Air Baby

I had really good intentions to blog while I was on my Mexico babymoon (read: the last trip a couple takes alone together for quite a while without baby or without at least worrying about how terribly the grandparents are spoiling baby while Mom and Dad are gone).

I planned on waking up, checking out the sunset, having some decaf, then keeping you readers updated on how it was going.

Ha ha.

Back to the real world now, I just have to update you all on an epiphany I had while preparing for this trip.

Traveling with a baby isn’t easy.

I wrote an article on this for a travel magazine a couple of years ago. Of course, at the time, I was really not even certain that I would ever need the tips I provided, but I sure am glad to have them now.

Because of all the luxuries, the “me time,” and the hobbies that Bryan and I may have to give up, we are simply not going to stop traveling. Which means we need to get our facts straight.

For starters, babies need stuff. Lots of stuff. Gone are the days of Bryan and I carefully placing all of our 3.2 ounce containers in quart-size plastic baggies and carrying on all of our luggage.

Babies need strollers, bottles, food, toys, diapers, and…car seats.

People are always surprised to hear that last one, but give it some thought. You’re traveling to some awesome kid-friendly resort in some beautiful, warm country with really crappy roads.

You get off the plane with your little miracle, climb into the bus or taxi that’s going to transport you 60 miles to the property on rough terrain, and simply trust the stranger driving to ensure everyone’s safety?

Uh-uh.

Most countries don’t have the car seat laws that the United States has. How many times have you seen a car seat in a cab? Better safe than not.

It also pays to travel places that kids actually want to go. Yesawich, Pepperdine, and Brown asked 525 kids what was most important to them when they take a trip. Survey says:

1) Swimming
2) Eating out
3) Bringing the grandparents!

And surprise – the majority of kids said they wanted to fly, not drive, to their destination. The top three places they want to travel:

1) Florida (thank goodness we live so close)
2) Walt Disney World (start saving NOW)
3) California (any chance we could sneak them into our fave wineries in Napa? I kid…sorta).

Our wonderful family doctor, Scott Greer, gave us the best gift upon finding out we were pregnant. We had just finished telling him how happy we were that we had gotten so much traveling done before getting knocked up.

He smiled at us, gave us a “look,” and sang music to our ears: “Why would you stop traveling now? This baby is meant to enhance your life.”

Words to live by.