M and I did a lot of travelling during the pre-baby stage of our life. Going to the beach and camping trips are what we loved doing the most. We would usually stay up until the wee hours of morning trying to score airline promo fares to different provinces.
When we entered the parenthood phase, we realized that we've made the right decision to try to travel together as much as we could when we still didn't have a kid in tow. The travel-light-no-accommodation-yet trips are now a thing of the past as travelling has now become a tedious process. I'll even
But seriously, taking an out-of-town trip with a toddler without a yaya (or grandparents) is CRAZY but someone's gotta do it. AND WE DID! M and I were able to pull it off, everyone alive and breathing. I lived to tell the story about the time we went to Bohol for 5 days to be part of a wedding's entourage and to share some #mommyhacks #daddyhacks.
So to all those adventure-seeking and travel-thirsty first-time parents whose bodies tremble when they hear the words "travel", "kid", and "yaya-less", do not fret. IT'S POSSIBLE.
SKIP THE ITINERARY
Let's face it. Accept the fact that this trip won't be about you anymore--it will revolve around this tiny human. You have the discretion to create an itinerary but make sure that it will reflect your child's nap time or the activities that he/she can already enjoy or are safe for his/her age.
Each time we go to Bohol (to visit family and relatives), we always make sure that our schedules are filled to the brim! No time wasted. But for this Bohol trip with our 1-year-old daughter, the control-freak mommy only made a mental-list of the places we wanted to visit. No specific day or time. Our child's sleeping time and eating schedule (well, I keep lots of snacks in my bag just in case she gets hungry before breakfast/lunch/dinner time) are of utmost importance.
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| Swimming time of Mommy and Daddy had to be cut short because someone wanted to sleep under the trees |
We did the Bohol Chocolate Hills tour so our daughter can see the Chocolate Hills and the tarsier. However, we skipped all the churches/church ruins, the Blood Compact Shrine, the Loboc River Cruise, and the python viewing because the weather was too hot. We were scared that she would get sick from going in and out of the air-conditioned van.
But there were times during our trip that we really had no choice but to bring her to places/activities that were outside her comfort zone or past her bedtime. We just took turns carrying her and letting her sleep on our shoulders.
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| When we wanted to have our despedida lunch with our cousins |
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| During the wedding's after-party where our whole clan attended |
DON'T SKIMP ON BAGGAGE ALLOWANCE
People usually tell me to travel light even before I had a kid. Some will tell you to pack enough clothes and to just buy diapers, snacks, and water when you get to your destination. But I choose to come prepared.
We were in Bohol during summer and although there is a big mall that is one tricycle-ride away from our hotel, I'm worried that it will be an extra effort (or too hot) to go to the mall to buy supplies.
We opted to buy bottled water there because water is easier to find than a particular brand and size of diapers and a specific brand and type of snacks (we use Huggies Dry Pants and Arla Milk and these are sometimes out-of-stock in convenience stores/ not available in sari-sari stores).
I bought lots of extra clothes because we change her clothes immediately when it's wet from pawis or when it becomes too stained after her messy eating. But this time, I made sure, we only packed 3 types of footwear (haha): one for the wedding, one pair of flipflops for use inside our hotel room, and a pair of Crocs which she used for the entire stay (on land, at the beach, etc). Brought lots of lampins though because it serves a number of uses.
We also packed a few of her favorite small toys, stickers, and art materials which we used in rotation so she won't get bored with all of them at the same time.
LET THEM EXPLORE
We chose our activities based on our daughter's interests. She loves the beach as much as we do so we took her to several resorts.
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| Took her to our favorite Mithi Resort in Dauis, Bohol |
And just let her play in the water...
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| In Dumaluan Beach, Bohol |
...or on the sand...
...or anywhere, actually.
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| Playing around the Chocolate Hills viewing area |
Uninterrupted play gave me more time to bond with the baby daddy and also to take photos or to access Instagram hehe. Parents need to have fun too!
NEVER EVER FORGET TO APPLY AND RE-APPLY SUNBLOCK! And avoid harmful rays.
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| We've been using Mustela Sunblock for kids since she was 2 months old (photo not mine) |
And this is something you should never forget to bring: PATIENCE 😉
USE BACKPACKS
You'll need to use both hands almost all the time. In our case, one hand for our daughter, the other hand for a cold bottle of beer. Haha kidding (or not hehe, hello judgmental parents 😉).
Our mistake back then was that we only brought one backpack. And this one backpack had all the baby's things: diapers, water, juice tetra packs, snacks, nursing cover, lampins, extra clothes, small toys, and our own things: wallet, powerbank, cords, cameras. And that backpack became so heavy and uncomfortable to carry!
When we took another trip, M and I already had two backpacks so no one had to endure the pain of carrying a backpack that weighed a ton.
LEARN WITH YOUR CHILD
I always disagree when people tell us that it's not worth spending money to take children on trips that they won't remember. I don't think it's important that they remember details of the trip and instead I focus on what they can learn from that new destination or experience.
My daughter was barely two but she already saw the world-renowned Chocolate Hills. She didn't know all the popular animals in books yet but she remembers the tarsier.
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| Went to a Butterfly and Bird Sanctuary |
It was her first time to eat Crispy Pata because one of her lolas (who was there in Bohol) made her try it--she loved it!
Travelling at an early age also means getting used to different forms of culture and transportation (in this trip, she rode another big airplane, tricycles, big vans) which will prepare her for a lifelong desire for exploring.
And the most important part of the trip, for me and M, was learning to relax. That it's okay if she gets sweaty, tired, or uncomfortable. And learning that M and I have superpowers as parents--we're strong because we were able to pull this off!
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| Took her also to the man-made forest in Bilar |
TRY NOT TO KILL EACH OTHER
The most important tip of all 😜
M and I have been to a few countries and numerous provinces in the country and have survived different scenarios: small budget, typhoon, trying to catch the flight back home, etc. But this was the hardest trip that we've ever survived. But this strengthened our bond even more. Definitely a trip that we'll remember forever.
I can't wait to go on another #DespiSquadTrip with these two!
For more Bohol tips: READ: Bohol on a Budget
Contact
Kuya Ricky Quidlat
Bohol Tours and Airport Pick-up & Transfers
Facebook: Ricky Quidlat
Cellphone No. 0916 9824284
Highly recommended!
Aliria Bed & Breakfast
0260 F. Torralba st. (Sacred heart village, Z Bustrillos St, Tagbilaran City
Tel. No. (63-38) 422 8720
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