HRM Parent Blog

by Corinne McDermott, Have Baby Will Travel

I think everyone has a memory of at least one family road trip... Piled into the family station wagon, safely buckled in and taking turns singing harmonies of Row Row Row Your Boat in-between neatly munching healthy snacks. No? How about pinching, bickering and hogging the one Sony Walkman in a seat that's sticky from spilled juice with the vague scent of vomit wafting by occasionally (this being a time pre-Febreze). More like it? Me too.

But in spite of my less-than-fond memories of the sweaty summer road trip (pre-AC as well!), we're probably hitting the highway soon, and I'll definitely be using the 5 Rs...

Research
Don't just rely on online map generators - find a bit of time to really check out possible routes that may not be the quickest, but could be the most interesting. You'll have to be making more stops now than when you hit the road pre-kids, it would be great if those stops could be fun and even educational, instead of just a truck stop/coffee shop. A few more things to consider - there are some fun and helpful applications for your cell phones and GPS. Familiarize yourself with them in advance and you won't be frustrated trying to figure them out while all the lovely scenery is whizzing by!

Repair
How much would it suck to have a car packed full with belongings and kids stuck on the side of the highway due to car troubles that could have been prevented due to maintenance? In the weeks leading up to your trip, have your car serviced, with fluid levels checked and tires balanced. The day before you leave double-check the tire pressure and make sure your membership with a roadside assistance provider is up to date.

Reach
What good are those handy-dandy snack packs, travel games, or stash of DVDs if you can't safely reach them from your seat? Who wants to be scrambling when a spill inevitably happens? Prepare a bag specifically for addressing these needs while en route and make sure A) you know exactly where it is in the car and B) you can reach it without unbuckling your seat belt. Wherever you go, always make sure you have wipes and hand sanitizer nearby.

Rest
Many opt to drive 'round the clock to maximize your vacation time and minimize time spent in the car. This sounds good on paper, but try to make sure that everyone in your party is rested - not just the driver! Pulling the kids out of their beds and plunking them in their car seats sounds like an ideal way to gain some ground when the tots are asleep, only that trick just might not work for you (it didn't for us). If you'll be driving in shifts, make sure you can actually sleep in the car if you're on shift #2. It would be highly unpleasant (and not to mention dangerous) to be a busy passenger for 10 hours only to have to then take the wheel yourself.

Relax
Road rage and rude gestures 20min into your 20-hour drive is not the way you want to start your vacation. Yes - please don't forget that it's a vacation and getting there may not be half the fun but it need not be a nightmare. Take a deep breath and laugh at the little things. That jerk that just cut you off is likely not going to be spending quality time with their family time anytime soon, and you already are.

With so many families now opting to hit the road instead of the sky these days, make your journey a fun one for your brood. Hopefully their memories of family vacations will be as idyllic as you hope your trip will be! And hopefully your memories will allow you to look back at the bumps on the road and laugh.

Corinne McDermott is the founder of Have Baby Will Travel – your online guide to traveling with babies and toddlers. For more information please visit www.havebabywilltravel.com or send a message to info@havebabywilltravel.com.

by Corinne McDermott, Have Baby Will Travel

In my ‘20s I traveled for 6 weeks through Europe with one backpack that I carried myself. For our week-long honeymoon, my husband and I took one large suitcase between us. Just over 2 years later, my husband, 11-month-old daughter, and I had an overflowing luggage cart that held 2 large suitcases (overweight), 2 stuffed-to-the-brim carry-ons, and a car seat. In hindsight, we should have added our playpen to the pile, since the hotel-issued crib for that trip was pretty wobbly.

(I admit the talk of beaches in this article by Corinne McDermott has made me rather depressed as I look outside at the cold winter day, but nevertheless I hope you find it useful and inspiring!)

The weather’s bad and the news is gloomy; time to escape with the family for a week and decompress on a beach – right? Unfortunately, the economy is just as nasty as the weather and the news, and many are opting for “staycations” or canceling their travel plans altogether. For me, neither are appealing options… If I stayed close to home I’d never relax or let go of the chores that need tending to. If I cancelled our trip, I’d be even more miserable.

Our article section will now be included in the blog. To find past articles, click the 'tags' link above and browse through the options. Here's out latest article from Have Baby Will Travel:

Whenever I talk about traveling with babies (which is a lot), for the most part I come across like-minded parents who have concerns but love the idea of travel with their young family. Occasionally, however, I'm met with a look of horror, or – at the very least – disbelief. The concept of a family vacation does not appeal to them, often for the same reasons. Because I hear and refute these 'reasons' now and again, I’ve decided to do it in print once and for all…

“They won’t remember it…”
I’ve never fully understood this reason, since your baby won’t remember anything before the age of two. But just because they won’t remember, doesn’t mean you don’t cuddle and read to and sing to your baby… Plus, who cares if they won’t remember? You’ll never forget that time together as a family, and new place, faces and foods are good for everyone – including baby.

“They’d be bored/they’d rather be with Grandma…”
This may be true with older kids if you haven’t given them a say in the itinerary, but for the most part, kids want to be with their parents. I know the time will come soon enough when my daughter won’t be able to stand me, so we’re saving the romantic getaways for later. Plus, with our busy life, I’m lucky to see my daughter 3hrs a day, and weekends are always filled with chores and errands. I want to be with her when I’m not working – and fully enjoy this quality family time.

“It’s not really a vacation…”
True – it’s a different type of holiday. You’re up early and have routines to maintain, diapers to change and meals to think about. But the thing is , you have to do all that stuff anyway, you might as well be somewhere nice! Plus, sticking to a routine means you all know what to expect, gives you a basis to plan a few outings, AND, not having household chores means you actually CAN sleep when the baby does.

“It’s not safe…”
If you’re traveling with kids, you’re likely not going to plan a getaway to a war zone. Even if you weren’t taking them with you, I’d hope that as a parent you’d choose a safe destination as well. Even the most accomplished worrywart (me) can do a bit of research to figure out hospitals, health insurance, vaccinations, and preventative measures. If you take the same health and safety precautions that you would at home, there is no risk in traveling with infants and toddlers.

“If they act up, we’ll bother people…”
Kids act up. If you’re so afraid of annoying someone, how do you ever leave the house? You’ve spent good money, you’ve come prepared, and in spite of all your best efforts, if your crying/fussing/whining child bothers someone, there’s really nothing you can do. Just as there’s nothing you can do if a loud/smelly/drunk/offensive person is bothering you. In the long run, the journey is the shortest bit of the big picture, and fortunately the most quickly forgotten.

So please, if you love the idea of getting away with your young family, don’t let the naysayers dissuade you. A new parent is under a lot of pressure to begin with, and something like travel gives you the chance to escape together. And repeated travel at a young age creates a great young traveler. At not-quite-three, our daughter knows getting on a plane means going somewhere fun… but most of all means Mummy and Daddy get to stay with her for a whole week, and I love that she loves that the most.
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Corinne McDermott is the founder of Have Baby Will Travel – your online guide to traveling with babies and toddlers. For more information please visit www.havebabywilltravel.com or send a message to info@havebabywilltravel.com.