For What to Expect’s “What I Wish I’d Known” series, moms and dads share the wisdom they’ve gained since first becoming parents.
On a recent trip to Hawaii, my 15-month-old was eager to get to the pool while we were enjoying our dinner outside, attempting a Houdini-like escape out of his high chair.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a couple enjoying a quiet dinner on their babymoon. They looked so blissful, but my mind went right to the logistics: a five-hour flight while pregnant, virgin piña coladas and constant hot flashes, thanks to the hormones.
Traditionally, babymoons, or getaways with your significant other during pregnancy, are meant to give you an opportunity to rest or explore (or both!) before the baby comes, but the idea of a babymoon comes with an interesting connotation that it’s your final taste of freedom.
I’ll never knock the destination babymoon — or anyone who wants to take one. But the idea of one last travel hurrah just wasn't for me. And I'm living proof that you can still take big trips after your baby is born.
We joke that my son, Rhode, and Pitbull now share the nickname “Mr. Worldwide” because at 15 months he’s been on 18 flights so far.
Babymoons are great, but so is traveling with your baby
In 2022 before getting pregnant, my husband and I moved from New York to Southern California to live closer to my family. We talked about our intentions to return to the East Coast for all of our people’s big moments whenever we could. Finding out we were expecting in early 2023 didn't change that perspective — we'd just plan to have a little one in tow. We even started to envision what trips would look like (and how much gear we would need!) — as a family of three.
We were so confident that our travels would continue that we didn’t even take a babymoon. Instead we saved our money and booked a family trip to Mexico for a few months after Rhode’s birth. We took his passport photos when he was just 4 days old.
Fast forward through 15 months of milestones, and while we haven’t made it to everything like we discussed, the three of us have been there for our siblings’ medical school graduations and several East Coast weddings (with lots of babysitting help from our favorite locals!).
Traveling with a baby is not always easy — but it's worth it
We started traveling with Rhode when he was 4 months old and travel about every three months as a family. I’d be remiss not to mention that the way we travel has been turned on its head. We still take trips, but they look a little different than they did pre-kids.
For one, Rhode has never been a great sleeper, and bringing him into a new environment is sometimes challenging. Now that he’s a toddler, he’s much more aware of how different a hotel room or guest room at Grandma’s is compared to his nursery. We no longer take red eyes, and we try to look for hotels with a separate room or partition for him if possible.
Don't get me started on the amount of baby gear it takes to get from point A to point B — the stroller, the car seat, the extra suitcase, the list goes on. We also have to plan our trips around diaper changes, meals and naps — it can be difficult, especially when you’re 40,000 feet in the air. But it is all worth it.
Seeing the world through Rhode’s eyes and spending quality time with our long-distance loved ones has been such a privilege. I’ll always encourage couples who love to travel to keep it up after their baby is born when they can.
Here’s how to make family travel work with a baby
When it comes to traveling with a tot, I've learned a lot along the way:
Plan to modify your routine: Rhode absolutely thrives on routine, and let’s just say, travel throws him off — big time. He loves snoozing on a plane (someone once told me they’re giant, flying sound machines, and we agree!), but in a new crib in a new hotel room? Forget about it. That’s okay, though. We let go of the at-home routine expectations and adapt to where we are, adding in comforting habits when we can.
Always pack familiar favorites: We always bring along a few of Rhode's comforts from home, such as his cozy sleep sack, our go-to bedtime books and his Mickey Mouse stuffed animal. Even if he's having a hard time going down at night in a new place, his stuffy usually helps him calm down more quickly.
Be as flexible as possible: As two traditionally stubborn people, my husband and I have learned that flexibility is a must. Rhode napped later than expected? No worries, let’s try to call the restaurant and push our brunch reservation back. We’ve been grateful for friends making last-minute changes to work with our family’s schedule.
Pack the right gear: You’ll want a travel car seat (we love the Doona) and stroller. But check in with the hotel before you start packing everything else. I always ask if they will have a crib or changing table — and I've been pleasantly surprised at how much baby gear some hotels have! One hotel even provided travel-size baby body wash for Rhode's nightly baths.
Rhode has made everything in our lives better, and travel is no exception. Sure, it’s a bit more tiring and sometimes labor-intensive, but there’s truly nothing like experiencing the world with our little Mr. Worldwide.
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