Travel with More than One Kid

First you started travelling without any kids. You rocked it. You could pack lightly, be spontaneous, and navigate through any situation. Then life throws a little one your way. It definitely took some changes and some flexibility. Suddenly your ability to pack everything into one carry-on looks a bit different....you're lugging through the airport a stroller, car seat, pack and play, diaper bag, carry on, and checked luggage. You're nervous about bothering people on the plane if your baby cries, worried about how to keep a newly walking toddler sitting still on the plane, and trying desperately to wipe down every surface because your child is destined to lick something at some point. Over time, it gets easier though. You realize that traveling with a baby really doesn't have to be so hard. You're nursing, so you don't need to worry about food for them. You can stick them in a pack in play in the hotel bathroom or closet with a towel rigged up as a make-shift curtain, and they manage to sleep just fine. You appreciate greatly the fact that they fly for free on your lap for the first two years. You got this. You've mastered traveling with a kid. You feel like a Jedi.

Then it happens....you have a second kid. I'm not gonna lie, this was a HUGE shift for us as a traveling family. We traveled really well with my first born and were cocky and thought other people just weren't willing to try and see how simple it can be to just bring him along anywhere. But adding a second to the equation was a game-changer. I'll never forget the first big trip we took as a family of four. That first night in the hotel room is burned in my brain forever. We got in right around bedtime or shortly after. We rearranged the room so my 3yo son could sleep on the couch which was turned around the other way against the wall as essentially a make-shift crib. We set up the bassinet for the baby over on the other side of our bed, smiled, and thought it was a good set up. Then we started to try to put them to sleep. The baby's crying kept the toddler up. The toddler's talking kept the baby up. Now they're both screaming and crying at the top of our lungs, and we're worried about bothering other people in the hotel because it's getting late. I kid you not, at one point a worker had the audacity to knock on the door to see if everything was okay. I guarantee my eyes were shooting daggers at him. Eventually, my husband left to drive the baby around in the car to get him to fall asleep while I got the toddler to sleep in the room, and then he and the baby snuck in thereafter. It worked, we had a good trip thereafter, all was fine. But my mindset changed for quite a while after. We no longer were a hotel family- we NEEDED AirBNBs.

My arguments for why AirBNBs (or VRBOs or any type of house rental situation) are the best thing ever for families:

1. Multiple bedrooms. Should I scream that one from the rooftops? MULTIPLE BEDROOMS! Once you have more than one child and they are too young to just fall asleep easily, this is necessary for your sanity. A tired family is not a fun and happy family. Nowadays, my kids are old enough that they can share a hotel bed that is right next to the hotel bed that my husband and I are in and all is fine. Sometimes we still opt for an airbnb for multiple rooms because it's enjoyable for longer trips, but hotels are fine now. When they were younger though, not the case!

2. No need to worry about other guests. I guess that's not true if you're renting an apartment or condo. But if it's a whole house, I'm guessing the neighbors probably can't hear my screaming baby in the middle of the night. Probably. This makes the whole stressful situation at least slightly less stressful.

3. You get a kitchen. This can be huge with kids. You can buy a couple groceries to have breakfast there for an easier start to the mornings, or have packed lunches or at least snacks available and ready. We usually eat at least one dinner in to save money and have a relaxing evening.

4. Often, you get to feel more like you're immersed into the culture or living like a local versus if you were in a hotel. You have a home base, it may be in more of a neighborhood rather than right in the touristy section, you may have an outdoor space to play in or sit and have dinner outside on your porch. This is a much more enjoyable way to travel in my opinion.

I will say, if you're nervous travelling with multiple kids if perhaps it's your first time....it's fair to be nervous. Don't let anyone dismiss that to you or make it seem easy. It's definitely an adjustment. But you WILL adjust. You'll figure out what works for your family, and you'll make some memories in the meantime. And when the kids get older, seeing them becoming little travel buddies is just absolutely amazing. My older son often likes to take on the role of tour guide or helper to my younger son. He'll walk alongside his brother and essentially restate all the stuff the tour guide literally just said. I'm not sure if he thinks his brother can't hear or understand, but he loves feeling like he's helping.