“Should I visit Thailand with a baby?”
This was the question I asked myself before deciding where to travel with my 8-month-old.
The Thai food and beautiful beaches were the biggest drawcard. But traveling with a baby is a whole different ball game.
What will he eat? Where will he sleep? Am I being irresponsible?
Spoiler alert: Visiting Thailand was the best decision Gary and I made. We spent 3 glorious weeks exploring the country with our baby, Koa, and we don’t regret a thing!
But there’s an “Instagram vs Reality” aspect to traveling to Thailand with a baby or toddler.
Don’t be fooled – it’s not as easy as it seems. But it’s also not as daunting.
I’m now sharing all my learnings in this blog post to help you plan, pack, and prepare for your trip to Thailand. If you have any questions, drop me a message in the comment section at the end, and I’ll get back to you.
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Traveling to Thailand with a baby
I first visited Thailand in my 20s (as a broke backpacker, not a new mom).
I’ve since given up the notorious buckets for baby bottles, and it’s not the partying keeping me up all night, but rather a teething infant.
Yes, there were sleepless nights. Yes, the travel days were tiring. But the good certainly outweighed the bad.
With some flexibility in your itinerary and letting go of a strict routine, you can find the perfect mix of travel and relaxation. And no, you don’t need to splurge on expensive or all-inclusive accommodation. We stuck to a mid-range budget and had an incredible holiday.
Is Thailand safe for babies?
Yes, Thailand is safe for babies, and the country is well set up for family travel.
We saw many babies during our trip (even newborns), and it’s an excellent choice for your child’s first international holiday.
I always felt safe and welcomed by the Thai people. They absolutely adore kids and will go out of their way to make you feel comfortable.
Whether it’s helping at mealtime, entertaining your little ones when they’re bored, or offering simple acts of kindness that make your life easier, Thailand is a great place for babies.
But you need to be responsible in terms of food and transport safety, both of which I detail further in this post.
Many moms I spoke to were on maternity leave and enjoying their last few weeks before starting work again. So, if you’re in the same boat, I suggest you book that flight.
What age to travel with your baby
We traveled to Thailand when Koa was 8 Months old. But this wasn’t his first international trip.
At 4 months old, he flew from Australia to South Africa, and we visited Vietnam and Japan when he was 9 and 10 months old.
My point? You can visit Thailand with a baby of any age.
Here are a few things to keep in mind when deciding at what age to travel with your little one.
- Under 5 months: They’ll sleep most of the time, and you won’t need to worry about solids.
- 5 to 7 months: This is a great time to travel with a baby as they become more curious about the world. They will be learning how to sit unassisted but won’t be mobile. While they may be eating solids, their primary food source is formula or breastmilk, so you won’t have to worry too much about meals for them.
- 8 months and older: Your babies will love Thailand at this age. They’ll have lots of social interactions and will be super responsive. You’ll have your hands full as they might be crawling and will want to grab everything! There’s also a good chance your baby will be teething, and they may need more substantial meals.
Getting to Thailand
Our journey to Thailand took over 16 hours from South Africa. That’s a long way for a baby, but Koa handled it beautifully.
Gary and I didn’t get any sleep on the flight, but we had a happy baby, which was more important.
tips for flying with a baby
Bassinet seats: We booked the bulkhead seats that have extra legroom and a bassinet. These seats don’t come at an extra cost (depending on the airline). If you’re not offered these when making your booking, call ahead and secure them. Even if your baby is too big for the bassinet, they will still allocate you a bulkhead seat if there’s one available.
Layovers: Our flight path to Thailand involved 3 layovers. We kept Koa awake and entertained for all of these so that he would sleep on the plane (which he did).
Jetlag: Depending on when you arrive in Thailand, make sure you stay awake for most of the day. This will ensure you get a good night’s sleep, which will help overcome any jetlag. We landed in Thailand at 2 pm, and despite being exhausted, we kept ourselves busy by swimming in the ocean and exploring the area around our accommodation. Koa had a short afternoon nap, but we were all in bed by 7 pm and managed to get a solid sleep that evening.
Where to travel in Thailand
Ko Lanta and Koh Samui are popular family destinations and my top choice for your babies’ first beach holiday.
If you can only choose one destination, head to Ko Lanta.
The waters are calm, the beaches are stunning, and it’s not over-run with tourists and backpackers.
Phuket and Phi Phi Island are also top picks. But they’re both extremely touristy. I visited these areas during my first trip to Thailand and was keen to explore a different part of the country.
Koh Tao, an island close to Koh Samui, has always been on my scuba diving bucket list. We added it to our Thailand itinerary with a baby and had a great time, but it’s definitely not as baby-friendly as Ko Lanta and Koh Samui. The island is better suited for more adventurous families planning to scuba dive.
Accommodation in Thailand
This was the difficult part – deciding what type of accommodation to book. And what would be best (and easiest) with a baby.
We aren’t luxury travelers and didn’t want to spend a fortune on accommodation.
But we wanted to be comfortable, and were willing to pay a bit more for extra space and a beachfront location.
We booked hotels with onsite restaurants that were within walking distance of shops and restaurants (like this one in Koh Samui).
I loved our family-friendly accommodation in Ko Lanta, which was also the best place to watch the sunset over the water. You can check it out here.
Accommodation for kids under 2 years of age is free – another reason to travel with your baby.
Hotel options
Here are a few other things to consider when booking accommodation with a baby.
Book the bigger room type. Accommodation in Thailand is really affordable, and you often pay a few dollars extra for a room upgrade, which gives you more space.
Get a room with a balcony or outdoor space. So that you can relax and chat while your baby sleeps inside.
Bring your own travel cot. We traveled with our Baby Bjorn Travel Cot, which meant we weren’t restricted to a few more expensive hotels that provided cots.
Hotel beds in Thailand are massive – like jumbo king beds. A few families we spoke to had decided to co-sleep with their babies. When Koa had a rough night, we put him in bed with us too.
Try to be within walking distance of shops and restaurants. If you stay in a quiet, isolated area, you’ll have to constantly organize transport. Grab taxis weren’t as efficient as I expected; we had a few taxi drivers cancel on us, and others had long waiting times.
Book accommodation with a pool. Koa loves the water and splashes a lot. But the salty sea water often burns his eyes. When he started getting agitated in the ocean, we’d take him to the pool, which he absolutely loved.
What about Airbnb’s?
I would have preferred an Airbnb with a kitchen so that we could prepare Koa’s meals (instead of a hotel). But you won’t find many (if any) Airbnb accommodations that are beachfront and with a pool. Not at an affordable price point, anyway.
Getting around Thailand with a baby
My travel style before having a baby was very much to wing it and book my travel on a whim. Scooters, tuk tuks, island hopping. I was all about that life.
But I now have a little person to look after, and his safety is my priority.
Land transport
Thailand and scooters (mopeds) are synonymous with each other. Despite seeing a few families riding scooters, we chose not to ride one with Koa. There are far too many novice drivers on the roads, and scooter accidents happen frequently across Thailand.
Instead, we booked private transfers for longer journeys and one or two shared shuttle buses if we weren’t driving too far.
One thing to note is that car seats are not often used in Thailand, and it’s common to have your baby sit on your lap. If this is a non-negotiable for you, I suggest renting a car with a car seat or bringing one from back home.
Sea transport
If you plan to visit a few islands with your baby, you may need to take a speedboat or ferry to get there.
This was the case for us when we traveled from Koh Samui to Koh Tao.
You’ll have a choice between a small speedboat or a larger ferry. I don’t recommend taking the speedboat option with an infant. Yes, it’s quicker, but the ride can be very, very bumpy, and some speedboat operators don’t allow babies.
We opted for the ferry instead, and it was great. They’re much bigger, more comfortable, and have allocated seats for families.
Is Thailand stroller-friendly?
Firstly, a baby carrier is a must-have for anyone visiting Thailand with a baby. I have this one, and I used it every day.
We also took our Joolz Aer Travel Stroller with us. It’s seriously the best pram ever!
It fits in the overhead compartment, so you can take it on the plane with you. We used it at the airports and while walking the streets in Koh Samui and Ko Lanta. It also came in handy at restaurants that didn’t have high chairs, like on Koh Tao Island.
So, is a travel stroller a necessity in Thailand? No. And some areas are not stroller-friendly.
Was it nice to have? Yes! And I would take it again if I had the choice.
Baby supplies
Nappies, nappies, nappies! My biggest stress before we left.
We didn’t have space in our luggage to carry a month’s supply of nappies and wipes. And we only brought enough to get us through the first 4 days.
I was surprised that most 7/11 convenience stores and pharmacies stock nappies and wipes. And these stores are littered all over the islands.
Remember, Thailand is a tourist hotspot so they’re going to cater to families.
These convenience stores stock the brand “Mamy Poko” which I used throughout our trip. The nappies were good quality and didn’t leak.
There isn’t much variety in terms of nappy brands available, and they were all pants-style nappies (not the ones with flaps).
If you’re looking for more variety of nappies (swim nappies or Pampers), you will need to go to a bigger supermarket like Lotus or Big C. You may want to consider bringing your own from home if you have a preferred nappy brand.
What to feed your baby in Thailand
Breastfeeding
I was breastfeeding Koa during our trip. Despite what I had heard about breastfeeding in public (apparently it’s a big no-no in Thailand), I had a positive experience. There was no staring, and no one seemed to be bothered by me.
I always wore a cover to ensure I wasn’t too exposed and was conscious of the setting I was in. I didn’t see many other moms breastfeeding in public though.
Formula
Even though Koa didn’t need formula, I was constantly on the lookout for it as I knew other moms might need some.
While you can find nappies and wipes at pharmacies and convenience stores, you’ll need to go to a bigger supermarket like Big C or Lotus to buy formula.
I packed a small amount from home just in case I had supply issues (luckily, I didn’t). If your baby is formula-fed, it’s best to bring a fair amount from home and then stock up after you’ve settled in.
Remember to use bottled water when preparing formula, as tap water is not safe to drink in Thailand.
Solid food
At 8 months, Koa was having 3 meals a day.
He loves to eat, and this stressed me out as I had no idea what I’d feed him in Thailand.
Luckily, he’s such a good eater, so we decided that he would eat what we eat.
But this doesn’t work for everyone. Some babies are fussy eaters, and others might have allergic reactions to certain foods.
Baby food in Thailand
If you plan to feed your baby what you eat, it’s important to remember that Thai food contains many of the common allergens, particularly eggs and nuts. I do not recommend giving these foods to your baby for the first time in Thailand.
I had introduced allergens early on, and Koa was eating nuts, eggs, dairy, and shellfish regularly from 6.5 months of age. He didn’t have any reaction (thank goodness), so this was one less thing to worry about.
All of our accommodation included breakfast, which made life a lot easier for us. We didn’t have to pay additional for Koa, and he’d eat a mix of fruit for breakfast (mango, watermelon, banana, and dragon fruit), as well as a hard-boiled egg.
But his favorite was the Thai food. Pad Thai, cashew nut chicken, and a curry with rice (all non-spicy) were a big hit!
His portion sizes were pretty small at this stage, so I gave him some of my food instead of ordering him his own meal.
We brought a baby spoon and pocket knife from back home and took them everywhere with us so that I could cut up his food into smaller pieces.
Healthier food options
We only ate at local restaurants and they were accommodating when we ordered plain steamed vegetables with no salt.
Some moms I spoke to brought food pouches and chose to feed their babies those instead of restaurant food. That’s also an option if you have the space in your luggage.
Your room will most likely have a small fridge in it (this was our experience, even with the most budget of accommodations). I suggest buying unsweetened yogurt from a 7/11 and some fruit from the market, which your little one can snack on when they’re hungry.
How to prepare for Thailand travel with a baby
Vaccinations and immunizations
Ensure your baby is up to date with their vaccinations. My GP advised that Koa didn’t need any additional vaccinations other than those that were on his immunization schedule.
Medicine
You’ll need a properly stocked medical kit, which should include Panadol/Calpol, a thermometer, mosquito repellant, and teething gel.
Other things to note
The Thai people will want to hold your baby – some may even take your little one without asking. Don’t be alarmed by this, as it’s coming from a good place. If you’re not comfortable with it, politely tell them.
Koa had the most beautiful interactions with the local people, but we always made sure that he was within sight of us.
What to pack
Here are a few things we could not have gone without.
- A travel change mat: This was our best buy and most used item of our trip. You won’t regret this purchase!
- Spinners: Koa was fascinated by these, and they distracted him when he was upset or bored. Here are the spinners we had.
- Reusable swim nappies: Koa was in the water 3 times a day, and having these reusable swim nappies was a game changer.
- Baby carrier: Thailand is hot and humid, but the Ergo Baby carrier that I had (you can find it here) was a great buy.
- Baby spoon and pocket knife. Must-have for meal time. Don’t forget to put your pocketknife in your checked-in luggage when flying (we forgot, and it was confiscated). This is the one we had.
Is it worth traveling Thailand with a baby
Yes! I can’t begin to explain what a great time we had as a family in Thailand.
If you try to stick to the same routine you have at home, it will be more challenging. Expect a bit of disruption to your baby’s schedule, and don’t be too hard on yourself.
Gary and I both managed to get some much-needed downtime. We drank cocktails on the beach, ate delicious food, explored the islands, and made the most special memories with Koa.
