Switching the Backpack for the Baby Carrier

Back in 2017 Rakesh and I went travelling for four months which was amazing. Everyone always said 'its great you are doing it before you have kids!' So I'm glad we did do it before Vanaya as travelling with a baby is a whole different ball game. However we also don't want to stop travelling just because we have Vanaya. Yes we probably can't go away for four months again anytime soon, although we never say never. Also there is the presumption that if you have a baby/ children its best to just hit the beach and stay in an all inclusive hotel. I know this option is the more relaxing choice and to be honest I would lean more towards this option. However Rakesh always pulls me out of my comfort zone and would prefer to travel around, explore the country and stay in unique places. And to be honest I do prefer to do this too, it just requires a bit more effort and planning.

So it did take a few months to organise our trip to Mexico and decide what we wanted to do and how we were going to do it with Vanaya. When we went travelling we lived so simply with just a backpack each whereas this time I had to think more carefully about what to take so that we could travel comfortably with the baby. I think the essentials were obviously the baby carrier so that we could walk around with her, the car seat as we hired a car in Tulum to explore different areas along the coast and finally a nursing scarf so that I could feed Vanaya which also doubled up as a car seat and pushchair cover so she could sleep when we were out and about. There are a host of other things we took as the list is endless but I think the three mentioned above were really useful and would be my advice to anyone thinking of travelling with a baby.

The trip was full of adventure from a beautiful family wedding in the mountains to beaches, cenotes, boat rides, city discoveries, Mayan ruins and so much more. We stayed in a mix of hotels and AirBnB's. We love AirBnb's which really make you feel like you are living with the locals. We also ate at lots of different places including some restaurants where there were no tourists and the the food felt authentic and trully Mexican! Every day was an adventure and Vanaya was all smiles and loving each and every moment. On coming back home I think she has also felt the holiday blues too. I think she is waiting for me to take her out for another adventure!

Since becoming a mum I've felt like I've become a different person and at times it can be difficult to comprehend my feelings and emotions. So allowing myself to be in a new space and to be in nature has given me the opportunity to get to know myself again which has been so valuable. It can be a difficult process to rediscover yourself as sometimes you have to face up to your insecurities and fears. But travelling  helped me to find an inner voice of strength to combat the negativity and doubts that can naturally arise when you are a new mum.  I'm not sure what opened my mind up to this new realisation and inner voice ... maybe it was swimming in the sea in Tulum, visiting the Cenotes or even feeling the energy in the Mayan ruins but something helped me to shift my mindset. I suddenly felt a sense of strength to push aside the negativity that I felt about myself, to let go of the past and my old life and to find a sense of compassion for my actions, decisions and choices.  Also as I took some time to reflect I realised how much I miss and need my meditation practice which has been pushed aside to make way for motherhood. I realised how without meditation I lose touch with myself and I become someone who I barely recognise. Meditation keeps me grounded and connects me to my truth and purpose and when I lose that it can rock my whole world. This is also especially valuable when you are travelling. When we first arrived into Mexico City the energy was pretty erratic which really did effect me and I struggled to find time and space to meditate and ground my energy. So it was only once we got to the mountains and more so when we got to the ocean that I felt a sense of grounding and ease. When we take the time to meditate we settle into our true essence and therefore we are less affected by our surroundings however if you can't meditate being close to nature also has the same effect. I love to travel as it opens my mind to new realisations and my heart to new experiences of love and joy. I learn about the world and I learn more about myself through the journey. Travel is an essential part of my inner growth. Mexico was amazing and beautiful and I learnt that with some careful thought and effort you can can travel with a baby and experience the world. Having children does not need to hold you back and in fact as you experience the world as a family it only brings you closer together as you create special moments together which live in your memory forever.  Have you travelled with your baby/ children? What was your experience? Let me know in the comments below as I would love to hear from you.