[00:00:00] Dr. Renee White: Knowledge is power, and we are all about empowering the mamas of the world. In each episode, we will unravel and interpret the latest research and evidence-based practices for pregnancy, postpartum, and motherhood. [00:00:15] As mums and researchers ourselves, we have experienced firsthand the overwhelming complexity of information myths and those classic old wives tales.

[00:00:27] Dr. Renee White: I'm Dr. Renee White, and this is the. [00:00:30] Science of motherhood. Hello and welcome to another check in Tuesday, episode. This is The Science of Motherhood, and I'm your host, Dr. Renee White. In today's episode, I am sharing practical tips [00:00:45] for taking that stress free staycation with your newborn or your smart small child this summer.

[00:00:54] Dr. Renee White: It's something that, oh man, gave me a really, really big [00:01:00] headache when my daughter was younger. And I wanna ask, have you been scrolling through Instagram, seeing everyone's overseas holiday photos, feeling that familiar pang of like, we can't afford [00:01:15] that right now.

[00:01:16] Dr. Renee White: And maybe you've thought about a local getaway, but then imagined the absolute chaos of packing for a baby, the cost of accommodation [00:01:30] or you know, and whether it's even worth the effort, like honestly. So if you are feeling stuck between wanting a break and feeling like family holidays are just too expensive or overwhelming with little ones, you are definitely [00:01:45] not alone. And I really think this episode is going to be for you.

[00:01:51] Dr. Renee White: So today I'm gonna walk you through how to plan a genuinely rejuvenating staycation without [00:02:00] breaking the bank. So what we're gonna talk about, you're gonna discover my essential packing list for traveling with a baby, hotel hacks because. I have a number of them now that actually make life easier [00:02:15] and a money saving tip that could save your family hundreds of dollars on accommodation this summer.

[00:02:22] Dr. Renee White: We have used this hack many, many, many times as a family, and so I'm [00:02:30] also sharing why sometimes the best reset for your nervous system isn't a week overseas, it's just a couple of nights somewhere close, you know, somewhere close by where someone else does the dishes and changes the [00:02:45] sheets. Honestly, mamas, is that not what we're hearing?

[00:02:49] Dr. Renee White: So, this episode is proudly supported by Fill Your Cup, Australia's first doula village. So if you are pregnant or have a new baby, we [00:03:00] have doulas ready to look after you, nurture and nourish you across Melbourne, Geelong, Sydney, Newcastle, Brisbane, gold Coast, Hobart, and Perth. Alright, let's dive in.[00:03:15]

[00:03:16] Dr. Renee White: So, let's talk about staycations with little ones. I know that for many of us, the cost of living crisis means that overseas holidays or even interstate trips just aren't in the [00:03:30] budget right now. And honestly, that's completely okay because what I have learned over the past few years, both personally and from chatting with hundreds of parents through fill your cup, is that, what we actually [00:03:45] need isn't necessarily a two week European holiday.

[00:03:49] Dr. Renee White: What we need is a genuine break from our everyday routine. And so, you know, we need someone else to make the bed. [00:04:00] We need to not cook dinner every night and think about what it is that we're gonna cook. We need to not be surrounded by the laundry pile and the dishes and all the things on our to-do list.

[00:04:13] Dr. Renee White: And here's [00:04:15] the beautiful thing about staycations with babies and toddlers. They have no idea whether they're at a resort in Bali or a hotel 45 minutes from home. As long as there's a [00:04:30] pool in the summer, maybe some new things to explore and their parents are a little bit more relaxed and you are happy.

[00:04:36] Dr. Renee White: You are all happy. Before I get into the practical tips where you're gonna want a pen and paper, I wanna share something that [00:04:45] genuinely changed how our family approaches staycations. And it is so simple that I wish I'd known about this like well and truly before we had Eva, because we tried [00:05:00] going to regular hotels and things like that and Airbnbs, and it was an absolute disaster.

[00:05:06] Dr. Renee White: Now, if you are in Australia, getting an RACV membership isn't just about [00:05:15] roadside assistance now for around $55 a year. You get access to member discounts at their participating hotels and resorts across Australia. And I'm not talking about like, you know, [00:05:30] saving 10 or $20, I'm talking about saving hundreds of dollars.

[00:05:36] Dr. Renee White: Per night at some beautiful properties. Now, the RACV has their own resorts at places like Torque and [00:05:45] Noosa and Cobram, and the Gold Fields and members can save significant amounts on accommodation. But even beyond RACV properties, that membership card can get you discount at thousands of other [00:06:00] hotels, motels, resorts, nationwide.

[00:06:02] Dr. Renee White: So when you are paying $55 for the membership, that's annually, right, and potentially saving a hundred or more per night on accommodation. To me it's a no brainer. Like it's an absolute no brainer. We have been to [00:06:15] like four five RACV resorts consistently as a family, and it is spot on. Because it is so family friendly, like they've really thought about it.

[00:06:28] Dr. Renee White: There's like, you know, a, a [00:06:30] playground at every hotel. The, the food there is very, you know, family focused, like it is just so well thought out. So if you are planning any local getaways this summer, even just one or two nights, do yourself a [00:06:45] favor and look into this because, you know. You wanna do that before you book? It might be the difference between a staycation feeling, financially stressful or actually doable.

[00:06:58] Dr. Renee White: Alright, let's look at [00:07:00] the essential must-haves for traveling with a baby. Let's talk about what to actually pack because this can feel very overwhelming and you know, you can bring everything but the kitchen sink.

[00:07:13] Dr. Renee White: But the [00:07:15] key, what I've learned is to pack strategically. Not excessively. So here are my non-negotiables. So for sleep, you want a, you know, portable noise machine or an app on your phone. [00:07:30] You know, if your child needs blackout blinds, there's some really great portable ones, if not large garbage bags and painters tape to kind of cover the windows is totally fine.

[00:07:42] Dr. Renee White: Your baby's regular sleeping [00:07:45] bag or swaddle. So familiarity is everything for these kids and a nightlight if your child uses one at home. So the sleep environment it is, is pretty crucial. You know, even if everything else is different, if [00:08:00] your baby can sleep in, you know, a, a, a darkish kind of familiar sounding space. You're really setting yourself up for success.

[00:08:10] Dr. Renee White: For feeding, if you're bottle feeding, you know, bring enough formula for the trip, [00:08:15] obviously plus extra. You don't wanna be hunting for the right brand, you know, in a kind of country town if that's where you're going. Um, a portable bottle warmer or ask the hotel for access to a kettle, [00:08:30] sterilizing bags or tablets if you won't have access to your usual setup.

[00:08:34] Dr. Renee White: And if you're breastfeeding, remember your nursing pillow. I used to travel with this all the time. And if you use, you know, if you do use that, maybe even, if you know, for [00:08:45] some mums, and I was definitely like this, I needed to like have like a Muslin cloth for a bit of privacy. I was just one of those mums who just got very nervous when I was in public.

[00:08:55] Dr. Renee White: And also, you know, when my daughter was in age, she just was just [00:09:00] constantly like looking around the whole time when she was feeding. So that kind of gave her a bit more opportunity for focus, shall we say. For sanity, I would be looking at a baby carrier. It's an absolute game changer for navigating [00:09:15] hotels, going to restaurants or beach walks, a portable changing mat, some familiar toys, especially comfort items, you know, if they've got, you know, that one kind of stuffy that they really love.

[00:09:29] Dr. Renee White: [00:09:30] Snacks, snacks and more snacks, particularly for toddlers because hotel breakfast might be a bit late. Having said that though, at RACV resorts, the best thing I think was the buffet breakfast because it was pretty early on. And [00:09:45] they've just got so many opportunities to try new foods and, you know, without, without a lot of food wastage, they've just, you know, can put it in front of them.

[00:09:55] Dr. Renee White: And if they don't really wanna try it on, don't eat the whole thing. It's not that big a deal. [00:10:00] You wanna think about your baby's sunscreen and hat, and obviously a small first aid kit with all the bits and bobs that you need.

[00:10:08] Dr. Renee White: Now what not to pack. Do not bring the entire nursery. You don't need 47 toys. [00:10:15] You don't need seven outfit changes per day. Pack light and know that worst case scenario, there's most likely gonna be shops wherever you go. So you know, if you need the extra onesie or something like Woolies, sell those and it's pretty, it's [00:10:30] pretty easy.

[00:10:31] Dr. Renee White: Hotel hacks that actually work. So you've packed smart. Now let's talk about making the hotel experience work with little ones. Now, before you book, [00:10:45] here are some tips that I've got for you. Call the hotel directly and ask about their baby friendly amenities. So many of them have porta cots. They've got high chairs, and they might even have bath toys kind of available [00:11:00] like even like just, you know, a couple of plastic cups or something like that. Kids love that.

[00:11:05] Dr. Renee White: Request, request a ground floor room if possible, less worry about noise for other guests or, you know, and it's, it's easier access for [00:11:15] prams. Ask if they have connecting rooms or suites, if you're worried about that, like kind of room sharing with a light sleeper and check if there's a fridge in the room for storing milk and snacks.

[00:11:28] Dr. Renee White: That is an absolute game changer. I [00:11:30] know as soon as we used to land in Hobart when we were living in Melbourne, we would, you know, grab the pram, pop her in there, and we would go straight down to Woolies and get a whole bunch of snacks and load up the fridge and, you know, the, the [00:11:45] serviced apartment with that. So, absolute game changer.

[00:11:49] Dr. Renee White: When you arrive, here are the things that I would highly recommend. Do a quick safety sweep. Cover power outlets, or check for like potential choking hazards. Move [00:12:00] any breakables up high, especially if you've got those little ones who just love getting into things. Set up the sleeping space first, so it's ready when your baby needs it.

[00:12:12] Dr. Renee White: When you're traveling, you know, they get tired [00:12:15] and you don't wanna be like, you know, trying to set up a port of cot when you're all stressed. So just get that done. ASAP request extra towels. Trust me, you'll use them and ask [00:12:30] about early check-in or late checkouts if you're worried about nap timing. Now, we did this all the time with RACV and they were so accommodating with that.

[00:12:40] Dr. Renee White: Always had the room ready for us to go because the timing of the [00:12:45] flights and when we kind of got there was bang on when Eva was having her sleep. So, my kind of nap time strategy. If your baby still naps, plan your days around this. You know, the beauty of a [00:13:00] staycation is you can come back to the hotel for nap time, unlike when you're traveling far from home.

[00:13:05] Dr. Renee White: So don't try to power through and skip naps. Honestly, I just think it's a recipe for disaster. So just [00:13:15] really embrace the slower pace, you know, read by the pool while they nap. Order room service and actually relax. That's literally the point of this and, you know, utilize that kind of [00:13:30] restaurant survival tactic.

[00:13:31] Dr. Renee White: Um, ask for a table in the corner or a quiet section. Go to the early dinner, like go to the five 30 instead of seven. We always had backup snacks as well and you know, have a [00:13:45] chat and a strategy with your partner. Take shifts if your baby's unsettled. You know, one person walks them around while the other one eats at the restaurant.

[00:13:53] Dr. Renee White: And honestly like it's a different season of life. Don't expect a leisurely three course meal [00:14:00] like you probably used to when you were child free. Order really efficiently and be prepared to take things back to the room if if needed. The other thing I wanted to talk about is I guess that kind of real mindset shift, and [00:14:15] here's something I really wanna emphasize, A successful staycation with little ones.

[00:14:20] Dr. Renee White: Looks different than a pre-kids holiday, and that is something my husband and I really had to kind of come to grasps with, but eventually [00:14:30] like, you know, you're just like, yeah, that's okay. So success isn't lying by the pool for six hours reading a novel. Trust me, you will get back there. I have it. It's, you know, it can be something different.

[00:14:44] Dr. Renee White: You know, both [00:14:45] parents sleeping past six 30 because you're not in your own bed where you hear every sound. Success might look like having someone else cook you breakfast and it's a beautiful breakfast buffet. It might be going for a swim without having to clean up the bathroom [00:15:00] afterwards. Having a proper conversation with your partner over dinner.

[00:15:03] Dr. Renee White: It could be, you know, simply being in a different space where a mental load of your home isn't surrounding you. So I guess what [00:15:15] I'm trying to say is lower your expectations of what a holiday looks like right now, and you'll actually enjoy it more. So I just wanna kind of finish off. With, I guess my [00:15:30] personal staycation philosophy, I've learned that sometimes two nights away locally can be more restorative than a week long trip.

[00:15:39] Dr. Renee White: That requires flights and schedule disruptions and, and a massive [00:15:45] expense. So your nervous system doesn't care whether you are beside a pool in Byron Bay or in Torque. What it cares about is that you are out of your normal environment. You are not doing the mental load of running your household and you [00:16:00] have some space to just be, and essentially in these financially type times, there's something I think really beautiful about finding joy and restoration in what's accessible.

[00:16:13] Dr. Renee White: You know, it's not [00:16:15] about missing out on European holidays, it's, it's really about, you know, reframing what rest and connection looks like for you and your family right now. So here is my challenge for you. Before summer ends, [00:16:30] book one or two nights, somewhere within an hour or two of home. If the RACV membership or you know, your state equivalent is up your alley, go for it.

[00:16:40] Dr. Renee White: This is not a sponsor thing. I just absolutely bloody love it and need to share it with [00:16:45] everyone. Pack the essentials and leave the rest. Trust me. Choose a place with a pool or near a beach if that's your jam or some nature, and give yourself permission to have a [00:17:00] really like low expectation, because often those are the trips we look back on most fondly.

[00:17:06] Dr. Renee White: If you need help with routines before you go, or you're worried about your baby's. Sleep being disrupted. Remember that our fill cup doors are here for support. With all of that, we can help [00:17:15] you feel confident with sleep strategies and routines that you know that essentially makes your traveling feel less daunting.

[00:17:23] Dr. Renee White: Thank you so much for tuning into this check-in Tuesday episode. I hope this has given you some practical [00:17:30] tips and the confidence to plan a little getaway with your little ones this summer. Remember, you don't need to go far to get the benefits of a break. You just need to get out of the everyday environment and let yourself rest.

[00:17:44] Dr. Renee White: So if [00:17:45] you found this helpful, please share it with another parent who might be feeling like. Holidays are maybe a little bit off the table right now, and always you can find, fill your cup at I fill your cup.com. And if you need any support during [00:18:00] pregnancy or the postpartum period, we're here to help. Alright, I'll see you next time.

[00:18:05] Dr. Renee White: If you loved this episode, please hit the subscribe button and leave a review. If you know someone out there who would also love to [00:18:15] listen to this episode, please hit the share button so they can benefit from it as well. You've just listened to another episode of The Science of Motherhood proudly presented by Fill Your Cup, Australia's first doula village.

[00:18:29] Dr. Renee White: Head [00:18:30] to our website I fill your cup.com to learn more about our birth and postpartum doula offerings where every mother we pledge to be the steady hand that guides you back to yourself. Ensuring you feel nurtured, informed, and [00:18:45] empowered so you can fully embrace the joy of motherhood with confidence. Until next time, bye.