Last month, we took a first-of-a-kind trip.  What do I mean by that?  Well, my husband and I visited New York and Philadelphia, with just one kid in tow (the baby, of course).  I graduated with my Master’s Degree last spring in Nonprofit Leadership from the University of Pennsylvania.  Due to the global pandemic, the University held a virtual graduation ceremony in May of 2021 for all graduates, and afterwards I had a small intimate celebration with both of our families.  This spring, the University decided to hold a special in-person ceremony for the Classes of 2020 & 2021.  Due to the older two kids’ school schedules, we couldn’t take them along this trip though I would have loved to.

So the three of us took a positioning flight to New York, as I had found a better deal in points to New York, as opposed to Philadelphia directly.  We flew on Southwest Airlines, our favorite family airline by choice of course, with points we had earned from our Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card.  Our trip was a week long – after a few short days in New York, we took the Amtrak from New York Penn Station to Philadelphia.  This was our first time traveling with just the baby – we had mixed feelings about this as our older two kids (ages 12 & 9) are the best helpers when it comes to traveling with our little one (currently 18 months).  It’s never really a break when you travel with kids, but it’s rewarding and the memories you make are priceless.

We never traveled so frequently when our older two were this young.  Costs, and some apprehensions about traveling with littles always held me back.  As our older two kids started getting older, we got into award travel and began traveling on points and miles.  When we added a new addition to our family in December of 2020, my perspective on traveling with a little one had changed.  I was an older parent this time around, and I knew I didn’t want to wait to travel more until “baby was older.”

Baby R has been traveling since she was three months old.  By the time she’s 2 (and not free anymore) she’ll have a couple more places down.  You better believe we are trying to squeeze in all the trips we can this year while she’s still free!  Here are some tips from my personal experiences when it comes to traveling with a little one:

 

1. Kids are more resilient than you think.  We thrive on a schedule daily – but guess what?  Baby R has learned to eat and sleep on the go – how?  Practice 😉
2. Perspective.  As new-ish older parents this time around, we’ve learned that time waits for no one – heck, we aren’t getting any younger!  Whether you’re a first time parent, or it’s your third – take the trip!  Remember most of all, it’s your attitude that helps when it comes to enjoying that much anticipated family vacation.
3. Flexibility.  We had been the typical tourists on a prior visit to NYC.  With a toddler, and along with juggling my husband’s work schedule, we knew we’d have to take it well, a little slower. But we actually enjoyed it.  Stopping to let the baby get that energy out at parks or open fields, helped us savor the moment a little longer (as much as the toddler would allow, of course).  Hello Central Park for the win!
4. Accept that mishaps will happen.  Our toddler rolled around the subway, played in dirty water, threw up on the plane, and locked herself in the room at our Airbnb in Philadelphia.  It happens, and you know what?  We were all fine, and you’d be surprised at how nice people can be (I’m not saying everyone) when you don’t feel the need to constantly apologize because your toddler can’t stay still.
5. Travel light.  We have learned this the hard way.  So now, we are team travel light, while packing what we need for the baby.  My husband and I shared a suitcase, because we knew we had to accommodate space and hands for baby things.  Yes, folding a stroller everytime we got on the subway was a hassle – but let’s face it.  Toddlers need to be bound when out and about (especially in the city).  As they get older, the less you’ll feel the need to pack all the things.

 

I sometimes laugh when I think about how I used to be nervous when traveling with a little one.  It’s definitely not easy; it’s exhausting, and sometimes you find yourself wondering why you are putting yourself, and everyone in your family, through the experience.  But the sooner you start traveling with your kids, the easier it is.  I see a resilience and flexibility in Baby R that I didn’t see in the older two until much later – she’s able to adapt and is a good sport with the craziness we have put her through in our travels both domestically and internationally.

Long flights, exhausting travel days, and many adventures galore – while she won’t remember a thing, we have so many stories to tell her one day!  I have to admit though, it was also nice relishing in the fact that people thought she was our one and only child, haha!  Not only have we grown as parents, we’ve grown as travelers, and we can’t wait for all the memories waiting to be made for our family in future trips!