Our first trip as a family of four is coming up fast! Our first son will be just over 5 years old and our newborn baby will be four months old. The thought of leaving them home while we holiday never crossed our minds.
As many of our fellow travelling families would agree, babies are easier to travel with than toddlers. So we are trying to maximise this “easier” second baby phase, as we are sure travelling with a toddler and school age boy in upcoming years will become more of a challenge.
In the meantime, at home we have been busy adjusting to life with two boys. As mentioned in previous post, we are doing an uncommon Asian thing: raising kids without a nanny.
These are the things we have been doing to manage having two kids and prepare for our upcoming travel:
1. Taking advice and hang around happy people
Notice that after you give birth suddenly everyone around you become a baby expert. We only pay attention to other parents who are great with kids and we admire.
2. Splitting evening duties evenly
“I have to work in the morning” is not a good enough reason for either of us to not help at home. Ask anyone who have kids and they will tell you that going to work is many times easier than taking care of kids at home.
We make sure we split parenting duties 50/50.
3. We allow each other alone time to leave the house – everyday
From the very first week! This help keep everyone’s sanity.
Also it is great for kids to have one on one time with either parent. Even half an hour going out for a walk, do some groceries or drink coffee does wonders.
We are really big on this “me time” and make it a priority. It makes us feel calmer and more relaxed taking care of the boys.
4. And leave the house as a family – every other day
Chinese families traditionally stay home for up to 30 days (confinement period) after baby’s birth. We didn’t even last 30 hours at home post leaving the hospital!
We are never good at staying home all day, hearing baby cry, changing nappies and watching Netflix. The first few times leaving the house felt as complicated as moving houses, but we soon got the hang of it.
We usually go somewhere easy: local cafe, playground – anywhere outside the house.
5. We avoid the 3 I’s of parenting
iPad, ice cream and “I don’t know, ask your Mum”.
6. Dividing attention evenly for both kids
With the birth of a younger sibling, first child can have a range of emotions, from excitement to jealousy or even resentment. You will be trying to establish baby’s feeding and sleeping schedule while still attending to your older child’s needs.
We keep our oldest son busy everyday. Our oldest kept up his Lego building, playground outings, movie nights and sport lessons routine. Luckily, so far, our first son has been super helpful and understanding.
7. As always – we eat healthy
Bye snacks! Throw them away. Don’t buy them.
We have been stocking the house with quick, ready to cook dinners. We rely on our oven and air fryer a lot. If you feel up to cooking from scratch, make double portions and freeze them. Or have lovely friends who cook for you! (We are so lucky to have lots of these!)
Remember: Bad food affects your mood.
8. We maintain our exercise
Exercise is probably the last thing on your mind when feeling tired and not sleeping well. But light exercise, like walking around the block, will work wonders in making you feel great. It will give you much needed energy to care for the kids.
No exercise and eating sugary snacks (bubble tea, chocolates etc) will make you feel worse.
9. We got good eye creams and keep up with our self care regime
Take good care of yourself – buy good skin care, reward yourself with massages and facials.
Without you, your family is incomplete.
10. If possible organise date nights
You and your partner will likely to spend less time alone together, so be sure to have an occasional date nights once things settle down.
Without the two of you, there is no family.
For places we have visited, Checkout our website’s travel Destinations section. We buy our travel essentials online via Ebay
