Family Travel

It started with an idea to use the time off we might take with our baby’s arrival to go on a vacation with her when she was 3 months instead of using the time right away to lay on the couch and learn how to be a parent to a person who has 4 needs (eat, poop, sleep and be snuggled). First, let me say that laying on the couch and learning how to be a parent to your tiny person is totally acceptable, and very desirable. If you have yet to experience this moment in life, let me just tell you that though it is one of the most amazing times in life, the sleep deprivation you will experience is probably unlike anything you’ve ever experienced. So, that’s why most people thought we were crazy. Well, we weren’t going to the beaches in Hawaii or a posh resort with a spa…we were traveling backpacker style in Germany and Italy.

This is when I say that traveling with an infant is more fun than traveling without one. How so you say? How could feeding every 2 hours thru the night be better than sleeping in? How could changing stinky diapers on park benches be better than a quiet picnic with some fresh cheese and a baguette. How could viewing the Sistine Chapel in complete awe and silence be better than having to shush a child and worry if you’ll get kicked out due to the no noise signs? Well, let’s just say that everybody loves babies. It’s kind of like those sitcom episodes where the single male character realizes the draw of a woman when they have a baby with them…a baby as a chick magnet. Well, babies are a magnet, of any variety of people, not just chicks. So, taking our 3 month old with us led to a richer experience, with more local interactions, and even being allowed to do things that might not have been allowed, had I not had a baby. It’s amazing what people will let you do when they realize they are about to accost a woman breastfeeding her child. (Not that we did anything illegal or terrible, just sat in some beautiful places without having to pay for a meal) We even had a small quiet chat in the Sistine Chapel, which is taboo, with the guardsmen there (About the baby of course).

Were we tired? Sure. But we would have been tired back at home. We would have been changing diapers in front of the TV instead of in front of a German castle…where would you rather change diapers?

Now, international travel is expensive. I am travel savvy, and we travel fairly inexpensively, with a very tight budget. But, should international airfare be a bit much (as it has been for our family for the last 5 years) there are plenty of places to enjoy stateside. With our second baby we wanted the same kind of travel experience (it was very bonding – and a heck of a lot of fun), but we couldn’t quite afford the international trip, so we picked Boston instead. We aimed for a walking destination, and should we have had a little more cash (I believe this trip was sub $1500), we probably would have opted for an Atlantic train hopping trip.

I encourage everyone to explore their world, especially if you have children. There is a popular belief that you should wait to visit Disneyland or Disney World with your children when they can remember it (as was my belief before I had children, I actually think I ridiculed the stroller toting families on my first trip to Disney World – for shame!) but I say, “JUST GO!” Go, go, go. Whatever you have the money for, do it. Don’t have money? Plan it, and then save for it. Have a tiny little bit of money? Then take a camping trip. Have enough for Disney World at the Animal Kingdom Lodge (or the Pop or the 32 dollar Hotwire special)? Then take that 18 month old and show them a good time! Who cares if they don’t remember Mickey, for sure YOU’LL never forget their face the first time they walked down Main Street, or when they saw Goofy in the parade.

Travel with kids isn’t hard, it’s not scary, and it’s not unsafe. It takes good planning, and creativity. The easiest time to travel is with a young infant, one who has no schedule yet…they sleep when they want, eat when they want, so you can strap them in a baby carrier and do what you want till it’s time to take them out to feed and change, then back into the carrier and you’re good to go for a while again. After that time, you need to have a good travel itinerary that anticipates age appropriate activities of your child/children, frequent potty breaks, nap-times, and a load of laundry. Packing well, but conservatively is your friend. Not only have airline baggage fees gotten a little out of hand, but the most stressful part of a families plane travel is usually the time getting from the car park to the correct gate. A quick fold stroller, and no more roller carry-on than hands that can drag them (i.e. – if your 3 year old can’t haul their suitcase for a mile through the Minneapolis  airport, then you make room for their stuff in your own bag).

Family travel. There are a lot of memories to be made. Go make some.

Have a question? Ask away, I’d love to help you get somewhere.