Paret reser jorden runt med sin bebis – på föräldraledigheten

Paret ställde in sina tillhörigheter i ett förråd, sålde bilen och hyrde ut bostaden. Med sig hade de endast en stor väska som skulle räcka under det tio månader långa äventyret. Här står dottern Esmé och bekantar sig med den.

 

So excited to let you know I have my travel blog up and running. Please check it out at travelmadmum.com This day next week we leave New Zealand to embark on a seven week backpacking trip through SE Asia with our ten-month old girl. Needless to say, many people think we are a wee bit nuts to do so much travelling with a baby. Whilst our friends without children funnily feel the opposite. Classic comments so far include: “So good your not letting your baby rule your life” “My friend can’t even go for lunch but the baby is loosing his …. for a sleep” I guess from my perspective this backpacking trip is going to be quite different to the one I did when I was 25, young single and care free!..I think she will rule it, well a bit anyway!… All I want to try and do is incorporate her into our way of life. We both love travelling and can’t see why we should stop or change our lives. I am confident the different sites, smells and sounds will stimulate all of her senses. She gets stir crazy just as much as I do when we sit around the house for too long so I am sure this can only be good for her. Time is closing in on us, so we are trying desperately to get all three of our belongings for the trip into ONE BACKPACK!! Yes just one. I have to say not one person I have spoke to believes we can manage travelling with one backpack. I really want to prove them wrong (awful personality trait) so I must do it! I have a few tricks up my sleeve which I will share later, not many, so on that note: What are your magical tricks for travelling light and compact?? #travelmadmum #backpacking #travelingwithababy #southeastasia #excited #travel Ett foto publicerat av Travel Mad Mum (@travelmadmum) Jul 6, 2015 kl. 11:22 PDT

Karen har alltid älskat att resa, och hon ville inte sluta med det bara för att hon fick barn. Esmé som nu är ett år gammal har redan varit i Irland, Singapore, Australien, Indonesien, Nya Zealand, Malaysia, Vietnam, Taiwan, och Hong Kong. ”Målet är att inspirera likasinnade reseälskande föräldrar – dina resdagar behöver inte vara över,” skriver Karen på sin blogg.

 

My little angel with her passport just a few weeks old… Only age one she has already been to Ireland, Singapore, Australia, Malaysia, Indonesia, New Zealand, Vietnam, Taiwan and Hong Kong… Our next trip for February is in the making … #travel #travelwithbaby #travelmadmum #adventure #backpacking #instagood #instadaily #instatravel #igtravel #instapassport #holiday #jetset #travelgram #wanderlust #wonderlust #familytravel #travelwithkids #picoftheday #traveltheworld #mumblogger #tmom #travelblogger #passport #globaldegree #30Xthirty #globetrotter Ett foto publicerat av Travel Mad Mum (@travelmadmum) Dec 28, 2015 kl. 7:25 PST

Innan de gav sig ut på sitt stora äventyr gjorde de även ett par kortare resor. Ett problem de upptäckte då var avsaknaden av kompisar i Esmés egen ålder. Här utforskar de sin egen hemort som turister och möter upp några gamla vänner.

 

One thing about backpacking around with an only child is the lack of interaction and socialisation you can offer them with children their own age.Yesterday we got to hang out with our old friend Arthur. For the first time we explored our local area as tourists! I love how our house is on the edge of London, you can be in the city in 20minures or if you go the other way you can be in the beautiful english country side. We drove through quaint english villages and visited @godstonefarm. A great place for families to hang out on a nice day. #travel #travelwithbaby #travelmadmum #adventure #backpacking #instagood #instatravel #instapassport #holiday #jetset #travelgram #wanderlust #wonderlust #familytravel #takethekids #travelwithkids #livingthedream #baby #mumblogger #travelblogger #blogger #england #godstonefarm #uk #interaction #love #expatfamily

Ett foto publicerat av Travel Mad Mum (@travelmadmum) Sep 7, 2015 kl. 1:02 PDT

 Här är deras första stopp på resan, i Queensland, Australien. Man undrar ju lite vad Esmé tänker där…

 

First stop on our big adventure. Australia! It would be such a great place to bring up a child. A conversation that’s been had in this house a few times. Who knows where the future holds. However I think we are likely to always be nomads.. #travel #travelingwithababy #travelmadmum #adventure #backpacking #instagood #instatravel #instapassport #holiday #jetset #travelgram #wanderlust #wonderlust #familytravel #takethekids #travelwithkids #livingthedream #baby #mumblogger #travelblogger #blogger #travelphotography #picoftheday #goldcoast #australia #holidaywithkids Ett foto publicerat av Travel Mad Mum (@travelmadmum) Sep 6, 2015 kl. 9:22 PDT

I bloggen och på Instagram skriver Karen om hur det fungerar att resa med ett litet barn, och de tipsar om allt som har gjort resan lättare för dem. Här till exempel tipsar de om ett bra substitut till barnstolen, som går att ha med sig på resan.

De skriver att det går utmärkt att använda sin bärselse för att spänna fast spralliga barn i stolen.

 

Parents- if you can’t get a high chair when your out and about this might help you.. I searched high and low for something light weight and compact for baby to sit in for meal times whilst backpacking. Based on reviews, I got the polar bear booster seat. Really handy but we only ended up using it for a couple of weeks into our trip. We met another backpacking family and saw their ingenious idea. They used their baby bjorn to strap their daughter Puk around the waste to the chair. I also saw them use it whilst she was in an ordinary high chair that didn’t have straps. She liked to stand up in the chair sometimes so this kept her safely sitting. Thanks Wendy and Niels for this idea, saved us few times! (Don’t leave your baby unattended as they won’t have anything between their legs to stop them from sliding down. Wouldn’t be suitable for a baby that can’t sit up unsupported). More detailed review of the polar bear booster seat coming up on the website soon. #travel #travelwithbaby #travelmadmum #adventure #backpacking #instagood #instatravel #instapassport #holiday #jetset #travelgram #wanderlust #wonderlust #familytravel #travelwithkids #toptip #genius #travelbaby #babywearing #dinnertime #picoftheday #instababy Ett foto publicerat av Travel Mad Mum (@travelmadmum) Sep 10, 2015 kl. 7:33 PDT

Den här väskan fylls med vatten som värms upp i solen, och används sedan som dusch. Perfekt för en människa i litet format.

 

  Solar shower anyone? #travel #travelwithbaby #travelmadmum #adventure #backpacking #instagood #instatravel #instapassport #holiday #jetset #travelgram #wanderlust #wonderlust #familytravel #travelwithkids #mumblogger #travelblogger #camping #solarshower #waterbaby #camp   Ett foto publicerat av Travel Mad Mum (@travelmadmum) Sep 19, 2015 kl. 1:18 PDT

Tydligen har bad varit det mest effektiva sättet att göra dottern nöjd under resan. Esmé älskar vatten.

 

The sea and the swimming pool- A fast effective antidote for tears or tantrums!! What the hell are we going to do when we get to London ?! #travel #travelingwithababy #travelmadmum #adventure #backpacking #instagood #instatravel #picoftheday #instapassport #holiday #jetset #travelgram #wanderlust #familytravel #livingthedream #baby #mumblogger #swimming #ocean #waterbaby

Ett foto publicerat av Travel Mad Mum (@travelmadmum) Aug 10, 2015 kl. 12:04 PDT

Här badar de i Malaysia. Esmé är betydligt mer nöjd än sin mamma.

 

Underwater family selfie… I decided I needed to man up with water when my baby started out doing me with putting her head under the water ! #travel #adventure #travelgram #instatravel #instagold #backpacking #backpacker #instagood #instapassport #jetset #holiday #vacation #familytravel #takethekids #travelwithkids #livingthedream #wonderlust #wanderlust #mum #baby #blogger #mumblogger #travelblogger #picoftheday #selfie #familyselfie #underwaterselfie #langkawi #malaysia #waterbaby Ett foto publicerat av Travel Mad Mum (@travelmadmum) Sep 18, 2015 kl. 12:58 PDT

En klar fördel med att resa med en bebis är att det blir jämvikt!

 

Backpacking with a baby! #travel #travelwithbaby #travelmadmum #adventure #backpacking #instagood #instatravel #instapassport #holiday #jetset #travelgram #wanderlust #wonderlust #familytravel #travelwithkids #picoftheday #traveltheworld #babywearing Ett foto publicerat av Travel Mad Mum (@travelmadmum) Okt 6, 2015 kl. 8:47 PDT

Som sagt, massor av bad. Nu börjar de fundera på hur de ska hålla Esmé glad när de väl är hemma i London.

 

  Good family times! #travel #adventure #travelgram #instatravel #instagold #backpacking #backpacker #instagood #instapassport #jetset #holiday #vacation #familytravel #takethekids #travelwithkids #instadaily #livingthedream #wonderlust #wanderlust #mum #baby #blogger #mumblogger #travelblogger #tmom #picoftheday #langkawi #malaysia   Ett foto publicerat av Travel Mad Mum (@travelmadmum) Okt 18, 2015 kl. 4:46 PDT

De har nyligen varit hemma i London i några månader, men tar varje tillfälle de kan att resa vidare. Det här är en av familjens senaste bilder där de sitter i en Tuk Tuk i Kambodja.

”Hon hade sina händer högt uppsträckta. Jag kan se att hon försöker fånga vinden i sina händer,” skriver Karen.

Esmé måste vara den mest beresta (snart) tvååringen som finns!

 

The absolute crap experience of getting a visa in Siem Reap is quickly forgotten when you step out of the airport. The sun is going down and the warmth of it on your skin is a true novelty after being in London for the last five months! We bundled our bits and bobs onto a truck Tuk Tuk … I wonder how there not going to fall off! The driver assures me the road is smooth and not to worry! That smile from Esmé gazing at me as we whist through the wind on this new experience melts my heart. She had her hands held up high. I can see she is trying to catch the wind in her hand. Wedged between Shaun and I she says moooo moooo when she sees the water buffaloes drinking from the stream as we zoom by! I can see how stimulated and excited she has become! A far cry from the tanty at the visa desk half an hour previously! The actual travel part from place to place is not always easy but it’s always worth the experience which follows.. (Looking a little wind swept in this one). #travel #travelwithbaby #travelmadmum #adventure #backpacking #instagood #instadaily #instatravel #igtravel #instapassport #holiday #jetset #travelgram #wanderlust #wonderlust #familytravel #travelwithkids #picoftheday #traveltheworld #mumblogger #tmom #travelblogger #blogger #tuktuk #cambodia #siemreap

Ett foto publicerat av Travel Mad Mum (@travelmadmum) Feb 10, 2016 kl. 8:58 PST

Följ familjen på resorna via deras blogg och Instagram.