This is the third post of #BabysFirstTrip series, where we interview new parents on their first trip with baby. Meet The Wandermust Family, who consists of Wandermust Mummy, Wandermust Daddy, and daughter Baby E who is now four and a half months old.
Back when they were just a Wandermust Couple they travelled a lot. Between the both of them they have travelled to over 40 countries across 5 continents (though by this time next year they should be only missing Antarctica). They love photography, culture and adventure travel, their favorite trip so far has been travelling overland to trek to see gorillas and chimps in Uganda and Rwanda. THEY firmly believe that travel doesn’t have to stop because you have children just change and they can’t wait for new travel adventures as a family.
Check out more details from The Wandermust family and Baby E first trip! Thank you to Wandermust Mummy & Daddy from sharing the trip!
1. Where did you go and what was the purpose of your travel?
As British expats living in the Middle East, travel was always going to be part of our newborn’s life. Her first trip was taken at the tender age of 3 months to go home to the UK to meet family and be christened.
2. What was the best and/or worst part of the flight?
To be honest, there was no worst part of the flight for us. We had tried to prepare for the flight as much as possible and picked an overnight flight to match Baby E’s sleep schedule. We had prepared ourselves to be “that couple” who couldn’t comfort their baby for a seven hour flight but Baby E was angelic. She fell asleep in the lounge and then stayed asleep until we past immigration. We felt very lucky. Now the car ride home was a different story – I thought babies were suppose to like car seats!
The flight back was pretty much the same but the only frustration was every time Baby E fell to sleep and we put her in the bassinet the captain put the seatbelt sign on – Cue waking up the baby to get her out. In the end she stayed asleep on me for the whole flight – some serious arm cramps!
Wandermust Daddy may have a different story – I still don’t think he has recovered from the midair poo-mageddon as he called it!
3. What was the easiest thing that you least expected while travelling with baby?
I think travelling on a whole with a baby was easier than expected. We utilized the baby carrier and picked flights when we knew Baby E was asleep. I think in my head I had built it up to be a stressful event but it really wasn’t.
4. What was the most challenging part of travelling with baby?
Our trip was pretty hectic. We only had 9 days back home in which we had to fit a christening and travelling the length and breadth of Britain (every two days we did another 3 hour car journey to a new place to see people) with a baby who hates the car seat. We were hoping that she would have got use to it by the end of the trip but no such luck!
5. What is the best thing you brought for baby (or parent) on the trip?
I am afraid I am going to have to be a bit of a cliché and say the Koo-di Travel Cot. It was so small to pack a way for travelling and it doubled up as a play mat during the day!
6. Based on your first experience travelling with baby, are you ready to book another trip or are you going to wait a bit? Where do you think you will go?
Having a baby was never going to stop us travelling, though we knew it would change the type of travelling we did – no more malarial zones for us for a while! We already have a few trips planned. Two more return trips to see family in the UK, a Med cruise and we are currently thinking about a long weekend in the Seychelles all before the year’s out and we are in the midst of travelling a circumnavigation in 2018 which we are very excited about!
7. Do you think you will travel more or less after having a baby? Why do you feel that way?
If you had asked me before giving birth, I think I would have said either slightly less or the same but as it turns out I think it will be travelling more given our plans to circumnavigate! By the time Baby E is two she will have visited 25 countries! Pretty good going for a two year old!
We both believe that travel is a really important part of life. It opens your eyes to new cultures and makes you a more adventurous, accepting and curious soul. All characteristics we want to instill in our daughter. Also life is short, you will never get this time back so make the most of it!
8. What would be your one piece of advice to new parents about travelling with an infant?
I know a lot of parents worrying about the flight so my top tips for that would be try, if you can, to pick a time when you know your baby sleeps well. This is why we prefer overnight flights. Also gripe water on dummies is a miracle on planes to help babies un-pop those ears!
My general advice to new parents would be don’t panic and just do it! Babies and children travel around the world everyday. Read up on your locations and make sure you travel safely but don’t be afraid to do it! Travel doesn’t have to stop only change when you have kids!
9. Do you think the memories of this first trip will be constantly retold for her to learn about as she gets older?
Yes I do. Though this was quite a ‘tame’ trip by our standards it was a really important one. It was the first time our families got to meet Baby E so was really special for us all.
10. Funniest or most memorable part of the trip with baby?
I would have to Wandermust Daddy’s face after his first pooey nappy change mid-air. They’ve got to start making those cubicles bigger!
General Comment from Wandermust Mummy & Wandermust Daddy:
Our blog aims to document our travels as a family and provide inspiration and top tips to make family travel easier for others!
- Website: www.wandermustfamily.com
- Twitter: @wandermustfam
- Pinterest: wandermustfam
Thank you so much to The Wandermust Family for sharing your story with The Passport Kids readers. I can’t wait to hear about all the adventures that Baby E will take over the next couple of years!
Would you like to share your #babysfirsttrip with the readers of The Passport Kids? If so, send me an email at nicolejamie@thepassportkids.com to share your story to inspire and help other first time parents take the plunge with the first trip.
Read more of #BabysFirstTrip series:
Thanks for having us. We really enjoyed being part of #babysfirsttrip
It was so great to learn about your family and Baby E! Can’t wait to follow her adventures around the world!