When our good friends invited us to their wedding in Vail, CO, my husband and I knew it would be the perfect excuse for our first trip away since our daughter was born last summer. I’d been looking forward to it for months, but I’d be lying if I said there wasn’t a little part of me that was dreading it, too. IYKYK: Nothing makes you question your sanity quite like leaving your baby or toddler for the first time.
In the weeks leading up to the trip, my brain became a revolving door of irrational questions: Would she remember me when I got home? Would she eat anything besides pouches and puffs? Would she start calling my mother-in-law “mom”? (It almost goes without saying that none of these things happened.) It turns out, preparing for your first solo trip away as a parent is equal parts exciting and terrifying. I wanted to soak up uninterrupted time with my husband and actually enjoy a glass of champagne without a pacifier in sight. Still, I also knew I’d need to plan like crazy to keep my nerves (mostly) in check. Here’s what I did to prep for leaving my 1-year-old—and how I’m keeping myself from spiraling in mom guilt along the way.
Created an (overly detailed) schedule and contact list
The very first thing I did was put together a detailed schedule for my in-laws, who would be watching our daughter. I wrote out everything from wake-up time to naps, meal times, bedtime routine, and even the order of her favorite bedtime books. Did I think my parents-in-law would follow it perfectly? Of course not. However, at least I provided all the tools they needed.
I also put together an “emergency packet,” complete with her birth certificate, health insurance info, our pediatrician’s number, and the nearest children’s ER. Some may think that’s overkill, but knowing that they had everything they might need in one place helped me breathe much easier.
Stocked the fridge with mom- and baby-approved meals
One of my biggest worries while being away was food. She’s in that stage after baby food but before big kid table food, so I still worry about what she can and can’t eat. If you’ve also furiously googled the right way to cut a cucumber for a 14-month-old, you know what I mean. But thankfully, we’ve been Little Spoon fans since my daughter’s very first bite of solids at six months old. From Babyblends to Biteables to Plates, they have something for every stage. She eats their Plates for dinner most nights of the week, and I love that they’re balanced, pre-portioned, and—most importantly—tasty enough that she actually finishes them. On busy nights or days when I don’t know what she managed to eat at daycare, they’re a lifesaver. (Ps. Make sure to use code EVERYMOM25 for 25% off your first Little Spoon order!)
For this trip, I stocked their fridge with her favorite Little Spoon meals and snacks before we left. And since Little Spoon recently launched at Target, I knew my in-laws could easily order extras like their YoGos, Smoothies, or frozen Chicken Veggie Sliders if they ran out. Little Spoon also has nutritious snack options at Target now, too, which ensures she’s only ever eating the good stuff between meals. Honestly, that convenience gave all of us peace of mind: They had access to food I trusted, and I knew she’d be happy and well-fed.
We attended a concert a few weeks before the wedding, which gave us the perfect chance for a little test run. My daughter spent the night at her grandparents’ house while we were just a short drive away. It turned out to be such a smart move—my in-laws got to practice her routines, our daughter got used to being in their care overnight, and we got reassurance that everything would go smoothly. That little “rehearsal” made me so much more confident heading into the bigger trip.
Pre-recorded videos of mom and dad
Even though FaceTime is always an option, I didn’t want to rely on it. Between time zone differences, wedding events, and the unpredictability of her mood, I knew it wasn’t realistic to expect we’d always be available right when she wanted to see us. So instead, we recorded a handful of short videos before we left—us saying goodnight, reading her a quick bedtime story, and just telling her we love her.
These little clips were something my in-laws could play if she got sad, and I love that she could still hear our voices and see our faces even if we weren’t on the other end of a live call. Honestly, it gave me comfort, too. Knowing she had those snippets of us made the separation feel a little less heavy and gave me peace of mind that she’d always have a little piece of us close by.
Packed comfort items (for her and us)
When it came to packing, I treated my daughter’s overnight bag almost like a mini version of home. I sent along her favorite lovey, the pajamas she sleeps best in, and a small stack of bedtime books we always read together. My thought process was simple: the more familiar the routine, the smoother the transition would be. Grandparents can handle the schedule, but only she knows how much comfort her favorite bunny brings at bedtime.
And while I was focused on her needs, I realized I needed comfort too. So I slipped one of my favorite photos of her into my carry-on and made a photo album on my phone filled with her cutest videos. Leaving your baby isn’t just an adjustment for them; it’s an emotional experience for us as parents. Having little mementos of her was my way of staying connected while still permitting myself to be present on our trip. No matter how many times we leave her, and no matter how much “easier” it gets, I’ll always be comforted knowing both of us have these little things to hold onto.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Meagan McCormick, Director of Marketing
As the Director of Marketing, Meagan oversees all things social media, email, and video along with various brand collaborations. When she’s not at her desk, you can find her wine tasting around California, trying the latest workout class, or snuggled up on the couch with her husband, Matt, their daughter, Millie, and mini poodle mix, Honey.
As the Branded Content Editorial Assistant, McKenna collaborates with our sales team by creating both written and social media content, collecting and analyzing performance data to report back to our partners, and assisting our editors with their everyday tasks to ensure a smooth and productive process.
