Traveling with the baby

After traveling overseas with navya twice, I am often asked if i've actually had fun on these two trips. Considering the baby interfering with all entertainment activities. To tell you frankly, it is difficult and we've had to compromise on a lot of things like scuba diving together, gambling in the casino together etc... Pretty much everything that involves the 'together' bit.
But there was the other fun bit. Seeing her enjoy the sandy beaches of Maldives, watching her eyes light up when playing with abhiraj bhaiya in Kathmandu and a whole lot of other things. Traveling with navya is difficult but it's the challenge that makes life fun and adventurous. It has been a learning experience and I am about to offer some free advice on some lessons learnt for traveling with babies. Read on if interested...
1. Always carry all baby medicines and doctors file.
2. Always put babies clothes in waterproof suitcase.
3. Have enough food supplies on hand if baby doesn't like food there.
4. Buy the best stroller in the market.
5. Buy the best baby pouch in the market.
6. Have a travel friendly diaper bag one which can double up as a backpack.
7. Always book a hotel room with carpet so baby can crawl freely.
8. take enough toys for the baby to play with.
9. Check with your hotel if they will provide a baby cot. Else try and carry a travel cot. It can double up as a play pen too and come in handy when trying to keep the kid away. ;)
10. Tele check in before hand so you get the front row in the aircraft, this of course only applies to the economy travelers and the have-nots. The business travelers don't have an issue here. P.s most flights don't allow online checkins for traveling with infants.
11. Always check for baby poo before boarding a flight.
12. Always keep the stroller as cabin baggage. You can hand it at the boarding gate to a flight attendant who will hand it over back once the flight lands and you get off.
13. Always ask for a baby meal on the flight. It is better tasting than the other crap they give to adults. For greedy Indians like me, take two baby meals. Lol. You can refrigerate the other one to feed later.
14. Always ask for an extension seat belt for the baby.
15. Choose a baby friendly destination and hotel.

Forget traveling light.
Forget budget travel and backpacking.
Forget you are a couple, you are a family now!