We live on a sunny, tourist attracting island on BC’s west coast, in a heritage house, on a farm with fresh eggs and produce. Needless to say, we are a haven for visitors wanting to escape the city.
And we are okay with that. I love to cook, and we enjoy showing off our little slice of AWESOME to our friends, but we aren’t used to babies anymore.
My kids are 10, 8 and 4, and while still “young” they are definitely out of the “baby stage” We don’t have high chairs, or playpens or baby toys anymore and funnily enough tossing a baby chick in front of a 6 month old just won’t cut it.
So, to ensure our guests still feel welcome, and don’t feel the need to drive over to our island (saving hundreds on ferry fare) we have started to stock up on a few essentials and also have learned a few things in the process.
Have snacks available. ALL THE TIME.
I have shared before how our family has a strange food schedule, but this is even more apparent when your visitors are wee little ones. We stocked up on fresh organic fruit and veggies and made sure mom and dad had easy access to pop a banana at their little one when needed.
Create a “family zone” for the visitors.
Between breastfeeding and nap times, and various other “family scheduled” items, it is best if the visiting family has a spot of their own, away from the crowds to deal with their personal “housekeeping” We have a mini suite that we can prepare that gives them room to spread out, without feeling like they are intruding
Invest in a few easy to store baby items
From baby bowls and spoons and cups, to feeding set ups like the Cozy Cover Portable Easy Seat, we have a box of baby items that we can tuck away and pull out as needed. Babies require a lot of STUFF, so anything we can do to reduce the gear that mom and dad need to pack is a bonus!
We love the ease of the fabric seat, as it fits on multiple chairs and can be used for a wide age range of little ones. And for older babes, who prefer to self feed, check out the Prince Lionheart theBOOST seat – easy to store and affordable!
Don’t Plan!
Just chill out and take it as it is. Our mom visitor was so exhausted when she came to visit she actually crashed and slept for part of the time! A nap was needed, so we pitched in and helped with the kids while she caught up on her sleep. Being a parent IS exhausting, and travelling with your brood is even more sore. As the “visited”, try and read cues and see what you can do to assist the family to make their adventure even better.
That may mean squashing plans you had made, and adapting to the situation, but trust me it will be better for all involved.
We all have the opportunity to work with or against our guests! As a traveler myself, when someone is able to make my journey easier, I appreciate it to no end!
Share some of your tips for travellers visiting with little ones below! I would love to hear them!