Traveling with a toddler is a whole new experience. Before becoming parents, we used to travel freely, deciding destinations and activities on our whim. But with a baby, things require a lot more planning and thought with multiple back up options . After carefully considering every aspect, we finally decided on Malaysia for our baby’s first international destination!

How we Chose the Destination (Traveling with a Baby)

Our main concern was: ‘how would our baby behave on a flight?’
So we set a few non-negotiable criteria:

1. Flight Duration: Should be around 5 hours.
2. Direct Flights: Preferably No layovers to reduce travel fatigue.
3. Night Flight Preferred: As Vayu sleeps better at night, we chose flights accordingly. (This can vary based on your child’s routine.)
4. Urban Access: The destination should have good access to hospitals, preferably a city or metro area.
5. Iconic Destination: We wanted a place recognizable by just a single iconic image.
6. No Visa Hassles: Visa-free or visa-on-arrival was preferred.

We initially considered Dubai—it met all our criteria, but August wasn’t the best season for it due to extreme heat. So, we chose Malaysia, which fulfilled all criteria and offered easy visa-on-arrival and frequent flights.

Choosing Stays with a Baby

At 13 months, Vayu doesn’t eat restaurant meals like us, so we needed a place where we could cook. We chose Airbnb for:

• Kitchen access to prepare baby meals
• Spacious area for crawling and play
• Central location
• Affordability
• All essential amenities

To minimize shifting and unpacking hassles, we booked one main stay for the longest duration.

We found a perfect Airbnb in Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur.
Air BNB link: The VIEW – 1 BR. Suite with Amazing Views and Pool

You can find all the details of this Air BNB here: Air BNB in KL marathi jodi

Special Stay for a Memorable Experience

Although we planned to stick to one stay, we made an exception to spend a night in a luxurious hotel with a direct view of the majestic Petronas Twin Towers, one of Malaysia’s most iconic landmarks. We stayed there just for a day, as it was a bit expensive—but so worth it!
Imperial KLCC by Opus Hospitality: Imperial KLCC by Opus Hospitality

We applied the same stay criteria: baby-friendly, central location, and with necessary amenities.

You can find all the details of this amazing place :Imperial Lexus by opus marathi jodi reel

 Stay in Langkawi

Finding stay in Langkawi was a bit of a challenge. Most centrally located and affordable stays lacked a kitchen. While there are luxury resorts, they were expensive and far from town.

After evaluating convenience and proximity, we booked the Wings Resort, which is literally a stone’s throw from Langkawi International Airport.
-Perfect for a short, smooth arrival and departure.

Link of resort: Wings by Croske Resort Langkawi

Additionally, we stayed one night at Ramada Langkawi, mainly for the stunning views.
Just look at this view!

Link for Ramada Langkawi: Ramada by Wyndham Langkawi Marina

Managing Food (For Baby and Us)

We had a clear plan for food:

For Vayu:

• For breakfast, we prepared food for Vayu at the Airbnb
• At hotels, he had dosa or eggs from the buffet
• For lunch and dinner, we usually made him dal khichdi
• When that wasn’t possible, we gave him homemade instant food like cerelac and Ragi
• In case of emergencies, we used Slurrp Farm’s ready-to-eat baby food (which only required adding hot water)
• We carried a thermos and necessary utensils to prepare his meals even while visiting tourist spots

For us:

• For breakfast, we mostly ate at our Airbnb, though we also visited a few vegetarian restaurants for lunch.
• Dinner was usually ordered through the Grab app (the local equivalent of Uber Eats).
• While Kuala Lumpur has plenty of Indian and Asian restaurants, going out with a baby just for food was often challenging.
• At major tourist attractions like Batu Caves, we did find Indian food—enjoyed dishes like pav bhaji and dosa there!
• At Wings Resort and Ramada in Langkawi, we were also able to get simple Indian meals, including dosa.

Getting Around + Baby Gear Tips

Must-have baby gear:

• Stroller (for most areas)
• Baby Carrier (especially handy in crowded places)

Link to buy stroller: StarAndDaisy Baby Strollers
Link to buy carrier: LuvLap Comfy Plus Newborn Baby Carrier

Kuala Lumpur and Langkawi were both very baby-friendly:

• Most restaurants had high chairs
• Roads and sidewalks were stroller-accessible

We used Grab App for all cab bookings.
Tip: When traveling with luggage and a stroller, book a 6-seater for more space and comfort.

The initial itinerary alongside a column showing if each activity was followed as scheduled:

We had a planned itinerary but adapted it on the go based on how Vayu felt each day. Toddlers are unpredictable, so flexibility was key.

Learnings & Tips

1. Book flexible flights – Choose options with free date changes or minimal cancellation fees.
2. Travel insurance – Not mandatory for visa, but highly recommended when traveling with a child.
3. Be open to changes – Your toddler will set the tone for the day.
4. Keep playtime – Ensure time each day just for your baby to explore and play.
5. Limit sightseeing – Stick to 1–2 spots per day to avoid overwhelming the child.
6. Add and mention main activity of baby in your itinerary
7. We noticed that many Westerners travel with very young babies—it’s a part of their culture. No matter how small your baby is, they’ll always seem small to you, but that shouldn’t stop you from heading out.

Photo Dump