What were we thinking?

April 10, 2017

Travel with children is a hot topic these days. In a world of schedules, safe sleep, vaccinations and allergies the thought of leaving home is sometimes daunting let alone packing what you need for two weeks in a carry-on sized bag. This blog will give some insight into our trip and the reality of travel with a baby in tow. I’m not going to sugar coat things but I will say that after everything it was still worth it and we had a great time.

Largest fish market in the world

Kiyomizu-dera Temple

Organization is key.

Read and plan and plan some more. Organize each of your bags to be as functional as possible. Lucy’s diaper bag had exactly what I needed in it and nothing more. Believe me when I say a small bathroom with no changing table is not the place you want to be over packed. You will be put in challenging situations and knowing what you have and where it is relives a lot of stress. Have a plan for your bags. Our suitcases are split in half. What I mean by that is when you open them one side has a strap holding things in and the other is zipped shut. This came in handy when our clothes got dirty. We were able to separate what we could wear again and things that needed to be washed. Take a bunch of different size baggies, they are super useful for diapers, dirty clothes or really anything you

don’t have a zipper or place for on the spot.

On the airplane waiting for the bathroom

First time front facing

Clothes take up the most space.

The amount of clothing you need is hard to plan. It depends on how many changes of clothes your child goes through a day, if you will have a washer and or dryer and what the weather will be like. Weather is a huge factor and unfortunately an always changing one. Check the forecast right up until you leave and pack layers for your babe if it looks chilly. We packed a lot of bibs for Lu trying to avoid needing to change her when she spit up. Think of things you don’t have to pack. For example, you can probably get wipes and diapers at your destination. And limit yourself on the things that you can, one pair of shoes, a hoodie or coat and hat that match everything so you are not taking up a ton of room with extras. Looking back on our travel trips, I have never regretted taking too small of an amount. Take your favorites. Pack as light as possible. Don’t waste space on the things you wouldn’t dress your babe in more than once.

Our luggage other than Sean's backpack he had on

The art of distraction.

Lucy is still small so I didn’t have to think of as many strategies that I might need later on. I would recommend packing new toys. I packed a new toy for her and she was defiantly more entertained by it for longer periods. If we were in a pickle and Lucy was upset distraction was pretty helpful. Let them interact with someone around you or hand them something new but ordinary like your bag strap. Those things helped to distract her long enough to find a spot to feed or change her.

Looking out over Tokyo with Daddy

A character from film that we love that has a little girl named Mei in it (Lucy's middle name)

She started screaming when I did this. True story

Use a carrier if possible.

This is self-explanatory. Lucy LOVES her carrier/sling. I think part of the reason why is because I have had her in them since she was a week old. If you’re getting ready for a trip where your little one will be carried make sure your carrying them for a few hours a day leading up to the trip. It will be a much more pleasant experience for everyone involved :)

Cherry blossoms were gorgeous

Family photo with everyone smiling is a win all around

Pack a piece of home.

Even if your babe doesn’t have a something special they like to sleep with it is still a good idea to bring a blanket or snuggle buddy that smells like home. DO NOT wash their “lovie” before you go or while you are gone. I learned this the hard way. Lucy loves to snuggle with her giraffe and a Muslin blanket while she is falling asleep (don’t you worry, I removed them once she is asleep.) After our first week I tossed her blanket in the washer without thinking. That night it took me a bit to realize that she wasn’t holding onto her blanket. I switched it out for the other one I took and she snuggled right up. Of course she didn’t want the blanket that smelled like some random detergent we picked up.

Lucy's new toy

Know your baby.

This is challenging because babies are always changing. BUT think about what your child likes and doesn’t like and try to keep them happy. Vacation is not the time to introduce a new sippy cup or work on something new. This is NOT how we plan to parent Lucy but on vacation we play by different rules. Just like I play by different rules. I don’t limit myself on things like what I want to eat or when I should go to bed. I’m not saying that you should let your babes go crazy but a little leeway after some long travel is what we all want and need on a vacation. This will look different as Lucy grows but right now that looks like nursing her when she wanted and not pushing her to stay up late (she hates being over- tired and completely loses her mind.)

Eating what I want ...

When I want ;)

Think it through.

Where are your seats on the plane? Can you get a baby bassinet? If you are taking public transportation can you make your tickets during a nap time? ALWAYS feed and change before you sit down to eat! And remember that you are traveling with a baby/child. Give yourself and them some grace when it comes to noise. Call ahead to your hotels and let them know you are bringing a baby. This gives them a heads up and the chance to secure a baby bed for you.

Japan is very accommodating.

So as I was making tips to share with you guys I kept coming back to this problem. Japan has incredible accommodations for mamas. Most shopping malls and public places have nursing rooms. There is definitely a range, some are super nice with a recording of birds chirping, comfy chairs, bottle warmers and sweetly painted walls while others are a single chair in a small room that you can hardly turn around in. Either way, there are nursing rooms. I was always on a look out for these wherever we went. These rooms were a HUGE life saver to me. I like to be a pretty private person while breastfeeding. I wasn’t always able to find these rooms. When you commit to a vacation like we went on your committing to breastfeeding on park benches, trains and coffee shops. Thankfully there are incredible nursing covers these days and I have one from Milk Snob that’s amazing!

Those are changing tables! This one was amazing.

Yes please

Baby room!

The biggest question I get asked after trips is, “Would we do it again now that it’s over?” Sean and I honestly asked ourselves this and both said yes, but agreed that it is a bit more challenging with a child. We love travel and won’t ever stop. There is something so special and humbling about seeing other parts of the world. To stand in front of a building that is older than the country you were born in or ride a bullet train that runs at 168mph. Travel is what takes us to the arms of family and friends. It takes us to the doorsteps of our childhood homes where so many memories were made. Travel is a gateway to new adventure doing ordinary things. Eating, bathing, sleeping and shopping, simple things are different and surprising. Travel is a beautiful gift that our generation has been given.