Traveling with your kids for the first time?
Don’t even try to compare it to your pre-children days! If you can do this, a lot of mid-trip frustration and annoyances can be eliminated.
Because let’s face it, life in general has changed now that you have children, you can’t expect your vacations to be any different!
So what does that mean?
Your pace is going to be slower. A lot slower.
Be especially prepared for this with an infant or baby who is breastfeeding. I felt like I was constantly stopping to feed and well, it’s probably because I actually was. This is a good time to check out your guide books, plan where you are going to eat, or just enjoy the scenery where you normally would be too busy running to the next site to notice.
Traveling at a slower speed doesn’t have to be a bad thing, you will really master the art of “stopping to smell the roses!” It’s much easier to appreciate what’s in front of you when you aren’t trying to pack everything in.
Another way to not worry about cramming in as much as you can is to always assume you will be back. Thanks Rick Steves for this advice!
One parent may have to stay behind with your child due to attraction’s age or height restrictions.
This one actually was a little bit of a bummer at times for us. There is a really cool tour of the Vatican Necropolis to see Saint Peter’s remains and tickets are extremely limited and hard to come by. We were able to get tickets for the dates we were in Rome, but upon check in, Claire and I were denied because at 14 weeks old, she didn’t meet the minimum age requirement. Clem ended up doing the tour while Claire and I waited outside, but you know what, there is always next time!
The time change will be a little trickier now that you’re not just fending for yourself.
This is a hard part about travel no matter how old you are. Just be aware and mentally prepared before you embark on your journey. Do yourself a favor and make sure you check out more on this topic at Adjusting to a Time Change.
Dining out won’t be the romantic experience of the past
You probably won’t be eating out at all of the swankiest places for every meal. And please note, I did NOT say that you can’t do this at all! Just not for all meals- it would take up all of your day, not to mention your tiny diner probably won’t appreciate spending all day in a high chair either.
If you don’t eat out at home, you also cannot expect your child to know what to do when you are dining out on vacation. That’s why I suggest practice, practice, practice before you go! Need some tips? Check out these tips on eating out with babies, toddlers, and kids.
There will be some sort of “incident” (diaper blow-out/crying fit/public tantrum/etc) at the worst timing.
Best thing you can do is acknowledge the possibility now, so instead of being frazzled in the moment, you can actually laugh about it. Because really, what else can you do?!
Now get excited for some really cool things you will notice the first time you bring your kids on a trip!
Instead of traveling and feeling like a tourist, you will feel like a local!
Kids are a great way to connect with the people around you, and you would not believe the conversations you will have! I mean, have you ever been to Italy with a baby? My gosh, the Italians just LOVE kids and you’ll get to engage with the locals on a level you wouldn’t have otherwise.
Need a hand?!
Ever tried to get some help, or worse, needed someone to hold the door for you while traveling without kids? Well get excited, because parents helping parents is a universal language that you don’t need a translator for!
Traveling with kids has some legit perks!
Yea, I said it! Traveling with kids can even get you preferential treatment! It doesn’t always look like a “roll the red carpet” experience, but you may get VIP treatment or skip the line! Fun fact, a baby is practically your ‘fast-pass’ ticket to skipping the line at the Vatican! Anyone that has waited in that line before can truly appreciate that!
Get ready for some serious bonding time!
At home, it’s easy to get bogged down by work, making dinner, cleaning the house, or whatever it may be. When you are stressed out or busy running errands, you may forget to slow down and really listen to what your kids are trying to tell you. When you are on vacation, you don’t have the regular to-do’s of being at home, so take that extra mental space and dedicate it towards really connecting with your spouse and kid! That’s where the slow pace can really work to your advantage!
The harsh reality on getting over the mental hurdle of change
10 times out of 10 you will have a great trip- if you set your expectations appropriately. It’s up to you and your attitude.
Do not expect your first (or any) trip with kids to be like past trips without kids. It’s just different. Sometimes it’s for the better, like when you really get a chance to be immersed in local culture. Sometimes it may feel like it’s for the worse, like when you are annoyed at just how many times you have to stop and breastfeed. There is usually a bright side after all, but it’s up to you to find it!
It’s just like when you first had a newborn and that moment hit you where you truly realize that your weekend activities won’t be the same as before. You’ve got to find the silver lining (like remember when you realized less bar hopping equals saving more money?!). Hopefully you will hit that moment before your trip begins, but it begins with awareness. It may not seem like it at first, but traveling with kids will be more fun in an entirely new way you had never imagined!
Look, I know. A situation can really seem to (or does) stink in the moment, but challenging yourself to think positively will get everyone out of a Debbie Downer mood and back to enjoying time to reset and reconnect as a family. Fake it ’til you make it, baby!
Managing expectations is not about being a Debbie-downer or trying to dissuade you from traveling with your child for the first time.
It’s all about being mentally prepared in advance so when you do face these common pitfalls, you won’t skip a beat!
When you stop comparing the two, vacation with kids and vacation without, you’ll find that you will be a lot happier and be able to look forward to the differences in a whole new way!
Interested in more on what to expect when traveling with babies or traveling with toddlers? Check out our insights here:
What to expect when traveling with an infant or baby
What to expect when traveling with a toddler