Traveling Malaysia with a Baby - Tips, Facts & Our Experiences

A trip to Malaysia is becoming increasingly popular, especially among families with babies and toddlers. And for a good reason!
The country offers not only breathtaking flora and fauna that will make any child's heart beat faster but also dreamlike beaches, numerous playgrounds, and well-regulated traffic compared to neighboring countries like Thailand and Indonesia. Added to this are the consistently pleasant, warm temperatures and a very good healthcare system for tourists.

Before we embarked on our parental leave adventure in Malaysia with our then 9-month-old daughter, we naturally had countless questions, uncertainties, and concerns about whether everything would work as we had roughly imagined.

Looking back, we can say with full confidence that our initial uncertainties and concerns were completely unfounded.
The month we spent with our baby in Malaysia was wonderful, and we would do it all over again in the same way!

If you are now considering whether to embark on the adventure with a baby to Malaysia, we would like to share our experiences with you in this post.
It is intended to help answer your open questions and ease any fears or concerns you may have about such a trip. Ideally, we can also support you in planning your trip.

BEFORE THE TRIP

1. ADDITIONAL VACCINATIONS FOR MALAYSIA

The decision to give your baby additional vaccinations is entirely up to you.
As a parent, you need to weigh the pros and cons of vaccinating (or not vaccinating) your child, taking into account health factors, and take responsibility for that choice.
The most common additional vaccinations include typhoid, Japanese encephalitis, rabies, and hepatitis A.

After consulting our pediatrician, we decided against administering any additional vaccinations beyond those recommended by the national guidelines, as our daughter was only eight months old when we began our five-month parental leave journey through Southeast Asia.

2. CHILDREN’S HEALTH CHECK-UPS WITH THE PEDIATRICIAN

Before embarking on our travels, we ensured that all health check-ups for the period were conducted by our pediatrician.
Since we had our daughter's routine health check-up at around 7 months, the next one wasn’t scheduled until her first birthday.
Therefore, we didn’t need to visit a pediatrician during our five-month parental leave abroad.

If a check-up is scheduled during your trip, we recommend discussing with your pediatrician in advance whether it’s possible to bring it forward or delay it until after your return.

‍Our tip: In case of a medical emergency abroad, we recommend saving the health booklet digitally on a USB stick or hard drive, so you don’t need to carry the entire booklet with you.

3. BOOKING THE RIGHT ACCOMMODATIONS

In general, we recommend that you book at least the first accommodations at home before setting off on a tour.
This saves you the added stress of searching for a suitable place to stay after arriving with jet lag and a baby. For other accommodations, we always booked with a cancellation option, in case our daughter got sick and we couldn’t travel further on the planned day (which fortunately never happened).

When it comes to the amenities of the accommodation, we always made sure it had air conditioning, a private bathroom, enough space, and, if possible, a balcony or veranda.
This allowed us not to be stuck in the dark room with our sleeping baby in the evenings.
With our baby monitor with camera, we could always keep an eye on her and quickly check on her if she woke up.
We also looked for accommodations with a swimming pool when possible, as our daughter is a true “water baby”.
She enjoyed cooling off and splashing around in the pool before or after our sightseeing program.

To avoid long travel distances, we always made sure that the accommodation was centrally located and close to the sights/activities we had researched in advance.

The range of hotels and accommodations in Malaysia is extensive and extremely diverse.
From hostels and budget hotels to affordable mid-range hotels to luxurious all-inclusive accommodations, there is something for every taste.
In addition to hotels, there are also plenty of self-catering apartments or small vacation homes.
On platforms like Airbnb or booking.com, you’re sure to find the right accommodation for your needs.

Here’s a quick overview of our most beautiful and comfortable accommodations:

• Bedrock Hotel in Ipoh – incredibly friendly and helpful owner
• 188 Suites by NamaStay in Kuala Lumpur
• Urban Suites Georgetown Penang - Sea View in George Town
• Cozzzy hut @ Riverine Diamond in Kuching

Good to know: When searching and booking accommodations, we always indicated only two adults, as children up to the age of two can usually stay for free.

DURING THE TRIP

1. FLYING LONG-HAUL WITH A BABY

We had many thoughts before our first long-haul flight with a baby. Will she be able to handle the air pressure changes well (using a pacifier works very well for this, by the way), will she sleep, and how would we keep her occupied in such a small space for so long (she was already crawling by this time)?
We also wondered how our seat neighbors would react if she cried frequently or for long periods. In the end, it turned out to be half as bad.
We arrived exhausted, as she required our attention almost nonstop, but we expected that in advance.

As parents, you should remind yourselves to relax because children often mirror their parents' calmness. Try to see the flight as part of the journey rather than an obstacle.

Children under two do not require their own seat on the plane, but for convenience, many parents choose to book an additional seat.
We never booked a seat for our daughter on long or short-haul flights, always keeping her on our lap.
For take-off and landing, we secured her with an airline loop belt attached to our seatbelt – this was completely sufficient for us.

Our tip: Sometimes it can be cheaper to book two seats in business class instead of three seats (for parents and child) in economy class.
This was the case for us on the route from Munich to Bangkok.

Regarding toys, we don’t want to give specific recommendations since each child develops individually.
We can only share what we brought for our daughter and what kept her entertained for at least a while.
At eight months, books with faces, a small doll (especially the face), rattles, spinner toys, colorful stacking cubes,some beach toys, and anything we had in our hands were particularly interesting to her. She also found it fascinating to empty all our bags and purses.

For meals, we brought over a liter of water for her bottle and two jars of baby food. We were checked at security, but once they saw our daughter, they returned our bag without further questioning. Throughout the flight, we were repeatedly offered to warm up the bottle and jars.
Overall, we found the onboard staff to be very attentive to the youngest passengers and their needs.

2. MEDICAL CARE IN MALAYSIA

In Malaysia, you don’t need to worry about getting treatment from a doctor or clinic in the event of a medical emergency.
In particular, the doctor’s offices and clinics for tourists in major tourist centers like Kuala Lumpur, George Town, and Ipoh meet Western standards.
In fact, we found some of them to be even more modern than those in many Western countries.
In serious cases, it’s always wise to consult a doctor, particularly concerning your baby’s health.

The selection in Malaysian pharmacies is extensive and reasonably priced. You’ll find most of what you need here, and many medications are available without a prescription.

In addition to quick medical treatment, don’t overlook the cost of this treatment and medications, as this is also an important consideration.
Public health insurance does not cover these costs. This is why, for us, purchasing private health insurance in advance was essential.
Through Check24, we compared various insurances and then chose the one that suited us best.
Usually, the insurance costs only a small amount per year and is worth every penny in an emergency.

Our tip: Be sure to choose insurance with full coverage without a cap on the amount, and make sure it includes repatriation in the event of a serious illness!
It’s also important to keep all receipts for medical treatment and medication you paid for upfront to claim them from your insurance or as proof if needed.

All further information can be found in our separate post, “Malaysia Travel Planning – Tips & General Information for Your Dream Trip”.

3. BABY FOOD & DRINK IN MALAYSIA: FORMULA, PUREES & MORE

This topic was perhaps the one we thought about the most in advance. In addition to bottle feeding, we had already started with solid foods (baby-led weaning and fruit purées).
This raised questions about whether the right milk powder would be available, as well as healthy, age-appropriate food for our daughter and, if so, where we could find it.
Looking back, we had worried far too much in advance because, yes, there are babies in Malaysia who also need something to eat.

You can find a selection of milk powder, rice-based porridge powder, squeeze pouches, and occasionally some fruit purees (a very limited selection) in large supermarkets like AEON and LuLu Hypermarket. In the smaller 24/7 stores (like 7-Eleven), there’s usually only a small selection of milk powder.
In Malaysia, you’ll find a wide range of infant formulas, including those suitable for newborns. Most major brands offer options starting from stage 1 for newborns, as well as follow-on formulas for older babies. If you feed your baby exclusively with infant formula milk, it’s best to bring enough from home for the initial days.
We generally recommend starting with familiar food from home to help your little one adjust gradually to new surroundings.
Keep in mind that your baby may already be dealing with jet lag, high temperatures, and many new stimuli.

If you prefer to prepare food yourself, you can find almost all the essentials, such as oatmeal, pasta, rice, potatoes, fresh meat, plain yogurt, a variety of fruits, and more, in the supermarkets. The only downside is that you’ll need accommodations with a kitchen, which may limit your accommodation choices somewhat.
Nevertheless, we always found a lovely and suitable place to stay.

For us, not only in Malaysia but throughout our entire trip through Southeast Asia, the rule was "Boil it, cook it, peel it,or forget it". We only drank bottled water and never tap water.
We washed our daughter’s bottles with tap water but regularly rinsed and boiled them with hot water.

4. DIAPERS & WIPES IN MALAYSIA

There’s no shortage of diapers and wipes in Malaysia. You can find a smaller selection and appropriately smaller package sizes at every 7-Eleven.
In larger supermarkets like AEON and LuLu, there’s a significantly larger selection and larger packages. If you’re looking for “Pampers-quality” diapers, try the Mamypoko brand.
The price is almost the same as a pack of Pampers, making it relatively expensive by Malaysian standards.

A cheaper alternative, which we found just as good, is the Drypers brand. If you prefer diapers with side tapes, be sure to look out for this feature, as most diapers in Malaysia are pull-ups. At first, it was a bit of an adjustment for us, but we quickly adapted.

Swim diapers are practically non-existent in Malaysia, so we recommend bringing a reusable swim diaper with you.

Changing tables are also rare. We often had to improvise and quickly change our daughter in a quiet corner of a restaurant or side street. Necessity is the mother of invention!
We were very grateful for our washable changing mat, which proved to be a real all-rounder and must-have in these situations.

5. LAUNDRY IN MALAYSIA

Doing laundry in Malaysia is straightforward. You’ll find many laundry services in the cities, and many apartments are equipped with a washing machine – which was usually the case for us.
When there was no washing machine, we used a laundry service. Our verdict: Just like anywhere else, there are both good and less good laundries.
Generally, our clothes were well cleaned, retained their color, and did not smell of strong fragrances. Payment is usually based on weight.

6. SUN PROTECTION & MOSQUITO PROTECTION IN MALAYSIA

Sun and mosquito protection is often not heavily discussed with toddlers, as they can simply be applied with sunscreen or repellent. For babies, however, opinions vary more.
Some prefer only physical protection like appropriate clothing and mosquito nets, while others also use chemical agents like sunscreen and mosquito spray.

In our country, physical protection may be sufficient. In the tropics, however, it wasn’t enough for us. The sun shines from morning till evening, and while we used every bit of shade and avoided the midday sun, it was not always possible to let our daughter play only in the shade. Just being at the beach or in the water meant she was constantly exposed to the sun.
The same was true when we were out and about. In the buggy and carrier, she was always exposed to the sun, even though we covered her with a thin cloth.
For this reason, we applied sunscreen whenever necessary.
Long clothing was only an option in the evenings, as even lightweight clothing felt too warm during the day, and we didn’t want to put our daughter through that.
Even wearing a short-sleeve bodysuit, she often sweated heavily.

In the water, she wore longer UV swimwear. One thing we would never go without is her baby sunglasses.
At first, we were worried she wouldn’t wear them for long, but it seems the bright conditions were too much for her too, so she kept them on and even enjoyed wearing them.
The adjustable strap ensured a perfect fit.

To reduce the risk of dengue or malaria infection, we also applied mosquito repellent lotion or spray. Both were bought locally and are available in nearly every supermarket.
Some restaurants even offered us mosquito spray, which suggests that they also use it.

7. BUGGY AND/OR CARRIER IN MALAYSIA

We brought both a lightweight, compact travel stroller and a baby carrier. This decision turned out to be absolutely right for us.

We had specifically purchased the travel stroller for our Southeast Asia trip. When buying, it was especially important to us that it fulfilled all the features relevant to us, such as a recline position, sunshade, and a spacious storage basket. Additionally, it should be affordable, handy, and above all, lightweight.
The Hauck sports buggy met all these criteria and proved to be a versatile companion. Whenever there was no high chair, we simply used the buggy.
She could sit there calmly and safely to eat, and afterward, we could keep her occupied with toys for a few minutes, so mom and dad could eat somewhat peacefully.

As most airlines allow up to two pieces of baby equipment free of charge, we could easily take the buggy up to the cabin.

Despite the buggy, our Manduca baby carrier was used just as often. In major cities like Kuala Lumpur or George Town, we found it challenging to get around with a stroller, as sidewalks are often in poor condition. Additionally, public transport is very crowded during peak hours, so there is hardly any room for a stroller.
When frequently using Grab, we felt like we spent a lot of time unpacking the stroller so it could be folded and stowed in the trunk.

Another important point is sensory overload and the lack of emotional security for the baby.
In the first few weeks, our daughter intensely sought our closeness due to the vast number of new visual and auditory impressions.
The carrier had already been a place of security and well-being for her since birth, helping her take in and process all the new impressions stress-free.
If it became too much for her, she could easily take a little nap in the carrier "in safety".
A major advantage of the carrier is that it is very handy and lightweight, taking up little space in the suitcase or backpack. Plus, you have both hands free compared to using a stroller.

8. TRANSPORT & CHILD SEATS IN MALAYSIA

When it comes to transport with babies in Malaysia, opinions vary widely. What’s considered an absolute no-go in our country may be normal for the Malaysians.
We want to emphasize here that we are simply sharing our experiences and opinions. Ultimately, the decision is entirely up to you.

In Malaysia, as in other Southeast Asian countries, it’s common for children of all ages to ride in cars without child seats, despite the child seat requirement.
If you order a taxi, Grab, Bolt, or similar service, you can assume that it will most likely not have a child seat. In this case, you’ll need to hold your child on your lap securely.

However, this does not mean that child seats are unavailable in Malaysia. If you book a transfer in advance, such as for longer distances or to the airport, many providers offer a child seat upon request, often for a small fee.
The same applies when booking a rental car. We also found that you can add baby seats or child seats for a small fee upon request.

Every child seat we received was secured with a 3-point seatbelt, as Isofix is either unknown or not yet widespread. This was completely sufficient for us.
It’s also essential to know that these are simple child seats or baby seats. Don’t expect all the features and extras you’d find at home.
If the risk seems too high, you might consider bringing your own child seat. However, remember that the seat may only be used for a short time and may sit unused in your accommodation. If you fly to another destination, you may need to check the child seat as oversized luggage for an additional fee.

While riding scooters with babies or toddlers is common in neighboring countries like Thailand, Cambodia, and Indonesia, you don’t need to worry about this in Malaysia, as riding with babies on a scooter is not allowed.

9. PACKING LIST: TRAVELING TO MALAYSIA WITH A BABY

We’ve put together our detailed packing list for a trip with a baby to Malaysia or Southeast Asia in our post “Packing List for Traveling with a Baby to Asia”.
We hope it helps with your travel preparations.

10. OTHER FAMILIES WITH BABIES/TODDLERS

Finally – you’re not the only ones traveling with a baby in Malaysia. We met many other families there, some with babies as young as two or three months.
Alongside Malaysian babies and children, our daughter had plenty of international playmates, and we connected with like-minded parents to share experiences.

USEFUL LINKS & RECOMMENDED TRAVEL GUIDES FOR YOU

• Find affordable Transfers with 12Go.com
• Find affordable rental cars at rentalcars.com
• Find affordable flights at skyscanner.com
• Discover the best accommodations
• The best Travel Guides for Malaysia
• Unique Excursions to Experience in Malaysia

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Note: This blog post contains our personal recommendations in the form of so-called affiliate links. If you book or purchase something through these links, we earn a small commission. There is absolutely no change to the price for you.