Travelling With a Baby

For my birthday, Marcus took Harper and I to Spokane, WA for a small getaway. It was spontaneous and I didn’t have much time to plan, but, it was only 3 days, so that’s ok right?

Wrong. SO wrong.

We had an amazing time. We saw some local shops and eateries, we walked all over downtown, ate too much wonderful, delicious food. We also went through the different malls that are as big as our town in general. Only slightly kidding there. 3 years ago this would have been easy, run around all day then crash in your room. But like everything else, kids change things. So I’ve come up with a few ideas for anyone planning to make a trip with their little soon.

First, skip the carseat to save room! Babies can be buckled in and you can be strapped to the top. COMPLETELY KIDDING. This picture was taken in a parking lot while I was getting clothes to change her and Marcus was being funny. Car was parked and not moving. Also, she hates socks.

Plan, But Plan Realistically.

Even if you’re not going to a bigger city, there’s going to be driving/walking to and from different areas. For instance, our hotel and Riverfront Park and a lot of places to eat were down town. The Spokane Valley, different botanical gardens and hiking areas were quite a ways away in another direction. There’s no sense in going to a downtown mall then dragging our baby to another part, again and again. So I suggest making an itinerary, we did that the second day and it was a fantastic idea. Invest in a map and take 30 minutes in your hotel room, or even the flight/drive to your destination and coordinate your stops by similar areas. Itinerary, how adult sounding right?! If there’s a mall, restaurant, walking trail all in one area..then do all of those at once. Nothing stresses you out more than a baby screaming in traffic in a town you’re unfamiliar with because she’s tired of travelling.

Bring Your Own Sleeping Arrangements

I can not stress this one enough. They have cribs available at most hotels, but I don’t know who or what has been in those so I opted out. I thought she could just sleep with us like she has before. It was miserable for me. We walked around all day and momming is tiring anyways, so when we finally made it back to the hotel I wanted to sleep….and unless we put her on the hardwood floor she was bunking with us. At home it doesn’t feel weird, but in the hotel I was constantly waking up. I don’t know if it was a smaller bed or just new surroundings, because her and Marcus slept great. Snoring and drool and all (sorry baby) But not me. I wanted some hotel relaxation, and sleep wasn’t coming easily. Bring your own pack and play, or even just some really padded blankets just in case. Or better yet, book a room with two beds. Vacations are for relaxing, so make sure you give yourself that option. If you have to pay extra on a plan for it, trust me, it’s a worthy expense.

Pack Extra

However many days you plan to be gone, pack 3 outfits and 2 sleep outfits. Also be realistic about clothes. I had a lot of intricate spring outfits planned, and it rained the whole time. So check the weather and make sure you don’t just assume the weather is going to cooperate. If they will be in a stroller often, I advise packing lots of sweat type outfits. Comfortable clothes so they can be happy and not miserable in a frilly dress with beads rubbing all over them. H&M has adorable sweaters for babies; we have at least 10 and she wore those basically the whole trip. It was warm, it was cute and she was happy. As for pajamas, hotels are almost always cold. Plus if you’re driving; pajamas and great and easy for the ride there and back. Happy baby, happy wife, happy life. That’s how it goes right?

Wake The Sleeping Baby

Yes, you read that right. The only time I say to wake a sleeping baby. If you’re putting them in a stroller or driving frequently, chances are they’re going to doze off a lot. Well if you have a plan like I suggested earlier, then you will have certain times this is convenient and certain times that it doesn't necessarily matter if they’re sleeping. Pick wisely. For example, if you’re walking through the mall, carry them, let them see the lights and people and get out of the stroller. Same with a park or just a walk anywhere. If you can carry them, I would. Why? Would you rather have a sleeping baby walking through a store where you are capable of holding them, or a sleeping baby in the car or a restaurant where you can’t and you need to concentrate or relax. In stores, they’ll be fascinated by their surroundings, you don’t even necessarily need to hold them, just entertain them. Because I promise when you have had a tiring day and just want to sit and eat and your baby is screaming because you let them sleep all day, you’ll regret it. Especially mine, when she’s up she typically doesn’t like to hold still. So the second day we had her out with us and carried her throughout the mall and throughout some parks we went to so she’d be more content at dinner and in the hotel room. It’ll help your mental sanity.

Pack a Few Small Bags

This is an odd one, and maybe just a personal preference. With baby stuff, there’s lots of categories. Clothes, night clothes, bathroom stuff, complete blowout scrub my baby stuff (seriously). And nothing is more annoying then having to gut a whole suitcase for one thing. I packed multiple bags; I brought two diaper bags in general. Which I do advise taking a backpack style one for travelling. One I had diapers, wipes, rags, and toys. The other I had extra clothes and a bottle and a few of my personal items. I would just take what I needed out of one and take the other. Then we’re not stopped in traffic while I climb into the back to a bag under 50 shopping bags just for a spit up towel. This may or may not have happened. Keeping things available is key with babies.

Be Prepared For Nursing Discomfort

If you are not breastfeeding, this is irrelevant. But I am still EBF (exclusively breast feeding). For awhile around 3-4 months I was supplementing. Then I stopped, laziness, guilt, who knows, but she wasn't ever fond anyways so I did. I brought a bottle with us just in case but only used it once and she ended up dumping it all over herself. If you are nursing, I definitely recommend bringing nursing pads. I fed her sporadically wherever I could. I don’t do it in public; I don't care if anyone does, I just don't do it personally. So parking lots, parking garages, elevators. Wherever. But when you’re running around it seems like I filled back up alot quicker, and I went through more shirts than usual. Also, if you have a pump that takes batteries. Use it, put it in your purse. I wish I would have brought mine, cause when you’re in traffic, pump. Alone anywhere, that 2 minutes will do wonders for your comfort. When you get back to the hotel and she’s not interested in eating and you feel like you have engorged watermelons on your chest, you will be cranky and miserable, pump. It’s free, it’s sometimes easier, but it is hard work to breast feed. If you think you can just whip it out and go along your day, girl you are some kind of super mom. And maybe you can, and that is amazing. But I definitely recommend bringing everything you think you might need, times 3. Cause nothing is more embarrassing than seeing the dreaded start of a leak through your shirt and trying to put toilet paper in your bra, feeling like a middle school girl. Can all my breastfeeding ladies relate?

Enjoy Yourselves

Do you love coffee? Get that quad shot mocha, you’ll need it anyways. Get a glass of wine at dinner. Let your hubby watch them while you take a nice bath in the big hotel bathroom. Take turns holding them. I got a skincare consultation and Marcus took Harper around the mall; not only did I get to relax he said it was a great bonding moment for them. Cue melting heart.

Stay unplugged. We didn’t take a lot of pictures cause we wanted to enjoy not only the scenery but each other. And it did wonders, we came back not only refreshed in ourselves but with each other. Corny, I know. But being in a big city without knowing a single soul was amazing because I just got to enjoy Harper and Marcus. We spent 3 days talking, laughing and making plans. It was truly heartwarming to feel that way again. Babies are hard, they’re hard on you on your body but on your relationship. So really, if you get to go on a trip, whether it be a beach, Vegas, or just a 5 hour drive to a different city. Enjoy it, keep brochures, have random local coffee, buy a cliche t-shirt, put your phone away and relish in life’s opportunities. Not just you and your significant other, let your child look around. They may not remember it but you will, we went to an arboretum (tree farm) and she loved feeling the different barks and leaves and she loved feeling the wind. She giggled every time we were outside. She loved the view out of the elevator and kept staring at the tall buildings. Stuff like that is what you’ll remember, yeah we bought stuff ( too much) had good food and good coffee. But in 10 years I’m going to remember us walking through the botanical garden chasing each other and Harper trying to eat every leaf she could grab. Take the time and really enjoy everything.

This is just my personal experience with travelling. I traveled a lot as a child with my family, so I’m sure it gets easier, especially since we only have one. But it’s another person you have to cater to in your daily routine. Harper is an extremely even tempered girl. She’s not fussy, she sleeps good, is an efficient eater; so things aren’t extremely complicated with her. I do recommend travelling; these are things that will stick in your mind when you are old and you think back. This was not only her first road trip; It was Marcus’ and I’s first time out of state together, along with her first time out of state ever! What a crazy thought that we decide what experiences and memories our baby gets to have. Make them worth it.

Happy Friday!

XOXO

Shayla

#funny #mom #momproblems #travelling #lifestyle