Traveling to Mexico with a Baby or Toddler
Mexico is a very baby-friendly destination. The country is beautiful, so it’s no surprise that many people looking to escape winter chose Mexico.
You don’t need to stress when traveling to Mexico with a baby or toddler, it’s a great spot for all ages and a pretty easy destination for the first trip with a baby or a fun trip with a toddler!
I’ll be focusing on beach destinations in Mexico in this post because I feel like most people are looking to explore Riviera Maya with a baby. We’ve been living in Playa del Carmen on and off for years now and my second son is actually Mexican – he was born in Cancun, so I can tell you everything about a baby in Mexico. I can say I have experience with taking kids to Mexico from birth to preschool 😉
Is it Safe to Take a Baby to Mexico?
Yes! It’s a short flight away, there’s a huge variety of baby products everywhere, no threat of any infections or diseases and locals are very accommodating with babies. Around Yucatan Peninsula, most people will speak some English, or if they don’t they’ll find someone who does making it an easy destination to travel to.
Use a sun hat, a rash guard for swimming, and baby-safe bug spray and sunscreen and you’ll be fine.
I do feel like many bloggers still present traveling to Mexico with a baby or kids with an American mindset of “it’s scary, so take precautions”, but you can relax a bit and don’t need to stay at the resort and rely on organized tours only. Quite honestly, especially the Riviera Maya region is much safer than if you were to take your baby to New York City or Chicago. Remember, kids live in Mexico too!
Traveling to Mexico with a Baby or Toddler
Questions? Doubts? Something not Clear?
If you have any additional questions or doubts about anything I talked about in this post, ask in the comments on this post, or simply send me a DM on Instagram @anna.everywhere 🙂
Best Places to Visit in Mexico with a Baby
You can’t go wrong with Mexico! Even a place that’s not the most kid-friendly, like Tulum, still has some options for families with young kids.
If you’re looking for a nice beach and explore a bit, I can recommend anywhere in Riviera Maya, but for a slightly more local vibe, I recommend Playa del Carmen, Akumal, Puerto Morelos. There are plenty of wonderful apartment rentals that are convenient when you’re traveling with a baby to Mexico.
If you’re into resorts, there are various resorts all over the place that cater to families. While most kids clubs in Mexico accept kids older than 4 years, if you want some time alone the resorts also offer babysitting services.
Whatever you decide, I highly recommend getting an apartment with a pool. Mexico, along with Caribbean resorts, might get hit with a seaweed wave, and if that happens, you won’t be able to get into the ocean (you could, but it will be pretty yuckie). A pool is crucial in those circumstances.
This is why Playa del Carmen is a great place for families, because you can find a ton of apartment rentals with a pool within walking distance to the beach, restaurants, or shopping. Then you can rent a car or take a day tour.
Babysitters in Mexico
Babysitters in Mexico are wonderful and incomparably better than anywhere in the US. Don’t be afraid to use them!
Resorts have their own babysitters (it’s usually someone who’s working at their kids club) and you can tell them whether you want the babysitter to stay in the room with the child, or go to the beach, take them to kids club and so on. We hired a babysitter at the resort once and quite frankly we had to hire her a few more times during our stay because my son (1.5 years at the time) didn’t want her to leave and kept asking when she was coming back to play again.
If you’re staying outside of the resorts you’ll have many options for all ages. In Playa del Carmen there are a few wonderful agencies – I mentioned them all here. We had a ton of different babysitters and they were all wonderful, coming with a bunch of activities and always super engaged with the kids.
Plus, it’s affordable – it’s usually a maximum $10 an hour, or $15 an hour for two kids.
Baby Products and Diapers in Mexico
Everything is available in Mexico. Most American and European brands and more are available in Mexico without issues. You can buy diapers, wipes, other baby products, and formula at a big grocery store or any pharmacy.
Brands like Similac, Hipp, Nan, Enfamil are available in Mexico. In fact, there is WAY more choice of formula in Mexico than in the US and it’s always been that way.
Baby Food in Mexico
I actually brought a ton of formula from Mexico back to the US, because they sell European formula for an affordable price.
If your baby eats purees you’ll be able to purchase them in Mexico as well. Gerber jars are popular, and you can purchase some pouches but it’s mostly fruit.
As you can imagine, all resorts have things like high chairs and cribs. Many apartment rentals also offer some baby gear.
High chairs at restaurants in Mexico are a hit or miss. Various tourist restaurants have high chairs, but they often run out. Especially if you’re traveling with another family with kids and need 2 high chairs, consider bringing your own harness or other portable one.
Baby Water in Mexico
A lot of people worry about the water in Mexico, especially with a baby. I’ve spent years living in Mexico and quite frankly never had a single issue with the water. I brushed my teeth with it and did what locals do when my baby was born – I washed my bottles with tap water.
In hotels, I used a kettle in the room to heat the water mixed with liquid dish detergent and a brush. Otherwise, in a rental, a brush will do (Mexicans are not very big on dishwashers for some reason).
I did wipe it with a paper towel afterward and it was absolutely fine, but some friends brought their microwavable bags for bottle cleaning – it’s an idea if you’re renting an apartment.
Apart from cleaning bottles and dishes, drinking tap water isn’t recommended! Hotels and resorts provide you with bottled water and if you’re renting an apartment, the reception usually offers to replenish a giant jug of water for a dollar or two.
Do Babies Need Car Seats in Mexico?
The good news is that Mexico uses the same car seats as the US, so your car seat will be legal (it’s not legal in Europe).
Babies should be in a car seat regardless of the rules for their own safety, but depending on your situation you might not have to bring your car seat from home. Here’s why:
If you’re traveling to a resort and not planning on leaving it you can basically order transport with a car seat. Cancun Airport Transportation