Traveling Thailand with a Baby – Tips, Information & Our Experiences

Undoubtedly, Thailand is considered one of the most popular travel destinations in Southeast Asia for families with children of all ages—and for good reason!
Known as the "Land of Smiles", Thailand is incredibly child-friendly, has an excellent healthcare system, offers consistently warm temperatures, has much lower living costs compared to Western countries, and boasts a wide range of fascinating sights and experiences. This makes Thailand an ideal destination for families with babies or young children.

Before we embarked on our parental leave adventure in Thailand with our then 8-month-old daughter, we naturally had countless questions, uncertainties, and concerns about whether everything would go as we had roughly planned. Looking back, we can confidently say that most of our initial worries and concerns were entirely unfounded.
Our two months with our baby in Thailand were wonderful in every way, and we would likely do it all over again the same way!

If you're now considering whether to embark on a similar adventure with a baby in Thailand, we’d like to share our experiences with you in this post.
It aims to help answer your questions and ease any fears or concerns you might have about such a trip. Ideally, we can also support you in your subsequent travel planning.

BEFORE THE TRIP

1. ADDITIONAL VACCINATIONS FOR THAILAND

The decision on whether to give your baby additional vaccinations is entirely up to you.
As parents, you need to weigh the pros and cons of (not) vaccinating your child and take responsibility for this decision.
The most common additional vaccinations include those against 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 booking at least the first accommodations before departure, especially when doing a round trip.
This spares you the extra hassle of finding suitable accommodation upon arrival with jetlag and a baby.
We booked other accommodations with a cancellation option in case our daughter got sick and we couldn’t travel on the planned day.

When it came to accommodation amenities, we looked for air conditioning, a private bathroom, and enough space.
We also ensured there was a balcony or terrace or that it was close to a restaurant. This way, we weren't confined to the dark room with our sleeping child in the evening.
Thanks to our baby monitor with a camera, we could keep an eye on our daughter and get to her quickly if she woke up.
Additionally, we made sure accommodations had a pool, as our daughter loved water. In cities like Bangkok and Chiang Mai, she enjoyed cooling off in the pool before or after sightseeing.
It was also perfect when one of us was sick, as it allowed the other to take her swimming and playing while we stayed at the accommodation.

To avoid long travel times, we always ensured that accommodations were centrally located and close to the sights we had planned.

The range of hotels and accommodations across Thailand is extensive and varied.
There’s something for everyone—from hostels and budget hotels to affordable mid-range hotels to luxurious all-inclusive resorts.
Apart from hotels, there are also plenty of self-catering accommodations, such as houses or villas. You’re sure to find the right one for your needs on platforms like Airbnb or booking.com.

Here’s a brief overview of our favorite and most comfortable accommodations:

• iSanook in Bangkok.
• Sea Seeker Krabi Resort in Ao Nang.
• Khao Lak Laguna Resort in Khao Lak—where we could have stayed indefinitely. More about it can be found in our post "Khao Lak: Tips & Attractions for Thailand’s Beach Paradise".
• Samui Blue Bird in Koh Samui.
• Hatyai Signature Hotel in Hat Yai.

Good to know: When searching and booking accommodations, we only listed two adults as children under 2 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 entertained 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 case of a medical emergency, there’s no need to worry about getting treated by a doctor or clinic in Thailand.
Especially in tourist centers like Bangkok, Phuket, and Koh Samui, the hospitals meet Western standards.
In fact, we found some of them even more modern than in Western countries. So, if in doubt, it’s always advisable to seek medical advice, particularly when it concerns your baby’s health.

The availability of pharmacies is also very good and particularly affordable. You’ll find everything you need here.

However, keep in mind that the costs of medical treatment and medications are likely not covered by your national health insurance.
For this reason, we took out private international health insurance in advance. We compared plans on Check24 and chose the one that suited us best.
The insurance usually costs a small amount per year and is worth every penny in an emergency.

Our tip: When taking out insurance, make sure it includes full coverage without limit caps and, in case of a severe illness, repatriation. Additionally, save all receipts for medical treatment and medications, as you may need them to claim expenses with your insurance later.

All further details can be found in our separate post "Thailand Travel Planning: Tips & General Information for Your Trip to Thailand".

3. FOOD & DRINK FOR BABIES IN THAILAND – FORMULA, BABY FOOD & 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.
Once again, we worried way too much in advance. Yes, there are babies in Thailand who also need food.

A selection of milk powders, cereal powders (mostly rice-based), squeezable fruit purées, and a few jars of fruit can be found in big supermarkets like Big C and Lotus’s.
Smaller stores in city centers typically only carry milk powder. What you won’t find in Thailand is infant formula suitable for newborns, as baby formula there typically starts with follow-on formula, similar to what’s available in our country. If you feed your baby exclusively with infant formula milk, you should bring it from home.

For those who prefer to prepare food themselves, you’ll find all the basics available in local supermarkets, including oats, pasta, rice, potatoes, fresh meat, plain yogurt, lots of fruit, and much more. However, this requires accommodation with a kitchen, which limited our choices (aparthotels aren’t common in Thailand).
We mostly chose the more convenient option and ate out, sharing our food with our daughter as long as it wasn’t too spicy or hard.
In restaurants, you can often ask for extra cooked vegetables without seasoning or sauce for your little one.
The Thais are very child-friendly and usually happy to oblige. Fresh fruit, available everywhere, was always a safe choice.

Throughout our Southeast Asia travels, we adhered to the mantra: “Boil it, cook it, peel it, or forget it”.

We only drank purchased water and never tap water. We washed our daughter’s bottles with tap water but regularly rinsed or sterilized them with boiling water.

4. DIAPERS & WIPES IN THAILAND

Diapers and wipes are widely available in Thailand. You’ll find smaller packs in every 7-Eleven, while larger supermarkets like Big C and Lotus’s offer a greater selection and larger packs.
If you're looking for a "Pampers-quality" diaper, we suggest trying the Mamypoko brand. The price is nearly the same as Pampers, making it relatively expensive by Thai standards.

The cheaper alternative, but in our opinion equally good, is BabyLove diapers. If you prefer diapers with side tapes, be sure to look out for this feature, as most diapers in Thailand are pull-ups. It took us a little time to adjust, but we quickly became comfortable with this style.

In Thailand, swim diapers are practically unavailable. Therefore, we recommend bringing a reusable swim diaper from home.

Changing tables are rare outside large shopping malls, so we often had to improvise, changing our daughter on a bench, a quiet side street, or a park bench.
This is where our easy-to-clean changing mat became a lifesaver, acting as an all-rounder and must-have.

5. LAUNDRY IN THAILAND

Laundry in Thailand is super easy to handle. There’s a laundry service on practically every corner.

Before our trip, we’d read that some people bring their own detergent since some laundry services in Thailand wash only with cold water.
To ensure stains disappear, some services might use bleach/chlorine, and they often use ample fabric softeners and fragrances. But this is not always the case.

With a baby or toddler, you’ll need to do laundry often, and we didn’t want to spend time washing by hand or bringing our own detergent. So, we used the laundry service about twice a week. Just like anywhere else, there are both good and less good laundries. Generally, our clothes came back well-washed, kept their color, and didn’t smell overly fragranced.
Our daughter didn’t seem to notice any difference in the detergent, nor did we see any adverse effects.

Laundry is typically charged by weight, with rates between 30–60 THB per kilogram depending on the city or tourist area.

6. SUN PROTECTION & MOSQUITO REPELLENT IN THAILAND

When it comes to sun and mosquito protection, opinions tend to differ more with babies than with older children, who are simply lathered with sunscreen or mosquito spray.
Some parents rely solely on physical protection, like suitable clothing and mosquito nets, while others additionally use chemical products like sunscreen and insect repellent.

Back home, physical protection may be sufficient. In the tropics, however, it wasn’t enough for us. From morning till evening, the sun was often shining. Of course, we sought shade whenever possible and avoided the midday sun, but it wasn’t always feasible to keep our daughter exclusively in the shade, especially when she was in the water or on the beach.
The same applied 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 additional longer UV swimwear. One thing we wouldn’t be without is her baby sunglasses. Initially, we were concerned that she wouldn’t want to wear them, but it turned out she liked them a lot, especially since the bright light was often overwhelming for her. The attached elastic band kept them securely in place.

To reduce the risk of dengue fever or malaria, we also applied mosquito repellent lotion or spray, which we purchased locally.
These products are available in almost every supermarket, and in some restaurants, the staff even offered us mosquito spray, suggesting they use it themselves.

7. BUGGY AND/OR BABY CARRIER IN THAILAND

We took both a compact travel buggy and a baby carrier, and this decision turned out to be just right.

We specifically bought a travel buggy for our Southeast Asia trip. When choosing one, we prioritized features that were essential to us, such as a reclining position, sunshade, and a spacious storage basket. It also needed to be affordable, compact, and lightweight. The Hauck sport buggy met all these criteria and proved to be a versatile companion.
When there was no high chair available, we used the buggy, where she could sit safely to eat. Afterward, we could entertain her with some toys while we ate relatively peacefully.

Most airlines allow up to two items of baby gear free of charge, so we could easily take the buggy up to the plane.

Despite having the buggy, our Manduca baby carrier was used just as frequently.
Especially in big cities like Bangkok or Chiang Mai, it was nearly impossible to move comfortably through the city with a stroller.
Public transportation during peak hours was also so crowded that there simply wasn’t space for a stroller.

Another key consideration is the sensory overload and the need for emotional security for the baby.
In the first few weeks, our daughter sought close contact with us to process the multitude of new sights and sounds around her.
The carrier provided her a safe, comfortable space and allowed her to absorb the new experiences without stress. When it got too much for her, she could easily take a nap in the carrier.
A big advantage of the carrier is that it’s compact and lightweight, taking up minimal space in a suitcase or backpack and leaving you hands-free, unlike a stroller.

8. TRANSPORTATION & CHILD SEATS IN THAILAND

Opinions on traveling with babies/toddlers in Thailand vary widely. What’s considered an absolute no-go back home may be normal for Thais.
We’d like to emphasize that we’re merely sharing our experiences and opinions here. Ultimately, it’s up to you to decide if this works for you too.

In Thailand, as in other Southeast Asian countries, it’s common for children of all ages to ride in vehicles without child seats.
When you order a taxi, Grab, Bolt, or similar service, don’t expect it to have a child seat. You’ll need to hold your child on your lap.

However, this doesn’t mean child seats aren’t available in Thailand.
When booking transfers for longer distances or to the airport, many providers offer child seats upon request, often for a small fee.
The same applies to rental cars, where baby seats or child seats can usually be added for an extra fee.

All car seats we used were secured with a 3-point belt system, as Isofix is either unknown or uncommon in Thailand. This was sufficient for us.
However, keep in mind that these are usually simple child seats or baby carriers, so don’t expect all the features and extras you might have at home.
If you’re concerned, consider bringing your own child seat, but bear in mind that it may be used only briefly and then sit unused in your accommodation.
If you’re flying, the child seat might also be classified as oversized luggage, incurring an additional fee.

By the way: There is a legal seatbelt requirement in Thailand, but it’s typically enforced only during police checks.

For some, the idea of riding a motorbike with a baby or toddler may be even more alarming than riding in a car without a seatbelt and child seat.
For Thais, however, this is completely normal, and they often carry not just one but two or more children on a scooter. The youngest are often simply held in their arms.

Initially, we had many concerns about this, as we viewed it from the perspective of back home.
However, since we owned a motorbike and were experienced riders, we decided that if we felt safe and it seemed right, we would also ride a motorbike with our baby as the locals do.

Throughout our time in Thailand, except in Bangkok, we traveled within city limits on a motorbike. We encountered no dangerous situations during the entire trip because we always rode cautiously and responsibly. We tried to avoid riding at dusk whenever possible. Our daughter was always in the carrier between us, with her arms and legs shielded from the sun by a cloth we clipped to ourselves with clothespins. At that time, we couldn’t find a helmet in her size in Thailand, but later, when she turned one, we found a suitable helmet.

We’d read that some parents bring bicycle helmets from home for their little ones, though we didn’t see any children wearing them locally.

All the essential information for renting a motorbike and safety tips can be found in our post “Renting a Scooter in Thailand – Helpful Tips & Information”.

9. PACKING LIST: TRAVELING WITH A BABY OR TODDLER TO THAILAND

Our detailed packing list for traveling to Thailand or Southeast Asia with a baby can be found in our post “Packing List for Traveling with a Baby to Asia”.
We hope it’ll be helpful in preparing for your own trip.

10. OTHER FAMILIES WITH BABIES/TODDLERS

Finally – you’re not the only ones traveling with a baby in Thailand. We met many other families there, some with babies as young as two or three months.
Alongside Thai 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 Thailand
• Unique Excursions to Experience in Thailand

Enjoy browsing and planning!

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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.