First trip with mini-Yazz - may as well go to the other side of the world

Our trip to New Zealand to show off mini-Yazz was looming and Dean was lucky enough to get a month off work, so we were on our way.

Normally we'd share a pack between the two of us for a couple of weeks away, packing perhaps the night before or, if feeling super organised, we'd pack the bulk the weekend before a trip away. Hand luggage meant a handbag with a book, a spare pair of knickers and a hydrating face cream I'd never remember to use on the flight.

With a little'un though, the packing started weeks in advance - we needed clothes he'd fit while away, but not yet; sheets for travel cots, but not his own cot size; formula which costs 1/3 of the price in the UK than NZ; toys; books; nappies; yadda yadda yadda. The lists were long and endless. And strewn about  our tiny two-bedroom London pad.

But we did eventually get to the airport (a good hour before we normally would), with seven pieces of luggage. Boy there is just so much STUFF with a baby! And not stuff you can do without to save space - yeah we could have done with fewer baby gros, but there are the absolute necessary pieces of kit to lug into the airport: car seat, buggy, cabin-sized suitcase full of nappies for the ride. The first thing we learnt was there was no point keeping the stroller until we boarded. We'd thought we'd need it for mini to have a nap but no way in hell was he going to snooze at his normal bedtime in the excitement that is Heathrow. The lights! The people! The noise! 

We flew Singapore Air and were lucky the first leg was pretty empty and we had a lovely air stewardess who helped us get the hang of things. That flight was pretty relaxed as we knew we were stopping for a break in Singapore, so we all got a few hours' kip (although none of the usual glass of wine, a film and a sleeping tablet - those days are now a sweet and distant memory). Our mate Megan was waiting for us at the other end and we enjoyed two nights with her and her family at their house, swimming, eating, enjoying fantastic hospitality and breaking the jetlag. This was mini-Yazza's first taste of heat after being born in late Autumn in London, and he had his first swim in Megan's pool - he took it all in his stride like the chilled out dude he is. And Lou and Megan spent most of their time acting like teenage girls again, creating dances in the pool to the soundtrack of our youth.

The flight from Singapore to NZ was pretty smooth too, a bit of rest and the promise of Dean's parents excitedly waiting for us in Christchurch for our first stop at the holiday home in Akaroa. 

Akaroa harbour early on the first day

The view from home, Akaroa

Akaroa lighthouse

So to New Zealand: 24 nights, three cities, two families full of love and attention for the wee one (and for us!). Akaroa was its usual gorgeous, relaxing self. Wellington seemed to be much more upbeat than previous visits - it felt the economy had improved, and we were pleased to find Boulcott St Bistro chock full on a Monday night, a really positive sign for the capital city given so much business has moved to Auckland. And Hawke's Bay was sunny and chilled out as always. Each day started with a walk down to Havelock North village for a coffee, and many afternoons were spent on the deck at my family home in the sun with a glass of wine. We enjoyed a fabulous Mexican meal at Havelock North's Mamacita's too, complete with a couple of margaritas. Yep, we made the most of the free babysitting, thanks families x

Eastbourne beach, Wellington

His favourite spot with Poppa

With Dean's family

Enjoying the kiwi cafe scene in Greytown

Riding the miniature train at Keirunga Gardens, Havelock North, with Daddy and Granddad

A highlight was having mini-Yazz baptised at Lou's family's church in Havelock North, with the baptism font her Dad made and both families there to celebrate with us. I'd love to say he was an angel during the service - and he was in a way, with no tears during the baptism and a snooze on this Godmother Liz's shoulder after - but, as boy babies seem to do, he managed to find the smallest chink in his nappy as we prepared to enter the church with the Priest, and baptised the entry to the church, and Dean's shoes, on the way in. Rascal.

Snuggles with Granny Nik in the sunshine

Strawberry picking, Havelock North

We were of course sad to say goodbye to NZ and family, but were looking forward to getting back into our London routine too. It seems we'd saved our only travel mistake until now: travelling straight through from Napier to Auckland to Singapore to London - a 50+ hour trip with a wee one. The final flight from Singapore to London, at 13.5 hours and during the day, was like no hell you can ever imagine. Mini-Yazz didn't really cry, but he didn't want to sleep or stay still, so we were all up and down like yo-yos trying to keep him and ourselves sane. By the time we got through the immigration queue at Heathrow, we were all swearing we'd take the mail boat next time. Oh and then there was the baby/mummy jetlag which went like this:

Mummy can't sleep.

Mummy's trying to sleep while Daddy and baby sleep

Mummy's so close to sleep but just can't fall into it.

Mummy finally falls asleep.

Baby wakes to feed.

Baby can't go back to sleep.

Mummy's so tired!

But baby's awake.

Repeat.

Lucky for this mummy she had a daddy who happily got up at around 5am for three days running, even though he was working full days back in the office, to entertain the wee one while I got a snooze. And with the advice my Dad gave me as we said goodbye ringing in my ears ('it will pass'), we got through it, and after five nights back home we were into our old routine, with wee one in his new big cot and nursery and all sleeping soundly.

Would we make the trip to NZ again in a hurry? Sadly, no. Even though we'd be more streamlined next time, there's just no way of having a pain-free experience once you have a baby in tow. But we are planning a few European breaks in coming months which should be easier, although we will still need to lug a car seat and stroller everywhere we go.

Top tips for travelling with a wee one:

• check in your stroller unless you need it in transit. The fewer pieces of stuff you have, the easier it is to get around the airport (no shit Sherlock). Although if you are taking the stroller to the gate, know that you'll need to take baby out during security (bummer if they're asleep huh?!), and the bags offered at the gate were perfectly adequate. We'd bought our own buggy bag for £20 which was useful though because we could throw way more stuff in it, using it like an extra piece of luggage. 
• we didn't realise this (proud rookies) but any time there's turbulence, you need to take baby out of the bassinet. Even if you've just that second gotten baby to sleep. We feigned sleep a couple of times and got away with it (you know the moment you remove your sleeping baby and strap them to you, the seat belt sign will go off, right?); but other times the air stewards were all over us like poo on a white babygro.
• the problem on the flight may not be your baby - we were lucky mini-Yazz had clearly travelled enough before being born (11 countries!) that he was fine on take off and landing, and generally slept pretty well. But if there's another unhappy or wriggly or noisy or generally interesting-looking baby in your aisle, that will make it hard to settle your own wee one.
• don't even think of doing a long trip in one leg. Break it up overnight, somewhere with fresh air and a pool preferably. Yep it'll add time and money to the trip, but I promise that is better than the hell of a 50 hour trip in one go. I promise you.