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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

travelling-with-children-maternity-leave-esme-travel-mad-mum-3

“Everyone thought we were completely nuts when we said that we were going to take Esmé”

travelling-with-children-maternity-leave-esme-travel-mad-mum-2

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

travelling-with-children-maternity-leave-esme-travel-mad-mum-40

Karen was breastfeeding and Esmé was vaccinated before they left the UK

travelling-with-children-maternity-leave-esme-travel-mad-mum-31

“Little miss was born in London, has a mum from Ireland and a dad from New Zealand…”

travelling-with-children-maternity-leave-esme-travel-mad-mum-19

“The gal is destined to travel!”

travelling-with-children-maternity-leave-esme-travel-mad-mum-9

“She was really well behaved”

travelling-with-children-maternity-leave-esme-travel-mad-mum-26

“Because she was small it was easy enough to keep her in the harness when we were on the move”

travelling-with-children-maternity-leave-esme-travel-mad-mum-10

“We have no regrets, she got to experience new sights, scenes and smells as she grew”

travelling-with-children-maternity-leave-esme-travel-mad-mum-21

“The only time I felt Esmé was missing out was not having much socialising with other children”

travelling-with-children-maternity-leave-esme-travel-mad-mum-16

“However the libraries always have free rhyme classes if you need to socialise your child a little”

travelling-with-children-maternity-leave-esme-travel-mad-mum-18

“The weirdest part of the trip was actually coming home”

travelling-with-children-maternity-leave-esme-travel-mad-mum-14

“Esmé hasn’t lived somewhere for a long period of time because we were always moving around”

travelling-with-children-maternity-leave-esme-travel-mad-mum-23

“It’s also harder to find her things to do in London – well, compared to travelling anyway”

travelling-with-children-maternity-leave-esme-travel-mad-mum-37

“People say having a child ruins travelling, but it really doesn’t”

travelling-with-children-maternity-leave-esme-travel-mad-mum-32

“Obviously there were times…when you fancy a beer and the baby is asleep”

travelling-with-children-maternity-leave-esme-travel-mad-mum-38

“And when you crack it open she wakes, that makes it harder. But it’s worth it”

travelling-with-children-maternity-leave-esme-travel-mad-mum-7

“You can still do everything, including…diving, but you just take it in turns”

travelling-with-children-maternity-leave-esme-travel-mad-mum-13

“I can’t imagine having spent my maternity leave any other way”

travelling-with-children-maternity-leave-esme-travel-mad-mum-27

“It is through these experiences, I want to share factual information, personal stories as well as top tips for travelling with little ones”

travelling-with-children-maternity-leave-esme-travel-mad-mum-33

“The overall aim is to inspire like-minded travel loving parents”

travelling-with-children-maternity-leave-esme-travel-mad-mum-1

“Your travel days do not have to be over”

travelling-with-children-maternity-leave-esme-travel-mad-mum-35

“It is all about incorporating your little person into your way of life”

travelling-with-children-maternity-leave-esme-travel-mad-mum-43

The travelling trio recently took off to Bangkok for another 3-week adventure

travelling-with-children-maternity-leave-esme-travel-mad-mum-22

Feeling inspired? Check Karen’s blog for tips on travelling around the world with a baby

travelling-with-children-maternity-leave-esme-travel-mad-mum-24

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What do you think ?

POST

Littlebluekitten 8 years ago

all you need is money...

8points

shesmelting 8 years ago

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.

23points

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JessicaElliot 8 years ago

Naw. You don't need much money to travel. The biggest expense would be the flight. After that, you just go find a hostel, backpacker's inn, or AirB&B to sleep at. Good food can be inexpensive and there's a lot of things to do and see in other countries for free! If you want a top-of-the-line, best-of-everything trip then you'd need lots of money, but traveling doesn't require that if you're savvy, research well before hand and are frugal.

1point

MarisaRothstein 8 years ago

@shesmelting has it right. If your priority is traveling- not buying a house with an upgraded kitchen and third bathroom, or a fancy car- even people of moderate means can trek the world. $1 goes so much further and many parts of the world, so you can experience more than you can at home. We'll be taking our own little toddler on an around the world trip in just 3 weeks. If you want to follow us: www.worldtoddler.com

0points

HeatherOgden 8 years ago

her country probably has paid maternity leave (which is great)...I believe in England you get 37 weeks of paid leave

0points

Arty 8 years ago

"Presented by Turkish Airlines" ...ahaha Bored Panda!!

4points

LauraY 8 years ago

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.

0points

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Silvia 8 years ago

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?

3points

ValdaAdams 8 years ago

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

3points

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POST

Littlebluekitten 8 years ago

all you need is money...

8points

shesmelting 8 years ago

23points

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JessicaElliot 8 years ago

1point

MarisaRothstein 8 years ago

0points

HeatherOgden 8 years ago

her country probably has paid maternity leave (which is great)...I believe in England you get 37 weeks of paid leave

0points

Arty 8 years ago

"Presented by Turkish Airlines" ...ahaha Bored Panda!!

4points

LauraY 8 years ago

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.

0points

Load More Replies...

Silvia 8 years ago

3points

ValdaAdams 8 years ago

3points

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1-Year-Old Has Been Travelling Around The World Since She Was Born

“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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1-Year-Old Has Been Travelling Around The World Since She Was Born

“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

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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

Games

Julija Televičiūtė

Julija Televičiūtė

Word Search

WordroW

Jigsaw

Crossword

Sudoku

Picdoku

Killer Sudoku

Kriss Kross

Word Flower