FIRST TRIP ABROAD WITH A BABY
Our journey started from our hometown in Banda Aceh and then we had to go to Jakarta to meet some friends and relatives after not seeing each other for a long time. So far Yuki has been safe, not fussy at all, and helped us at the age of 10 months. For the sake of my studies in the Philippines, my husband and I brought Yuki along for the trip. A very difficult decision to make but this is where we are now. Travel to the Philippines from Jakarta takes about 5 hours of travel. We decided to take the midnight plane to make it easier for Yuki to sleep comfortably during the trip. The check-in process for immigration is smooth. Because we were flying during a pandemic, at check-in we were asked to show our One Health Pass (now changed to e-travel - https://etravel.gov.ph/) and proof of our vaccinations. After that, we went straight to overseas departures, conducted immigration checks, and headed straight to the waiting room. The airline we used at that time was Philippine Airlines. Our chairs were changed to a more comfortable place because we had a baby with us. Very nice experience flying with the Philippines Airline.
Our first stop will be Manila – Ninoy Aquino International Airport. At first, we thought that because the tickets we bought were connecting flights, immigration checks would be carried out at our destination airport, in Tacloban city. However, it turns out that the immigration check was carried out at Manila – Ninoy Aquino International Airport. The requirements that we brought were complete and we had to go out to collect our baggage for the next flight to Tacloban. There is no food court at Ninoy Aquino International Airport terminal 2 (Philippines Airline in particular), so for friends who have onward flights, it is highly recommended to bring supplies beforehand. There is one food court which is Jollibee (like KFC) but we are not sure that it is Halal. While in transit in Manila, we contacted Joe, a friend of my husband who works at Ninoy Aquino Airport. Transit for about 6 hours was not relt because we exchanged news with Joe in a coffee shop near the airport.
When we arrived at Tacloban (a city on the Visayas islands – Manila is on the island of Luzon) we were worried because we didn't have the internet to contact the staff who would pick us up. But when leaving the airport, we accidentally met Mark and Bandana (a foreign student who also studied at our university). But our journey is not over. The city where we will live, namely Baybay City, is still about 3 hours away by road. In an exhausted condition, we traveled for 3 hours and stopped at downtown Baybay for dinner before finally resting at our apartment. Our total trip was approximately 18 hours plus transit and I'm very grateful that Yuki wasn't fussy or cried during the trip.
Traveling with a baby will be tough but it's fun if you know how to deal with it. Here are some tips to travel with a baby:
Make sure you have all your documents with you. Passports and visas that are in accordance with destiny are very important to note for those of you who want to take a baby abroad because immigration officers are very strict in checking documents relating to babies. make sure the mother is carrying the baby (in my case the baby and mother were called together to be checked) many cases of human trafficking make immigration officers very strict when it comes to minors traveling abroad.
Bring Enough Snacks and Mineral Water. if the baby is above 6 months where the baby has started to recognize food, then always prepare food and snacks, and enough mineral water during the trip because the food provided on the plane may not be suitable for the baby.
bring necessary medicines. we do not know things that might happen during the trip. Bring vitamins and other medicines that may be needed. Also, bring medicine for first aid in anticipation if there is an unpleasant incident.
Baby equipment. make sure that the mother not only brings clothes, but also brings other equipment needed, such as toys, diapers, and wipes.
Check the baby's health condition before leaving. Check the baby's health condition before taking him/her abroad. Take your baby to visit a pediatrician or the hospital closest to where you live.
Bring a Good Stroller or Sling. In my experience bringing a stroller is very helpful, because sometimes parents are tired of carrying babies in a sling so the stroller is the best choice on the trip because, in addition to making it easier for parents, the stroller can also be a fun play for your baby.