Toddler

It’s been a while since I last published a post because, well, I guess I’ve been busy.

We welcomed our daughter in September 2023 and have been enjoying the whirlwind of having two kids ever since.

Life is hectic but fun and it is so special watching our kids play together, smile and interact. But I can understand how different life can be depending on the order of your birth.

The first born may be used to their parents undivided attention. They have to learn to share this when a sibling comes along, which is a huge step. But they soon understand that there is someone new to play with and they now have a buddy of a similar age to enjoy life with.

And who doesn’t enjoy life when on holiday? After a few holidays as a family of four, we are getting used to preparing and managing to fit everything we need into a few bags. We do this by limiting the amount of clothing we bring and coming to terms with the thought of doing more than one load of washing while we’re away, a we did on a recent trip to Noosa, Australia.

Some of our must pack travel items include:

Baby carrier

This came in really handy at the airport. Transporting our then 8 month old while checking in and getting through security and to the gate was much easier because I had her in a carrier. While on holiday, if we wanted to get out of the door with minimal fuss or for a quick family walk, I would put on the carrier and away we would go. My daughter is old enough to be facing outwards now, and I guess it kind of feels like she’s flying, and she loves this.

Food

We always made sure we packed plenty of snacks! These included cut up fruit, fruit bars, wholemeal rolls with vegemite or avocado and our sons favourite: crackers of any kind. After we had checked in and had a chance to go to the supermarket I steamed a bunch of vegetables and brought these on day trips for our daughter to nibble on. Kids meals at restaurants are not always the most nutritious so we tried to give the kids something for dinner before we went out. Some easy to prepare holiday meals for kids include vegetable and mince pasta and vegetable and egg fried rice.

Yoga mat

If you have a baby who isn’t walking yet, a yoga mat is a great option for floor play while away. Our daughter spent much of her spare time in the apartment on the yoga mat, strengthening her muscles by holding herself up, sitting and playing with toys as she did so. If your baby is prone to toppling over like ours, it is a good idea to put some cushions behind their head in case of a fall.

Plenty of underwear and nappies

Toileting does not always go to plan on holidays. Our toddler is toilet trained (mostly) and our baby is still in nappies but we find that when kids are away from their usual surroundings, or if they are feeling a bit off, they are more likely to have accidents. Luckily we had a washing machine in our apartment, and air drying clothes didn’t take too long. When it comes to nappies I like to pack half in the kids carry on bag and half in their checked in bag and only buy extra while away if needed.

So if you have an upcoming trip with a baby and toddler, pack these items to ensure your holiday is off to a good start but remember, anything can happen!

We are going on an overseas trip towards the end of the year so will see how this goes! I am mentally preparing myself for the craziness already and I will be sure to share any tips I have afterwards or any useful knowledge in the meantime.

A few months ago, our son turned one and entered the next stage of his life, toddlerhood.

The changes have been coming fast. Whether it’s physical or emotional or intellectual, there are so many different things going on each day it can be hard to keep up!

I love watching him explore and discover how things work or fit together. Whether it’s something in the kitchen cupboard, a different way to use one of his toys or a musical instrument, he is always figuring out something new, and it can be fascinating to watch.

I started back at work around the same time as his first birthday, working a small number of hours per week. It’s been good to reconnect, although I can’t ever imagine being full time again. There is nothing better than spending time with our son; reading, playing, singing, eating or having fun outside. By the time he has had one or two naps and some days an activity, the day is full and he is ready for bed again. There is not a lot of time for work!

The art of distraction

And just as I was getting used to my sons demand for food, he turned into a somewhat fussy eater with less of an appetite. Apparently, this is what happens as their growing starts to slow. My ways around this are smaller portions, always having a ripe avocado and some cheese on hand or distracting him with water or milk if I have to.

Nappy change time and even just getting dressed can also be a challenge. I make sure I have a box of sensory objects nearby so that he can keep himself busy playing with a bottle full of rice or a potato masher. I try to sing to him and explain what I’m doing but depending on his mood this doesn’t always go down so well.

The transition to one daytime nap is an interesting one. Especially when your toddler shows signs of tiredness in the early afternoon after only a small sleep in the morning but refuses to go down for a decent chunk of time. I don’t think he’s ready to skip his morning nap altogether, so I have been persisting with it for now. I have found that a snack before his morning sleep often makes a difference which would suggest a full belly means he finds it easier to link one sleep cycle to the next but it doesn’t always work like this. Every day brings something different and even at 15 months, we are not quite at the one nap stage yet.

New places

Luckily, our son seems to adjust pretty well to most situations.

It makes me wonder how he will go on a trip overseas. After a couple of years of holidays limited to Australia, we are almost ready to travel abroad again. We’re not planning on venturing too far away just yet, perhaps New Zealand, but the thought of doing it as a family is exciting. Our son loves being exposed to new things and different people, and I can’t wait for him to experience another country. Travel is said to significantly impact a child’s development with them experiencing new things – from people to places to food – at a rapid rate.

I love watching our son react and learn. He generally chooses to take his time with things, appreciating his surroundings then responding (most of the time) with a smile.

In a world that is constantly changing, the way we absorb information and choose to react can have a huge impact on our daily lives, whether it is by watching and learning as toddlers do, or through some form of educated action. So next time you find yourself in a new place or situation try to take a moment to appreciate where you are and think of the possibilities that lie ahead.

If you’d like to share a story or can relate to anything in this post, I’d love to hear about it so please leave a comment!

Family travel

Responding with a smile