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Are you a freelance virtual assistant and want to travel and maintain your business? Are you worried about how to do it all with your baby? Don’t worry, I have some tips for you! In this blog post, I will discuss the best ways to travel with your baby, make sure that both of you are as comfortable as possible, and be ready to continue working on your business.
Start Your Journey
If we haven’t met before, my name is Brittany. I am a Pinterest Virtual Assistant and owner of Radtke Virtual Services. I help entrepreneurs who want to start a Pinterest Business Account by setting up and optimizing their account as well as on-going account management. I love helping bloggers, vloggers, podcasters, course creators, and eCommerce business owners pin to their content. If you are interested in life as a freelancer and working from home, please DM me on Instagram.
The first thing you need to do is figure out your accommodations. If you’re going to be staying in a hotel, make sure to book one that has cribs or pack-and-plays available. You should also try to find a hotel that offers breakfast so that you can save time in the morning.
My husband found a hotel that offered free pack-and-plays and had high chairs available (which was so helpful). Before our trip, I bought this amazing black-out cover for the pack and play so my son could have a dark space to sleep and I could have lights on in the room so I could work. You can find it here.
Start Packing!
When packing for yourself, remember to pack light and only bring the essentials. For your baby, you’ll need to pack enough diapers and wipes for the trip, plus some extra in case of emergencies or you can do some shopping when you get to your destination. We did a 26 pack of diapers with 2 packs of wipes for our Monday-Friday trip.
I packed light toys for my son in the checked bags; foam blocks, balls, crinkly books, etc. However, I did pack one larger toy. My son had just started to learn to climb up on his walker, it was his go-to toy so I made sure we had it in our checked luggage.
Clean your house!
Now that you’ve packed everything you need, I suggest tidying up the house a little bit. I know, I know, it’s not the most glamorous part about traveling BUT you will thank yourself when you can come home to a clean(er) house. Nothing too crazy but the essentials, take out the trash, have an empty dishwasher and laundry equipment, and tidy up the living room. The last thing you want to do when you come home is clean!
Keep to your Schedule (if Possible)
When traveling with a baby, try to schedule sleep times during the car ride to the airport and on the plane. Wake windows during security and at the airport were really helpful for us and our nine month old. You know your baby best so figure out a schedule that will (hopefully work well for you).
Arrive early. We boarded right away when we got to our gate on day one. I would have preferred more time to let my son crawl around and get some of the wiggles out of his system. We gave ourselves an extra hour at the airport on our return trip and loved that experience more.
Ticketing, Security, and Airport
Since this was technically my husband’s work trip, we had to book our tickets separately. I recommend planning this out ahead of time and picking your seats if your airline gives you the option. We were not able to get seats next to each other when we got our tickets but luckily, we were able to switch with someone so we could sit together (I’m sure they were relieved to be free of sitting next to a wiggly baby).
Also, make sure you register one ticket with an “infant in arms” when they email you before your flight. Most airlines don’t make you get a seat for the baby until two years of age. The infant still needs a ticket but will be able to sit with you free of charge. They also usually have designated sides or areas where additional oxygen masks are located, if needed.
Once we got to the airport we got our tickets, checked our luggage and went to security. I had a bottle of formula mixed up that Franklin wasn’t interested in. It was over 4 ounces but our TSA agents didn’t put up a fuss about it. Your experience may be different.
Make sure to bring your stroller, car seat, and baby carrier of choice! Franklin was in his stroller until we got to security. After we got through security, we did not put him back in the car seat. Instead, we put him in his baby carrier, worn by my husband. The stroller was nice to put our carry-on backpacks in and walk over to our gate. The stroller is a must have for the airport, in my opinion.
Once those were checked, my husband had his hands free to put his carry on, which included our laptops and other work stuff, in the overhead bin or under his seat. Navigating through the airplane was so much easier knowing that Franklin was secured in the carrier.
When flying with a baby, there are a few extra things you’ll want in your baby’s carry-on. First, make sure you have enough diapers and wipes to last the entire flight, plus a few extra in case of emergencies. I also packed some extra bed pads that were sent home with me from the hospital when I had Franklin. Since they are disposable, I could just toss them if they got soiled.
You should also pack some snacks and formula if your baby is still on bottle feedings. If you’re breastfeeding, make sure to bring a nursing cover or scarf so that you can nurse comfortably in public. If you are a pumping mama, I suggest carrying your pump on (just in case your luggage gets damaged or lost). My pumping journey has ended so I don’t have any more tips than that.
Finally, don’t forget to pack some toys or books to keep your baby entertained during the flight if they wake up, a downloaded Disney movie can be helpful too!
Get the Mini Van or SUV Rental then RELAX!
My husband tried to convince me to do Uber and I was able to convince him that was not the right decision with a baby. With the two luggage bags, the stroller, and the actual baby, we needed the space.
You made it! You are finally at your hotel! We were lucky enough to be in a hotel suite which included a king-sized bed, couch, dresser, great office space, extra counter space, and a kitchenette area that included a DISHWASHER. What a game changer! I spent that first day putting everything in its place, downloading Door Dash (I am from a small town and have never used it before), and getting my workspace ready for the next day. (This is a work trip after all).
My husband left each morning that we were on the trip for his training with the rental van (again just get it). Meaning Franklin and I were staying put at the hotel each day. I took advantage of the free breakfast each morning and had some groceries delivered so we had some lunch and snacks available in the hotel.
My routine was basically the same at the hotel compared to working from home. I woke up, ate breakfast, worked a little, cared for my son, put him down for a nap, worked, ate lunch, baby time, nap number 2, more work, then my husband would come home and we would have dinner and family time.
Nothing too crazy, since it wasn’t a vacation we only really did one “fun” thing which was go to a local international market BUT I couldn’t buy much because we would have had to bring it home.
Plan for the Return Trip and Reflect
Before we knew it, it was time to do the airport thing all over again and go home. I am so thankful that we had the opportunity to go on this work trip together. I wasn’t left at home alone to take care of a baby for five days, my husband wasn’t lonely on his trip, we made memories, and it gave me some great content and knowledge.
The best part about traveling with a baby is that they make everything more fun. Even the simplest things become more exciting when you’re doing them with your little one. It’s also a great way to bond with your child and create memories that will last a lifetime. By following these tips, you can make sure that your family has an enjoyable trip together and you can keep your business going as well.
Radtke Virtual Services offers custom packages so you can receive assistance that fits your unique needs. Check out my website to learn more about the services I provide or to grab my FREE Pinterest Pin Organizer. You can also check out my Shopify Store for digital products.
Again, my name is Brittany and I want to remind you- don’t just pin your dreams, live them!