QUESTION: My wife and I have a large
extended family. We are planning a family vacation (approximately
20 people) and at that time our son will be two-months-old. Will it
be stressful for our baby to experience this change in his environment?
ANSWER: Babies differ in their individual
preferences, but regardless, your baby must adjust to you, too. Generally,
young babies of this age are simply content to be wherever you are.
Their home is in your arms.
When traveling, it may be necessary to hold your baby
more than you would at home. In his own environment, he will come
to know the familiarity of his bed, the room and even the smells of
your family home. Other environments will be different. So he may
want to be close to you and hear the sound of your voices, which he
has known since inside the womb! Your voice and touch is soothing
to him in any new situation. Singing to him, rocking him and taking
walks will all be familiar activities, no matter where you go.
Establish a sleeping room that is quiet and safe in
the vacation environment. Remember to keep pillows or other unsafe
bedding away from him while sleeping. (These have been found to be
associated with Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.) You may even want to
bring along his baby bassinet, which will assure even more familiarity
-- and appropriate bedding -- on your trip. Be prepared with plenty
of diapers and all other necessities for keeping him warm and dry.
And be sure to keep yourselves well-fed and hydrated while traveling,
especially if mom is breastfeeding!
Stay attuned to how your baby deals with external
stimuli. Some babies will simply tune out noise and conversation when
tired. They may fall asleep in your arms in the middle of a social
situation. But others fuss and need help retreating from overstimulation
from social interactions.
Be ready to withdraw to a quiet place, if needed,
for your own or your baby's needs. Your baby will benefit from your
sense of calm, so if you are getting frazzled, take a break and relax.
Perhaps a nap with your son will help.
Sometimes use of a receiving blanket to shield your
baby from visual stimulation will allow him to sleep peacefully in
your arms, as you continue your conversations with relatives.
Observe how your baby responds to new relatives who
will no doubt be interested to meet him. If your baby enjoys being
held by others, allow it. But do not be surprised if he does not.
A baby's sense of security comes from his capacity to attach and bond
to his primary caregivers. If he fusses in other's arms, it is his
instinctive way of keeping himself safe and secure. Honor his fusses
by keeping him close instead of passing him around.
Consider your son's sleeping rhythms and try to anticipate
his needs. If you can do so, schedule outings when he is newly awake
and interested, rather than crabby. A baby front pack may prove extremely
handy. And it may offer another way to shield your young baby from
overstimulation.
Enjoy your relatives, but keep your baby away from
smoke or unnecessary germs from those who have colds. And of course,
common sense prevails in protecting him from mosquitos, excess sun
and other environmental hazards.
Keep your baby close to your body, nestled on your
chest or in your arms much of the time and he will likely fit in well
with your family's vacation plans.
