Holidays: From Barcelona & Busta to travelling with a Bambino…..
Given that Sassen was born in part out of my deep love of travelling, writing an article about travel makes sense. But Covid happened (it’s still happening) and suddenly there was no travel.
Once upon a lifetime I used to work in the lovely seaside city of Brighton & Hove; after work friends and I would walk down to a cocktail bar just in time for happy hour. After finishing our third buy one get one free cocktail, we were always merry enough to book an impromptu flight, debating a list of possible destinations whilst sipping on our fourth drink.
The easyJet app would be opened and we would book anything that could be justified by its ridiculously low price. Barcelona for £17.99, well it would be rude not to….
Whilst work took us in different directions, travelling continued and for the next ten years I was the queen of just book and go. Book first, think later. Thinking later meant anything from ignoring the limited funds in my bank account to the fact that I had already used up my annual leave. My laissez fare attitude meant that quite often I didn’t actually know which remote village in Provence we were in and I was fully hostage to the itinerary of my friend, but a last minute trip around the French Riviera was always going to be worth it.
So along with the many losses of the pandemic the loss of travel hit me hard. My last trip before Covid struck had been to Mykonos where I was blessed by Busta Rhymes outside a taverna. Whilst I may have slightly offended him by stating that I preferred the old school ‘woo ha’ ‘bus-a bus’ Busta with dreads I like to believe that on that night we became firm friends.
It feels good three years later to be writing about travelling again… though in those interim three years I’ve had a baby. So my just book and go strategy has been replaced by just book, mildly panic and then go.
Never did I imagine that I would have to exercise such mastery in changing a nappy in the toilet of a budget airline with a child hell bent on putting anything within reach into her mouth but here we are….
In this period of huge adjustment, here are a few things I have learnt.
After a bit of umming and ahhing we decided to drive to the airport and park in a long stay car park. Get a taxi, it cuts out the faff of then having to get a shuttle bus to the terminal especially if you’re coming back on a late flight.. or any flight that has the potential to be delayed.
A huge amount of time was spent in choosing accommodation. An apartment won and I would go for this every time. All the luggage and extra things you brought ‘just incase’ will need the space and you will need that home away from home with appropriate facilities.
If you have time test a baby sunscreen a couple of days before you go. If they are allergic to any ingredient it will come out in a rash and you will know exactly the source. A rash when you’re away is going to seem 10x worse and more stressful as you go through the million things it could potentially be.
Never underestimate how busy an airport will be and how long it will take to get through. I allowed time for coffee and breakfast and a leisurely stroll around duty free. Somehow there was no time for any of this and at one point I was forced to pick up significant speed in a pair of heeled sandals whilst carrying my baby and swerving between people to get to the gate. (Not a good look)
Which leads me to… wear a watch, keep that hand which you would use to reach for your phone free for something else. You will need all the hands available.
Just check in a bag, no matter how much hand luggage you get included or how short your trip is. It’s so much easier and you don’t have to worry about liquid allowances. Once we had actually practiced carrying all our stuff we realised that we only had four hands and a baby. (See above)
Take a very deep breath before going through security. Security means taking baby out of carrier or buggy, folding up buggy and placing on the conveyor, you may be doing this alone if anyone with you is going through security, then passing baby over to go through yourself then having to potentially put shoes back on, watch, locate phone, bags and put baby back in carrier or buggy all whilst not forgetting your passport or other important item.
If you’re flying with a budget airline or any economy seat and you can afford to buy an extra seat for the baby, consider it. You won’t need any of the extras that it comes with such as luggage allowance or speedy boarding (which is rarely speedy) as airlines do a lot to accommodate families anyway but having a whole row to yourself without someone being assigned right next to you is really worth it.
Feeding at take off and landing helps to settle babies and reduces the pressure on their ears. Feeding is also going to be a welcome source of entertainment and distraction for baby… especially if you are weaning.
If you do breastfeed and feel a bit anxious about it, take a deep breath and just whip out the boob, trying to do so discreetly just led to me getting my elbow stuck in my top and my boob somehow escaping and hanging out anyway.
If you breastfeed take a pump, your baby may continue to feed as normal but it is equally likely that they may not, warmer temperatures don’t always mean more feeds and it is possible that the change of environment and distractions will mean they drink less milk.
Don’t take a billion nappies you can buy them when you arrive, however take lots of wipes, I used nearly a whole pack on the plane. Don’t forget nail clippers.
Have something your baby can play with whilst nappy changing in the plane toilet. If they don’t try to eat their own nappy or hit their head on something then you have won this challenge.
If you have got an extra seat lay down a blanket and discreetly change them right there if you can. I have no shame when it comes to good ideas.
Relax with baby and retreat to your room once or twice a day if you can. They may find it a struggle to take naps due to the change in environment but that short time in a cool room with little to look at gives them time to just adjust and is really helpful in reducing tiredness.
Being in a high chair in a different environment is a completely new experience. 30/40 mins for baby turned out to be pretty tiring, so dinners were fairly quick.... plus we tried to get out before the evening ‘entertainment’ started.
If you need to sterilise anything, simply use boiling water and place items in the fridge if you don’t immediately need them.
Take travel wash. You will be washing clothes, but don’t take too many clothes. Take clothes pegs also.
Take a cardigan as an extra layer for baby on the plane, jumpers are a faff.
Take a carrier on the plane, after an evening flight which was delayed on the way back it was necessary to walk the aisles to settle baby to sleep.
The minute you get a moment to yourself savour it and make the absolute most of it. If partner / friend / family member is holding the baby for a moment whilst you go and do something... take twice as long as you need to do it!
Only keep your apartment / room as tidy and organised as you absolutely need to. There’s no point trying to get on top of anything that’s not necessary as you just miss out on the fun.
Everything tends to run later on holiday, no matter where in the world you go. Don’t worry so much about the time rather think more about how to incorporate a good wind down. For example, if you are heading to a resort aim for an earlier dinner and skip the evening entertainment for a late night stroll with baby, a nice wind down for them and you.
White towels are not your friend. Sand is not your friend.
Take lots of photos but also not so many that you’re not actually enjoying the moment... because it goes far too quickly (Instagram can wait)
Travelling with your baby is a wonderful, wonderful thing. Don’t underestimate what a superhuman you are for managing it, people will (usually) look at you with a great level of respect.
You will come back knackered, so book something else as soon as you get back! (Just don’t go off on another trip with only one day between) 😊
