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D.C. Area Babies
Traveling with Babies?
We love to travel and I'm finally feeling like we might be able to go somewhere with DD soon. Does anyone know of good resources for traveling with kids/babies? Particularly interested in ideas for traveling and how to navigate things like cabs and public transportation. We're doing a beach trip this summer, but I'm looking for some more adventurous ideas too.
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Re: Traveling with Babies?
*chirp chirp chirp*
That is the sound of crickets. The sound of silence from people like me who have only traveled with my kids because I "had" to (to visit relatives), not because I wanted to. Someday we'll be more adventurous!
I am not sure of any resources but my experience has been very mixed. When DD was 4 months we went to Colorado for a week and it was great. She was so easy to travel with and was awesome. At 8 months we went to Minnesota and it was still great. Once she could walk- it went downhill. We did one long weekend trip to Charlottesville that was okay and then attempted to do a week long vacation last summer and we were all so miserable that we came home on day 4.
I am not trying to be negative but I think it really depends on your kid. we have friends with a kid the same age and they have literally taken him around the world with not a single problem. Our DD hyperventilated from screaming after being in the car for an hour so we have not gone on vacation since. We both love to travel but even a simple trip to see my mom in Annapolis can be completely stressful.
My only advice- is just go for it but have a contigency plan just in case.
I don't know of any resources...I've been looking for them and noticed a void. If only I had the time to capitalize on that void! Travelingmamas.com is a good blog, doesn't really have "pointers" for traveling with infants/toddlers. I've traveled some what frequently with DD and overall she's been pretty easy. If you're traveling by car, expect it to take longer than if it was just you and DH. Pack plenty of snacks to feed in route, stop often, take some new toys, books, stickers, magna doodle. Sing silly songs, etc.
If you fly, several of the items for car trips work too. This next flight we're taking I'm planning on leaving the PNP at home (it's a pain to lug and I don't feel like paying extra baggage fees) and arranging to use the hotel's PNP. If you stay at a Marriott property, they offer slip covers for the PNPs which are laundered in between guests (call to confirm as each property might very). You can also buy a cover (www.coverplay.com).
I'm not sure how old your child is, but when DD was an infant I used the baby bjorn more than the stroller (one less thing to travel with) and she would nap in the baby bjorn while we were out and about on vacation.
I don't have direct experience w/ public transporation as we've also rented/had a car, but from what my follow moms tell me....in NYC, most people just keep their baby in the bjorn and ride in cabs. You can also arrange for car services which have car seats installed. Public transportation like metro/subway or buses is pretty easy...just carry baby on.
Enjoy your travels!
I think it's very child and age specific. We've traveled a lot with DS, Some trips have gone well, some not. I don't know of resources. I'd recommend bringing toys that are new to your child, being flexible and know your child's limits on stimulation, disrupted schedule, etc.
We went to Charlottesville with DS at 3 months-no problems. Drove cross country with him at 6 months and 22 months. He's been to Chicago, Vegas, LA, NYC, Florida and we're taking him to France for two weeks next month.
Most guide books like Fodor's will include a kid friendly section.
We are taking DD on her first real trip (not to the in-laws in NJ) in June, to include her first plane ride. I was actually looking around today for pointers on how to make it as painless as possible; I thought this site was helpful. It doesn't have recommendations on where to take vacation (I can't tell if that's what you're looking for), but is good for general advice on travelling with kids. I thought the "Tips from Parents" section was good.
I haven't checked, but Parent magazine online is always a good resource. Here is their link to travel-related articles.
Good luck!
how do you feel about traveling w/ your parents or ILs? it'd be great to have an extra 1 or 2 adults around to help and might give you time to do stuff just you and DH. Also a huge help in the airport b/c of all the stuff you have with you. We traveled when DS was 5mo and DD was 2 yr old to Boston, we flew. My kids are not good car travelers. I am now desperately looking for a getAWAY, thinking Bahamas, I need to get away and even w/ kids,I think a week in Bahamas will be better than a week at home. Right? Right?
(and yes, I'm hoping to bring at least one grandparent, we'd pay her way of course; and we are looking at AIs; the less for me to worry the better).
if your baby is still BFing or on formula, that adds a little more planning
FWIW, Sprout is a wiggler that doesn't like to be held long & we found bringing a blanket so that he could play on the floor while we waited to board the plane was a life-saver.
We lucked out that he was ready for a nap by the time to board the plane.
We were considering an international trip with him this year, but airfares are just too expensive for us right now so we're going to opt for a domestic (probably driving-distance) vacation.
1) For a plane ride, seriously consider getting 3 seats instead of 2. Even if you plan to hold LO on your lap for most of the ride, it's really nice to have the entire row to yourselves.
2) Try to time the plane ride around LO's nap time and/or "happy time" if he has one.
3) Seriously consider renting a house or condo instead of a regular hotel room. It's really nice to have access to a fridge and to be able to put LO to bed in a separate room while the adults stay up for a couple more hours. If you're traveling for a week or more, it's also helpful to have laundry facilities on-site.
4) If you're traveling via plane or for more than a few days, consider taking a small stash of diapers and wipes with you, and plan to buy more at your destination.
Oh! to piggy back off this, (and this is probably obvious) but be sure to have extra food/snacks/diapers if flying. Our flight was delayed 8 hrs. and the extras were totally used up...luckily we weren't delayed longer (the Tampa airport, FWIW, doesn't have diapers/wipes in the shops! Not sure if this is wide-spread)
This is a great piece of advice (as is the rest of what you have gotten from people so far). We have also traveled quite a bit with DD#1 (not as much with DD#2--haven't had as many reasons to so far) and the BEST trip we took was when she was about a year old and we rented a house on the Outer Banks. Having the flexibility to make our own meals when we (i.e. SHE) was ready and to come and go from the beach without much hassle made the vacation an actual vacation. Staying in a hotel room with little ones is pretty challenging, doable, but challenging because you don't have the separation to be able to do different things and you're in a really confined space.
Overall if you're just looking to have some adventures--I think there are lots of day trips you can take in this area that will minimize the risk of planning something big and then having to regroup if something doesn't go as planned.
GL!
I guess I left out the advice part in my post ;-)
1. Be sure to bring a birth certificate
2. Try to get a suite- DD goes to bed at 7:30 and we do not so it allowed for her to have quiet and us to watch TV
3. Change of clothes for yourself for the plane.
4. Plenty of snacks/diapers/wipes
5. We found random strangers were really helpful in airports- holding doors, offering to put the carseat through the xray machine while we got everything else taken care of, letting DD play with their magazines on the plane, etc.
6. I always pack a sheet for the pack n play because the hotels never seem to have them. Also, I bring disinfectant wipes with me everywhere.