You’ve just booked your very first family vacation since welcoming your baby. Part of you is eager to hit the road and travel again. You’re excited to introduce your child to new experiences and see the wonder in their eyes as you explore new places. But at the same time, part of you is nervous about traveling with your baby.
You’re dwelling on everything that could possibly go wrong, and you’re worried that you’ll be so preoccupied with ensuring that the trip goes smoothly that you won’t have any time to relax. But your first family vacation doesn’t have to be stressful!
Here’s how to make the most of your first trip as a parent.
Stay Close to Home
You don’t have to travel far to have a great trip. If you’re making plans for your first family vacation, why not pick a destination close to home? It’s much easier to prepare for a couple of hours of driving than a long flight!
You could also consider picking a place where you’ve been before. With a sense of familiarity, it will be easier to map out your itinerary.
But if you’re traveling a long way out of necessity—for example, maybe you have to fly across the country to introduce your parents to their new grandchild. A little extra planning can help you get ready for possible snafus.
Invite Help Along
Maybe you typically have help caring for your child throughout the week, like a babysitter, a grandparent who lives nearby, or another relative who has volunteered to lend a hand. As you plan out your vacation, you might be nervous about caring for your child without someone else around to step in when you need assistance.
Why not invite someone else along who typically helps you out? You could plan a trip with their grandparents, an aunt or uncle, or anyone else who you trust to care for your child. With an extra set of hands on deck, you can relax!
Pack Smart
Block off some time to focus on making a comprehensive packing list for your trip. Parents of young children know better than anyone just how many things you need to take along when you travel!
As you pack, make sure to double-check that you’ve packed all the necessities. As your children get older, you can make them fun “activity packs” to keep them occupied when you’re in transit.
Plan Your Itinerary
When you were traveling before having kids, you might have packed your vacation itineraries with every activity under the sun. From museums to beaches to popular restaurants to local boutiques, it was easy to do anything you were interested in, and you didn’t need much downtime!
But now that you’re bringing your baby along, you’ll want to leave plenty of room in your itinerary for relaxation. Choose a few family-friendly activities, and then leave plenty of downtime for your family to unwind.
Carve Out Time for Yourself Daily
Maybe you want to read a book while lying on the beach or sitting on the deck of your vacation rental. Perhaps you want to spend a little time people-watching at a local coffee shop.
No matter what you have in mind, it’s important to carve out a little time for yourself daily. Perhaps you and your partner could each have some “me time” and switch off who cares for your baby during this time. Even an hour to yourself can be blissful!
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Are you worried about your first vacation with your child or other parenting “firsts?” Talking to a therapist can help. Reach out to us today to discuss your options for scheduling your first session.