Travelling with a baby

 

Travelling with ariyah. 

Ariyah is a well travelled baby, although we are yet to take her abroad, we have travelled around the UK and gone away a far bit.

On a day to day basic from only a few days old she got used to going on buses. This iis because we do not currently drive so only way around London is buses and trains. She was so small when she was born that we had to go get clothes as well as made regular trips to the doctors. Everyone was also so surprised that we took her out so young. We did get the whole wow your brave. I do not think it's brave I think its called living.

Ariyah-mai was good on the bus and when she was young she would just sleep. She also loved the car and it would calm aandd send her to sleep. When herr nanny would come pick us up or drive us places, if it was cold or raining. We would go round every Sunday for sunday roast so she would pick us up and drop us off.

Ariyah-mai first little hoilday away was to whitsable at just two weeks old. We went to visit our best friends who are basically family. They have been there for us so we travelled to us them. Since then we hhave stayed with. Them three times its nice to get away and also. Watching our niece giovanna with ariyah as she loves her so much. We also have traveled to stay with my dad in gravesend and to see my family in bexleyheath. We have gone to margate to stay with Ben's family.

It is important to us to see family even if we have to travel because we want ariyah to see all her family and build those bonds. With both mine and Ben's family. As well as ccloose friends who are chosen family. As blood doess not make a family love does. Ariyah-mai has lots of people who love her and want to see her. I am so glad wee hhave such a amazing family and people in her life who will make that effect to travel and see her too. Who love her and she can build her own strong relationship with.

Our biggest adventure was when I had my surgery, she was just 8 weeks old and we stayed in Hull for 5 days. This was 4 hour train jounery up north. We had to take a bus a tube and two trains. Then walk to. The air B&B where we were staying in cottingham. My dad then picked us up which was 6 hours in. The car due to having to stop. It is important not to let babies be in the car seat for too long the recommended amount is 2 - 2 1/2 hours depending on there age and the car seat hey have. We have a cossatto fully padded one that laid back more which is better for the back support when they are younger. She did sleep most of the way and is every used to travelling which really helped forr this journey.

Over Christmas and new year we were away alot. Hull for my surgery then back for 3 days before heading to East London for boxing day party at my aunts. We then stayed with my dad for 3 nights, traveeledd to Rochester to see my mum for a day then drove to margate to stay at Ben's cousins for a weeek over New year. Lucky we had my dad, step dad aand Ben's aunt to drive us around because we had alot of stuff being away for over 2 weeks.

You forget how much you need to take when. Staying away from home with a baby. Especially when I over pack, planning for all occasions. Again ariyah Wass still very young meaning we had alot of stuff. But we did have some bits that made that travelling and stay away a bit more easier which I will state below with some tips we found useful.

Tips:

1. plan routes well in advance
2. Look for train and tube stations that have lift access
3. Travel or pack light, take things that have multiple purposes. 
4. Plan for all occasions 
5. Leave behind things you can easy buy when away eh. Nappies, wipes ect... 
6. Check weather before travelling 
7. Research local shops and hospitals where you are staying
8. Ask for assistant at stations when needed
9. Ensure family members have things already at theirs ffor wwhen you visit eg. Toys, bounser chairs, play mats, travel cots. Milk

Equipment we used 

Travel mosess basket

Grey holdal

Travle flask, thermal bottle bag, formula pots

Nappy ruck sack

Pram hooks

Light weight pram and car seat

Things we found challenging

The main thing for us was after I had surgery, this made getting around abit difficult due to me not being able to carry anything. I was unable to carry any bags or push the pram, I could not care for ariyah so Ben diid alot of it alone as well as looking afterr me for about 6 weeks. That is why we did spend alot of time with family over Christmas. This is because he then had people around to help him, while I recovered.

We did find that when traveling just around London, we hhad to assk strangers for help. Most people did help but we did get some people who were rude and very unhelpful. Most of the timme it was with circumstances that. We're out of our control. For example when we went to train stations and the lift was not working, therefore Ben hsd to get others to help lift the pram up or down stairs as I could not carry anything. Other times it was hard getting off the trains and bus because it was a bit step sometimes. Then times where it was busy or the weather changed therefore we had to change routes or plans. We found people around London were general very rude, they. Did not understand and would push to gget on or off the bus because they were unpaintent. Then if ariyah did cry people would be annoyed on the bus.
But we got used to that and would ignore people.

Know that most people will help if you assk and that there are some inconsiderate people in this world. But with planning ahead traveling can be made easier.

I know that because we have travelled, and ariyah has met so many people, been on trains and tubes. As well as parties that she is now a very content baby. She loves to be held so she can see what is going on andd is every happy in busy loud environments. This really helps socialise her as she so friendly and does not fuss when being held by many people, like family and friends at parties or just new people in general. We taken her to mine and Ben's work, which is busy and there lots of kids which shee was not fussed by. She likes watching bigger kids play especially her big cousins. Ariyah been to busy soft play and recently swimming which she really enjoyed. She really likes just people watching. She very happy and smile social baby. Which we would not have any other way. We love we can. Go out, travel, go to restrantes, she can met new people and she just so calm.

I can not wait to take her abroad on her first proper hoilday. It will be so cute. Hopefully she don't take after me because I hate planes.

I hope you found our tips and tricks helpful and can travel at ease with you babies.

(Written in February 2020)