Bowman’s Travel Brief: When Baby Travels

Kids at the airport, child, baby, toddler, infant,

When a baby travels, everyone has a reaction.

Some react verbally, others say it all with their face. Those who don’t speak but rather show it with their emotions, we as parents still see you…especially if it’s a negative reaction.

I’ve never understood that – giving harsh looks to the parents of a baby traveling.

As a dad of a four-year-old and an 18-month-old, I’ve received many stares and glares over the last four years. Most recently was last week when returning home from exploring Disney’s newest offerings in Lookout Cay and Tiana’s Bayou Adventure.

One time my kid was babbling, as babies often do, and you would’ve thought a violent scene had just occurred given the way this woman turned around.

Negative responses to young children traveling will always baffle me.

Don’t these people realize many of these parents are likely on edge to begin with before ever arriving to the airport, train station, hotel or cruise port? So why add to their stress with rude behavior?

Of course, not everyone is awful. There have been some wonderful people who lent a helping hand or offered words of encouragement during loud moments.

Kindness at the airport is a beautiful thing.

There are so many positives for babies to travel. We should all be teaching children at a young age the life lessons learned through travel.

It’s a joyful experience to watch little kids fall in love with travel. My daughter loves packing her suitcase up and play pretend travel even at home. It’s adorable.

Travel becomes easier with practice. And holding children, especially babies, to a higher level than we hold other adults – naughty passengers on planes is a huge category – is an idea that needs to go by the wayside.

Let me know your thoughts and follow me on social media: @EricBowman_