Trip Trials and Tribulations

Well if this isn’t a damn moment in time. My first blog post ever. Let me start out by saying the only thing I’m a trained professional in is drinking other than that I’m just a girl trying figure it the hell out. So please take this more as a “I don’t know wtf I’m doing but here is how I did it” rather than “you have to do this or you’re a trash mom and you’re doing it all wrong.” I despise when people tell me how to mom, I usually want to say mind your business betch, but I’m working on growing up. I’m not saying every blog will be a mom blog or about something to do with the child, but we are going to start here.

I recently traveled to California and a bunch of you had messaged me on IG about some of my hacks, planning, breastfeeding on a plane, items I found essential for travel, time change, you name it. I’m gonna break down the trip in my own way, there will be cursing, and I will mention how many times my nips were seen on a JetBlue airplane.

Packing. I F’N hate packing. In fact now that I have to not only pack for myself but also pack for another human really makes me not wanna go at all. I complained about this for weeks in advance before the trip. Something I found really helpful was kind of laying out outfits and other items I found to be essential for the trip leading up to it so I didn’t feel like the night before I was overwhelmed and didn’t have a single thing ready to go. I had read a different blog actually and one thing really stuck in my head when it comes to packing so I want to pass that along. I checked a bag with all of her clothes and some other items like toiletry stuff bubble bath and her hairbrush for the one strand of hair she has. BUT in my carryon, I packed as if my bag was lost and I had to get thru a full day/night in Layla land with NO checked luggage.

For Example in my carry on I included my travel sound machine (gets loud AF, glorious), her sleep sack Jammie’s, couple fits for the day. Ya gotta think I have nothing - what would I need to survive a day in baby land. Extra dipes and wipes. Stroller fan came on board too we were hitting Disneyland and I considered it an essential item with the heat. Blanket ( we all know sometimes planes can be hot af or cold af) that’s a toss up. Plus we ended up getting an open middle so I laid it down and used it to make a tent over myself for additional darkness when she slept which helped.

I made my husband bring a large carry on as well so I felt like I had plenty of room to work with, highly advise. That man usually only brings his cellphone, wallet, and headphones so I got some push back but fuck it we NEEDED all the things.

Toys and NEW ones. Layla gets bored easily and let’s be real mainly wants to put everything in her mouth but the new toys def take up some plane time. We had a 6 hour flight (I’m a lunatic I know) 6 hours with an 8 month old. A rare version of hell BUT having the new toys helped and she was v interested. The spinners were my fav buy but we did a fake cell phone and a soft book for additional chewing. I read that the seat back pocket in front of you is one of the dirtiest things on the plane, I read that after the flight. So of course, during mine she ate the puke bag and the menu, plus the flight emergency instructions. Took up 20 min. Sick. She’s fine. Germs make you tougher.

FOOD- all the mother fuckin snacks baby. Let’s start with the fact that baby food IS allowed on the plane. I brought 4 pouches and two things of breastmilk to freeze for when I got to Cali for a date night or whatever the hell I needed. Security was a breeze they checked my milk and pump and we were good to go. I have heard horror stories tho, so make sure you stay firm with these mofo’s and let them know these are essential for the baby. Snacks. I did a big plastic zip lock with bars, teethers, puffs, puffs, puffs and more puffs, anything your bb likes to be distracted. Toss the sippy cup in too and get some H2O in these mini humans. We also bought some food on the flight (turkey sandy) and gave her some of that too. Again not a fn expert here, so give your kid whatever you want food wise but my point is have the stuff ready to go, it helps BIG time.

(FYI) I stored my breastmilk in my Medela cooler with an ice pack and every hour or so asked the flight attendant for additional ice, they were super nice about it and everything stayed nice and cool.

For all the BF mothers. BOOBS bro. I had her on and off my boob all the time on the flight. There was legit dust coming out of those things by the end of the six-hour flight but it’s comforting to them, helps with the ear popping and I can assure you every single human on that flight saw my nipples. Straight survival mode. Crying or Jerry in row 36b see’s my boobs for the 14th time, I’ll take the latter. Hi Jerry. I also got one of those mom shirts that the boob can pop right out and wore a nursing bra and although I hated my airport fit it was for the best easy access all day.

Something to note if you’re rich and can afford it or the tickets are cheap. Buy the middle seat. I’m cheap and I didn’t and when we lucked out on the way there and had it, that shit was GLORIOUS. So if this is something You can splurge on do it.

The travel stroller and car seat. I could sit here and write an entire damn blog about the Uppababy minu travel stroller. The thing folds so easy and you can legit do it with one hand. Don’t start with the shits I know Uppababy is expensive, BUT they are the best for a reason. The Minu is light, easy, quick. Not a ton of storage but remember guys we need convenience here we are in travel hell. Fast and easy is the way to go. Plus a little fun fact if you buy the Uppababy travel bags they ensure what’s inside so I used the Uppababy travel bag for both my car seat and the stroller. I checked the car seat (and stuffed a ton of other shit inside, don’t let them see you do that tho Hehe) and we gate checked the stroller so we could have it right when we got off. I cannot say enough good things about this stroller. I’m sure there are others that are similar and I’m not talking shit about them but if you can make it happen it’s the way to go.

Alright let’s talk time change. I was shitting my pants about this. I have this chick on a 6-6 schedule with two naps during the day. The thought of her being on west coast time was making me lose sleep. I get up at 3:30 every morning, every second counts. But honestly you guys… Her little body wasn’t thinking time change it was working on it’s usual schedule of waking up, filling up her tank, going back down after a couple hours, and so on and so forth. I will tell ya she was up early a few days (4 am west coast) but it honestly all just worked itself out. I feel like I stressed over that for no reason and we stayed a week so that would have been enough time to really fuck her up but it didn’t. She really just bumped an hour so since we have been home she’s 7-7 as opposed to her usual 6-6. Don’t NOT travel somewhere because of a time change , they figure it out.

Disneyland. With a baby. What in the actual fuck was I doing? Memories though right. So first off it’s Disney so let’s keep that in mind. This shit is high class theme park status. I had read up a ton on the baby center so if in fact you dare to dance with the devil and hit Disneyland with a baby under one know that the baby center is going to be your best friend. The baby center has anything you could possibly need whether you are nursing and or bottle-feeding. Refrigerator for pumped milk a place to warm milk chairs with curtains so you can nurse or bottle-feed. But mainly AC baby and nice little old ladies to guide you. Plus there is a legit living room chill area for dads. Take advantage get out of the heat and use the baby center for anything and everything baby. One thing I will say about Disney I know my kid and she doesn’t do well without a solid nap so I suggest if your baby is similar do not rush there at the ass crack of dawn. FOR what? This isn’t adult Disney time you ain’t gonna be riding alllll the rides. Let them wake up and if they are on a two nap schedule get that first nap in at home a good solid nap because Park naps you never know what you’re going to get.

We did the first nap at home then made our way to the park luckily after 3 1/2 four hours she did end up sleeping in the stroller for 30 minutes but that was enough to keep her going for another few hours. If we are breaking down hours to ride ratio my ass went on three rides in about 10 hours but we met Alice and Mickey so Fuck it. I personally will never take a baby to Disneyland again but it is doable and you can have an enjoyable day ish. Couple things to note Disneyland has a fucked system when it comes to fast pass and I wasn’t getting stuck in a rough long line with her so just keep that in mind. Some good rides for the baby are the jungle Cruise , it’s a small world and the carousel of course. It’s a small world has AC, it’s inside too and not short so you could sneak a feeding in there if need be. Listen overall I’m a Disney freak so I am happy that I went but you got to prep right for it. Snacks, food, nap, and a dope outfit of course. Pro tip- you can bring your own stroller but note you will have to empty it 3 times before getting into the park so don’t worry about making it nice and getting yourself the right setup until you’re all the way in … do NOT forget the stroller fan and most important grab yourself a beverage before you go in the park mom, you’ll need it.

Few other things to note … I keep an actual note in my phone with a list of things I need if we are traveling with the baby. I always have it in there and I use it as a reference point all the time so make lists. It helps me BIG time and I’m the type that will pack 16 outfits and forget the dipes.

I was going to visit my best friend and we were staying in a house so when It came to certain items, dipes, wipes, food… I just primed that shit to her house, one less thing to pack. If you’re staying in a hotel, pack what you need for flight and buy the shit when you get there (this only applies if you’re staying for a week or more because packing wipes and dipes takes up so much space and can be heavy)

Airport boring shit but helpful. This was the first time I ever did it but I actually parked at the airport and let me tell you it was worth every fucking penny all of it. My husband dropped me off at departures with all of the bags and the baby in the stroller. while he parked the car I put the car seat in the travel bag and got that ready. He then met me where he dropped me off after he parked and we made our way right to the ticket counter instead of having to lug all the stuff through the parking garage. It was a two min walk. On the way back when we landed knowing the car was right there we didn’t have to wait for an Uber and or someone to pick us up was HUGE. Price wise we were gone a week cost us 250 for parking. Would have paid 2500 for the convenience. I think if you pre-pay online you can save some money too.

And last but not least go on the fucking trip. I had mad people say to me you’re going to travel with her under one years old??? Yea betch I am and ya know what, waking up at 4 am in sunny California and doing walks on the beach and seeing her giggle at the waves was worth every single man seeing my nipples on the plane (repeatedly). It’s hard and a lot of work but in the end with some planning can all be manageable. I complained a few times then saw a few super Mom’s at the port traveling SOLO with their kids. So then I shut the fuck up, had a few plane drinks and enjoyed the ride. Comment with any questions and please never hesitate to message me! Like I said I’m no expert, I’m just trying to figure the shit out and let you know what worked for me. But we know this game every baby is diff. Yours might hate Mickey Mouse’s house… my husband definitely did.

INCLUDING LINK TO THIS CHAIR- JUST FN BUY IT IT'S CONVENIENT AND YOU CAN SIT THEM IN IT ON THE TABLE RESTAURANTS AND THEY ARE EYE LEVEL PLUS IT'S CHEAP