When I told people we were taking our 7-month-old to Orlando, I got a few questionable looks. I started to wonder if I was crazy for taking a baby on a vacation. I’m happy to share that our vacation was even more fun than I expected it to be! If you’re thinking about taking your little one on a trip, hopefully this post will give you confidence, and help with your planning. Below, you’ll find 6 tips for vacationing with a baby.
1. Set Expectations
You know how it can be stressful to take care of your little one at home? Well, believe it or not, it’s also stressful to take care of your little one on vacation. Being in a beautiful, warm, sunny place doesn’t make the troubles go away. In fact, the challenges might even be heightened in a new environment out of your typical routine.
Go into vacation with the expectation that you are going to have fun and make memories – not relax. The vacation you go on with a baby (especially your first one) is wildly different than your pre-child vacation. Understand this reality up front, and soak up the fun moments.
2. Don’t Make Too Many Plans
I’m the itinerary queen. I make a Google Sheet before every trip I go on with ideas of things to do each day. Our trip to Orlando was no different… except for the fact that we ditched every single thing on the itinerary once we got to Florida.
It was easier to eat at our airbnb than go out to eat. It was easier to go on a walk around the neighborhood than load up in the car and go to the park. It was easier to hang out at the playground at the resort than to go to a children’s museum. Babies get limited enjoyment out of our elaborate adventures, and we get limited enjoyment with the babies along. Keep it simple, and ditch the every day plans. Pick a few fun things you want to do, and leave the rest behind. It saves energy and stress.
This leads me to my next tip… stay somewhere great.
3. Stay Somewhere with On-site Activities
It’s a lot more relaxing to stay at your vacation home than go on adventures everyday… so you might as well stay somewhere great! We rented a house with a heated pool, hot tub and game room. It was SO worth it! We swam in the pool – both with the baby, and without him when he was napping. Once he went to bed at night, we enjoyed drinks in the hot tub.
At the resort where our house was located, there was also a big pool, lazy river, tennis courts, playground and fitness center. This was all within walking distance, so we could easily come and go.
Not sure how to find a great place like this? Think it’s out of your budget? Check out airbnb! We booked an amazing 6-bedroom, 5-bathroom house for less than $1,300 for the whole week. It’s affordable, and there are so many great options! You can also save $40 off your first booking if you use this link.
4. Bring Friends and Family
To say my family is amazing is an understatement. I was super excited to book this trip with them – primarily because I enjoy spending time with them, but it’s an added bonus that they love my baby and want to help. Every morning, when my little guy took his morning nap, we would go play tennis, and my sister stayed at the house with the kids. My niece and nephew also helped entertain my son, which was helpful (and super cute)! We helped each other with the kids and luggage, took turns making dinner, and made lots of great memories!
Whether it’s with family or friends, vacations are a great time to make memories with people you love. If you go with other adults with kids, take turns taking a parents night out, and just enjoy yourselves.
5. Take Advantage of Flight Benefits
We scored super cheap flights with Spirit airlines. If you’re familiar, you know they charge for all of the “extras”. That said, a “lap infant” (meaning they sit on their lap and don’t get their own seat) is free. You can also take a car seat and stroller for free. This is pretty standard on most airlines. Take advantage of the “free” while the kids are still little!
6. Don’t Pack Too Much
My husband and I shared one checked suitcase and two personal bags (a backpack and a diaper bag) for our family of three. We also had a car seat and stroller. It was manageable, and we could move pretty quickly through the airport. My sister and her husband had four checked bags, three personal bags, two car seats and a stroller for their family of four. As you might imagine, all of those bags (plus two kids) was a lot. It was a lot to lug around, it was a lot to keep track of and it was a lot of money, too.
At the end of the trip, my sister admitted that she hadn’t even used half of the stuff she packed. At the airport on the way back, she vowed to never pack that much again.
It can be tempting to pack a lot because you’re so afraid you’re going to want something and not have it. The reality is, there are most likely grocery stores, clothing stores and Amazon Prime wherever you’re going. If you really need something, you can go out and buy it.
I also recommend staying somewhere with a washer and dryer. If your little one has as many blowouts as mine does, being able to wear outfits more than once will save lots of suitcase space!
It’s Time to Book That Vacation!
With the spread of the coronavirus, now is obviously not the time to travel. That said, while you’re quarantined at home is the perfect time to check out some potential destinations. I have even seen some super cheap trip options if you book now, as companies are trying to make money during this difficult time. Book a fall trip, and save big!
To sum it up, vacationing with a baby isn’t a walk in the park… errrr… maybe it is, quite literally. Though it’s not the same raging party or relaxing break it used to be, it’s a great time to have fun and make memories. Don’t let it intimidate you. Go, and enjoy.