havekids-willtravel-blog

[havekids-willtravel-blog]

Road trips with a newborn

So now it’s time to instill in P what we’ve already been working on with S...and give him a bug we want him to have.  P is about to get his first taste of travel!

We’ve already done 1 road trip with him.  When he was 1 month old, we did what is usually a 10 hour road trip to my sorority’s national convention.  S was 2 months old when we did our first big road trip with her to Canada.  We were a little more prepared to do this trip with P after having done it with S 3 years ago.  

We knew more stops were going to be involved for breastfeeding and diaper changes.  Like we did with S 3 years ago, we split the trip in half and reserved a hotel room half way.  We also did this on our way back too.  Being a typical 10 hour trip, with a newborn it’s really going to take about 14 hours (give or take).  Doing a road trip this was was easier because we were able to take our time and not feel rushed.  While we wanted to get to our destination by a certain time, it was easier with a trip like this split and could plan better for timing of stops and potential traffic and construction delays.  

I also think another piece of good advise is to take a route where you know there are going to be lots of opportunities to pull off and park to rest, use the restroom, eat, and of course feed and change baby.  Me personally, I hate driving and having a baby cry knowing it’s going to be a while before a favorable place to pull off and park is going to take a while to get to.  

Road trips are supposed to be relaxing...just make sure everyone in your car is able to relax too.  No stress :)

[havekids-willtravel-blog]

First things first...the kid needs a passport!

First, let me point out something about myself.  I was born in Canada, but moved to the USA when I was just starting elementary school. I have been a naturalized American citizen since 2012.  I still have the majority of my family in Canada.   

We knew that when my daughter was born, we would need to apply for her passport right away.  S was born at the beginning of August and we had plans to take her to Canada for Canadian Thanksgiving in October so the rest of my family could meet her.  As soon as she was born, we made her passport application appointment right away.  They advised us on the phone that we should let the post office take her photo because not all places that take passport photos would take a newborn’s photo.  

The day of S’s passport appointment, when we got to the post office, they let us know that their camera wasn’t working and that we would need to take her to the drug store down the street to have her photo taken.  We could then return and complete the application process.  

Let me tell you…it certainly isn’t simple trying to hold up a newborn infant (she was 10 days old) to take a passport photo.  They kept trying and the photos were just not working.  So then (and I’m not sure who came up with this) had an idea and this is my biggest tip when doing passport photos for babies:

**Lay a piece of white poster board on the ground.  Then lay the baby on the poster board and take the photo from above.  We were finally able to get an acceptable shot!  This way, no one is having to hold the baby up, making the photo look awkward!**

When P was born, he was born in May…and the only international travel we had planned was October, again to Canada for Canadian Thanksgiving.  So we had a little more time to apply for his passport, and had his appointment when he was almost a month old.  Again, when we showed up to his appointment…the camera wasn’t working and my husband took him to a drug store down the street to take his photo.

Maybe if you want to get photos done ahead of time, check with the place you’re having photos done at if they will take infant photos.  Just my piece of advice because showing up to the post office to have them take the photos and then both times not having the camera work…it would have saved us a lot of time if we had done it ahead of time.  

Just my two cents…if anyone reading this wants to comment with their own pieces of advice, go for it! And of course…always make sure you look at the application requirements when applying for passports for kids :)

[havekids-willtravel-blog]

Starting things off...

Hi!  Let me first introduce myself!  I’m Jessica!  I’ve been married to my husband for 6 years (together for 10) and we have 2 kids...a soon to be 3 year old daughter (S), and a 2 month old son (P).  

My husband and I love to travel.  We traveled together while we were dating, and it has carried on into being married.  We’ve road tripped, flown, and of course cruised.  

When we had kids, we knew we wanted to hopefully put the travel bug in them as well.  Just because we became parents didn’t mean we couldn’t continue traveling and knew that we usually wanted our kids to come with us.  They should see the world too!  So here is our life and adventures!