Travelling with Baby

You’re tired, working around the clock and between diaper changes and feeding schedules you are informed you are going on vacation! Fabulous, right? Well, holidays with an infant are not quite like those before a baby.  Being a tireless mom you are so deserving of a break, however it can be quite distressing planning and preparing for vacation with your infant.  If you are like me then you are a passionate mom who believes in providing the very best for your child and you are not willing to compromise no matter where you find yourself in the world.

There are so many things to think about when taking your infant away on holidays but for me what they will be eating is of utmost importance.  Depending on where you are going you may not be sure of the quality of food and perhaps organic may not even be an option.  Food planning for traveling is not so difficult when you are exclusively breastfeeding before 6 months of age, however it can be especially interesting when you have an infant between 6-12 months of age.  By this point they are likely on purees and easily digestible foods. So what do you do?

I am a big promoter of making your own baby food. When this is not an option finding a high quality baby food as an alternative is a convenient solution when traveling. The challenge is picking the brand that will not sacrifice quality. No matter where you are in the world you want to rest easy knowing that you are giving your child healthy and nutritious meals. For this and many other reasons I think Baby Gourmet is an ideal solution.  What do I love about Baby Gourmet? It’s the ‘total package’ solution for baby meals on the go.  The convenience of packing organic meals gave me the piece of mind that I could feed my baby healthy foods while on vacation.  Often times baby foods come in glass bottles which may not be ideal for all travel situations. Fear of them breaking and then having no food upon arrival is distressing as well as they are likely too heavy and cumbersome for the trip.  If at the beach, the resealable spout is such a convenient feature because you do not have to worry about your baby food getting sand in it and there is virtually no clean up. Not to mention your baby will love feeding himself when able.  Also with various fruit, vegetable and protein combinations and a multitude of seasonings you are able to provide variety for your child while maintaining the quality of food just as if you were at home. This means you can relax making your vacation that much more enjoyable. 

Other food ideas while on vacation are organic rice crackers, teething cookies and organic puffed cereals. Remember if you are going away somewhere warm you will need to properly hydrate your baby. Make sure to bring a stainless steel ‘sippy cup’ to keep your child’s water within reach.

Other tips for traveling:

•   Make sure you pack more than enough food for your travels so that running out is not a potential source of stress.

•   Consider supplementing your baby with probiotics to help support immune function while away. Probiotics are also a gentle and effective treatment option for constipation and diarrhea.

•   If breastfeeding you can take Echinacea as well to prevent infection and added immune support.  It passes through breast milk and is safe for your baby.

•   The vitamin C contained in the fruit and veggie purees also help support the immune system.

•   Be conscious of electrolytes and adequate water intake to prevent dehydration.  A fruit puree is a perfect electrolyte solution.

•   Ensure frequent and proper hand washing.

Being prepared ahead of time ensures that your vacation can be less about work with your wee one and more about relaxing and family time.  Remember you do not have to compromise your standards of healthy eating while away.  Be organized and make sure you enjoy your vacation fully.

Wishing you a wonderful and healthy vacation...you deserve it! :)

In health,

Dr. Michelle

Dr. Michelle Peris is a Naturopathic Doctor whose goal is to empower people to achieve optimal health and wellness.  Dr. Michelle has a special interest in women’s and pediatric health care, including perinatal care.  She has a strong background and natural ability in physical medicine and extensive experience in the treatment of hormonal imbalances, digestive health concerns such as celiac disease, and atopic conditions such as allergies, asthma and eczema. Treatment programs include nutrition and nutraceutical supplementation, botanical medicine, homeopathy, physical medicine, lifestyle counseling, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and acupuncture.

Dr. Michelle is registered with the Board of Directors of Drugless Therapy - Naturopathy (BDDT-N) and an active member of the Ontario Association of Naturopathic Doctors (OAND) and the Association of Perinatal Naturopathic Doctors (APND). She advanced her education in TCM and acupuncture with an externship at The National Hospital for Traditional Medicine in Hanoi, Vietnam.

Dr. Michelle is a mom of one and contributes articles to Baby Gourmet, Oh Baby! Magazine, City Parent and Balance My Life online magazine. She practices out of a clinic in Oakville, Ontario. 

To be inspired to live your best life now through healthful choices, follow Dr. Michelle on her blog – Dr. Mom, ND, Facebook and Twitter!

www.DrMomND.ca