Travel Changes Everything: Even Shopping for Diapers
07. Dec, 2009 
18 Comments
Next week I’ll be seven months pregnant and flying out to Hawaii. So far this little one has traveled across the US, through British Columbia, into the Yukon, then Alaska, all the way back to Bend, OR, down around Belize including cave tubing and long hikes in the rain forest, and now to Hawaii.
Being pregnant and starting this new phase of our lives hasn’t changed much for us. Traveling full-time, on the other hand, changes everything.
It really hit home when I created an online baby registry with Target. (If you don’t register, I’m told, they still buy you things).
Would we need nursery furniture? Nope, we’re co-sleeping and anyway we’ll be moving to Europe soon after the baby is born.
What will we need? Moby wraps for “wearing” the baby, a technique that we hope will let us keep baby happy while we work and travel. I was sold on the technique during my travels in Central America, if you want to see a happy, quiet baby, look no further than the wrapped up tots strapped to the women of Panajachel.
And then there are the things you compromise on. I had always thought I’d be a natural cloth diaper mom, since it’s flatly so much better for the environment, but eventually I had to abandon that idea. Can you imagine carrying around two days worth of soiled linens if your flight’s delayed? Or having to depend on less than stellar facilities to hand wash dirty diapers? I ended up registering for Pampers instead, something that doesn’t make me very green, but is just more practical.
So I’m a little bit crunchy, a sort of hippy mama gone convenient, but that’s until you mention vaccines. While my contemporaries are swearing them off, I don’t think we have that option. We will be traveling to places where Rubella, Mumps, even Measles, still exist (proof: my husband got mumps in Madrid last year). And even if we didn’t travel, enough of our friends do.
You think you’re changing your life to travel, and then it hits you, how much you’ve been changed in return. Maybe Christmas comes and you can’t feel the same way about buying presents. Or the job you were working that was only somewhat annoying now becomes unbearable. Or more common the friendships based on complaining about your life together becomes decidedly one-sided. You can’t connect anymore to what it means to be that miserable.
Or you just realized that you registered for Pampers, because it’ll be easier on the Eurorail.
It sneaks up on you. Has travel changed you yet?
Pic: fiat luxe
Christine-
You’re right on on all counts.
Having Mariel and traveling with her has been far less complicated than everyone predicted it would be. Like you and Drew, Francisco and I are halfway hippie crunchy granola types who have only put Mariel in a stroller once (when we went to the mall with my mom in SC last week) and wear her pretty much 24/7. We’re co-sleeping, which has been a very special experience and has made hotel stays not much different than they were before her arrival. And though we were high and mighty and hell bent on cloth diapers, once we really analyzed the environmental factors (some folks claim they’re NOT as enviro-friendly as they seem once you figure how much water and energy they require to wash), cost, and hygiene issues (whether on the road or in a tiny urban apartment), we ultimately decided on Pampers. The good news is that Pampers aren’t the plastic-y things they were when you and I were kids. They’re a lot more biodegradable now than they were then. Pampers. com is the bomb… it’s disturbing, actually, how much I like their service (outdone only by Diapers.com, which I really adore).
One word on Target– their registry kind of blows. Lots of items they have in the store they don’t offer through their registry.
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We don’t have kids but, still, we see changes in ourselves because of our travels. We have become more flexible, less stressed, and less interested in planning. This is a huge change for two Type-A personalities! It snuck up on us, too, and we didn’t even realize how much we had changed until we got back home for the holidays (we are leaving again in a month). Now, our internal changes seem to smack us right in the face as we compare our old lives with our current lives.
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Oh my God! has travel changed me? Some say it has ruined me. Cannot sell my soul to “the man”any more, cannot work in a traditional environment, have given up almost everything material to travel and write and photograph full time. Has it been hard? Absolutely. Has it been rewarding? Without a doubt. Do I regret my decision to chuck it all and simple-down? Not even for a nano second. Today, I KNOW what is important in life, and it ain’t money, fame, or success. It’s friends, family, loving kindness, unconditional acceptance, and helping others whenever possible.
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I can’t comment much on traveling, tho both of our boys have been on more than a few airplanes; but nothing compared to what your little one will become accustomed to. i can comment on a couple of other things, however.
Being a hippy/granola/crunchy mom myself, I have a little insight into some of the things you mentioned.
Baby “wearing”…I can tell you that Moby wraps rock! There are many other options out there too, so don’t be afraid to try a few. Here in the states (at least in CA) there are entire mom’s groups solely dedicated to “baby wearing.” Track down a group, and learn all you can. The options are endless – and wonderful.
Co-sleeping…this is a great idea in theory, but even the crunchiest of my mom-friends has found this to be quite frustrating at times. And, personally, neither of my boys went for it. We all slept better in our own spaces – good luck!
Diapers…we used disposables with our first, but thanks to some crunchy friends were talked into cloth diapering with our second. If we have more kids, I’ll definitely be sticking to cloth – they’re wonderful in ways far beyond the environment impacts. For all your travel, tho, I fully understand your choice for “paper” diapers. However, there are SO many options beyond Pampers. There are many other disposable options out there that are better for baby and for the earth. Additionally, check out some cloth/disposable hybrid options like the Flip at http://www.cottonbabies.com. I have not tried them, personally, but give them a look just the same.
Happy trails!! You are so brave. Your baby is very lucky to have a mom like you.
How much has travel changed me? Immensely. It has altered and defined my whole concept of self-fulfillment and happiness.
We don’t have any kids. Hats off to you! Swaddle the hell out of that thing if that’s what works! I don’t know thing one about those little bundles of joy (and poop). I can’t say I’ll be visiting pampers.com any time soon, but I’ll keep it in the back of my mind for when my wife and I finally pop out some brats!
Kidless,
blakesjourney / tbd
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A thought just hit me when thinking of your question if travelling has changed our lives. Travelling is a little like the aboriginies “walk-abouts”, you learn about your own character and strength.
About the diapers, how about biodegradable diapers?
Moving to Europe?? Sweet! I was just telling Randy I wanted to move to London.
I think you are smart to go with the standard, non green diapers. With your busy schedule you will never have time to scrub cloth ones!
I also 100% agree with your posts. I haven’t even started my full time travels yet but the mindset of leaving changes everything. When I’m considering the little extras like getting my dogs nails clips or getting my hair dyed at a salon I always think “How many days will this get me in Cambodia?” Then I end up at Super Cuts and with a pair of dog clippers in my hand.
It changes everything.
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I´m definetly accumulating less stuff!
– planning the next escape! 
and yes, engaged in escapism far too much!
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Traveling has definitely changed me, maybe more than most because I stay there. I’m an expat, not just a traveler. I’m from Arkansas, and living in Belize, Canada and Europe has taught me a lot about people, culture, living life in general. Stuff has become less important, and a true friend more so. I can survive without a washing machine, I can shop for things in other languages, i can choose the most important things i own and pack them into 6 suitcases (with some help from hubby). There is a world out there not often described on TV, and it is amazing!
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ahhh good point about how travel makes you think differently and how having kids makes you think differently. I’m sure you will find shopping for diapers is just scratching the surface when it comes how your traveling is going to change with kids! Pre-kids my husband and I traveled the world with carry-on luggage. Now with 2 kids we still travel the world (our family is on 3 continents) but with nine, count’em NINE pieces of luggage. That would be 2 carseats, 1 stroller, 1 suitcase, 1 toy bag, 1 diaper bag, 1 food/refrigerator bag, 1 handbag and 1 computer bag. Oh, and 2 kids.
Wearing your baby is fabulous, yes, but will take you through 18 months or so and then not so much
I also agree with the poster who said co-sleeping is great in theory but in practice is not for everyone – all of us sleep better in our own spaces in our family.
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Travel definitely changes things. Case in point: I can’t stop traveling! One trip ends and I’m already trying to figure out how to start the next one. Used to just be content in one place, but that has all changed. Smart move on the vaccines, methinks. The reason we don’t have those diseases in the U.S. is because…people get vaccinated!
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I absolutely love this blog. Thanks for sharing and inspiring.
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You made a very practical choice where Pampers are concerned! I am the second oldest of 6 kids, 5 of which she used cloth diapers. I think by the time baby “suprise # 6″ rolled around she got sick of the constant washing and it was easier to get us to babysit if we didn’t have to deal with that…
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I think to often progression makes countries regress, as noted by your comment about carrying your child on your back, swaddled. Look at the simplicity of other countries with less, and contemplate, do we really need what we have?
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Hello! First off, congratulations! Enjoy every minute of it! Our little one is nine-months-old already and the time has really flown by! I hope the baby wearing goes well for you. Ours has only accepted an Ergo in the last few months – before that she screamed bloody murder in all kinds of different wraps/slings/carriers – even though she LOVED to be held! Strollers can make it easier for me to completely cover her up – if she can see she won’t fall asleep, even if she needs it! But definitely carrying her makes it SO much easier in busy places someone might trip over a stroller, up and down stairs, on and off airplanes and hiking.
I read an analysis of cloth vs. disposable in Consumers Reports not too long ago – they figured disposables were actually greener given the hot water and bleach used to clean the cloth ones. So you can go ahead with the Pampers guilt free! Plus – Pampers are all over the world – a travel-friendly choice!
We were too nervous to co-sleep – my husband rolls over and crushes ME half the time! If it doesn’t work out for you, we’ve LOVED the Phil & Ted’s Traveler. It’s basically a Pack & Play meets a tent. It does take about 5 minutes to put up and take down but at 6lbs you can pick it up with one hand – a beautiful thing! Plus, it’s small enough to fit in your backpack. Even if you are co-sleeping it’s a safe place for naps/while you’re in the shower, etc. (And no, I don’t work for them!
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Registering is a great idea – not only will they buy you stuff anyhow, it’s a lot easier if they get you something you might actually WANT!
We are off to New Zealand for our first “big” trip with our daughter in about a month – she’s been “home” to Canada twice already (once alone with me). Yes, people told us we’d never travel again – but then those were the same people that didn’t travel BEFORE they had kids – they were hardly likely to start after!
I’ll second Tanya on the vaccines – I think those of us who’ve traveled enough know how lucky we are not to have those diseases!
Good luck, and happy travels!
Wendy Sewell
PS – Links are WONDERFUL. The plastic kind made by Sassy (and incidentally phthalate, BPA and PVC free – pretty “crunchy” here myself!) not the internet kind. That way the toys/teethers you brought on the plane/car/train/camel make it off with you and don’t wind up on the ground/in the snow/water.
Travel has definitely changed me. Motherhood has definitely changed me. Both, I believe, for the better.
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I’ve just returned from two years of travel. And the main thing I’ve learned is to carry enough underpants for two weeks, and enough clean clothes to do wash every 8 days. You never know what you’ll encounter and clean underpants make everything so much more palatable.
Congrats on the baby.
Fig
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