In today's world, taking a road trip or a plane ride to visit family and friends is quite common. And if you enjoy traveling and expect to do so with your children, introduce your baby to it as soon as possible to get them accustomed to the sights and sounds of airports, train stations, and perhaps long car drives. It's all doable and can be quite fun. Here are some recommendations for organizing travel with baby.

Car Travel

For car travel with a new baby, if you are traveling with more than one adult, consider taking turns sitting in the back seat with baby. Reason for this is that if you're driving and baby needs attention, instead of stopping the car or climbing over the front seats, one of you will be right next to baby. You'll make better time reaching your destination too.

Assemble a car travel bag filled with snacks, books and toys to entertain baby, as well as yourself (when baby is napping), a pillow for you and possibly a blanket, lotion, and wipes. Remember to wear comfortable clothing. Remove your shoes and enjoy the ride.

Other items you'll want to have for car travel with baby: Music CDs, plenty of bottled water, zip lock baggies for dirty diapers, and trash bag (hang it around the head rest of the back seat and toss when you stop to fill up the gas tank)

The key is to relax and just get out and be with your family. In the event you do forget something, it's not the end of the world. If you're staying at a resort, check with the concierge and enlist their help to get hold of what you need. Or call a local baby equipment rental company. Worst case scenario you take a quick trip to a super store and buy an extra.

Airline Travel

Getting through an airport can be a huge production, especially with the security measures required today. Make your airport experience a good one by limiting your carry on items. Use a baby carrier and a backpack to limit how much you need to carry with your hands. A stroller is great, especially if it has a place to store items below. You will, however, keep in mind that you'll need to remove baby from the stroller when you go through security.

Airlines will allow you to travel with a child on your lap up until they turn three years old. If you have purchased a "lap" ticket for your child, here are a few suggestions to ease your trip:

• Gate check the car seat -- You want to do this so that in the event there's an empty seat, the flight attendance can easily retrieve the car seat prior to take off and your baby or toddler will have his own seat.
• Wait to board the plane until last - Many times airlines will call passengers with children first, but then you are confined to the airline seat until EVERYONE else has boarded the plane. You especially want to wait if you've got a very active toddler and want to limit his time in the seat.
• Based on availability, some airlines will even allow you to purchase a seat at half price for a child under three. Check with your airline.

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