Get stunning still and video with our top iPhone 13 Pro camera tips.

A few iPhone 13 Pro camera tips and iPhone 12 Pro camera tips can go a long way to help you get outstanding shots with Apple’s most powerful smartphone. The iPhone 13 Pro packs one of the best cameras available on a phone – or rather four of the best, and the camera’s one of the areas that has seen most improvement. On both the 13 Pro and the larger 13 Pro Max, you get three cameras on the back and one on the front. On the back, there’s a 12MP wide.5, 12MP telephoto with 3x optical zoom and a 12MP ultrawide. On the front, you have a 12MP wide.

That’s a lot of numbers, but what can you do with them? Well, with a few iPhone 13 Pro camera tips, you can create a range of pro-quality photography, from portraits to creative video, even in low light conditions. Portrait mode offers great flexibility and the new macro mode is also impressive for when it comes to taking detailed pictures of close-up things like food, bugs or plants. You can also shoot in ProRAW format, which is great if you do post-production work.

All in all, the iPhone 13 Pro has a lot of camera tools that can help you achieve fantastic shots, but you might not necessarily discover them if you simply take your phone out of its box and start shooting. In our guide below, we offer a handful of iPhone 13 Pro camera tips to help you get the best out of your device – and many of these will also as iPhone 12 Pro camera tips if you have the older iPhone. Not yet decided on which phone to buy? Then make sure you see our complete iPhone 13 Pro review and see our guide to the best camera phones for more options.

Top iPhone 13 Pro camera tips for better shots

The iPhone 13 offers a range of tools to improve your shots, from improved night mode, portrait mode and macro mode to photography styles that can allow you to find a signature look for your shots. Here are our tips to get the most out of the iPhone 13’s cameras.

01. Get to know the iPhone 13 Pro lenses

The iPhone 13 Pro camera’s big selling point is its multiple lenses, with a versatile threesome on the back. As we mentioned, you get a 12MP wide (f/1.5), a 12MP telephoto (f/2.8) with 3x optical zoom and a 12MP ultra-wide (120-degree f/1.8). The best iPhone 13 Pro camera tip we can give you is to get to know these lenses and what each one is good for.

For portraits, both the wide-angle lens and the telephoto lens can be useful (to switch between them tap on the Portrait option, and tap 1x or 3x in the bottom left corner). The 3x telephoto is also great for making an impressive object like a building stand out in a scene, isolating it from other, distracting elements (you may need to step back to fit your subject in the frame).

The ultrawide, meanwhile has a macro focusing feature that can get great close-up detail shots as we’ll see below. The ultra-wide camera and the front camera can create barrel distortion at the edges of images, so one iPhone Pro camera tip is to turn on lens correction. Go to Settings > Camera and turn on the Lens Correction toggle.

02. Shoot in ProRAW

A great feature of the iPhone 13 Pro for professional and enthusiast photographers who do post-production editing is the ability to shoot in the ProRAW format. This mimics the look of a RAW picture, retaining a lot more detail than what you get with a compressed HEIC or JPEG image. ProRAW images will be BIG files – at around 25MB for each image, you may find your phone filling up fast, but they open up a lot more possibilities for editing your shots later in a programme like Photoshop or Lightroom.

While the iPhone offers editing options like its Auto edit magic wand and the usual editing options, they’re not going to give you the flexibility you get with professional editing on high-resolution files that retain more detail in the shadows and highlights. The larger ProRAW files can allow you to rescue overexposed areas or bring back visibility in dark shadows.

To enable ProRAW, go to Settings > Camera > Formats and under the new Photo Capture section, you’ll find the toggle. Once enabled, you’ll see a new RAW button at the top right, which will now allow you to quickly switch between ProRaw and JPEG. If you’re not sure what programmes to use to edit your ProRAW images afterwards.

03. Find a signature look with Photographic Styles

If you don’t go in for post-production, you can still create a signature visual style with the iPhone 13 Pro camera. The new Photographic Styles feature allows you to define a style before you shoot, rather like a filter applied before rather than after taking a shot.

There are four preset Photographic Styles to choose from (Rich Contrast, Vibrant, Warm and Cool), and they can be adjusted to find the balance of tone and warmth you’re looking for. To get started, open the Camera app in photo mode, swipe up from the bottom and tap on the icon with the three squares. You can then swipe through the Photographic Styles. Tone and Warmth sliders appear below the viewfinder when you select a style – the phone will remember any changes you make here, retaining them until you change them again.

An extra iPhone Pro 13 camera tip here: if you find a style you like and want to adopt it as a signature, you can set it as default: Open your iPhone’s Settings app, scroll down to Camera and find the Photographic Styles option. Tap to choose which style you want to shoot in and it will automatically be selected every time you open the camera.

04. Turn off automatic night mode

Night Mode on the iPhone 13 Pro is impressive and a massive improvement on previous versions, but for the best shots, you probably don’t want it kicking in every time you’re in a low light situation. Sometimes, it makes night shots look like they weren’t taken at night at all, which often isn’t what you want. It can also lead to blurry pictures if you’re trying to shoot a subject that’s moving.

You can turn off Night Mode each time while you’re in the camera app, but that will soon get annoying if you find yourself having to do that each time you take a shot in the dark. Instead, we’d suggest turning off automatic Night Mode altogether so that you can simply enable it when you want it by tapping the Night Mode icon (a moon). Go to Settings app > Camera > Preserve Settings and toggle the Night Mode switch.

05. Go in close

Another big advance offered by the iPhone 13 Pro’s cameras is the introduction of macro focusing for fantastically detailed close-up shots. Macro focusing has been introduced on the ultrawide lens both in photo mode and in video, including slo-mo and time-lapse. You can put this to great use by playing with shots of flowers, bugs, textiles and anything else that would normally be too small to shoot using a phone. Put the main as close to the centre of your frame as possible and tap to select a specific focus point, then choose between x.5 and x1 magnification.

By default, you’ll find that Macro Control is switched off and it will kick in automatically when you’re within 14cm of a subject. If you want to switch off the automatic macro focusing to give you more control, head to Settings > Camera > Macro Control. A Macro symbol (a flower) will then appear in the bottom left corner to allow you to switch it on and off.

06. Shoot more flexible video with Cinematic mode

The iPhone 13’s Cinematic mode is a delight for videographers, allowing you to change the focus in video while filming. You can shoot in Cinematic mode by opening video mode and choosing the Cinematic option at the bottom of the viewfinder above the shutter button. Swipe up on the viewfinder (or swipe right to left if you’re holding your phone horizontally) and you can then adjust depth by tapping the ‘f’ and exposure by tapping on the circle marked + -.

Start recording and then tap a subject in the viewfinder to change focus as you record. You can double-tap to automatically track a subject or you can touch and hold to lock the focus at a specific distance. This is a great iPhone 13 Pro camera tip for content creators and YouTubers, allowing an easy application of creative effects like walking into focus or shifting focus between subjects.

Another quick tip here. You may find parts of your subject out of focus with a shallow depth of field, so hit that f button and step up the depth to around 5.8, you’ll likely find a close subject in focus while still getting some blur on the background.

Note that the iPhone 13 Pro can shoot in Dolby Vision up to 4K at 60fps but this isn’t activated as default because of the amount of storage it uses. But if you want to shoot ing the highest quality video, go to Settings > Camera > Record Video and select 4K at 60fps. The same section also lets you turn on HDR.

07. Adjust video depth of field after video recording

Cinematic mode also allows you to change depth of field and focus AFTER you’ve recorded a video. This is something of a gamechanger for post-production on the iPhone itself. To change the depth on a Cinematic video after you’ve shot it, select the video in the Photos app, select Edit and tap ‘f’ (note that the changes will apply to the whole video.

You can also edit focus points after recording. As you scrub through a video, the focus point is indicated with a yellow square while other recognised potential subjects will have a white square around them – you can tap those white squares to change the focus point to that subject. You can also try tapping other objects in the frame. Like when recording, you can double-tap to set automatic focus tracking or touch and hold to lock the focus at a specific distance. Tap the focus button to swap back and forth between automatic focus tracking and your own selected focus points.

08. Use Live Photo to shoot long exposures

A neat iPhone 13 Pro camera tip is that you can shoot quick videos in photo mode. There are actually two ways to do this. You can hit Live Photo in the top right (a target icon comprising three concentric circles) to record a motion photo. This then gives you options to loop or bounce (click Share and Save as video to save the resulting footage in a video format you can use elsewhere).

But most interestingly you can also turn a Live Photo into a long exposure, which is a great alternative way to get impressive night shots with light streams or blurred movement in shots of moving subjects like waterfalls (we’d suggest using a small tripod to hold your camera steady). To edit a Live Photo, find and open it in the Live Photos album on your phone and hit the Live Photo icon. This will bring up options to loop, bounce or create a long exposure.

You might not realise you can also shoot video in Photo mode on the iPhone 13 Pro by holding down the shutter button. Once shooting, you can slide your finger up to zoom in and down to zoom out, a feature that isn’t actually enabled in video mode itself. If you want to shoot a longer video and don’t want to keep holding down your finger, simply swipe the shutter button to the right. You can then remove your finger and the video will continue recording, allowing you to also tap the button to take still photos at the same time.

09. Create iPhone 13 Pro camera shortcuts

It doesn’t take a huge amount of time to open your iPhone 13 Pro’s camera app and start shooting, but the minor delay can still be long enough to miss a shot if something happens quickly, particularly if you’re taking spontaneous street shots. The iPhone’s programmable shortcuts can help here.

The Shortcuts settings allow you to combine several actions into a single command so, for example, you could set up your phone to open the camera app, start shooting video and save the video, when you double-tap on the back of the device. To set up a new shortcut, open the Shortcut app and tap the ‘+’ symbol. You can also use Siri to control your camera.

10. Adjust Depth and Lighting in Portrait mode

The iPhone 13 Pro is great for almost DSLR-like portrait shots, but to get the most out of Portrait mode, you’ll need to do a little tinkering. Don’t overlook the Depth Adjustment and Lighting Effects to enable truly stunning shots. When you’re in Portrait mode and have your subject framed, you’ll find the Depth Adjustment button (‘f’) in the top-right corner of the screen. Tap there, and a slider will appear below the frame (you can also fine-tune this after you’ve taken the shot).

As for Lighting Effects, you can adjust the position and intensity of each effect, for example, to brighten up eyes and facial features. Choose the Portrait mode and you should notice a carousel with six Lighting Effects at the bottom of the screen. Tap the icon (by default, it will be on Natural Light), and you’ll be able to rotate the carousel to select the effect you want.

When you’ve chosen an effect, tap on Portrait Control button at the top of the screen to bring up the Portrait Lighting slider below the frame so you can fine-tune the effect. Again you can also adjust this after taking a shot. Studio Light will brighten up your subject, while Contour Light will create a more dramatic contrast between highlights and shadows.

11. Save your iPhone 13 Pro camera settings

Our final iPhone 13 Pro camera tip is to save your preferred settings. Once you’ve found the settings you prefer and use more frequently, you can customise the iPhone 13 Pro camera to remember them to avoid you having to manually adjust them each time you launch the Camera app. Simply go to the Settings app > Camera > Preserve Camera and customise the settings all you want, from aspect ratio to Night mode settings or anything else.

Of course, you might not want to use the same setting forever, but handily you can also set up your iPhone 13 Pro or Pro Max to retain the camera settings that you applied the last time you used the camera app. To do that, go to Settings > Camera > Preserve Camera and toggle on the settings you want to preserve.

Could you survive an airline emergency?

You’ll probably never have to. The airline industry has reached historic levels of safety.

During 2015, the International Air Transport Association reported jet hull loss rate for its members of 0.22–which is the equivalent one accident for every 4.5 million flights.

But there are things you can do to be better prepared which will also make every flight more pleasant, while improving your odds in the highly unlikely event of an emergency.

1. Dress sensibly.

The best clothing to wear on a plane is made of breathable cotton, or wool blends. Wool has the advantage of being naturally flame retardant, that’s why it’s the preferred material blend for fabric-covered airline seats around the world.

Dress in comfortable clothes which help you move quickly, if you ever need to, but which also protect your skin from exposure to friction or flame.

Women should avoid skirts and stockings. Jeans and slacks are a far better choice.

You can run in heels all you want, but not from a plane. When those heels come off during an evacuation you’ll be barefoot on hot tarmac. Loafers (or loafer-style tennis shoes) are your new air travel best friends. They versatile to dress up or down, make it easy to remove your shoes at security, and you can keep them on during an escape. Flip-flops are a no-go. You can’t trust them to stay ‘flip’ when you’re running.

Avoid wearing shorts when flying. Escape slide burn doesn’t look good on anyone’s thighs.

2. Prepare a run kit.

A run kit should only hold things which are a terrible hassle for you to replace if you lose them during an emergency: your wallet, passport, cash and credit cards, any medication, a printed list of emergency contact numbers, and perhaps a mobile phone.

The ideal run kit is a travel wallet in your jacket pocket, a small cross-body wallet bag, or a fanny pack. Make a habit of wearing your run kit throughout the flight. Never take it off. Because it is small and worn on your body—and it must be small—flight attendants are unlikely to ever ask you to remove it. (If they do, it’s probably too big and interfering with the function of your seat-belt.)

Since your run kit already holds vital items, you can leave everything else behind during an evacuation. Seriously: Leave. It. All. Behind.

When the trained-to-be-polite flight attendants are shouting, it’s time to get out. You have 90 seconds to evacuate an aircraft, if you’re lucky, so don’t waste a second grabbing your luggage. You don’t want to be the passenger who kept others from getting out in time, or who broke the slide with their overstuffed roller bag on the way down.

3. Mind your gadgets.

Some of us travel with a lot of electronic devices, and when you’re traveling for business it can feel like your laptop is something you cannot part with—but it is.

The best way to prepare is to backup your files and records to a separate hard-drive, or the cloud, or both, before you leave for the airport. You should assume that you’ll lose your electronic devices at some point when you travel (no matter what happens on your plane) and be prepared for that.

You should also ensure your electronic devices are in good condition and using batteries and chargers approved by the manufacturer. You don’t want your smartphone, tablet, or laptop to cause a fire onboard. Unfortunately, it happens and not just with Samsung phones.

4. Pay attention to the safety video.

Yes, they can be corny, but there’s a reason airlines are jumping over themselves and a line of sharks to get you to pay attention to their safety videos. The instructions matter.

Even if you think know the instructions–and have heard them half a million times–each plane comes with new conditions. The location of exits will be different. The seat lay-out will be different. The people on the plane with you will be different.

Equally important is that you ‘read’ through that picture card in the seat pocket. It will have the most relevant information for the particular plane you’re flying.

And always keep your seat belt buckled (no matter what the light says) because there is a far greater chance that you’ll encounter rough turbulence on a flight than a mechanical failure or other emergency.

5. Be aware of your surroundings.

You want to plan your highly unlikely escape in advance, while the flight attendants are giving you instructions. As flight attendants say, “note that the nearest exit may be behind you.”

Know what your exit options are as soon as you sit down, and count the number of seats between you and the nearest two exits. If you have to crawl in the dark, or below smoke, you’ll know better how to gauge your distance to the exit door.

6. Ignore your annoying neighbors.

Don’t cause an onboard incident by traveling with a short fuse. Your mind needs to be on relaxing and enjoying the flight as much as possible. Put on those headphones, enjoy the in-flight entertainment and block out the nonsense. Or bring your own entertainment, if you like.

The advantage of using the airline’s entertainment system is that the captain and crew will interrupt the transmission, if there’s something you really need to know. If you are enjoying your own entertainment, pause it whenever crew is speaking, and listen.

Maybe it is just the captain letting you know you have a nice view of the Rockies on the left hand side of the plane, but it might be something more important.

7. With great legroom comes great responsibility.

If you’re the lucky passenger with the exit door seat, pay close attention to the exit door instructions and be prepared to carry out your duties. When you booked that roomier seat, you agreed to get everyone around you out of that plane safely. In an emergency, everyone will expect you to do just that.

8. One less drink will do.

Though for many enjoy a drink is part of the air travel experience, it’s probably best not to partake when flying, or to drink very little.

Alcohol makes you bloated, dehydrated, possibly incapacitated, and generally not at your best. If you do drink, be sure you still have a clear head. You want to be sharp, if the never-will-happen happens.

9. Respect your flight attendants.

Think of flight attendants as emergency services personnel who serve you meals and drinks during their spare time. Flight attendants are trained to risk their lives to save yours, and they have. Next time a flight attendant says you can’t have another snack, or another beer, or anything else you really think you need, just smile and accept that answer. They don’t make the airline’s catering and onboard services decisions.

10. Put your oxygen mask on yourself first, then help others, and only then take a selfie.

Social media is great—but it’s not the best way to manage limited time during an aircraft emergency. Instead of rushing to share that oxygen mask pic, refresh your knowledge of your available exits, ensure you have your run pack securely on you, get your nerves in check, and listen to crew instructions.

Then—when nothing else happens—take that memorable pic and impress your friends.

11. The only thing you can’t afford to lose is your life.

This is the only tip you really need. It requires no further explanation.

Lying off the tip of eastern Florida and stretching southeast across the Atlantic, the Bahamas are made up of some 2,000 islands if you include the cays, offering something for just about every type of traveller. Grand Bahama is ideal for families, with lots of children’s facilities and activities, while Nassau offers a 24/7 party. You’ll also find plenty of outdoor adventure, from diving and snorkelling to golfing and world-renowned bone fishing, along with quiet, romantic islands for enjoying the beautiful coral beaches in relative seclusion, and just about everything in between.

When to go to the Bahamas

The stunning white sand beaches and strikingly clear azure waters coupled with its tropical year-round climate, make the Bahamas wonderful to visit anytime of the year, but the best time to go really depends on the type of holiday you’re looking for. Whether you want a non-stop party, more budget-friendly rates or a taste of authentic, laid-back island life, we’ll help you decide when to go. Winter is the time most people head to the Bahamas to escape the cold. Mid-December through April is peak season, with the highest rates and the biggest crowds of the year, and it’s also the perfect time for partying 24/7. If you want to join in on the excitement, plan to visit during this time, but be sure to book well in advance for flights and accommodation.

The off-season, from May through mid-December, typically brings the lowest airfare and hotel rates of the year, and you’ll have few crowds to contend with. If you’re concerned about the hurricane season, which officially stretches from June 1 to November 30, they’re actually rather infrequent here and you’ll have plenty of advance warning if a major storm should occur. The optimal time of the year for the best rates, fewest crowds and driest weather is the month of May and again, from about mid-November to mid-December.

Weather in the Bahamas

Bahamian temperatures vary little throughout the year, averaging in the mid- to upper-20s Celsius in summer and winter, though summer does bring higher humidity making it feel much hotter, as well as a greater chance of rain which lasts through fall. September and October present the highest risk for hurricane activity, with the islands of Grand Bahama, Abaco and Andros most likely to be affected, although it’s still a rather rare occurrence.

Bahamas flights and transfers

The flight time from London to the Bahamas is roughly 9 hours, with flights landing at Nassau Lynden Pindling International Airport. British Airways flies non-stop to Nassau five times a week, or if you’d like to combine your holiday with time in a U.S. city , you might want to take a transatlantic flight to Miami, followed by a connecting flight to Nassau, Grand Bahama, or one of the Out Islands such as the Exumas, Eleuthero, Andros, Abacos or Berry Islands.

Visa requirements

British citizens who are travelling to the Bahamas don’t need to obtain a visa to stay for up to three months, although a passport that does not expire for at least six months after your date of entry into the country is needed for all travellers, including children and infants.

Language

English is the official language spoken in the Bahamas. You will notice the dialect and slang can be rather difficult to understand, more so on the Out Islands.

Transportation

Inter-island travel: If you want to travel around the islands, you’ll have a few different options. Bahamas Ferries operates fast ferry service from Nassau to Andors, Long, Exuma, Grand Bahama, South Abaco and Eleuthera, including Spanish Wells and Harbour Island. There are also much slower mail boats that sail between islands, carrying cargo as well as passengers, providing a cheap, adventurous way to travel, mingle with the locals and enjoy the scenery, though they aren’t recommended for those who are on a tight time schedule.

Multiple airlines, including Bahamasair, Sky Bahamas, Lee Air, Southern Air, Flamingo, Western Air and Pineapple, offer flights to various islands throughout the Bahamas as well.

Driving: We don’t recommend hiring a car in the Bahamas for several reasons. It’s very expensive in Nassau and Freeport, around 60 pounds per day or more, and not much less than that in the Out Islands. Plus, there isn’t much scenery that you won’t be able to enjoy right from your hotel or resort as the islands tend to be dominated by scrub brush. If you do drive for the pure convenience of getting to wherever you want to go when you want to get there, be aware that Bahamian drivers tend to drive rather aggressively, there are massive potholes on the roads and signage can be very confusing or missing altogether.

Bus: Bus service is very limited or non-existent, with the exception of Nassau/New Providence and Grand Bahama. The mini-buses in Nassau and on New Providence Island are locally known as jitneys. They’re a cheap way to get around and can be found on and near Bay Street, although understanding the routes can be challenging and destinations aren’t always indicated on the bus. Your best bet is to ask staff at your hotel or resort for help.

Taxi: Taxis are readily available, found outside hotels and airports, identified by yellow licence plates with small Gothic black lettering indicating “Taxi.” Rates aren’t cheap – from Nassau Airport to downtown Nassau the fare is over 23 pounds currently, with fares based on two passengers. If you have more than that, there will be an extra charge for passengers as well as any extra luggage. Keep in mind that the taxis are equipped with meters, but most drivers refuse to use them, so you’ll need to agree on the fare in advance.

Currency

The official legal tender in the Bahamas is the Bahamian dollar, though U.S. currency is accepted throughout the islands. When you’re in need of cash, ATMs typically offer the best exchange rates. On New Providence Island and Paradise Island you’ll find many. While there aren’t as many ATMs on the other islands, you can almost always find one somewhere, especially in airports and casinos. Keep in mind that most shopkeepers and casinos won’t exchange currency, however. For example, if you pay in Bahamian dollars, you’ll get Bahamian currency back; use U.S. dollars, and you’ll get U.S change.

Electricity

Electricity normally runs on 120-volt AC, which means those travelling from the U.K. where standard voltage is in the range of 220 to 240 Volts will likely need an adaptor, and possibly a voltage converter, to plug in electronics.

Vaccination and health

There are no vaccinations requirements for those visiting from the U.K. Other than certain areas of Nassau and Freeport, the Bahamas are virtually free of violent crime. Petty crime like pickpocketing is possible, so as with any other destination it’s important to follow common sense and avoid walking alone after dark or doing any heavy drinking that might put you at risk. The HIV rate is relatively high here compared to many other countries at 3%, making it essential to use a condom if you have sexual relations with a partner you didn’t bring with you to the island.  You’ll also want to slather on the sunscreen, wear a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses, as sunburns are arguably your biggest health threat.

Time difference

GMT – 4 hours, – 5 hours in the summer.

Festivals & events

Bahamians love a good celebration, which means, odds are, there will be some kind of festival or special event happening when you visit. The biggest of the year is hosted on Boxing Day and New Year’s Day, known as “Junkanoo,” in honour of the freedom of slaves. There are street parades held throughout the islands, with Nassau holding the most elaborate events of all. Participants don incredible homemade crepe paper costumes while playing Junkanoo music, a mix of African rhythms, cowbells and loud brass that gets nearly everyone up on their feet and dancing. The Conch Festival is hosted every October, celebrating the nation’s most beloved food, a culinary spectacle that includes a conch cracking contest, live music and dancing.

Culture

While the Bahamas have one of the world’s highest ratios of churches per capita, the islanders’ religious devotion doesn’t prohibit any visitor activities, with more of a libertarian attitude when it comes to personal morals here. Bahamians tend to be very friendly, hospitable and easy-going. That said, bathing suits are only acceptable around the pool or at the beach. In certain, more upscale restaurants, nightclubs and casinos, you may have to follow a dress code.

Food, drink and nightlife

As with most island nations, seafood can be found on many menus in the Bahamas, with the national dish being conch, a kind of mollusc that’s served deep-fried or raw with a twist of lemon. You can also expect many types of fish, rock lobster and crab as well as salt pork and side dishes like pigeon peas, rice, tropical fruit and potatoes. Coconut water and fruit juices are common non-alcoholic beverages, like rum is commonly used in mixed drinks like rum punch. The Bahamas also has its own native brews, like the 7% ABV golden lager Kalik, considered the national beer.

Some of the best local fare can be found among the Arawak Cay’s collection of seafood shacks. No matter where you dine, expect service to be rather slow paced, even in fast food eateries. There are no hurried meals here.

If exciting nightlife is what you’re after, Nassau is where you want to be. The majority of action can be found around Paradise Island and the downtown waterfront. While this may be the tropics, flip-flops and casual attire in general are not acceptable at the trendiest spots, like Fluid known for spinning the latest reggae jams, and Aura at the Atlantis Resort which draws a celebrity crowd to dance to island favourites, hip-hop and top-40 hits. Cover charges, VIP sections and dress codes are the norm.

Welcoming a baby into your family is a big adjustment and, if you love to travel, you may worry that having a baby will bring an end to that. Thankfully, just as other parts of your life will change, your travel style will adapt to include your new addition. There are plenty of tips to help make traveling with an infant a fun experience.

Tips for traveling with a baby

While babies and adults have many of the same basic needs while traveling, it takes a bit more planning to make sure a baby is fed and happy. You’ll also want to make sure you plan for the unexpected — diaper blowouts on an airplane, a stroller breaking, leaving a pacifier at a rest stop…just to name a few.

Additionally, babies are still developing their immune systems, so make sure they’re up to date on their immunizations and check with your pediatrician before traveling — especially if you’re visiting another country.

When it comes to planning a trip, you know your baby best. Try to keep their abilities and interests in mind. Traveling with children is different than traveling with a baby or a toddler. Places like national parks may be a good option for babies, as you can put them in a stroller or carrier and explore. Plus, because you’re in the great outdoors, you’ll likely be able to find a little extra open space to avoid the crowds.

If your little one is like a sponge soaking in everything going on around them, you may want to consider a bigger city. There’s plenty to look at, and you’ll likely find plenty of places that are baby-friendly. Even if your baby doesn’t exactly know what a shark is, they may still love watching them swim in an aquarium. Or you can visit a children’s museum, where you’ll find entertainment for all ages.

Regardless of where you decide to go, there are some things you’ll have to pack no matter what.

Checklist for traveling with a baby

• Extra clothing for you and baby
• Layers of clothing for unpredictable weather
• Pacifier and clip (plus back-up)
• Comfort toy or blanket
• Extra diapers
• Formula/breast milk/pump
• Baby wipes
• Sanitizing wipes
• Bottles
• Bibs (and extra)
• A first-aid kit with baby-safe medications
• A small toy or two
• Baby soap and shampoo

Car travel with a baby

If you’re going on a longer driving trip with your baby, there are some tips that may make it a bit easier on you both. In the weeks leading up to your trip, start practicing in the car with your baby. Traveling with a baby by car will be much easier if they’re used to their car seat and you can anticipate their needs. If your little one is used to shorter trips to the park or the grocery store, start practicing longer trips. Head to a zoo or park an hour or two away to help them get used to spending more time in the car.

You may also want to give yourself plenty of extra time when planning your trip. Even a baby with plenty of experience in a car seat can only sit still for so long. Plan on regular breaks for both you and your baby to get out of the car and get some fresh air. Plus, you’ll likely need to stop for some diaper changes along the way. If it’s possible, you may want to try to plan longer stretches of driving to coincide with your baby’s naptime.

You will likely want to pack some toys as well, to keep your baby entertained. These can be as simple as a rattle or their favorite stuffed animal. You may also want to consider getting a toy tether to keep the toys from falling onto the floor of the car.

Plane travel with a baby

Flying with a baby can be even more intimidating than driving, as you have less control over the environment. Between getting through security, making connections and dealing with pressure changes, traveling with an infant on a plane requires even more planning.

The first thing you should do is remember that parents fly with their babies all the time — you can do this. You may want to mentally prepare for a few hiccups, but there are plenty of tips to help the trip go more smoothly.

Most airlines won’t require you to buy a ticket for kids under 2 years old. However, this does mean your baby will have to sit on your lap. And of course, before foregoing the ticket, check the airline’s policy. If you can swing it, you may want to purchase a second seat so you can use a car seat and give yourself a little more freedom.

Even if they don’t need a ticket, your baby will need a passport for international travel, regardless of age. For domestic travel, TSA does not require anyone under the age of 18 to have identification.

Baby formula and breast milk are exempt from TSA’s 3-ounce liquid rule. They will need to be screened separately though, so you may want to keep them in their own bag to make it easier to pull out of your carry-on. Pressure changes can be tough on babies’ ears, so try to plan feedings for the ascent and descent, as swallowing can help alleviate the pressure.

Public transportation with a baby

Navigating public transportation with a baby has its own unique quirks as well. One way to make your life a little easier is to try and plan your trips outside of peak hours. This will give you a little more space to get in and out with your stroller or baby carrier.

Check out the route online and ensure they are accessible, that way you know you’ll have no problem getting the stroller onto the bus or train. It also means there will likely be a section reserved for wheelchairs and strollers, so you’ll have a bit more room.

When you are getting on and off public transportation, it’s safest to step out first and then pull the stroller out backwards. That way, if it tips, it won’t be tipping your little one forward and risking a fall.

And lastly, try and enjoy it. Many little ones will enjoy watching out the window or seeing all the people, so engage with your baby and make it a positive experience for them.

What’s more

Traveling with an infant can seem a little daunting at first, but with the right preparation and mindset, you’ll find it’s more than worth it. Just follow these tips before your next trip and you can enjoy being a family that travels together.