Image courtesy of Cassandra, Fit Nerdy Mom
The beauty of being in-network with other moms is that they serve as a constant source of inspiration. As a new parent, I shudder at the thought of traveling with my four-month-old; however, I am learning to slowly overcome these fears simply from my connection with fellow mom and educator, Cassandra of Fit Nerdy Mom. Cassandra and her husband take their two sons – 3 years old and 6 months old – on trips every weekend. She’s a baby travel expert at this point. I had the privilege of interviewing this daring traveler and nature lover about her wanderlust experiences. If you’re looking for sage advice on traveling with small children, check out our chat below.
BGM: What was it like traveling with your baby for the first time? How old was he?
Cassandra: My first long road trip was an interior camping trip with my three-month-old son a few years ago. He took very well to my husband and I’s wanderlust, nomadic lifestyle. It went so well, that he became an expert at sleeping on the go, he slept through everything! To this day we struggle waking up this sleepy head 3-year-old. The ease of this empowered us to travel internationally we visited France, Germany, Switzerland, Belgium, and Cuba.
Our positive experience empowered us to travel much earlier with my second son. Traveling with an infant helped me shake off the shackles that come with mothering a newborn. I’m a well-seasoned solo traveler and decided to go somewhere with just my infant and I presented me with a rare bonding opportunity, and because my husband’s work didn’t allow him vacation-time during their high season. We attended a wedding together in British Colombia, Canada.
BGM: What advice do you have for moms planning to travel with multiple children?
Cassandra: Plan excessively, anticipate all of the worst-case scenarios, don’t think of your children as the angels they probably are (coughs). Imagine them tired, cranky and hangry. How will you tackle this? Me? My son is obsessed with great adventures, something my husband and I do well is turn anything into a game. He moves much more quickly when we’re running after the “bad guys.” He sits still and whispers if we’re hiding from a giant, sleeping T-Rex.
BGM: Babies and children thrive on routines and schedules. Is it possible to maintain these schedules while traveling? Do you have any mom hacks for doing so?
Cassandra: Create a semblance of the routine they’re used to, try traveling around nap-times and anticipating snack time/breastfeeding breaks & pee breaks! My 3-year old is potty trained now and that’s been a challenge for us in long trips because of how small his bladder is. We avoid salty snacks because it makes everyone thirstier and increases the need to stop.
BGM: Any advice for flying with small children? What sort of prep work should moms do in advance?
Cassandra: List of advice that I wish someone gave me before traveling with my four-month-old:
1. Ask for help often! People are usually happy to oblige. Don’t be afraid to let the flight attendants hold your baby while you buckle up or go to the bathroom.
2. Work on your rocking without a rocking chair game.
3. Pack light.
BGM: Every parent fears being the parent on a plane with a screaming baby. Is that a mindset that we should just let go of?
Cassandra: Absolutely! I trust my kids. Your relationship with your kids is strongly based on you. I’m a firm believer that there are no bad kids. A baby that is crying is expressing themselves, often there are obvious clues before it comes to that as well! A book I recommend is Elevated Childcare. It has completely shifted my perspective on parenting young children. It’s a give and take! They don’t mean no harm, I always remind myself that “I am calmer, more patient and much more emotionally stable than a 3-year old.” Take a breath, your calmness is contagious! And so is your joy and excitement! Enjoy this precious time because they’re only little for a little bit mama.
To connect with Cassandra and learn more about her marvelous travels, mom hacks, and book reviews, follow her on Instagram @fit.nerdy.mom and visit her blog Fit Nerdy Mom.
