Happy 2/3rd birthday Nico!

Nico is 8 months and 6 days old today and has already slept in 4 different cities. He's such a jet-setter.

To celebrate his 8 month birthday, we went to Melbourne and Sydney for 5 nights.
OK, maybe not to celebrate. More like to save my sanity while Daddy is away in Australia on business.

I normally enjoy travelling, and even when it's for business I've found flights, transfers, accommodation, meals, transport etc quite fun. Well. I wouldn't use the word 'fun' for this latest experience. There was no drama, but life certainly is more restricted when travelling with a baby. A LOT more. But I'd like to think that I have learnt from it and have drawn some lessons for future travels:

Booking:

• Ask the travel agent to reserve a bassinet in the plane. This is a request, and not a confirmation as priority goes to the youngest baby, not the prettiest baby. Confirmation is done at check-in.
  
• Check that the hotel can reserve a cot. Our first hotel tried to give us a fold-out couch.
  
• Travel during the week, when planes aren't so full. This way, we're more likely to get an empty seat next to us and not have to worry about pulling apologetic faces.

In our suitcase:

• Nappies (day and night), and don't forget to make sure there are enough wipes. And bring some extra nappies. And extra wipes.


• Toys. Lots of toys. Rattles, cuddle rugs, blankets, you name it. Anything to keep Nico busy was a god-sent. His stuff took 3/4 of my suitcase space.
  
• Baby food. Australia and New Zealand both seem pretty relaxed, and the tins, rusks and baby cereal went through without a problem. Unfortunately I picked flavours that Nicolas didn't like, so I had to drag them back home because it was too much hassle to feed him in an unfamiliar environment like a busy restaurant. At least now I know that Auckland Airport customs haven't got a problem with baby food.
  
• I didn't need to take our bag with an in-built nappy change mat, all the Parent rooms we visited were very well set up, some even had mats, microwave, TV, armchair, play pen etc.
  
• Light pram. We picked a 4kg pram which was a great replacement for our bulky Mountain Buggy. Don't forget sheepskin if it's likely to get cold, and a storm cover never goes amiss.


• Pack at least two of everything. I managed to misplace the only two items that I didn't have two of (plastic bib and baby spoon). Mind you, it was an excuse to retun to Target so can't complain.
  
• Portable high chair. The Dinky Diner that I got off Trademe was so handy when some restaurants didn't have high chairs. Or when the waitress didn't bring it as requested. Not that I'm still bitter.

At the airport & on the plane:

• On check-in, ask for the bassinet for long flights. For short flights, ask for the front seats anyway.
  
• Feed on take-off, landing, and on demand. Breaking the routine and impersonating a dairy cow for a few hours is a small price to pay for peace.
  
• Looks like some airports (at least the Sydney one does) will loan prams out until boarding. Or maybe they hire them out. Knowing airports, they probably hire them.
  
• Sling. It was great when we needed to carry suitcases at the airport. I guess frontpacks will also do the trick, but with this one Nico was able to snuggle up to Daddy for some quality marsupial time.

In hotels & restaurants:

• Beds - the bouncier, the louder Nico will giggle.
  
• Surprisingly enough, it wasn't difficult to put him to sleep, the long days spent exploring the city tired him enough and as long as we had his book, blanket and a couple of toys from his cot, there was no struggle.
  
  




• Meals - always order a meal that I can share with Nico - mashed potatoes, mince, peas, raisins, bread, steak, etc.


• Forget about trying to feed him his tinned food, my plate is far more interesting.

Getting around:

• In NZ and Australia, babies must travel in car seats. Taxis are exempt from this obligation, however some will have one. It takes time to find one, so it pays to book them beforehand.
  
• Some companies will rent out car seats. The car seat will cost an arm, the cost of delivering it to the airport will cost a leg. Or have a resourceful friend who will borrow one from a colleague. Thanks Ken!
  
• Aquariums are great fun for a baby. Added bonus, it's dark so they'll fall asleep and stop grizzling and/or dribbling.
  
• Rusks. Do not forget to bring them, ever. Biscuits will not do, as they get soggy and break up.

Random observations:

• It's almost worth having a baby just so we can queue-jump when checking in and boarding.
  
• Baby clothes shopping is fun. Especially when the Target store has sales.


• AU$150 to buy baby clothes isn't enough. Especially when the Target store has sales.


• Nico likes pork dumplings.


• Feeding a baby with chopsticks is much easier than with a baby spoon. I got cramps after a while though.
  


"Nope. Don't want it..."

"What is it anyway?"

"Ewww it's dead pig"

"Hmmm... Think I'll have shome more pleashe.
Now.
Oh, you want the chopshtich back."

All things considered, the trip wasn't as bad as I expected. No one gave us any dirty look in the plane, Nico didn't cry much at all, and all the excitement during the day meant that he slept through at night time.

I've just realised that I'm sounding quite negative about it. Don't get me wrong - it was a really worthwhile trip and it was nice to take Nico out and about and have some fun time with him and discover things together. I've come to think of him as my PPES. Personal Pocket Entertainment System.

So, at 8 months old, Nico is quite well travelled. He has also been able to sit well on his own for a few weeks now, and will eat almost anything that I feed him. Still can't get him to drink water.




And I've just come to a decision. I'm going to completely ignore this page. It's making me nervous.