For the first 3 months, you don't want to go anywhere with your newborn except straight home. They require almost nonstop attention, feedings, diaper changes, and the risk of infection from a stranger is too great.  By age 3 months or so, babies are pretty good candidates for travel, as long as the trip's fairly mellow. Infants aren't as fragile as parents sometimes fear.

Tips

• Pack pacifiers and bottles, or plan on breastfeeding during airline flights to ease ear pain.
• Bring diaper-rash lotion, bags for dirty diapers, enough diapers for the trip, and baby-appropriate pain medication such as infant's acetaminophen for fever and infant gas relief drops.
• Bring hats and sunscreen for your baby.
• Get removable car-shade screens for the car's side windows to shield your baby's skin and eyes from the sun.
• If you're traveling by car, infants should always ride in the back seat, in a rear-facing car seat — never in a front seat with a passenger air bag.
• Bring only as much baby food as you'll need for the ride. You can always buy what you need at your destination.
• Bring a molded plastic bib for your baby.
• Bring a blanket so you can stop in a park to let the baby stretch.

If your baby sleeps in a crib, reserve one when you make your room reservation or you may be out of luck when you arrive. Bringing along your own portable bed is another option.