1-Year-Old Has Been Travelling Around The World Since She Was Born
When Karen Edwards, a 31-year-old nurse, and her partner Shaun Bayes announced that they were going to travel the world with their toddler Esmé, everyone thought they were nuts. But, being long-time backpackers, they packed everything into one backpack, took their 10-week-old baby girl and took off. Asia, Australia, and New Zealand were waiting.
“The overall aim is to inspire like-minded travel loving parents – your travel days do not have to be over,” said Karen. “It is all about incorporating your little person into your way of life. You can still do everything, including snorkelling and diving, but you just take it in turns. I can’t imagine having spent my maternity leave any other way.” The travelling trio is currently in Thailand and going to Cambodia next!
More info: travelmadmum.com | Facebook | Instagram (h/t: elitedaily)
“Both Shaun and I were keen backpackers before I fell pregnant,” said Karen, a 31-year-old nurse
“Everyone thought we were completely nuts when we said that we were going to take Esmé”
But Shaun left his job, sold their car, rented their house and took off with their 10-week-old baby
Over 10 months, they travelled across Asia, Australia and New Zealand with only 1 backpack
Karen was breastfeeding and Esmé was vaccinated before they left the UK
“Little miss was born in London, has a mum from Ireland and a dad from New Zealand…”
“The gal is destined to travel!”
“She was really well behaved”
“Because she was small it was easy enough to keep her in the harness when we were on the move”
“We have no regrets, she got to experience new sights, scenes and smells as she grew”
“The only time I felt Esmé was missing out was not having much socialising with other children”
“However the libraries always have free rhyme classes if you need to socialise your child a little”
“The weirdest part of the trip was actually coming home”
“Esmé hasn’t lived somewhere for a long period of time because we were always moving around”
“It’s also harder to find her things to do in London – well, compared to travelling anyway”
“People say having a child ruins travelling, but it really doesn’t”
“Obviously there were times…when you fancy a beer and the baby is asleep”
“And when you crack it open she wakes, that makes it harder. But it’s worth it”
“You can still do everything, including…diving, but you just take it in turns”
“I can’t imagine having spent my maternity leave any other way”
“It is through these experiences, I want to share factual information, personal stories as well as top tips for travelling with little ones”
“The overall aim is to inspire like-minded travel loving parents”
“Your travel days do not have to be over”
“It is all about incorporating your little person into your way of life”
The travelling trio recently took off to Bangkok for another 3-week adventure
Feeling inspired? Check Karen’s blog for tips on travelling around the world with a baby
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People have been telling me this since I was 22. I have never made more than your average waitress and I didn't even have a credit card until I was in my 30s, yet I've managed to travel all over the world. I am also debt free. All you *really* need is determination and a willingness to give up things in life that other people take for granted. Get rid of your smart phone and your cable. Stop living like a slave to car debt. Buy something used, practical and reliable. If you own your home, rent it out while you're gone. If you don't own your own home, rent something smaller---my grandparents raised 7 kids in a two room house, if they can do with that little, you can manage with at least half of what you have now. And if you can't give these things up, then travel just isn't a priority for you. That's fine, but if it *is* something you really want for yourself and your kids, don't talk yourself out of it just because it requires compromise.
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I didn't even catch that. At least this wasn't blatant advertising. It was an article I actually enjoyed. Hopefully Karen and her husband received some money from the sponsorship.
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One backpack for everybody's clothes, towels and sleeping bags? Where do you leave the bulky pampers then? Surely you don't buy a new pack every day. Also wonder about the vaccinations and the mandatory visits at the pediatrician, and how to do with the lack of child seats in means of transport. What about the cot for baby to sleep in?
Washable nappies presumably, or buy nappies as they go. Pediatrician visits aren't mandatory after birth Babies travel on laps in a plane and there are no child seat laws for public transport And I would imagine that based on their breastfeeding and baby wearing that they Co slept so had no need of a cot
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“Little miss was born in London, has a mum from Ireland and a dad from New Zealand…” Does it matter? If you place so much importance on being "international", you're trying to overcompensate for something. People are people and aren't statistics.
All I did for a few months after he was born, was laying on the sofa and breastfeeding. Can't imagine going on a trip lol
Also, unfortunately their baby won't remember it... Either way, I can't imagine going traveling with my baby.
I applaud them! It's so important to teach children to expand their worldview and to experience other cultures, however one decides to do it.
We have been doing this with our girl since she was 7 months . Shes 1yr and 4 months old now and we are presently in Honduras.
Thank you all for your kind comments, so glad it inspired so many of you ! X
I really find some comments hilarious. To them, I say... we chose this! Pregnant with baby number 2 and we've been travelling since the first turned 5 weeks :D stay beautiful!
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Sorry but for mé it is a bit selfish from parents. The child needs normal home friends of her age not Traveling all the tíme Changing places, because parents WANTED to. Don t be parents then. What she will remember.?nada. Tane her when she is 12 or 15 and will appreciate it. So small should be at normál home to have baby life.zravel first. Then have a baby. I dont mind over summer for vaccation. But then back to her room toys ton granparwnts friends. Not to another airport another room etc....
Very nice. I have a 5 month old son. We were wondering if we could plan a trip or not. U guys really inspired us. Keep traveling.
Ahh I went to the same spots they did in New Zealand and Malaysia!! What an amazing travel experience!!
I'm just wondering how was her child vaccinated, if it takes a few years to vaccinate a kid, with months of intervals in between.
Nice couple. And I do agree that travelling hasn't to be over with having a baby. You just travel different and more slowly what isn't the worth as then you relax much more. We did a 3-month trip with our son aged 1,5 years in asia too and it was the perfect maternity leave occupation. I can't imagine to spend it at "home" the entire time.
People have been telling me this since I was 22. I have never made more than your average waitress and I didn't even have a credit card until I was in my 30s, yet I've managed to travel all over the world. I am also debt free. All you *really* need is determination and a willingness to give up things in life that other people take for granted. Get rid of your smart phone and your cable. Stop living like a slave to car debt. Buy something used, practical and reliable. If you own your home, rent it out while you're gone. If you don't own your own home, rent something smaller---my grandparents raised 7 kids in a two room house, if they can do with that little, you can manage with at least half of what you have now. And if you can't give these things up, then travel just isn't a priority for you. That's fine, but if it *is* something you really want for yourself and your kids, don't talk yourself out of it just because it requires compromise.
Load More Replies... I didn't even catch that. At least this wasn't blatant advertising. It was an article I actually enjoyed. Hopefully Karen and her husband received some money from the sponsorship.
Load More Replies... One backpack for everybody's clothes, towels and sleeping bags? Where do you leave the bulky pampers then? Surely you don't buy a new pack every day. Also wonder about the vaccinations and the mandatory visits at the pediatrician, and how to do with the lack of child seats in means of transport. What about the cot for baby to sleep in?
Washable nappies presumably, or buy nappies as they go. Pediatrician visits aren't mandatory after birth Babies travel on laps in a plane and there are no child seat laws for public transport And I would imagine that based on their breastfeeding and baby wearing that they Co slept so had no need of a cot
Load More Replies... “Little miss was born in London, has a mum from Ireland and a dad from New Zealand…” Does it matter? If you place so much importance on being "international", you're trying to overcompensate for something. People are people and aren't statistics.
All I did for a few months after he was born, was laying on the sofa and breastfeeding. Can't imagine going on a trip lol
Also, unfortunately their baby won't remember it... Either way, I can't imagine going traveling with my baby.
I applaud them! It's so important to teach children to expand their worldview and to experience other cultures, however one decides to do it.
We have been doing this with our girl since she was 7 months . Shes 1yr and 4 months old now and we are presently in Honduras.
Thank you all for your kind comments, so glad it inspired so many of you ! X
I really find some comments hilarious. To them, I say... we chose this! Pregnant with baby number 2 and we've been travelling since the first turned 5 weeks :D stay beautiful!
Load More Replies... Sorry but for mé it is a bit selfish from parents. The child needs normal home friends of her age not Traveling all the tíme Changing places, because parents WANTED to. Don t be parents then. What she will remember.?nada. Tane her when she is 12 or 15 and will appreciate it. So small should be at normál home to have baby life.zravel first. Then have a baby. I dont mind over summer for vaccation. But then back to her room toys ton granparwnts friends. Not to another airport another room etc....
Very nice. I have a 5 month old son. We were wondering if we could plan a trip or not. U guys really inspired us. Keep traveling.
Ahh I went to the same spots they did in New Zealand and Malaysia!! What an amazing travel experience!!
I'm just wondering how was her child vaccinated, if it takes a few years to vaccinate a kid, with months of intervals in between.
Nice couple. And I do agree that travelling hasn't to be over with having a baby. You just travel different and more slowly what isn't the worth as then you relax much more. We did a 3-month trip with our son aged 1,5 years in asia too and it was the perfect maternity leave occupation. I can't imagine to spend it at "home" the entire time.
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