Traveling with your baby?
This is the trip that started it all.
I’ll be diving into actually traveling in Hawaii more in upcoming posts. But this post is all about encouraging you to travel with your new baby, regardless of your destination. Whether it’s a short trip across town, your first visit to the in-laws, or your dream vacation, the principles remain the same: Traveling with your baby is a rewarding adventure.
When our good friends asked us to join their wedding celebration in Kauai, Hawaii, we couldn’t have been more thrilled! Hawaii was a place we’d never had the chance to explore before, and this wedding invitation gave us the perfect excuse to make it happen.
But our first baby was due just 6 weeks before the trip and we had some big choices to make. We didn’t want the baby to be an excuse for us missing out on things. So, we reassured our friends that if everything went well, we would make it to the wedding. Our parents and others naturally had their concerns but they were excited for us and this adventure. We decided we would go and we quickly made our final preparations to embark on this Hawaiian journey.
Accelerate the Parenting Learning Curve
It turned out to be an incredible trip and remains one of our all-time favorite vacations. Looking back, we’re so grateful we made the decision to travel with our new and growing family. Traveling with your baby accelerates the parenting learning curve. We made mistakes, we learned from our baby, and started to figure out this whole parenting thing much faster than if we stayed at home. This marked the start of our family travels and our new bond with our baby son.
Want to get to know us first before taking our advice? Read our Introduction Blog Post.
With that in mind, here are some of our tips for traveling with your baby.
Secure Flexible Reservations for Flights, Cars, and Accommodations
For our trip, we opted for refundable airfare, allowing us to either get our money back or use it for a future trip. Car rentals typically don’t charge until you pick up the vehicle, and many hotels and Airbnb accommodations offer cancellation windows without penalties. This approach provided us with peace of mind, knowing that if any unexpected baby-related issues arose, we wouldn’t incur additional travel expenses.
Consult Your Pediatrician for Peace of Mind
I won’t provide medical advice here, but I can share that our pediatrician gave us the green light to travel and fly with our infant. Remember, every baby is unique, so consult your pediatrician for peace of mind when planning your first trip.
A Nearby Hospital Provides Added Assurance
We weren’t going to remote places like the Amazon or undeveloped regions. Choosing a well-developed area with a nearby hospital is reassuring for your baby’s first trip. I’ll admit, this wasn’t something we really thought about but Kauai had everything we needed just incase.
Set Realistic Expectations
We knew we wouldn’t make it on the wedding catamaran tour – that’s just not baby-friendly in Hawaii. Sure, we felt a bit envious of those who got to enjoy it, but we made the most of what we could do. We went on some epic hikes, explored beautiful beaches, leaped off docks, and even snorkeled with sea turtles. Jamie and I took turns when needed. The key is to approach the trip with realistic expectations. The last thing you want is to blame your baby for missing out on adventures. After all, you’re starting the biggest adventure of your life – parenthood.
Don’t lose your cool over your baby’s nap schedule
Again, remember that all babies are unique, so do consult with experts. In our case, our baby’s nap schedule went out the window like a beach ball into the Pacific Ocean. We didn’t push him to exhaustion; he napped when he pleased. But we didn’t stress about rushing back to the hotel or scheduling car trips around nap times. Sure, he got fussy now and then, but don’t we all during travel sometimes? Besides, he seemed to prefer beachside naps over hotel naps.
Pack your bags, not your schedule
Although the earlier point suggests not getting overly worried about nap schedules, if you believe your baby benefits from a routine and you tend to feel stressed about it, consider setting aside time for breaks and naps, including some zzz’s for yourself. Giving yourself free time will allow for surprises along the way. Don’t over-schedule. Relax, it’s just a vacation.
Remember, Everything Will Take Longer Traveling With Your BAby
If you haven’t already, you will learn this very quickly into parenthood. Everything will take longer traveling with your baby. So give yourself plenty of time at the airport, getting ready for things such as dinner reservations or in our case the wedding. Because more often that not you will need time for an emergency diaper change!
Embrace the Chaos
If the previous points didn’t make it clear, traveling with kids can get chaotic no matter how much you plan. So, embrace the chaos, laugh when things don’t go as expected, and shake it off when the airport gets hectic. Remember, that relaxing beach time with a drink in hand probably won’t be possible. After all, those mai tais give you hangovers anyway.
GET Ready for the Adventure of a Lifetime (in More Ways Than One)
Apart from the birth of your baby, your first trip with your growing family is bound to become one of the most cherished moments from that inaugural year. I can’t believe it’s been over 7 years since our son’s arrival, much of that initial year has become a blur. However, the memories of our Hawaii trip remain crystal clear, largely thanks to our new adventure with our little one.
This adventure isn’t just another trip; it’s the start of your parenting journey. So, get ready and enjoy the ride ahead traveling with your baby.
We’ve come a long way in 7 years. Check out our latest trip to the PNW with our family of 5.
