10 Tips For Visiting Lapland with a Baby

Many people imagine Lapland as a destination for adventurous adults chasing the Northern Lights or families with older children meeting Santa Claus. But what many travellers forget is that people actually live here and that means also babies grow up in Lapland.

Visiting Lapland with a baby is often much easier than people expect. The key is to prepare properly, dress everyone warmly, and accept that your holiday might be a little slower than before becoming parents.

1. Baby Carrier or a Stroller

One of the biggest questions parents ask is whether to bring a stroller or a baby carrier. The truth is that both are useful, and many families end up using both during their trip.

Strollers work perfectly indoors, such as in shopping centres, Santa Park, museums and airports. However, once you head outdoors, conditions can change quickly. In Lapland, everything is covered in snow during winter. Depending on the weather, paths may be covered in fresh snow, packed snow, slush or ice, making pushing a stroller much more difficult than many visitors expect.

Baby carrier gives you much more freedom for winter walks, snowy trails, Christmas markets and other places where wheels simply don’t work very well. At the same time, icy conditions require extra care, as a slip or fall could also put your baby at risk.

Baby Carrier

• Pros
  • Keeps your baby warm using your body heat.
  • Makes it easy to explore snowy trails and places where strollers struggle.
  • Great for sightseeing and shorter outdoor walks.
• Cons
  • Can become physically tiring after long periods.
  • Dressing your baby correctly and regulating their temperature requires a little more attention.
  • There is a risk of injury if the person carrying the baby slips on icy surfaces.
• Safety tips
  • Wear ice grips or traction cleats on your shoes whenever paths are icy.
  • Keep your baby inside your own coat or use a proper babywearing coat whenever possible, so you can easily monitor their breathing and body temperature.
  • Avoid bulky snowsuits inside the carrier, as they can affect your baby’s positioning and make it harder to maintain an ergonomic and safe posture.

Stroller

• Pros
  • Protects your baby from wind and snowfall.
  • Provides a comfortable place for naps.
  • Offers plenty of storage for extra clothing, nappies and other essentials.
• Cons
  • Deep snow, slush and unploughed paths can make pushing hard work.
  • Small wheels can easily get stuck in snow or uneven surfaces.
• Safety tips
  • Choose a stroller with large, air-filled wheels if possible.
  • Always check that the brake works properly.
  • Use the wrist strap when walking on slopes or slippery surfaces.
  • Remember that many hotels offer indoor storage for strollers, so you don’t have to leave them outside..

If you do bring a stroller, choose one with large wheels and remember that many hotels have indoor storage for prams.

2. Rent a Car (and a Car Seat)

Although public transport works okay in Rovaniemi area, having your own rental car gives you much more flexibility with a baby. Public transport is also not ideal, as there is no safety seats and with taxis you have to request safety seats, which are not often available during high season. Note that outside Rovaniemi public transport is not really an option.

With own car you can:

• Follow your baby’s nap schedule.
• Warm up in the car whenever needed.
• Carry extra clothing and supplies.
• Visit supermarkets and quieter attractions more easily.

Most major rental companies offer child seats, but book one well in advance during the winter season.

Read winter driving tips for safe driving in winter HERE and find a rental car HERE.

3. Baby-Friendly things to do

Many visitors assume there’s nothing to do with a baby, but in reality, there are plenty of family-friendly experiences that don’t require children to be a certain age.

Some great options include:

• Visiting Santa Claus Village or Santa Park in Rovaniemi
• Visit Elf Farmyard in Rovaniemi
• Visit Elves Village in Levi
• Meeting reindeers
• Short husky farm visits (note that huskies are very loud)
• Early Northern Lights tours by car
• Cosy cafés and restaurants. Babies are almost always very welcome and have own menu options.
• Outdoor fun! Little babies are always enjoying snow so much. Very fun to watch.

You don’t have to spend every day on long snowmobile safaris to enjoy Lapland’s winter magic 🙂

4. Book Accommodation with a Proper Bathroom

This might sound obvious, but many of Lapland’s unique accommodations prioritise views over practicality.

Glass igloos and some shoebox size cabins often have very compact bathrooms that are not very practical with babies.

When travelling with nappies, bottle washing and nighttime wake-ups, having:

• a proper toilet,
• a spacious bathroom,
• running water(not always available!),
• and enough room to move around

can make a huge difference to your comfort.

Sometimes a cosy apartment, hotel or bigger cabin is the better choice than the most Instagram-famous accommodation.

5. Dress Your Baby for Real Winter

Keeping babies warm isn’t complicated, it just requires proper layers.

Typical outfit includes:

• Merino wool base layer
• Warm fleece or wool mid layer
• Insulated winter snowsuit
• Wool socks
• Mittens
• Warm boots (if walking)
• Balaclava and a warm hat
• Blanket or sleeping bag

Avoid overdressing indoors. Finnish buildings are usually very warm, so it’s common to remove several layers once you’re inside.
Read more detailed guide for layering in winter in Lapland HERE.

6. Restaurants Welcome Families

Finnish restaurants are generally very welcoming to families with young children.

Most offer:

• High chairs
• Children’s menus
• Baby changing facilities

Don’t worry if your baby gets a little noisy, we are used to babies around us. One note is that very high end restaurants are often reserved for adults in the evenings.

7. Don’t Worry Too Much About the Cold

One of the biggest concerns parents have is whether it’s safe for babies being outside. The answer is yes as long as they’re dressed appropriately and you use common sense. Local babies spend time outdoors throughout the winter, and many even nap outside in their prams.

You don’t need to stay outdoors for hours at the time. Simply monitor your baby’s comfort, keep their face protected from wind, and head indoors if it becomes too cold. This is also where rental car comes in handy, as you can have warm naps in the car while also exploring beautiful landscapes.

8. Always Have Snacks Within Reach

This might sound obvious with a baby, but when you are in cold environment, you need to eat much more than usual to keep warm. Also closest shop or restaurant might be far away, so better be safe than sorry. Keep easy snacks available for everyone, not just the baby.

For parents, having chocolate, fruit, sandwiches or protein bars nearby can make long excursions much easier. If your baby has started solids, pack familiar snacks from home or buy them from Finnish supermarkets once you arrive.

9. Restock at the Larger Supermarkets

There’s also no need to pack weeks’ worth of nappies or baby food.

Large supermarkets like Prisma, Citymarket, Minimani, K-Supermarket and Lidl carry a wide range of:

• Nappies
• Baby wipes
• Baby food
• Formula
• Bottles
• Snacks
• Extra winter accessories

Buying bulky items after you arrive also saves valuable luggage space.

10. Slow Down and Enjoy the Experience

Lapland isn’t a destination you need to rush through, and it is actually so much better when you don’t. Traveling here with a baby is actually very good option as it forces you to slow down and experience the peace and quiet. Rather than trying to squeeze five activities into every day, you can live your normal rythm here.