little teachers: toddlers in tiaras and afro babies

I met this gorgeous little girl when I was on an outreach in the Solomon Islands several years ago. It was my first time in the nation and I had a lot to learn about the people and the culture.

Although the expression I captured makes her look like a sad little girl, she wasn't. She was simply lovely and it didn't take much for my heart to melt as she charmed me.

I was so captured by her beauty - those deep brown eyes and her perfect little features.

But I couldn't believe she had blonde hair. I thought to myself, "What kind of a parent living in an incredibly poor village spends money on bleaching the hair of such a young child?" It made me angry to think that these little ones had such limited access to health care and education and basic necessities and yet someone deemed it appropriate to spend money on bleaching her beautiful little fro.

Besides, didn't they know she was already perfect? Perfect "as-is"?

What I didn't know then is that her hair was naturally blonde and that many children and adults from her people group are born with dark skin and blonde hair. It really is stunning and I had never seen anything like it before.

When I found out the truth I was so convicted of being judgmental. Here I was, a guest in this nation, jumping to conclusions about someone else's parenting based solely on the appearance of their child.

Shame on me.

Admittedly it's hard not to do this when I come from a culture that has "toddlers in tiaras" and other questionable practices like that. I look at preschool-aged girls with full make-up and clothing that is sexy-beyond-their-years and I automatically form opinions about what their mothers are like. (Not saying that it's right of me to do so... just that it's extremely hard not to in these types of scenarios.)

In the case of this sort of childhood pageantry, my view of the parents is almost automatically formed by looking at the child.

But it just doesn't translate cross-culturally. This beautiful little blonde girl taught me a lesson: don't assume, don't judge, don't jump to conclusions.

It's the age old antic - don't judge a book by it's cover.

I'm thankful for this little teacher and the lesson she taught me by accident. I try to remember her when I see children from other cultures (even in my own home town) that dress or act in ways I don't understand.

Children need our respect, our love, our kindness, and our acceptance no matter how similar or different they are to our own. And yes, even toddlers in tiaras. They are children too - precious and infinitely valuable, regardless of the decisions their parents make for them. They deserve nothing less.

And as much as I love children, I'm determined to be less judgmental toward their parents too. I want to discover their stories, what motivates them, why they make the decisions they do. Parents - all parents - need the support of other parents.

Children, parents, all people... Every man, woman, and child deserves our best effort at suspending judgement and valuing them for who they are.

Dear friends, have you caught yourself making judgements about other parents by something that you see in their child but haven't yet taken the time to try and understand? (Or can you think of a situation where you deliberately made a choice to NOT judge a book by it's cover?) What have the children in your life taught you lately?

humbled,


p.s. This post is part of a new series - All the Children of the World: Little Teachers - where I feature a photo of a precious little one that I've met during my volunteer work in developing nations, as well as what I learned about life and parenting through meeting them.

adriel booker | the mommyhood memos | 2011
do not reproduce without written permission

little teachers: laugh loud

I'm venturing into new territory here.

You may or may not know that with my work I do a lot of travel, especially into developing nations. I've been doing outreaches for the last 10+ years, both as a single person and now together with my husband and family. (I'm a big believer in family volunteerism and teaching our kids how to serve others while they're still young.)

We teach, we advocate, we do relief work. We volunteer in schools, orphanages, clinics, and churches. We help refugees, the poor, and those in need of care. We're no heroes... we just love, give what we've received, and know that it is an absolute privilege to do so.

And so because of this work that I so deeply adore, I've been to many, many nations all over the planet. Literally.

But my favorite place in all the world to be is Asia. Anywhere in Asia. It's a land that makes my heart burst.

One of the things that delights me to no end is going for long walks on my days off wandering through cities or villages and photographing the people that I meet. I could spend days on end doing this.... walking, connecting, capturing, recording.

And since the Memos is all about motherhood and parenting and children, I thought it fitting to introduce you to some of the very special children in my life. Hence my new series that I will post now and then - All the Children of the World: Little Teachers.

These beautiful littles don't "belong" to me. In fact, often I can't even recall their names.

But always I will remember their faces, the moments we shared together, and the ways they impacted my life.

Each one of them is beyond precious.

Allow me to introduce you to some boys I met in Pontianak, Indonesia (on the island of Borneo).

{buddies in borneo - 2008}

Although nowhere near my best on a technical level, this photo remains one of my all time favorites so I thought it fitting to kick off this new series with it.

These boys loved having their photo taken. No doubt it was their grand debut on the international stage and they didn't waste a moment of it.

They splashed, they ran, they danced, and they hollered. They closed their eyes, threw their heads back, and unabashedly roared with laughter.

I love the color and movement and emotion in this photo and how it captures the pure abandon with which they were enjoying the moment.

Every time I see it I'm reminded to play hard, laugh loud, and hold somebody's hand.

Dear friends, what have the Little Teachers in your life taught you or reminded you to do lately?

smiling wide,

adriel booker | the mommyhood memos | 2011
 do not reproduce without written permission

the destination? or the journey?

Thirty-four-and-a-half. That’s the number of hours we spent waiting for planes and layin-over on our recent trip from Townsville-Sydney-San Francisco-Honolulu-Kona-Los Angeles-San Francisco-Bend-San Francisco-Sydney-Brisbane-Townsville.

I’m not ready to take that trip again anytime soon.

Thirty-four-and-a-half hours.

Oh, and that was not including our overnight layover in San Francisco due to inclement weather (which would take us to well over forty-five hours).

I’ve heard it said that it’s about the journey, not the destination… And I get that. But let me tell you, we wouldn’t go on a journey like that unless there were some really fabulous destinations on the other side.

So maybe it’s about the journey and the destination.

But when you have a travel itinerary as epic (read: long) as ours, you have to make the most of the journey… for everyone’s sake.

A few glimpses of how we spent our thirty-four-and-a-half hours:

We tried to make the most of our thirty-four-and-a-half.

There were frequent trips to Starbucks. There was Chinese take-out. There were naps on chests. There were naps on floors. There was window shopping. There were borrowed highchairs. There were meals on the floor. There were adventures in the Ergo. There was territory marked out in forgotten waiting areas. There were many repeats of the same four board books. There were handfuls of Cheerios… many handfuls. And there were even some extra moments with grandparents and friends to help us in the wait.

Some of those hours were better spent than others… but overall we did try to enjoy some “family time” together since it was [mostly] just the three of us with nowhere to go and nothing to do… except wait. And enjoy the moment.

Dear friends, do you find it easy or hard to enjoy the journey? Are you a “destination person”, a “journey person”, or a combination of the two?

arrived… home, that is,

adriel booker | the mommyhood memos | 2010 
do not reproduce without written permission

levi's tips and tricks for traveling with your mama

My kid has more frequent flyer miles racked up than most people twenty years his senior. He’s now been on eight flights and within the next month will have another nine flights under his belt.

After I traveled overseas with Levi on my own when he was ten weeks old, I wrote a post called Tips and Tricks for Traveling with an Infant. (If you need some travel tips for the holidays, you can check those out here.) But this time around I asked Levi if he could give us some insight from his perspective. He is, after all, an excellent world traveler.

Without further adieu, here are Levi’s tips and tricks for traveling with your Mama:

1.     Giggle at everything. This will help mama to not get stressed about the heavy bags and the long lines.

2.     Clap when you see the food come out. Long flights are no time for meal-time dramas, so make sure she sees that you’re excited to eat… and then eat quickly and heartily.

3.     Time your poos for layovers. She will be so happy to not be trying to change you inside the mouse hole that they call an airline bathroom. Or, at least if you do have to poo while on the plane, just keep your hands out of it when she's trying to change you. The less stress you cause in that little closet, the better. Trust me on this one.

4.     Give her extra cuddles. Most likely she is tired from all the planning and packing and cleaning during the lead-up to the trip, so getting more cuddly than usual will remind her that it was all more than worth it.

5.     Put up with her taking lots of photos… and ham it up a little. Documenting the memories is important to her, so have fun with it. I know she takes enough to fill up a bazillion memory cards, but humor her. Having great photos really does make her heart sing.

6.     Don’t be clingy. Let her hold you when she’s up for it, but spend just as much time with Daddy too. She loves her time with you, but she also loves seeing you love your time with Daddy. And apparently she sometimes needs her space too. At least, that’s what Daddy tells me.

7.     Cry if you really need to, but refrain from protest crying and tantrums. Mamas don’t like tantrums or protests on the best of days, but those things will stress her our way more if you’re in a confined space. So just skip it and keep reasonably quiet.

8.     Charm and befriend the flight attendants and the other passengers. When they give Mama compliments about how wonderful you are, she will beam with delight… and relief.

9.     Fall asleep in her arms. I know you normally think you’re too big to sleep in Mama’s arms these days, but she will love the feeling of you breathing deeply on her chest. Give her this little piece of heaven; she deserves it.

10.  Be easily entertained. It’s unrealistic to think Mama can bring along all of your favorite toys, so entertain yourself with new “grown-up things” like the inflight magazine, seat belts, and the channel buttons on the arm rests.

Dear friends, aren’t Levi’s tips great? The best part about his tips is that he speaks them from experience and—so far—has abided by all of them. What would your child add to Levi’s list?

proud mama of a wonderful frequent flyer,

adriel booker | the mommyhood memos | 2010 
do not reproduce without written permission

i gots me some mama badges

Today I was reading of Melissa’s adventures in NYC on Dear Baby and how she has earned a new “badge for her sash” by changing her precious little pumpkin on her lap in a restaurant bathroom. It got me thinking about what badges I’ve earned in the last six months…

1.         The I-Can-Make-Dinner-While-Breast-Feeding Badge. It had been one of those days… and I was behind on absolutely everything, including making dinner for the friends that were about to come around. But when I pulled out “my breast friend” and a kitchen barstool, I found out that I do have the mommy-multi-tasking talent that I always dreamed of. {And I did it without burning down the house.}

2.           The I-Can-Go-To-The-Bathroom-With-An-Infant-Strapped-To-My-Chest Badge. When my son was seven weeks old I traveled from Australia to America without my husband to show Levi off to my family. (Hubs had to work.) I did my best to limit my fluids in transit and time my bathroom breaks just right, but when it takes you four flights to get from point A to point B over a 20+ hour period, there are some things you just can’t control. Rather than pass my little babe to a stranger—or pee my pants for that matter—I strapped him up on my chest in the Moby Wrap and did what I needed to do. {Also worth mentioning here is the I-Can-Manage-Shuttle-Busses-And-Check-In-And-Security-With-A-Diaper-Bag-Stroller-And-Large-Suitcase-By-Myself-Without-Waking-My-Baby Badge. I proudly earned that one too.}

3.           The I-Can-Live-Off-Of-Three-Hours-Of-Sleep Badge. Every mommy knows about this badge… but that doesn’t make it any easier to earn. I count myself among the proud who is still awake after a long time of being… awake.

4.           The I-Can-Drive-My-Manual-Car-With-One-Hand-While-Holding-A-Paci-In-My-Screaming-Baby’s-Mouth-With-The-Other-Hand Badge. Do you have this one? I bet you do. I’m told this one is a precursor to earning the I-Can-Drive-With-One-Hand-While-Breaking-Up-A-Fight-In-The-Backseat Badge. {We’re not there yet.}

5.           The I-Can-Interpret-Different-Colors-And-Textures-And-Consistencies-Of-Poo Badge. Black? Green? Yellow? Brown? Thin? Thick? I know what they mean and I’m a better mom for it. In fact, I would say that I am a poo expert.

6.           The-I-Can-Pull-A-Song-Out-Of-Nowhere-About-Anything-At-Any-Time Badge. Songs for bath time? Songs for diaper changes? Songs for owies? Songs for washing the dishes? Songs for sleepy time? I know ‘em all… because as of six months I became a very specialized songwriter.

7.           The I-Can-Beat-My-Baby-At-A-Wrestling-Match-I-Mean-Nail-Clipping-Session Badge. This one took some time to perfect, but I’ve found the perfect pin position now. {It should be noted here that this is the only time Levi gets bribed with the “secret weapon” aka the television. Works like a charm.}

8.           The I’ve-Learned-How-To-Pack-Way-More-In-The-Car-For-A-Family-Vacation-Than-I-Ever-Thought-Possible-Or-Necessary Badge. Weekend camping trip. Need I say more?

9.           The I-Pick-Other-Peoples-Noses-So-What Badge. This badge comes with immense satisfaction… because a crusty nose on a clean baby just doesn’t sit right with me.

10.      The Do-Ya-Wanna-See-My-Boobs-Cause-I-Just-Don’t-Care-Who-Does-Anymore Badge. Truth be told, my boobs just don’t feel much different than my fabulous ankles these days. I do try to keep the girls covered though… but that’s for your sake, not mine.

Dear Mommy-Friends, I think I've actually earned a few more... but I'm gonna cut it off at ten. What mama badges have you earned that you're most proud of?

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tips and tricks for camping with a baby

Babies love to be outside. Babies love a change of scenery. Babies love quality and quantity time with the ones they love… So, why wouldn’t babies love camping?!

We just got back from our first camping trip in the Aussie bush with Levi and it was a big success. I wanted to share what we learned, as well as some of the great tips that I got from other mommies, in hopes that your next camping trip with bubs will be fabulous too!

Now... here are my top tips for camping with a baby:

1. Baby jogger. We brought our jogging stroller (my husband calls it Levi’s 4-wheel-drive) and it was probably the single best thing we had with us. We put Levi to sleep in it for naptimes enabling us to wheel it wherever we were, which was great if we were moving between our tent area and the campfire area or the kitchen area. (It was a really big, spread out campsite!)

(one of many afternoon naps in the jogger)

We also put him to bed in it in the evenings so we could hang around the campfire or stay up playing cards as late as we wanted to without worrying about him being in the tent alone on the other side of the campsite. (Then transferred him to bed when we went to bed.) It was also great because we kept all our essentials in the basket and cup holders, meaning less trips back and forth to the tent for little things we needed throughout the day – sunscreen, bug spray, diapers and wipes, toys, water bottle, extra layers for bub, books, etc.

2. Layered clothing. Especially if you are camping in a place or season where there’s a big spectrum of temperatures, laying is a must!!! We had days warm enough for a onsie and shorts, and nights where we needed fleece and beanies! Layer up those babies so you can just peel off the layers as the sun gets stronger and put them back on as it disappears again. (And another little tip that we discovered: we used baby socks pulled up to the elbows for “mittens” on Levi during the cold nights.)

3. Emergency kit. Baby Tylenol, teething gel, fingernail clippers, butt paste, Vaseline, etc… Hopefully you don’t need any of it, but better to have a small stash on hand just in case.

4. Diapers galore. I took way more diapers than I thought we’d need… and only came back with five! For whatever reason, our little guy was a champion pooper while we were camping… much more than usual! Needless to say I was very glad I had a bigger than usual supply, so things didn’t get too messy *ahem* or desperate.

5. Wet wipes. Most mommies would instinctively bring a ton of wipes without really thinking, but just for the sake of being thorough I can’t go without adding these to the list! Bring a package for the tent, one for the car, one to keep near the kitchen or campfire, and one for the basket in your jogger. Use them for dirty bums, dirty faces, “sponge baths”, and for mommy and daddy’s sticky marshmallow fingers after those late night s’mores.

6. Travel cot. Many of the moms who left comments on my post asking for advice on camping mentioned bringing a porta-cot (pack-n-play). We brought one and actually didn’t end up using it. BUT, that is mostly because our little five-month-old isn’t yet crawling. Since he is still only a scooter we let him play on a blanket or a piece of carpet… but I think when we go camping in August we will definitely use the porta-cot since he’ll most likely be all over the place by then. (Also, it wouldn’t fit in our tent so we brought his moses basket—which he barely fit into—for him to sleep in at night. We’ll need to upgrade to a bigger tent with space for the porta-cot very soon!)

7. Plastic bucket. Throw the toys in… dump them out… fill up with water… and wallah – a portable toy box turned baby bath. Little bub will love the chance to sit in a funny little bath and hold the edges while he gets a wash. (And what a great photo op!)

8. Bath rug. We brought a large old bath mat to put under the moses basket (or portacot). The rubber base and cotton overlay made a perfect barrier from the cold air seeping in from the ground through the bottom of the tent. If you don’t have an old rug to use, then a blanket will work too.

9. Front carrier. Many moms also recommended taking a front (or back) carrier. We took ours along, but this is another item we didn’t end up using. However I’m keeping it on the list because I can see how invaluable it would be if you were in a place where you planned to do some hiking… or if you were camping without a bunch of friends who were just “waiting in line” for a chance to hold and play with bubs (which was the case for us – lucky little Levi! *grin*).

10. The car. We parked our car right next to our tent in case bubby had a meltdown in the middle of the night and we needed to take him somewhere where the crying was at least muffed a little bit from the other campers. Thankfully we didn’t need to use it for this reason! We did use it a lot though… for diaper changes. Since we have a hatchback I set up the trunk as a changing station with an old towel, the wipes, diapers, hand sanitiser, and toy for baby to hold onto for quick diaper changes. Of course you can change a diaper anywhere, but we just found this helpful and easier than always doing it on the ground.

11. Washable toys. This is pretty much just common sense, but ditch the stuffed animals and bring a couple of wooden or plastic toys that can easily be rinsed off after they’ve had a roll around in the dirt.

12. Portable shade. Bring a shade tent, a marquee, a spare tarp, or even a beach or patio umbrella to set up a spot of shade for baby to play under (or for over the portacot) unless there is ample tree covering. Also bring a good hat and sunscreen so those precious little cheeks don’t get too rosy.

13. Mozzie net. We have a mosquito net with elastic around the edges that fits over a stroller (and it would also fit over a portacot), which is perfect to keep those pesky mozzies away. We didn’t use it for this trip since it’s not mosquito season here in the Aussie winter… but no doubt this is a camping must-have for most camp-outs.

14. Other families. Part of the fun of camping is not just where you go, but who you go with. If you’re able to go with other families—especially other families with babies—then your whole trip will be more fun. The babies can play together, you can share supplies, and you won’t be as nervous about waking the others up since all the parents are in the same boat… hoping their babies will sleep through the night and not wake the forest! We had a bunch of singles, families, young children, and babies on this trip – a huge mixture. It was so fun to camp together with people who love our entire family, baby included.

As I expected, camping with a baby was a whole lot of fun. Yes, our car was a little more packed-out than it used to be… but it was so worth it! Babies are incredibly adaptable and our little guy did great. As long as mommy and daddy are flexible too, then the whole family will have a blast.

Hope these tips help prepare you for your next adventure in the great outdoors! And special thanks to all the mommies who gave me great tips before we left. Did I forget something that worked for you? Leave your advice in a comment below!

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ahoy matey: getting your kids involved in volunteerism

My husband and I have a firm belief that children should grow up knowing what it means to reach out to and serve others – particularly the poor and needy. Although Levi is certainly not at an age yet where he can comprehend something like this, we want him to be involved in volunteerism from the get go… so that this will be something he naturally learns and grows into.

We believe that as we model this in our family he will see that it’s not only good and right, but also lots of fun and so fulfilling! And of course we hope that someday, it will be his own convictions that motivate and drive him to extend himself and help others, and that he’ll find his own unique expression for it.

Recently we had the opportunity get a little taste of life on the high seas as we bunked in on YWAM’s Medical Ship. YWAM is the organization that we are full-time volunteers with, though most of our work as a couple is centered on training young people in leadership and volunteerism. Normally our work keeps us on the land, but it was so much fun to see first hand the ins and outs of how our field staff live as they travel on the ship into places like Papua New Guinea to provide health care to those in need (primarily optometry and dentistry and primary health care).

Our little sailing trip took us up the coast of Queensland and lasted only a night and a day… but in a few weeks the ship will take off to PNG for outreach and medical work, which will be ongoing throughout the next 5+ years. As a family we are working in Australia to aid in this happening… but that doesn’t mean we won’t jump at the chance to join them in PNG when the opportunity arises. (Perhaps later this year or next??)

If you’re interested in more, please take a minute to check out this news report that just did a feature on us:

And now for a bit about how the sail went with little bubby…

Basically in a nutshell, it was fantastic!

It was a nice sail – fairly uneventful, which is a good thing—no doubt—when you’re out on the ocean! We all stayed well (thankfully no sea sickness!) and we were given a single cabin to bunk into, which was awesome. It was tiny, tiny, tiny… but compared to where many of the single staff were staying, we had a deluxe suite! Levi and I shared a bed and Ryan spread out a mattress on the floor.

Levi had the best sleep he’s had in ages. (Thank you rolling waves and rocking ship!) And despite being on the floor, Ryan also had the best sleep he’s had in a while (thanks to Levi not waking up nearly as much as he had been the week before – woohoo!). And me? Well, not so good... I was too afraid of rolling over on Levi or him getting smothered by my pillow or blankets so I slept very lightly and fitfully all night. (No co-sleeping on a regular basis for this little family!)

But, in saying all that… it was amazing! Our time was so much more than just about the sleeping arrangements (though I know you’ll love these photos of our little space). We got to spend some quality time with some of the ship crew and get to know them more. We got to see first hand how our “field staff” will be living (which means we’ll better be able to support from our base in Australia). And we got to have a little adventure together as a family. (We so hope that Levi can grow up with outreach as a normal part of his life – and not just on special occasions.)

(This photo used courtesy of YWAM Ships.)

Oh, I should also mention here that throughout the Australian tour we’ve gathered literally thousands of pairs of eye glasses and raised thousands of dollars for the work among the poor in PNG. It’s such a delight to see the dream of lives being touched through care and compassion coming true in such a tangible way. (Please contact me if you’d like to get involved by donating some of your used spectacles or sunnies!)

We feel so honored to be a part of this incredible work, even if ours is a small part.

Dear mommy friends, we all want our kids to grow up unselfishly and learn how to lend a hand to those in need… So how do you get your kids involved in reaching out into your community and beyond? I’d love to hear some more ideas – let’s inspire each other!

P.S. Not sure how to fix the edge of those videos from being cut off... sorry about that!

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mommy friends, talk to me about camping with a baby!

Levi is a lucky little guy on the move. He's traveled overseas from Australia to America, he's taken a two-day sail up the coast of Queensland, and now we're getting ready for his first camping trip! So... I'd love your advice on camping with a 5-month-old baby as we get ready to head out bush in a few days to camp with a whole bunch of friends and coworkers for our annual staff retreat (with over 100 people... woohoo, tent city!).

Frankly, although I know it will be super fun, I'm also a little nervous. Of course I'm imagining the worst: a screaming baby waking the whole forrest at 3:00am or little critters sneaking into my precious baby's bed (eww!). But I'm sure we'll be just fine and absolutely love it. (Babies are so adaptable!)

The good news is that there will also be two other families with babies along with us, which alleviates some of the pressure we might feel if we were the only ones caring for a miniature person with very healthy lungs and the potential to wake bears out of hibernation! (Good thing there are no bears in the outback. *grin*) Oh yeah, and the other good news is that the childless campers among us are our friends (and adore our sweet boy) so no doubt they will be understanding and extend lots of grace.

So... here goes! We've mastered planes... and then ships... and our next challenge is tents! (And we're totally up for it - so fun!)

A few details: We're going for two nights and three days. It will be warm during the day and very cold at night. There is a (rustic!) toilet block with running water and also a shed with electrical outlets powered by a large generator that we bring (our tents are set up across the paddock from there). And of course we'll have clean filtered drinking water. Also, Levi's not onto solids yet, only breast feeding, so that part's easy (yay!) and we don't usually co-sleep, but for this I'm certainly open to it! :)

So... what do you think?

My questions for you are: Have you taken a baby camping? What worked for you and what didn't? What did you wish you would have considered ahead of time?

Thanks in advance for your advice mommy friends!



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tips and tricks for traveling with an infant

Call me crazy, but when my son was 7 weeks old we were saying goodbye to Daddy and boarding an American-bound plane from Australia for a 10-day visit to see my family. If my husband could have come, he would have, but circumstances wouldn’t allow at the time. Still, we felt it am important part of Levi’s life to meet the rest of my family early on (or, more accurately, for them to meet him).

I’ve done my fair share of travelling the globe over the last 14 years (both independently and with my work), and would consider myself somewhat of an unofficial expert on the matter… But traveling with a newborn was a completely new challenge! It was crazy, but I was up for it. Here’s what I learned and want to pass on to other adventurous mommies:

12. Plan ahead. This cannot be overemphasized! By nature, when it comes to travelling at least, I am a “winger”. Meaning, yes, I like to have my tickets booked in advance… but things like hotels and itineraries, and places to go, well, I’ve always thought those were best left to “feel” my way through once I hit the ground. But a baby changes everything! I could not have done this trip well unless I had put some thought into it ahead of time: what I would bring, what I would borrow, where I would stay and go, and how I would get from place to place. You get the idea. Plan it baby, plan it!

11. Minimize your gear. Isn’t this one a no-brainer? I had one suitcase, one diaper bag as my carry-on, and a stroller (plus my precious baby cargo) and it still felt like a mountain of gear! If you travel with more than one suitcase and more than one carry-on… you’re asking for trouble! (I speak from experience. Even though I left Australia with what I’m recommending here… I returned with an extra carry-on AND an extra suitcase, jam-packed with pressies from all Levi’s adoring fans. It was great to be well-stocked with clothes, toys and little baby books… but hard to manage for mommy!) In summary, if possible, avoid too much luggage… or at least think about it long and hard before biting off more than you can carry on your own in one trip! (And for the record—just this once—the extra luggage on the way home it was worth it.)

10. Reserve a bulk head seat (and a bassinet if it’s available) and board the plane early. I hate boarding planes early. I drive my husband nuts with this one. But seriously, who likes to spend more time sitting in that confined space than you absolutely have to?! I like to be free as long as possible and only jump on the plane during the final boarding call. Babies change everything! Get on that plane as early as possible so that you can make sure to stow your gear in a place that’s as convenient as possible. And do reserve the bulk head seats (and a bassinet for long-haul flights). This will give you a place to tend to your baby as comfortably as humanly possible while camping out in a glove-box.

9. Along with packing bubby's change of clothes in your carry-on… pack yourself a change of shirt as well. Not much explanation needed here! We all know that spit up and blowouts reach far beyond the personal space of our innocent little bubs. It's best to prepare for the worst!

8. Feed your babe on take off and landing. This keeps their little jaws going and their ears adjusting to the changing elevation… and keeps them from screaming their heads off (hence keeping you from being beaten needlessly by that rude guy two rows back). Oh yeah, and most importantly it helps your sweet one to avoid the unnecessary pain of blocked ears.

7. Take a few key familiar items from home. For me this meant traveling with a portable soft bassinet. Could I have done without it? Technically yes, but I decided since my bub and I would be sleeping in five different locations over the course of two weeks, it would serve him to provide some consistency for his immediate sleeping environment at least. I packed my clothes in the bassinet and then packed it in my suitcase, so really it didn’t take up that much more room… but it did give him a cozy place to snuggle into each night, even though the rest of his surroundings were constantly shifting.

6. Don’t order a caramel macchiato an hour before boarding. Yes, it tastes good, so good... but it also creates the need for an extra trip to the loo before it’s “convenient.” Ever tried to hold a baby while going to the bathroom? All I can say is... don’t. I wouldn’t advise asking the next lady in line to hold your wee one either (not that I've tried that one!). So hold off on that coffee (or coke) until just before boarding the plane. That way, when nature calls one of the friendly flight attendants can attend to your darling while you use the facilities. Those adoring flight attendants are safe – they’re definitely not leaving the plane – and you score some points by giving them some cuddle time with the cutest of all passengers. (Points that may come in handy later when you’re desperate for a snack or an extra drink at 3:00am!)

5. Smile going through check-in and security and customs, and politely ask about jumping the que. You’d be surprised at how far a nice smile, a polite question, and a gorgeous baby will get you. Doors will be opened... but you mustn’t be afraid to ask!

4. Build in extra time... for everything. Okay so this is a rule for mommyhood in general. No more last-minute flying-by-the-seat-of-my-pants for this young lady! A baby makes everything take twice—--ok three times—-as long. Expect the unexpected and plan accordingly!

3. Use a baby carrier or wrap and try to get your babe to sleep at strategic transit times. I tried to time my bubby’s feeds and naps so that he’d go to sleep just before check-in. This would buy me enough time to get checked in, get through security, and find my gate before my active little guy decided he wanted my non-existent third and fourth hands. Believe me, hands free in an airport is the only way to travel with an infant! (Love the moby wrap for this purpose!)

2. Don’t stress about your schedule, but do try to keep a rhythm. I have no idea how to help your little one conquer jetlag... so don’t ask me for a magic solution. But, I did find it helpful to not watch the clock and try to hyper-schedule his transitions. Instead I tried to keep him in a consistent rhythm, which for us is eat/wake/sleep... eat/wake/sleep. (On our way east it took four nights of being up until midnight or 1:00am before I began being able to get him to bed at a reasonable hour; going west on the way home, it only took two nights. But in both instances it took a week or more for him to fully adjust to the new time zone. Don’t rush the little munchkin, but pay attention to their cues and help them through it.)

1. Keep a sense of humour. Lastly, and most importantly, keep a positive outlook! Don’t let the extra stress of travelling with an infant rob you of the special time you have to bond with your baby as you take them on a new adventure to discover new things and new lands. Things will go wrong. Plans will go askew. Babies will confuse night for day. But really, who wouldn’t enjoy making memories like trying to use a bustling airport bathroom with your baby strapped onto your chest in a moby wrap? After all, you’ve got to have something to put in the baby book...

Yes mommy friends... traveling with an infant is possible! It’s also fun and eternally memorable!

Take courage – you can do it!!






P.S. I just noticed that Levi happens to be sleeping in every single photo I used in this post... it's an illusion folks - don't be fooled! Those may be the only four times he slept during the entire trip.... ;)

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