Winters in Chicago are downright brutal and absolutely require a vacation to a warm destination in February or March. But with babies that just turned 9 and 8 months, I was pretty apprehensive about taking our warm weather break as a family this year. Disrupting the babies’ routine, facing a 3+ hour flight with two little ones, it honestly felt easier to just stay home. But having now just returned from a glorious week in the Bahamas, I’m so grateful we took the plunge and took the vacation!
Audrey and Lilly enjoying a lounge and chat in paradise
We were lucky enough to join my extended family for this vacation, and we really took advantage of all of the sets of extra helping hands. My grandparents, in particular, are absolutely smitten by the girls and they asked me if I would grant them the favor of letting them babysit nearly every afternoon. Um, yes please! Because of this, we got a great routine going where we would spend the morning with the girls in the pools and then my grandparents would spend the afternoons on long shady walks with them in the stroller.
I tried to be organized with packing for the girls so that their daily routine would not be interrupted. For the most part, we were quite successful. Below is my packing list for babies under one year of age to a warm weather destination. We stayed in a resort that had in-unit kitchens and laundry so you may need to pack some extra items if you are staying at a true hotel that doesn’t stock things like bowls in the room.
Feeding
- Formula powder
- Bottles
- Sippy cups
- Food pouches
- Puffs and yogurt melts
- Baby cereal
- Baby spoons
- Bibs
- Burp rags
- Dishwashing soap
- Bottle brush
Clothing and Diapers
- Summer outfits
- Onesies and pants
- Daytime sunhats
- Socks
- Headbands
- Diapers
- Wipes
- Laundry detergent
- Lilly is all dressed up and ready to enjoy her vacation!
Sleep
- Fleece footie PJs (or whatever daily night outfit your child wears)
- Bedtime stories
- White noise source
- Pack ‘n Play sheets (if hotel provides as crib)
- Lovies
Swim and Beach
- Swim suits
- Swim rash guards
- Swim sunhats
- Swim cover-ups
- Baby sunscreen
- Swim diapers
- Swim floaties or life jackets
- Toys for pool
Bathing and grooming
- Baby toothbrush and toothpaste
- Baby travel soap and lotions and powders and creams
- Baby hairbrush
Entertainment
- Outdoor play mat
- Toys and books
Gear
- Diaper bag
- Carriers
- Stroller
- Car seats
- Stroller bag (for gate check)
- Car seat bag (for gate check)
The carriers were very useful this trip
I also did research on the following before the trip:
- Source of water to mix with formula
- Cribs at hotel
- High chairs at hotel
- Laundry at hotel
While we were on the trip, Audrey celebrated her 8 month birthday and so I packed her sticker and we also captured one of my favorite monthly sticker pictures in her bathing suit.
There were quite a few firsts to celebrate on the trip. We took the girls out for their first restaurant dinner. They did pretty well, but we went very early (5:30PM!) so that they could get to bed on time. We all cracked up as they each tried a little piece of lime for the first time. Those little puckered faces were hilarious!
Lilly and Audrey enjoying their first dinner out with the family.
The girls also experienced the beach and the ocean for the first time. We dipped their tiny toes into the water and were greeted by hysterical screams (in their defense, the water was pretty cold!). As for the beach and the sand, Audrey found it very strange and did what any 8-month-old baby would do with something new and strange – promptly put it into her mouth. Yum.
Audrey looked startled by the texture of sand in her mouth!
The plane ride wasn’t their first time but it was their first time having to pass through customs and immigration. We got unlucky in that the line upon entry to the Bahamas was about 90 minutes long but the girls did great – Lilly was practicing her hand clapping and captured the hearts of most of the people in line with us. Audrey didn’t want to be left behind and so she piped up with her babbling and her current favorite activity with people – blowing raspberries.
Audrey and I read a magazine on the flight (pretty sure we are looking at a birth control ad right there!!)
We paid up for a few things and I’m glad we did. For starters, we paid more money for a nonstop flight in both directions. We also purchased a third seat although both babies technically qualify as lap babies. I cannot imagine having to hold both babies for three hours – it was hard enough having to share one baby between our two laps. Finally, we paid for a valet car service at the airport in Chicago. I honestly would never pay for that without kids, but I can’t tell you how much I valued that service when we landed and the girls were getting cranky and approaching bedtime and we still had a traffic-packed drive home.
All in all, our vacation went so well and I’m so happy we decided to go for it! We returned to Chicago refreshed and not as hateful of the sub-30 degree weather in the windy city. And as luck would have it, the day after we got home we had our weekly swim class lesson so we all got to ease back out of the water and the fun gradually.
guest
Winters in Chicago “absolutely require” a vacation to a warm destination in February or March?
Man, it must be nice to be you… how about the rest of Chicago who can’t afford to jet off to the Bahamas with their kids in the winter? Somehow, I think they manage to make it. I’m from Boston, and our winters are arguably worse, and we’ve never been able to afford to go somewhere warm in the winter. We make hot chocolate, play in the snow, and otherwise manage the “brutality.”
Next time, think about your audience and maybe try being a little more sensitive to other people’s situations. Instead of it being “absolutely required”, maybe it’s more of “an amazing luxury” that you are so lucky to have?
blogger / apricot / 439 posts
Hi Kie – I am sorry. I will be careful and more sensitive going forward as you suggested.
blogger / olive / 53 posts
@Mrs. Starfish: I didn’t think this was insensitive at all. Some of us work our butts off all year to scrimp and save for a vacation, and nobody needs to apologize for that, in my opinion. I’m from Indiana, so I know those winters too well myself! Loved the post! Looks from those smiles like it was a success. Can’t even imagine packing for two little ones, but this list is great!!
persimmon / 1095 posts
@Mrs. Starfish: You have nothing to apologize for. The first comment took what you wrote out of context. The person seems more like someone trolling or looking to start a fight when there isn’t one. They aren’t even actual members.
clementine / 927 posts
That line did especially catch my attention when I read it! And I did think it showed some thoughtlessness. It is easy to take privilege for granted and I’m sure it wasn’t intended to be insensitive.
cherry / 205 posts
This is a great post And timely, as many kids are out on winter break. I don’t think you wrote anything insensitive of offensive or have anything to apologize for!
I especially love that the kids grandparents wanted to take them every afternoon– so sweet to want some one on one time while also providing you with a much needed break! 2 babies are wonderful but also hard work. They are adorable!! Love all the fat rolls!
guest
That looks like an amazing vacation! I’ll be honest, we haven’t even taken my 3.5 year old and 18 month old on a plane yet, though that will change this summer! Your suggestions on travel were very helpful and I also think we will pay up for the direct flight to our destination as that seems like it will make things easier!
And I love your comment about 5:30 dinner time! We go out to eat that early all the time with the kids and that is when all the young families are out! We took the kids to Fogo De Chao on LaSalle this weekend at 5:30 and the place was packed with kids (they eat free until the are 7, so maybe that’s why too!!). Honestly, I think getting them used to going out to eat is a must since it’s one of our favorite things to do. Sometimes we regret the decision but 9/10 the kids are really good and they are used to it.
wonderful pear / 26210 posts
Hahaha, 5:30 is my preferred dinner time!
clementine / 935 posts
@Orchid: Agreed.
grape / 87 posts
Everyone has different priorities and please don’t apologize for making a getaway one of yours. I certainly think you of all people are absolutely filled with gratitude for many reasons and that is always what I feel when I read your posts. Thank you for sharing these tips and especially the travel size lotions and soaps idea.
guest
We live in a really cold climate too and try to prioritize travel with our kids to a warm destination in February or March each year. It definitely helps break up the long winter! It looks like you all had a great time – great that you had family to enjoy it with because sometimes travel with little ones can feel just like everyday (feeding battles, naps, and tantrums, oh my) only in a new destination!
pomelo / 5621 posts
What an amazing trip! Thank you for sharing. What a great time to spend with family, how awesome that your grandparents took the girls in the afternoons.
I can’t wait until we do our first real family vacation with DS (we don’t count traveling to see family as vacation).
guest
Your list is super helpful, and what a fun trip!! I am currently a Midwesterner too and think heading somewhere warm after the new year is an amazing idea! You mention that you did research on a water source to mix with the formula, and that’s what I had been wondering about – how did you handle that?
wonderful pomelo / 30692 posts
@Mrs. Starfish: Question! Is a stroller bag necessary? Or just helpful for gate-checking your stroller? We’re going on a trip in April and will definitely be gate-checking our stroller, but I hadn’t thought of getting a bag for it.
blogger / apricot / 439 posts
Hi Catherine – Great question about the water! I was so worried I was going to have to lug gallons of water in our luggage, but instead we ended up bringing a Brita Water Pitcher and then relied on our in-unit kitchen. We used tap water from the hotel but boiled it in batches before then moving it to the Brita pitcher. It was a lot of steps and pretty tedious but it worked, and neither of the girls got sick from the water.
@Adira: No, I don’t think you need a bag for the stroller. We had one already so we brought it, but I don’t think it’s necessary. And in a lot of ways it’s sort of annoying to mess with at all. On top of all that, it’s a thin nylon bag so I’m not even sure it is capable of “protecting” our stroller at all!
wonderful pomelo / 30692 posts
@Mrs. Starfish: Thanks for the info!! I can’t wait to take our kids on vacation!!
pomelo / 5220 posts
@mrs. starfish I don’t think you should apologize for your phrasing. Living in Boston where the winters are long and cold (but not as bad as Chicago by any means…), we prioritize a winter getaway. Even if it is just three days away from the sub-30 temps, it is important to my mental health. Travel doesn’t have to be a luxury if you prioritize it.
Glad you had a great trip with the girls!