Traveling with infants

Travel wise.... giver him/her a pacifier, bottle or nurse on take off and landing as it really helps with their ears. Bring blankets from home and pre-book cribs in the hotels that you will be staying. I would bring a baby carrier and use it as opposed to bringing a stroller. Bring and get check your car seat. Bring any and all medication that you might give your child as not all medicines you would give them will be available in Ireland.

We have never used babysitters when travelling so cannot comment from experience but I would look to nanny agencies ( in bigger towns/cities) as an alternative to the concierge at the hotel.

I agree with everything the previous poster said except that I would bring a stroller in addition to the carrier. I am a huge fan of the Maclaren umbrella strollers for this type of travel. Their wheels do OK on cobblestones and they're light enough that you can pick them up and haul them up and down stairs when needed. Don't get one with a lot of bells and whistles, as that adds weight. The stripped down model is what you want.

I personally wouldn't feel comfortable leaving my child, especially a non-verbal baby, with a stranger in a foreign country. I'm not saying there's anything wrong with finding a sitter; it's just not something I would do. If staying in B&Bs (a must do in Ireland), you could write the proprietor ahead of time to see if they have a relative who babysits. Alternatively, you could bring along your own relative to serve as nanny or leave the baby stateside with someone you trust.

You might be able to do some research on the locations you plan to visit and see if there is a licensed, bonded service--maybe through a day care centre? We did this in the US on a family trip, to get a single blessed night out, for which I will not apologize. ;) In our case, we were booked with a retired Canadian teacher, and were able to chat with her before we left home, so we felt very comfortable. I have no idea if something similar exists in Ireland, but it's worth researching. Full disclosure: it did not come cheap. In truth, I might be more inclined to go with b&bs and discuss it with the host before arrival. If it's a member of the host family, you could see if you're comfortable with the situation before you agree to it.

Well, I have an unsympathetic view on this. If you must travel with a very young infant, "date nights" (really meaning leaving baby behind with a total stranger) are self indulgent. Babies do require certain sacrifices, all parents know that. Stay in the hotel and watch TV and your baby. Or bring a grandparent with you.