Parents Who Took Baby to 17 Countries Share Essential Travel Advice
Jacob Aldridge and his wife Harmony are passionate advocates for travelling with young children. The couple, both aged 44, have embraced a nomadic lifestyle since July 2019 and continued their adventures after welcoming their daughter Josette, now six years old. Remarkably, they visited 17 different countries before Josette celebrated her first birthday, and the family has now explored over 25 nations together.
The Crucial Recommendation for Anxious Parents
The central advice from these experienced travelling parents is straightforward: begin flying with your children as early as possible. Despite concerns about infant memory retention and the environmental impact of air travel, Jacob and Harmony believe early exposure creates more comfortable young travellers.
"The sooner you start, the easier it will be," explained Jacob, who works as a business consultant. "Our daughter has been on dozens of flights. She has her routine. She's comfortable in the space and I definitely think that's because we started early."
Overcoming Common Travel Anxieties
Many parents hesitate to travel with infants due to fears about disturbing fellow passengers and managing sleep disruptions. Jacob acknowledges these concerns but reports overwhelmingly positive experiences. "Many parents fear reactions from fellow travellers," he noted. "We've packed TimTams to apologise to our neighbours before. But in practice, everyone is supportive."
Research from sleep suit company Love To Dream supports this observation, revealing that approximately half of parents delay or avoid flying due to concerns about their child's sleep patterns during flights.
Maintaining Consistency Amid Changing Environments
The Aldridge family's success stems from their commitment to preserving familiar routines regardless of location. "Whether it's an overnight flight or new hotel, our evening rhythm stays similar," Jacob explained. "Dinner, bath, book and bed. We travel with the same toys, music and books."
This consistency helps manage the challenges of timezone changes and jet lag. "Jet lag and timezone management become much harder when you're trying to convince a toddler to stay up an extra few hours or nap earlier than usual," Jacob observed. "But there's no point being frustrated when a child wakes early or wants to sleep late."
Memorable Moments and Practical Logistics
Josette took her first flight to Paris at just three months old and will soon receive her 25th passport stamp during an upcoming visit to Vietnam. The family has explored diverse destinations including Italy, Austria, and Iceland.
Jacob fondly recalls unconventional travel moments, such as "a late-night walk around the cliffs of Santorini carrying a seven-month-old who was wide awake while the rest of the family needed sleep."
To sustain their travelling lifestyle, Jacob previously disclosed setting aside approximately £781 monthly. The couple continues to encourage other families to embrace travel opportunities with young children, emphasizing that practical preparation and early exposure can transform what many perceive as daunting into manageable and rewarding experiences.
