Photo from our trip to Arizona in March
Eric and I often talked about our future as parents long before we got pregnant with Mia. One thing that we agreed was incredibly important to us both was that we didn't stop living life once we had a baby. We wanted more than anything to continue having adventures while adding a little sidekick to the mix! We were nervous as to how to make that happen because we knew so many couples who stopped hanging out with friends, stopped traveling, etc. So how were we going to make it work?
Our world changed the instant Mia was placed in my arms. It changed in the best way possible! But do you know what didn't change? We never stopped living life and going on adventures! Mia went on her first road trip at 5 weeks old. We traveled to Colorado when she was just 2 months old, and then we went to Vegas for a weekend just a few days after Colorado. We've been all over Utah, California, Vegas, Arizona and Colorado in Mia's short 17 months of life. We have the BEST road trippin' memories with our girl!! Sure, it's more work to travel with a little one, but it's also that much more fun (despite the moments that aren't so fun!) We love it so much that we have a few little road trips planned this summer and even Mia's first trip out of the country! Traveling with our toddler is the best!
So how do we make it work? Just the same way we make every other aspect of our lives work. We just take it moment by moment. Packing for littles is a beast, beast I tell ya! The laundry I have to do when we get home is even better, ugh! Sometimes Mia gets sick of the car seat and has a melt down, but if we wait it out long enough, she's bound to cry herself to sleep ;) Sometimes we have a sleepless night or two as Mia adjusts to her new sleeping conditions, but who needs sleep when you're on vacation anyway? I promise you though, we always come away from a road trip with more smiles than tears!
The most important thing you can do for yourself (when traveling with a toddler) is to stop stressing! It's okay if you don't stick to a schedule for a couple of days! It's okay if your toddler throws a few fits, we've all been there! It's going to happen whether you're at home or traveling, so don't let that hold you back from going on adventures! The more we go, the easier it is because Mia gets used to the vacation "routine"! The second most important thing you can do for yourself is to try to be prepared for your toddler. You really don't need much for the road trips... snacks, sippy, books, toys, movie (if you wish) and a fresh diaper :) I have a little backpack that is already packed full of Mia's road trip essentials so I only have to grab that and we are good to go!
Traveling with your toddler can be as easy as you want it to be... it all depends on your mindset :) Okay, that was a lie! But it's still worth it to brave the laundry and melt downs that come with the joys of traveling! Just don't ask me how easy our travels are once we get rid of the binky, yikes!!
June 5: Traveling with your Toddler
June 12: How to get your toddler to eat their veggies…or their food at all
June 19: How to make time to blog in the busyness of motherhood
June 26: Bedtime Battles (nap or bedtime)
Come link up with us every Thursday!
18 comments:
I totally agree with you!! People stress so much about traveling with a toddler but if you just roll with the punches it usually ends up working out... I only remember the best parts of the trips we've taken and we have had our fair share of tough road trips and plane rides!!
:)
LOVE THIS! I just cannot understand parents whose lives STOP because of a baby. Yes things change but a baby is no reason to stop living! In fact it's the best possible reason to live life to the fullest. Plus, everything is more fun with a mini-sidekick. :)
I LOVE that you two still are so active & go on fun adventures now that Mia is here! Some people just stop & I don't get it!? I am sure at first it may be difficult to adjust to it, but I would want our child to experience awesome things just like we have been & things/places that I wasn't able to go & do as a child!
Travis and I have a picture by the love sign in Arizona too! :)
<3 Ash
You are brave for traveling with a 5 week old! Good advice...don't stress, it is what it is, and have a good time anyway.
I totally agree that trying really hard not to stress when traveling with a little is clutch! We haven't flown with Kiernan, but our road trips & out of town stays have gotten way easier with the passing of time because I've learned to accept that things RARELY stay in my control and just to roll with whatever happens. (Well, as best as I can anyway.)
Great post!! I completely agree, you have to keep living. Doing the things you love, just altering them a little to accommodate a kid. We are constantly on the go with all of our kids in tow. I have yet to take all three on a plane, but we do a lot of road trips.
You are so right... traveling with a baby/toddler/child can be as easy or as stressful as you make it. They tend to pick up on our behaviors! Keep living that life and bring the little one right along with you. So many adventures to be had! That's how I want it to be with my family as well. Lots of adventures for all of us! Great post :)
We did the same when Jed was a baby. Maybe it's because we were living out East and there was so many new things to see, but that kid has literally been ALL over and even out of the country (to Montreal, Canada. haha) at just 4 weeks old! It's totally the best. And he's learned to be a great traveler.
I completely agree that is so important to not stress too much and to throw the schedule out the window sometimes! We can always get back on track later.
Yay for tips!!! The times we have traveled, waverly has shocked me with how good she is everytime!!! Love that you guys still make it happen!! Xo
I love that she's such a good travel buddy and you guys have done so many great road trips. Obviously, I'm way more of a stress-mess than you are! :) I try to have the laid-back vacation attitude, but sometimes that's much easier said than done! :) Great post.
So agree with you!!! I actually think we have gone on more road trips now that we have Mason than before lol. We've taken him to Vegas, Arizona, New Mexico and Northern California. They involved lots of driving each day (even I was getting antsy) but Mason did great! Your life doesn't have to end or be put on hold because of a baby. They just add more fun to the mix. Although don't ask me about air travel... I'm terrified of that with a baby! Ha!
umm seriously...the laundry!!! out of control!!
I totally agree that when I have children I dont want to stop doing fun stuff with my honey!! Cant wait to hear about your adventures this summer!
Love Always,
Elizabeth
thejourneycreatingme.blogspot.com
This is very encouraging! Aside from visiting family at Christmas when Grayson was 2 1/2 months old, he didn't go on his first vacation until a couple weeks ago (at 7 months). And it was just to Jacksonville, FL which is only 2 hours away. I admit, I get nervous about traveling with him and hate the stress of figuring out what all to pack and how to make it all fit in the car and whether he'll scream the whole way to our destination. I also get stressed about schedules and don't like when his schedule gets thrown off from napping at unusual times or for a long time in the car. But I do agree with you that there were more smiles than tears and it was all totally worth it. I think going on adventures is more fun with him in tow! I hope to have more adventures soon! This weekend will be his first time on a boat. Eek!
We don't have any little ones yet, but Angel and I do the same thing--talk about the future and say that we still want to be adventurous when we have children--not just suddenly stop. I think it makes for an awesome childhood, too. My parents were a pretty awesome example of not being afraid to take kids on adventures. They took me on my first road trip when I was 10 days old--and they've taken my family along with them literally all over the world, so they're a big inspiration to Angel and I!
My husband and I love to travel and I'm always so happy to see your adventures with Mia. Gives me peace of mind for when we have kid.
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