Chelsea is an Australian mum exploring the world with her partner and adorable baby Elkie. Her blog brbbusylivinglife.com and Instagram account are full of tips and tricks for family travel, expat life, and travelling on a budget – now with a baby in tow! We loved hearing about the family’s latest adventure in Bali, and what it was like travelling with a baby, especially how they managed to plan their exploring around Elkie’s naps.
Check out our interview to learn more about successful travel with a 9-month old!
1. How old is your child?
My daughter Elkie is 9 months old.
2. When and where was the last time you travelled with her?
We returned from a trip to Bali, Indonesia just 3 days ago.
3. What was that experience like?
It was AMAZING! Before going I had concerns regarding the flight as it was my baby’s first time on a plane, as well as being able to find safe food for her but everything was amazing! Elkie did so well on the flight and she absolutely loved Bali. In regards to food and water I just made sure that I was on top of sanitation processes and finding safe and hygienic restaurants for us all to eat in. I can happily report that none of us got sick and we had the greatest time!
4. Where do you plan to go next?
Canada. My partner and I lived in Canada from 2017-2020 so we would love to take our daughter back to show her as we absolutely loved it.
5. What is it like travelling with a baby in general? Have you adapted anything on your trips to suit Elkie?
Different but worth it! Prior to having Elkie my partner and I would do SO much on holidays and come back exhausted. Travelling with Elkie is much slower as we plan our days around her naps. For example, in Bali we would go out in the morning before her nap and then again in the middle of the day before her afternoon nap and then again in the afternoon for an early dinner before her bedtime. Although it took some adjusting, we actually enjoyed having “time off” during the day so we could actually relax too. In saying that, I can’t wait for her to be a bit older so we can do some adventure activities like kayaking, rock climbing and snorkelling.
5. What is your daughter’s favourite travelling snacks?
Baby corn puffs!! Elkie had never had these before we left but I got some for the plane. They were a massive hit! Whenever she was getting a little fussy when we were out and about in Bali, I would put one corn puff in each hand and problem solved!
6. Do you prefer to travel by train, plane or boat?
Plane. Honestly, I am an anxious flyer, and I don’t enjoy it but out of the three I would prefer a flight as I feel we get there quicker.
7. What’s your ideal family vacation?
Anything adventure and learning about the culture! We are very open to travelling anywhere as long as we can actually do things, not just sit at the hotel all day. We want to fully immerse ourselves in the culture while we are there!
8. With young kids, do you prefer an early morning flight or late night flights?
Early morning! That way if my baby doesn’t sleep (like she didn’t on the way to Bali) we can sort of make up for it that evening when we arrive at our destination with an early bedtime.
9. Any travel tips you swear by?
SNACKS, snacks and more snacks for babies! You can seriously never have enough. Also, lots of baby wipes. I used them all day long when we were travelling in Bali to clean Elkie as well as surfaces such as highchairs and tables in restaurants before Elkie sat down. I also hate to be one of those mums who leaves a gigantic mess after their child has eaten so I always used baby wipes to clean up after Elkie had made a huge mess while eating.
10. Travel gadgets or essentials you recommend?
A travel stroller! At home in Australia, we have a large stroller that wouldn’t have been appropriate on the narrow streets in Bali. Prior to leaving we purchased a cheap $30 AUD stroller to use while we were there. It was a saviour! Not taking our expensive stroller also lowered our stress about it getting ruined when loaded onto the plane.
11. Do you have basics you always put in your medicine kit?
Baby paracetamol! When we left for Bali our daughter was teething so having some pain relief on hand at all times was essential as we all know how painful it can be for little bubbas when their teeth are coming through.
Thanks for sharing your experience with us, Chelsea, and for all the wonderful tips. We can’t wait to see more of your adventures as a family on @brbbusylivinglifewithababy!
Shop this trip
Destination: Bali, Indonesia
Travel Gear: Travel stroller, wipes
Travel Snack: Baby corn puffs
Did this make you want to travel to Bali? Well, we’ve got the right family friendly Bali travel guide for you. You can also download the Bali city guide for free.
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