Fall in Love with (family) Vacations
Traveling Before Kids: A Breeze
How We Planned our Trips: Traveling before kids was a breeze. My wife and I would plan our trips months in advance, scouring the internet for the most amazing deals and the most breathtaking destinations. We would go shopping for new outfits, matching our clothes to the climate and the culture of the places we were visiting.
What We Packed: We would pack our bags with care, making sure we had everything we needed for a perfect vacation - and then some. We had more luggage than a rock band on tour. On our honeymoon to Costa Rica back in 2011, we even brought along a 2nd hand wedding dress and did a photography session on the beach. The puppy was a random surprise and we wish there was room to bring him home.
Traveling with Your First Born: A Challenge
How We Adjusted Our Plans: In 2016, we had our first daughter and we were determined to keep seeing the world. We knew traveling would look a little different with a little one tagging along, but we thought we could handle it. We were wrong. We soon realized that traveling with a baby was a whole new ball game.
What We Packed: We packed everything we could think of for our baby, and then some. Here are some of the things we brought:
A car seat. We wanted to keep our baby safe and comfortable in the car. And we wanted to avoid paying extra fees for renting one at our destination. Or worse, getting a dirty or broken one.
A car seat luggage bag. We wanted to look ridiculous walking through the airport with this massive bag, but little did everyone else know, we packed it full of diapers and wipes (in case we got to our destination and they had run out)
A full suitcase of outfits. We wanted to dress our baby in cute and cozy clothes for every occasion. And we wanted to have backups in case of spills, stains, or tears. Or in case we felt like changing her outfit for the fifth time that day.
A stroller. We wanted to make it easier to move around with our baby. And we wanted to have a place to store all the stuff we packed for her. And we wanted to have a weapon to fend off the crowds at the airport and the tourist attractions.
A diaper bag. We wanted to have all the essentials for our baby at hand. And we wanted to have a place to stash all the souvenirs we bought for her. And we wanted to have a pillow to rest our heads on when we were exhausted from carrying her around.
A breast pump and all the extra accessories. We wanted to make security really work hard this day..
A pacifier. Well, we may or may not have brought 5, just in case we lost 4.
If our bags would have busted open, we could have outfitted a whole daycare.
Traveling with the Whole Family: A Skill
How We Simplified Our Trips: Now we are a family of 5, and we feel like seasoned travelers. We learned to choose our destinations wisely, and keep it simple but not over-scheduling our activities, and letting our kids choose some excursions.
What We Learned to Pack: When our third daughter was born, we didn’t even bring a diaper bag. We realized that we could buy most of the things we needed for our baby at our destination, especially packs of diapers and wipes. Each of our daughters gets a carry-on full of their toys/books, headphones, a Good2grow Apple Juice with the Character Top (easy to fill with water and throw it away after the trip), plenty of snacks, their neck pillows and a blanket. These are the essential items to get through the flight, and the whole vacation. It is amazing how creative they can be when they have limited toys. If we are flying early in the morning, they wear pajamas and we change once we land. If we fly late at night, we bring pajamas in our carry on and change mid-flight. This way, we don’t have to worry about dressing them up or down, and they can sleep better during the journey. Lastly, we no longer travel with car seats or boosters and we bring along the Ride Saver Travel Vest. This vest is a lightweight and portable alternative to bulky car seats, and it meets the safety standards for most countries.
Traveling with kids is not easy, but it’s worth it. We learned a lot from our experiences, and we hope our tips will help you plan your next trip and have a great time with your family. The most important thing is to enjoy the moment and make memories that will last a lifetime. Don’t stress too much about what to bring or what to do. Just go with the flow and have fun. As you can see from our family photo on the beach, we are happy and relaxed. If we stressed about every little thing, we wouldn’t get around to taking the trip and capturing the memories. So, what are you waiting for? Pack your bags, grab your kids, and hit the road. You won’t regret it
And don’t forget to capture some moments with you and your wife - remember, she might be the reason you fell in love with traveling!
