Traveling with an Infant: France and Italy

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Italy, Egypt, France, Hong Kong, UAE, Australia you name it, my bags are packed, I’m ready to go!

If you know me, you know that traveling is a huge part of who I am. I love exploring new places near and far, especially far. I get excited at airports because I know I’m about to embark on a new adventure. Experiencing new cultures and meeting new people always opens my world. Then there is the food. Oh the food! Tasting new foods really gets my blood pumping. And sometimes it’s the simple’s foods or dishes that blow your mind. It’s through such experiences that I come home inspired and ready for all my creative juices to take control.

Therefore, when I found out I was pregnant I would love to say that I was ecstatic, over the moon, but that wasn’t the case. My husband and I were planning for a little more time together to get some more traveling in. So I felt like our year of jettsetting dreams died very quickly. But funny enough I would find out that I was pregnant all the way down in New Zealand, while attending a best friend’s wedding. Maybe that was God’s way of saying, “Relax, look she traveling with you now. Do you really think that a baby is going to stop you?” Well, it sure did not!

Photo: Me, my daughter, my mother and my French host mother

When I first debated taking her on a plane I was scared to death! Everyone told me to be careful because of this, that, and the third. They told me, “Your daughter will get sick.” They had a laundry list of how exhausting it would be and why it’s not worth it. Finally, I decided just go for it. Therefore I planned a trip to Europe in August with my daughter and my parents.

My school’s motto in undergraduate was “preparation is everything.” A phrase I still live by. I’m a planner, so I planned and I packed. I made sure I had everything my little one needed. If I forgot anything, well… I could get it over there. It just so happened that’s what happened. When I lost something, I didn’t forget it. When we were leaving the Paris airport I realized I lost my breast pump bag. Did I freak out? Absolutely!! But it ended up being a blessing in disguise; because we got her to eat new foods and we found out she loved them. Luckily, my daughter’s main food source (me) traveled wherever she went.

We traveled from Paris down to Italy by car. Cinque Terre was on our bucket list and we were not going to leave without experiencing it. But you must understand, it’s not the most convenient place to get to and walk around. Parking is a nightmare, thus they advise you take the train in. The terrain? All 5 cities are built into the side of a cliff, so strollers are not always the best option. No stroller? No problem. I used the baby carrier instead.

My little one did quite well I must say. She loved exploring this new world so much she almost didn’t want to nap. But when she did sleep we didn’t stop what we were doing. She slept in her stroller and in the car as we drove from one city to the next. Surprisingly restaurants and hotels were very accommodating.

Okay, the take away? It is possible to travel with a small child. You may be quick to plan, but be even quicker to adjust those plans. Itineraries may need to change a little, so don’t get frustrated. When you’re moving with an infant you are going to move at a slower pace. Traveling with adults is easy comparatively speaking. You don’t need as much stuff, you can stay out all night, and you can do whatever you want whenever you want. Just understand it will be a different kind of travel experience, not necessarily a bad one. But traveling with a child does have it’s perks at times as odd as that might sound. Hey you get to board the plane before everyone else. And at least you don’t have to pay for a plane ticket until the child turns 2 years old. So take a leap of faith if you are thinking about traveling with a little one, you can do it and still have a good time!

Applying all the sunscreen possible. And yes I had a hat for her!

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4 Comments

  1. Connie Cates says:

    She’s so stinking cute!<3

    1. Danielle Alex says:

      Thanks <3

  2. O says:

    That was awesome to read! I want to travel. And it’s just me! I need to get planning.

    1. Danielle Alex says:

      Awesome! Go for it!