Guest Post: Traveling with baby

Hello there, this is Pansy from Origami Bug.

Colleen, I trust your trip is going swimmingly. I trust this because I know you. I also know that my baby is a champion traveler when a plane is involved.

I know Little B will love her new adventure. She will love traveling so close to her mama and daddy. She might also like taking sneaky photos of hipsters wearing a “helmet” made from metallic fabric.

I love traveling with the exception of packing. I wrestle with “pack light” and “always be prepared”. Whatever I am, I just like to REALLY be that. So balanced packing is difficult for me. Since the baby has arrived, raise that to the tenth power. M loves to pack. Let me rephrase, she loves to unpack and finds joy in watching me over pack, unpack and repack.

Since you are headed north, you just might get to experience a bit of fall earlier! You and I are both fall lovers and you know what that means:

Just kidding, it means dressing your baby in more layers of ridiculousness. Is it Fight Club or is it Muppet Mania? Regardless, it is certainly fall.

Here are some tips that help me when I travel:

Check a bag. With baby stuff, don’t even try to carry all on. This will add years to your life. Just take the bare essentials on the plane. They weight a good 60 pounds anyway. Carry no liquids and no gels other than hand sanitizer and medication. If you want a breast milk backup plan. Just buy milk at Starbucks or bring single serving shots of formula. Change the diaper just before boarding the plane. Even if you changed just a half hour ago. It might save you from having to perform the contortionist act of changing baby in the smallest space in the world... while moving 500 miles an hour. Buy one new toy and one new book. You are not above bribery. If there is crying, worry only about the baby. The majority of the people on flights are parents; they have all been there. But, the outspoken people tend to get more press. Just remember the make up of B’s target audience: people who don’t mind. The others are more annoying than any baby crying. If all else fails, find a good friend and have one of these. Works every time.

Congrats to the family and cheers to your first big trip with Little B!

May the skies be friendly and your family safe!

See you on the flip side,

Pansy