We love traveling with our baby and now toddler but sometimes this raises an eyebrow. Most commonly we get asked “Why don’t you just wait until they will remember?”. While we understand why some people would want to wait for their children to be older to be travel that is just not our philosophy. So here are our top 7 reasons why your should travel with baby now!
Travel with baby because you won’t get this time back
The early years are such a magical time and your little one is constantly changing, doing new things and learning new things. Who would want to miss this time? Travelling together as a family means you get to be there for all these developments!
Travel with baby because you have time off anyway
Depending on where in the world you off, you get maternity and paternity leave. Now you might not be as adventurous as the Travel Mad Mum Family who travelled for pretty much the duration of Travel Mad Mum’s maternity leave, but there is no reason why you shouldn’t utilise some of your time to take your little one travelling.
Wandermust Family
Travel with baby because the first thousand days are important
There is a theory known as The First 1,000 Days theory which is widely accepted in the baby development community. Basically it says that a baby’s first thousand days are critical to a baby’s educational and emotional development. When we travel, we are away from the routine of home and work distractions which means we get to concentrate our time on our little one. I like to think that this dedicated time travel affords us helps our little ones development as well as the things she experiences while we are travelling!
Travel with baby because it’s cheap
Baby’s First Flight
If you want tips for flying and formula feeding check out our guide
Travel with baby because you travel slower
Taking a coffee break in Stockholm
Drawing the crowds in the cotswolds
Travel with baby because experiences not things are important
This has been doing the rounds for a while but it is an internet quote that I can get behind – ‘experiences not things’. I don’t think babies need quite as many toys as we throw at them in every day life. I will always prioritise doing something together as a family over material things.
and lastly
Travel with baby because parents memories are just as important as children’s
The Wandermust Family at the Forum
Have you done travel with baby or toddlers? What do you think are the best reasons to travel with baby?
Completely agree with every single word. The early years are so precious, and it’s important to make some memories through all the sleep deprivation! Also, you as a parents are switched off when travelling and focus is on the family and adventure, rather than daily chores at home. This makes for incredibly important bonding time 🙂
Author
Exactly ?
I hope to travel next year with my baby:) haven’t done much travelling now while I’m pregnant
Author
It’s hard travelling while pregnant! I had terrible morning sickness which made life v difficult. Can’t wait to read about your adventures with your lo next year ?
:)thanks
Couldn’t agree more! Love the argument about the parent’s memories. Happy parents, happy kids 🙂 We will definitely ALWAYS remember and will always tell our son how much we love to discover the world with him. He might not remember, but he’ll hear the truth and love in our words. #FearlessFamTrav
Yes, yes, yes. I saw somewhere someone likened the whole ‘but they won’t remember’ argument to saying there was no point in reading to babies because they won’t remember the stories. I think you pretty much covered the reasons in your post. 😉
#fearlessfamtrav
Author
Yes that quote seems to be doing the insta rounds at the moment. Completely agree
All good reasons! I especially like the last one, as that’s always been my philosophy. It’s important to keep on living life. #fearlessfamtrav
Author
The last one is my favourite too!
A great list of reasons. I especially like the reminder that memories are important for parents as well as kids. We took ours to Disneyworld a couple of years ago and while they don’t really remember it we will never forget their smiles and amazement at meeting the characters and watching the parades. #fearlessfamtrav
Exactly _ I fully agree with all these points!!! #fearlessfamtrav
Love the last point – its so easy to forget!
I agree with all of that! I particularly think that it is a great way of spending time together as a family. I’m sure my baby spent far more time with her Dad when we were travelling for 5 months than if we had been at home. #fearlessfamtrav
Yep! If you love to travel why wait? Traveling with kids is a challenge but it’s easier if you prepare and manage your expectations. I’d personally like to be able to tell my girls about all the great places we’ve been together, show then the photos and instil in them a lust to travel more.
Ahh I love this post. They are all brilliant reasons to travel and I didn’t know that about the first 1000 days. I wasn’t able to travel with mine when they were tiny but we enjoy exploring with them when we can now they are a bit older and we’re more mobile. Thanks for linking up to #familytraveltips!
Nat.x
great post. Totally agree… and travelling with a baby is much easier than a 3 year old… and then once they hit school age you aren’t “supposed” to let them miss too much school (depends on your viewpoint). So doing it as a baby is a great time. Coming from #fearlessfamtrav
Looks like you have made some amazing memories!
I agree with all of those reasons. Yes, I understand the argument to wait until they remember it but why should we miss out now as parents. If my husband and I waited we wouldn’t have gone to New York last year or be about to go to Yellowstone this month. And besides, our children can always go themselves again when they are older if they want the lasting memories. #fearlessfamtrav
Author
Exactly
I’d add – travel with a baby because you can! When they get older and are in school you are restricted to holidays. And then exams get in the way. Go for it now I say!
Author
Great point!
Travelling with kids is great! (but don’t forget the occasional alone time as well ;))
#fearlessfamtrav
Totally! With a new baby, you’ll have time off from work already, your daytime/sleep hours will be thrown off anyways…so jetlag probably won’t contribute much. And I love that kids under 2 are free!!! #fearlessfamtrav
Author
Yes it will be a shock when we have to buy her her own seat