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.

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

Any parents will tell you that under twos travel on planes for free. Who wouldn’t want to utilise this!

If you want tips for flying and formula feeding check out our guide

Travel with baby because you travel slower

Obviously travel with a baby is at a different pace to when you were footloose and baby free! But to me this is another benefit. Rather than rushing from one place to another ticking everything off your bucket list in one day you get to travel slower and appreciate where you are more.

Babies are also great conversation starters. We have never been able to meet as many locals as we have had travelling with a baby.

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

While people may tell you to wait until baby is old enough to remember, I ask why do we not value parent’s memories? My little one is a toddler now and I am all to aware of how quickly the time flies. I have loved each day with her and cherish all the memories but we have had some great ones why travelling. I love having memories of us traveling together as a family in the early days and I can’t wait to talk about them to her when she is older, showing her the photos and reminiscing – hopefully while we are still travelling. So next time someone questions why you are taking your baby travelling and why you don’t wait until they will remember, remind them of the importance of your memories.

Have you done travel with baby or toddlers?  What do you think are the best reasons to travel with baby?