So a couple of weeks ago I left my new-mom cocoon and took Ian on his first big trip. We decided to accompany Paul (a.k.a. Daddy) on a business trip to Texas.
However, I was terrified. What if I forgot something? What if Ian got sick? What if I refused to get on the plane because I’m scared of flying Ian had a hard time on the plane?
As I mentioned over at Finn’s blog, I decided to do a practice run first. I took Ian on a grand expedition 30 minutes away to my parents’ house so we could practice being away from home. That was a great way to see how he slept in a different place AND to see what I would most likely forget. That was very helpful; more than anything, it helped my nerves to do that practice run.
Experienced momma Nancy also sent me her packing list, and I gleaned an especially useful item from there — ziploc bags! In fact, I decided I didn’t have enough ziploc bags on the trip and ended up buying more, but I was very thankful that I had seen that item on Nancy’s list and brought a few for starters.
I also followed The Musician’s example and stopped saving the earth for that particular week. Yes, I bit the bullet and used disposable diapers. I’m really glad we made that decision, because I really didn’t want to put baby poop in somebody else’s washing machine. Plus, disposables meant we could pack a few diapers and then buy the rest when we arrived at our destination.
My friend Katie shared a few travel tips as well, and I took her advice on taking (or buying on arrival) the dish soap and laundry soap we used at home so things would smell familiar for Ian.
So….the trip itself…..
I’m writing this now, so you know we survived — but the first few days of our travels were pretty rough. We arrived at our hotel (at 11:45pm due to a delayed flight) and found that our room didn’t have the promised mini-fridge (essential for breastmilk!), so we moved to a mini-fridge room the next day. The day after that we drove a couple of hours to see family, and we stayed with them that night. Then we drove back to our original hotel a day earlier than planned. So we stayed in a different place each of the first four nights. I think Ian was fine, but I was fairly grumpy and sleep-deprived, especially since I got to do most of the packing while Paul was at work.
Also, it turned out that we did forget something — our wonderful stroller, which we left at home in the trunk of our car. Trying to carry a baby through the airport without a stroller but with several large suitcases and a Pack n’ Play is NOT my idea of fun. Incidentally, the next time I stay somewhere without a Pack n’ Play or baby crib, I’ll be tempted to order one of the cheap ones online and have it shipped to my destination. The $60-$70 is totally worth the hassle it prevents, especially considering that we had to pay an extra luggage fee on this trip for having suitcases above the maximum weight. Ordering a Pack n’ Play and taking more, smaller suitcases probably would have saved us $30.
Anyway, frustrated by our lack of strollerness, I decided to get to know the local baby consignment store. While they didn’t have any good deals on strollers, I did find a super-cheap baby carrier that made moving around a little bit easier. Plus, browsing baby stuff was a fun, relatively hassle-free activity to do while Paul was at work.
Once we were able to settle into one place for several days, the trip went smoothly. Ian was a real champ, adapting super-easily to whatever changes came his way. He did wake up crying at least once a night and occasionally during naps — I think it confused him to wake up in a different place, and his schedule got turned around due to dining out, meeting with family, etc. Normally during night awakenings (which are rare these days), we check on the little guy periodically but don’t rock him back to sleep. However, for the sake of our hotel neighbors, we were all about rocking and shushing on this trip! That didn’t seem to form any permanent bad habits. though, and Ian quickly went back to self-soothing after we got home.
With the night wakings and all the other daytime activities, I was a tired cookie by the end of the trip. I remember one night toward the end when I was waiting for Ian to go back to sleep. Paul rolled over in his sleep, and I wanted to turn to him and say, “STOP THAT YOU ARE GOING TO WAKE UP THE BABY DON’T YOU KNOW I NEED SLEEP OH MY GOSH.” Fortunately, my remaining sanity intervened and reminded me that since Paul was asleep, he probably wasn’t doing that on purpose to keep me from getting rest.
One final lesson I learned about travel is to plan for a few recovery days. I expected to be perky and ready to tackle housework the day after we returned, but that was a rather unrealistic expectation. Things got back to normal eventually, though, and I now feel a little braver about venturing out with my little one.
I know some of you have great travel tips, since you gave them to me. Feel free to share your ideas with the rest of us! United we sleep!
I’m so glad you got to go! It’s scary and freeing at the same time. We’ve done several trips now, two flying and one driving (by myself with her!). Here are some things I’ve learned:
1. It takes us about a week to really recover when we get home. I may not be a homebody, but my baby is!
2. Whoever I’m visiting either has or knows someone who has a pack and play we can borrow. Worst comes to worst, she sleeps with me! No way I could have carried it and our luggage.
3. Aisle seats work best for us. That way Cora didn’t feel so crowded (and tempted to pull a stranger’s hair!)
4. Less is more. It’s amazing what we DON’T need on a trip. A stroller (so sorry you didn’t have yours!! 🙁 ), a car seat, formula, clothes, a few diapers, bottles, 1 bib, 1 spoon, a new something to keep her occupied during the flight, and a carrier (we use our baby bjorn for now) to board and leave the plane with. She and I didn’t even check luggage on our last flight!
5. Graham crackers are a tired baby’s (and tired mama’s) best friend on a long flight. Not too messy or sugary, easy to eat with only 2 teeth.
6. All airlines (that I know of) will let you gate check a stroller, a car seat, and a carry on and won’t charge you. How awesome is that? The trick is getting through security on your own with all of that stuff and having to take off your sneakers while holding a baby. Slip-ons, people! (I was not that smart. Sigh.)
Apparently less is not more when rambling on (and on) about my travels with baby. Sorry!
I’m glad you survived! One trip under your belt will make the others managable. I think we sometimes didn’t even unpack the car between trips this summer. Crazy. And, yes, ziploc bags are amazing! We also had the lack of a mini-fridge snafu once…SO unfortunate. And of course, the desk clerk was male and did not understand the issue at all. I’m also surprised they made you pay for the pack ‘n play, but airlines are crazy these days. Usually, like the musician said, you can check 2 baby gear items (carseat and pack ‘n play, for ex) for free or in place of one bag. Who knows, though. I’m starting to think that “regulations” like that all come down to who is working on any particular day. Hope you get some downtime at home!
Wow, I just saw how long that post was. You guys are troopers for making it to the end!
Actually, the airline didn’t charge us for the pack n’ play…they charged us for our bag that was 80 lbs. We took a giant suitcase so we would have items to carry around.
Ah, yes, Ziploc bags are a Godsend! I take several with me everywhere when I have Sam. Good tips, all of them. So did he do ok on the flight itself? Thankfully, I know Sam sleeps ok in the Pack ‘n Play. Having a young child is an adventure, that’s for sure!