Why Travelling With a Baby Under Six Months Old is Easy!

When Explorers Nick and Monique welcomed their son, Owen, into the world, little did they know how much adventure they’d pack into his first six months of life.

Initially apprehensive about continuing our adventures after Owen joined our family, we were determined to give it a try despite the many warnings from others. Reflecting on our experiences, we found that when Owen was under six months old was surprisingly the easiest time to embark on family adventures.

Amidst the common belief that having a baby limits one’s ability to travel, we discovered a different reality. We found that the early months with Owen provided unique advantages that made our trips remarkably smooth and enjoyable. Despite the negativity often surrounding the advice given to new parents, having a baby is a life-changing but ultimately positive experience.

We want to challenge the notion that waiting until your child is older is best, and argue that travelling with a baby under six months old is not only possible, but also the most opportune time to do so (even when everyone around you thinks you’ve totally lost your mind).

Read more: Parental Gap Year – Getting Paid to Travel With Your Baby

What We Squeezed Into Six Months

We took Owen on his first getaway to the Blue Mountains when he was nearly eight weeks old, resulting in one of the most relaxing family getaways we’ve experienced.

At three months, we ventured into rooftop tent camping, initially hesitant but pleasantly surprised by how smooth and enjoyable the experience turned out to be — so much so that we’ve camped many times since.

Our sailing trip in the Whitsundays at five months felt like a dream, and our extensive road trip around New Zealand’s South Island at six months marked an adventure of a lifetime.

Toss in a plethora of hikes and numerous long weekends scattered here and there, and you’ll grasp the extent of our travels with our bub. These journeys proved surprisingly easy and filled with joy. Granted, it wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows, but realistically, it was about 85% sunshine and rainbows, far surpassing our expectations. Here’s how we did it.

Frequent Naps Make for Flexible Travel Schedules

One of the most significant advantages of travelling with a baby under six months old is their sleep schedule. Babies at this age tend to nap frequently, allowing for a flexible travel itinerary. Whether we were exploring the Blue Mountains or camping in a rooftop tent, Owen’s nap times provided us with the breaks we needed to relax and enjoy our surroundings without constant interruptions.

The naps were also great for covering some serious kilometres on road trips and hikes. Lunches and dinners were often uninterrupted as Owen napped peacefully in the pram too.

We did resign to the fact that you either get a sleeper or you don’t, and let me tell you, nighttime is not Owen’s strong suit. In saying that, we were either up and down through the night at home or waking up during the night while travelling and doing something awesome; either way, we weren’t getting much nighttime sleep, and that’s just something we came to accept.

Read more: 4 Things We Learnt on Our First Road Trip With Our Baby

Flying is Free for Infants

Another benefit is that infants under two years old fly for free as lap passengers. This makes air travel more affordable which is fantastic when you’re on a parental leave budget.

Our sailing trip to the Whitsundays and our road trip around the South Island of New Zealand were not only memorable but budget-friendly because we didn’t have to purchase an extra ticket for Owen.

Compact Baby Gear Saves Space

Babies under six months require less gear compared to older children. Their clothes are smaller, their nappies are smaller, and they don’t need big toys or other bulky items. Additionally, since Owen was breastfed and hadn’t started solids yet, we didn’t have to pack snacks, bottles, formula, or sterilising equipment. This minimalism in packing made it easier to manage our luggage and focus on the adventure ahead.

Hiking is Easier with Sleepy and Lightweight Babies

Hiking with a young baby is surprisingly easy. At this age, babies are sleepy and light, making them easy to carry in a baby carrier. Unlike older babies who might be crawling or moving around a lot, young infants are content with being carried close to you, often sleeping through the hike. This makes for a peaceful and enjoyable hiking experience where you can cover more ground without having to worry about your baby wanting to get down and explore.

If you’re hiking with a young one, I can highly recommend mastering the art of breastfeeding while on the move. Yes, you can breastfeed your baby while they’re in the carrier; it just takes a little practice but really adds to the ease of the whole hiking experience.

Read more: How I’m Spending More Time Outdoors With My Baby

Strengthening Relationships and Building Confidence

Travelling as a family offers unparalleled opportunities for bonding. Exploring new places together proved incredibly beneficial for our relationship and overall wellbeing. Even before having a baby, we travelled extensively during our ten-plus years together, so maintaining this vital aspect of our relationship as parents was paramount to us.

Travel provided us with a chance to connect away from the daily grind and create cherished memories as a new family of three. Additionally, these experiences significantly boosted our confidence as parents. By ‘ripping off the bandaid early’, we learnt to adapt to new situations, handle challenges, and embrace the journey, no matter where it led us.

I believe the longer you wait to venture out and push your comfort levels, the more difficult it becomes when you finally do. Venturing out has been the norm for our family since day one, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Read more: A Parent’s Guide to Babypacking AKA Bikepacking With a Baby

The Challenge and Joy of Travelling with a One-Year-Old

Now that Owen is one, travel has become more challenging. He’s more mobile, curious, and requires more entertainment, and lots of snack breaks. However, it’s still not as hard as many people think. Each stage of his growth brings new experiences, memories, and of course, challenges. Overall, we’re so glad we didn’t wait until he was older to start travelling. By beginning early, we’ve grown accustomed to the rhythm of family travel and feel excited rather than daunted by the adventures that await us.

Travelling with a baby under six months might seem intimidating, but in our experience, it was the easiest and most rewarding time to travel. In fact, these travels strengthened our family bond and boosted our confidence as parents.

Despite the common narrative of the challenges of parenthood, we discovered that with the right mindset and realistic expectations, anything is achievable. So, if you’re hesitating about embarking on adventures with your young one, we urge you to seize the opportunity. You may find, as we did, that it’s the best decision you’ll ever make.