'I went to Europe with my 1-year-old. Here's my very honest review.'

The thing about travelling around Europe with a (nearly) one-year-old is that it’s exactly like backpacking in your twenties. Except the complete opposite.

For instance, you’ll still be awake at 4:30am. But it won’t be because you’re coming back from clubbing, it’ll be because that’s when your small human has decided to start the day.

Watch: Horoscopes At The Airport. Story continues after video.

You’ll still pack next to no clothes, but it won’t be because there’s limited room in the backpack, it’ll be because formula and tiny socks are taking up all the space in your suitcase.

Side note: Whether you're navigating sleep routines, 3am wake-ups or you want to know which baby products you actually need, we've designed the Baby Brain mailing list to be your go-to source for everything you need to know. Sign up here.

After nearly a month in the UK (Inverness and London), the Greek Islands and Croatia with my almost one-year-old, here’s what I learned:

Packing.

• Don’t pack nappies or wipes, but do pack formula and sunscreen. You’ll always be able to find the former and, in my opinion, they’re not sufficiently different to justify carting halfway across the world. However, even the most easygoing baby usually has a preference for a particular brand of formula and they can be hard to find outside of Australia (as it happens though - you can get Nestle brand Nan in Croatia). 'Slip, Slop Slap' hasn’t quite taken off in Europe and sunscreen can be offensively expensive - definitely bring your own. 
• I packed 5 t-shirts for my son. I do not know why. It was not enough. Learn from my mistakes.
• Late spring in Scotland is a relative term. Pack accordingly.
• If I had my time again, I would pack an Allen key, a small screwdriver and a couple of spare washers for ad hoc maintenance of a pram suffering from cobblestones.

Flying.

• If you mention that you are travelling overseas with an infant in the presence of your phone often enough, Instagram will begin to show you ads for helpful products. You’ve probably seen suction spinners all over Instagram and TikTok (unless you’re still cool and your algorithm doesn’t go straight to “baby toys” and “shower cleaning hacks” like mine) but they were absolutely the best money we spent. Patrick was enthralled by them.
• It really does work better if you can time the long haul flight with when bub would normally be asleep.
• International liquid limits don’t apply to babies. You still can’t take that full tube of moisturiser, but you can bring as many bottles of sterilised water for the baby as you want.
• At the end of the day, you just have to take it hour by hour. Flying economy with a baby is unlikely to ever be a *fun* experience. It’s to be endured so you can enjoy what’s on the other side. Most people are quite understanding that babies are babies. They’ll make noise, they’ll want to move and generally may not be the ideal travelling companions. The people who are super bothered by it are the ones who will just be happy that the baby doesn’t go home with them at the end of the flight.

Image: Supplied

Getting Around.

• A good travel pram is a must. Having one small enough to fold up and take as carry on luggage was a godsend for us.
• However, there are places even a travel pram can’t go. Shockingly, ancient staircases, cobblestoned streets, medieval castles and 1000-year-old cities weren’t always designed with them in mind. We would have been lost without our baby carrier.
• We hired a car in both Inverness and Croatia. The Scots love a good roundabout and road rules seem entirely optional in Croatia. For the safety of our family and unsuspecting European road users, I didn’t drive, but even being a passenger in Europe was a wild ride. Plus, it made me very grateful for Australia’s strict baby seat requirements.
• Plenty of London tube stops have stairs but no elevators. You can often avoid them by taking an alternate route, but if not, be prepared to carry the pram up several flights of stairs.
• Croatia and Greece *only* have stairs. Get in first and offer to carry the baby - it’s easier than the pram.

Eating and Drinking.

• I will never be the person with self control around a giant bowl of Nutella at the breakfast buffet. (This isn’t strictly related to travelling with a baby, but was a big moment of self realisation for me).
• One is a perfect age to take a child to the Mediterranean because you can enjoy thrice daily gelato (yes thrice, no judgement please) without having to worry that the small human knows what it is and wants one too.
• Toddler friendly early dinners are brilliant because they usually coincide with Happy Hour for the parents.

Exploring.

• The Highlands and much of Greece wake up late. Just because the small human thinks 5am is a great time to be up and out, doesn’t mean Scottish coffee shops will be open. I can only assume caffeine is some sort of recreational activity there, as opposed to the medical necessity it is for me.
• The exchange rate really, really sucks. When the coffee shops open, don’t do the math on how much that flat white cost.
• Being up and about early is one of the awesome parts about travelling with a baby. The heat of the day hasn’t quite set in, the streets are emptier and you’ll have the chance to see everything at a more relaxed pace.
•  Trying to keep the baby away from secondhand smoke is a constant challenge.

Image: Supplied

The biggest thing I learned was how amazing travelling with a baby is. If you’re fortunate enough to be able to do so, book the flight and take the trip. There are challenges, and it won’t look the same as other trips, but the family memories will last forever. Being able to see new places through your child’s eyes and introduce them to other cultures and experiences is priceless.

Feature Image: Supplied

Calling All Skincare Enthusiasts! Complete this short survey now and go in the running to win one of four $50 gift vouchers!