especially cheap airlines like easyJet/ Ryanair), the nano wheels stay outside bag folded

@Fivemoreminutes1 this is super helpful - thank you. More research needed as it transpires the Nano doesn't fit the cabin baggage dimensions for the airlines I work for (well most of them anyway). Unsure if I should just risk it as it will actually fit in the overhead cabins.

I'm thinking of getting a second had carseat because it will not be used in the UK, at least not whilst they are in the infant carrier stage. How does it work with insurance abroad? I know in Australia they have their own carseat standards and European carseats do not meet these and vice versa. I clearly need to do a lot more research, I thought this would be easy and it's not!

@Caspianberg super helpful too - do you like the Yoyo? I have seen them about a lot and they seem quite popular but I've never used one for any extended period of time.

@NomadicNarwhal - yes. We only bought it as second pram for travel around 12 month old, so didn’t use for smaller baby. But if you buy the newborn nest ( not the carrycot) it folds handluggage size still from newborn. It’s also car seat compatible.
Its super handy with now 3 year olds still.

Not quite what you asked, but might be helpful.

Plan to breastfeed and set up all the support now. Read about the 4th trimester, normal newborn behaviour and find support groups. The NCT is good for evidenced based information on this.

Breastfeeding makes travelling easier for sure. No need to worry about water quality in other countries, ease or cost of supply of formula, lack sterilising stuff, less stuff to take.

@Twizbe absolutely the type of information and advice I need to be hearing, thank you so much!

For Europe you need the same clothes as here, if you go to Scandinavia or into the Alps you need to add layers. It. also depends if you use the pram or carry the baby.

Far East - I would assume summer clothes with layers as air cons are often really cold so cardigans, jogging bottoms, thin blankets. You also have to check that the air con in your hotel room is set correct, they often cause colds.

Have you thought where baby will sleep? Do you have laundry facilities? For example I stayed in Singapore years ago in a serviced apartment for 10 days instead of a hotel and had a kitchen and washing machine which was really useful so I didn't have to eat out 3 meals a day when I was there for work.

Research your usual airline what they offer as allowance for infants.

Oh, do check what vaccinations your baby will get when. Is your travel insurance covering your child and especially does it provide cover for parent's accomodation/costs when a child is in hospital for longer and can't be flown back?

I’d also be looking up childcare possibilities in the countries you’re visiting.

even with the best will in the world and the most flexibility, working with a baby in tow is HARD! You don’t mention a partner so assuming you’d be on your own with baby and working. You’ll need some kind of on call baby sitter or potentially a nanny who can travel with you.

Also just thought … passport and visa. You need baby to have been registered before you can apply for their passport. This could take a while so plan for at least 3 months from birth if not more. Have a check on your local council’s website for any backlog in registrations.

they will also need their own visas when travelling. Worth checking any requirements around this for places you go to regularly.