You’ve probably thought of what it’ll be like traveling around the world. Maybe you’ve dreamt about the great city of Chiang Mai in Thailand or the breath-taking beauty of the Oregon coast. But you must have realized that a fulltime traveling family is no easy feat, especially with toddlers.
Although the nomadic lifestyle might seem like a daunting journey, we promise that it’s completely worth the effort. Let us help you out in this journey of fun and exploration.
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Preparing for the nomadic life
Of course, you realize you have a toddler on your hands and cue many concerns. How do we pack? What do we pack? What if they get sick? What of vaccination? Handbag or specialized diaper bag? Baby walker or harness? Stroller or carrier? How do we bathe the baby? How many clothes would he/she need? All brilliant questions. As much as being an “RV family” sounds like a lot of fun, all these need to be considered.
Pack Well and Pack Light
So, what would you need? A significant but light travel bag, a carry-on backpack, a baby bed, and a car seat. Your travel bag needs to be substantial. But it should also be light, so it doesn’t add more weight to the already loaded bag. The bag should be water-resistant, and you should also be able to carry it as a backpack. Lastly, it should be durable and foldable.
Second is your carry-on backpack. These need to have the qualities of a good diaper bag. It should have many compartments, be water-resistant, and big enough to carry all your kid’s necessaries. In this, you can afford to keep your phones, your laptops but also the water bottle, baby bottles, food, toys, and so on.
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Now, what else do you put in the bag for your baby? Can you pack all your baby needs? Yes, you can! Here’s our guide: about 8 rompers – long and short, a hat, a washable swim diaper, a swim onesie, sunscreen, mosquito repellant, cheesecloths for washing, and a baby sleeping tent. This could differ depending on the baby, but it covers most. Third, the baby bed. This should be light, small, protect the child from mosquitoes, comfortable, and safe. With this, your baby sleeps well and cozy and is protected from mosquitos and other flying insects.
Next, you must consider baby mobility. This is where the car seat comes in. A lot of research goes into picking out the best one. You would have to consider weight, comfort, and mobility. We recommend one with retractable wheels and without a frame. This way, it can be used as a stroller and a sleeping bed.
You have to come up with unique ways to entertain your child when he or she is bored. As little kids, they are less likely to be appreciative of the scenery. You need to get creative. Tell them stories and get them to use their imagination. You can also give them toys to play with.
Lastly, your baby needs to eat, so what do you pack for that? Well, if you’re breastfeeding, most of this won’t be necessary. But if not, you would need formula milk — also, milk bottles and cleaning things. You could also have handy a vaporizer for sterilization. And while taking your baby’s things, remember yours!
Vaccination
Your baby needs to be about 2 months before his/her first vaccination. And believe it or not, there are hospitals in other parts of the world. In some countries, vaccinations are free! All standard vaccinations can be applied in different hospitals with no problems. The side effects often show within 3 days of application, so you could visit the physician when they show up.
What you now must be careful of is what specific vaccination is necessary in different parts of the world. For instance, in South America and Africa, you should vaccinate for yellow fever. If in Asia, South America, or Africa, you should vaccinate for malaria. Lastly, due to the strength of some vaccinations, it is not ideal for babies. For example, you should not vaccinate for yellow fever before your baby is a year old.
Remember Safety
Worrying about the safety of your children is completely natural. You can’t afford the little scrapes and bruises, but you can do your best to avoid them. The first natural response is a first aid kit that suits your child. Furthermore, make sure you get a good car seat to prevent accidents. Always watch your child and be wary of sharp objects. And when those scrapes do come, clean them up properly!
General Reminders
These are general things you should know and take care of. Your baby should always have a good sleep. If you’re not breastfeeding, you should get the right formula – even if it means getting it online. Next, you must be flexible and creative during diaper changing as no changing table is available. You can use the car’s back seat, desks, drawers, dining tables, and so on.
Always remember your sunscreen! You must make sure you carry all your baby’s general clothes. As for bathing, there would be no bathtub available. So, you would have to make do with the sink, under the shower, and the likes. Regular medical check-ups are mandatory. You must make sure your toddler is always your top priority. Next, remember to grab that first aid kit. Lastly, take along your jogging stroller and carrier – your carrier can also be useful for changing diapers when out.
Differences between a nomadic and a stationary home
What’s the difference between a stable lifestyle and a nomadic one, you may ask? We’ll take you through that. First, the apparent discrepancy, you do not have a permanent home but a mobile home. Moving from country to country or city to city every few weeks or days would not allow you to have a permanent residence you can get back to every few days.
The family spends a lot more time together. As it’s more likely that both parents are digital nomads, you would work a lot from home. There’s no office work to wake up to every day. You also tend to have fewer belongings. You can’t precisely carry your entire walk-in closet to travel, now can you?
It’s also harder to maintain long-lasting friendships or be able to connect with a lot of people. So, except your family, you may not have that many close friends. Lastly, nomadic living allows more exploration and experiences in comparison to living in a conventional home.
You can teach your child to read at an early age without worrying about the school using the Reading head start program.
Nomadic living with its pros also has its cons. But the pros greatly outweigh the cons. This lifestyle allows for fun while getting priceless education from the world. It is an experience that cannot be traded for anything in the world. This lifestyle could be a life plan or for a short period. Whichever one, it is one that can be explored if there is a real passion for travel. Your children would have different baby pictures from the other kids. And when they’re a lot older, it’ll inevitably cause a smile on their faces. So, get up and start planning! You know it’s going to be a lot of fun!
