Traveling with a baby can be intimidating. Especially for a young family and first-time parents.
Will your baby be able to handle the travel? Will it be too much work? Will we be able to enjoy ourselves?
While these concerns are valid, the truth is that traveling as a family can be an incredibly rewarding and enriching experience for both parents and children.
Over the past year and a half since our son was born, we have taken multiple road trips, flights, day trips, and train rides, and each and every trip has been worthwhile in its own way. Check out the list below for our top 4 reasons why you should travel with your baby!
#1 – You will bond & create lasting memories
One of the main benefits of traveling as a family is the opportunity to bond and create lasting memories together. It’s easy for daily life to get in the way and for family members to get caught up in the chaos that comes with it. Being in a new environment and experiencing new things together can bring everyone closer. Not to mention the free time you get to spend together away from work and day care, and the closeness that staying in a hotel room or airbnb may bring.
#2 – You will learn a lot
Stepping out of the normal routine allows parents to learn new things about their baby. Maybe your child loves waving to the cars passing by or sleeps easily in a baby carrier. You may never know until you try taking a long road trip or hiking up a mountain!
As parents, traveling with our little ones can also teach us to be more flexible and patient, as things don’t always go to plan. Many of us are used to highly scheduled day to day lives, and learning to be flexible can go a long way.
Of course, traveling can also be educational for children. It changes up their typical daily routine and allows them to have new experiences outside of the norm. Your little one may learn how to wave to new people on a bus, or find out what sand feels like between their toes at the beach. Maybe for the first time they will see a train in real life, and not just in their story books. Or while you’re hiking, maybe they’ll get to see lots of different animals and plants in a forest. Whatever kind of trip you decide to take, there will be so much for your little one to learn! Everything is new for them, and it is so much fun to experience all of these new things with them for the first time.
#3 – Embrace new experiences
Traveling exposes both us and our children to different cultures, languages, and ways of life. If your child is a picky eater, it may help them to be more open to trying new foods. They may also learn to try new activities and engage with people from different backgrounds. As a result, children who travel may develop greater empathy, understanding, and open-mindedness.
#4 – Step away from the daily grind
In addition to the personal growth and bonding that can come from traveling as a family, it can also be a chance to relax and unwind. We don’t mean sit there for five days with your toes in the sand, although you can do that if it’s what you want! We are really referring to the importance of parents and children taking break, and a change of scenery can be just what everyone needs.
Stepping away from the daily grind – work, home responsibilities, balancing schedules, etc – is so important. It gives everyone a chance to break away from the stress of our busy lives and gives us something special to look forward to. Studies have even shown that changing up our activities frequently and breaking away from our routines can help us each make more lasting memories. What better way to do so than taking a trip somewhere new together!
All in all, we highly recommend traveling with your little one! Our son has become such a trooper after taking multiple road trips, flights, hikes, and even the NYC subway over the past 17 months since he was born. But even if you haven’t done that with your little one yet, it’s not too late! Kids are quick learners and as you’ll soon see, their curiosity will excite them with every new route you decide to take.
Of course, there are logistical challenges to consider when traveling with a baby, such as packing and coordinating schedules. However, with some careful planning and a positive attitude, these challenges can be overcome and the rewards of family travel will far outweigh any difficulties.
So if you’re on the fence about taking a trip as a family, we encourage you to go for it. Whether it’s a beach vacation, a mountain getaway, or a trip to a foreign country, the benefits of traveling as a family are plentiful and well worth it. Happy travels!
Extra Time Abroad is a lifestyle blog focusing on three areas: finance, sustainability, and travel. The blog is managed by husband/wife duo JJ & Janelle. They can be found on Instagram @ExtraTimeAbroad or at the airport!
Extra Time Abroad 