We made it through all the doom and gloom, nay-saying, and sarcastic "good lucks!" Our first trip with our boys was a success, it wasn't exactly the same as what we were used to, but it went off without a hitch. Sure, we didn't stay out late and drink our asses off, maybe we never ate dinner past 6:00, but we didn't feel hindered by our new additions and enjoyed (almost) every minute of it. It went so well that two weeks in we booked our flights for next year! That's going to be a whole 'nother story, hopefully we won't have any early walkers to contend with. Here's some things we figured out, or were reinforced, from our first trip with the boys.
Lessons Learned:
#1 - It ain't that bad! - Quit worrying about what could happen and just get out there and do it.
#2 - Pack Light - We tried our damnedest to pack as many essentials as we could without being crushed under the weight of our packs. Even still, pushing a stroller with two carseat attached, carrying a 35lb pack is daunting, we only had to do it fully loaded a few times but I couldn't imagine bringing more stuff. Do yourself a favor and if you're not sure you'll need it, don't bring it!
#3 - Stay Hands Free - This one may be a bit more of a personal preference but, for us, backpacks were a must. We'd always brought them on our travels anyways but I couldn't imagine not being able to have both hands free. If you're pulling a piece of luggage and trying to push a stroller simultaneously, you're going to be miserable. Even with carrying 35lbs on your back it's much easier to maneuver, tend to the baby, open doors, go up curbs, whatever.
#4 - Be flexible - Don't saddle yourself down with MUST-DOs. You're not going to be able to do it all, you'll get slowed down when you're rushing, you'll get distracted when trying to concentrate, and you'll just get frustrated if you are locked into having to do things a certain way or at a certain time. Slow it down, don't lock yourself into a timetable, just go with the flow and do what you can do, you can always come back!
#5 - Everyone loves twins! - Not much of a lesson learned, but we were surprised by how much of a spectacle we became at times. People would stop and talk, often in a language we didn't understand, they'd take pictures of them(a little weird), want to pick them up, make a distinctly European ticking sound with their mouths(kinda like what you might do to get a horse to move), it was a bit crazy at times.
#6 - Accept some help - After assessing the situation of course, at restaurants, hotels, airports people love to help by holding a baby if it looks like you might be struggling. Accept their offer, free yourself up for a quick second, and maybe take advantage of it for a few more seconds to stretch or do what ever for that brief baby-less moment.
#7 - Learn to Love the Ergo - Or whatever your carrier/front-pack of choice is. Our boys aren't too fond of the stroller, at least for sleeping. It's 100X easier for them to sleep in the Ergo than the stroller, and they sleep for longer, no worrying about keeping the stroller moving if you stop. We found that if it's about nap-time and we wanted to do any museums or anything like that, it is much easier to put them in the front packs and walk around and have them fall, and stay, asleep.
Lessons Learned:
#1 - It ain't that bad! - Quit worrying about what could happen and just get out there and do it.
#2 - Pack Light - We tried our damnedest to pack as many essentials as we could without being crushed under the weight of our packs. Even still, pushing a stroller with two carseat attached, carrying a 35lb pack is daunting, we only had to do it fully loaded a few times but I couldn't imagine bringing more stuff. Do yourself a favor and if you're not sure you'll need it, don't bring it!
#3 - Stay Hands Free - This one may be a bit more of a personal preference but, for us, backpacks were a must. We'd always brought them on our travels anyways but I couldn't imagine not being able to have both hands free. If you're pulling a piece of luggage and trying to push a stroller simultaneously, you're going to be miserable. Even with carrying 35lbs on your back it's much easier to maneuver, tend to the baby, open doors, go up curbs, whatever.
#4 - Be flexible - Don't saddle yourself down with MUST-DOs. You're not going to be able to do it all, you'll get slowed down when you're rushing, you'll get distracted when trying to concentrate, and you'll just get frustrated if you are locked into having to do things a certain way or at a certain time. Slow it down, don't lock yourself into a timetable, just go with the flow and do what you can do, you can always come back!
#5 - Everyone loves twins! - Not much of a lesson learned, but we were surprised by how much of a spectacle we became at times. People would stop and talk, often in a language we didn't understand, they'd take pictures of them(a little weird), want to pick them up, make a distinctly European ticking sound with their mouths(kinda like what you might do to get a horse to move), it was a bit crazy at times.
#6 - Accept some help - After assessing the situation of course, at restaurants, hotels, airports people love to help by holding a baby if it looks like you might be struggling. Accept their offer, free yourself up for a quick second, and maybe take advantage of it for a few more seconds to stretch or do what ever for that brief baby-less moment.
#7 - Learn to Love the Ergo - Or whatever your carrier/front-pack of choice is. Our boys aren't too fond of the stroller, at least for sleeping. It's 100X easier for them to sleep in the Ergo than the stroller, and they sleep for longer, no worrying about keeping the stroller moving if you stop. We found that if it's about nap-time and we wanted to do any museums or anything like that, it is much easier to put them in the front packs and walk around and have them fall, and stay, asleep.
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