This woman used her maternity leave to travel the world with her newborn baby
Advertisement
Jul 26, 2021, 12:47 IST
Edwards, a full-time nurse with a flexible schedule, and her husband, Shaun, have always traveled frequently.
Advertisement
When they found out that they were expecting a child, the couple was determined not to let that stop them from seeing the world.
Advertisement
When Esmé was born, they decided to use Karen's maternity leave to travel.
Edwards started her blog, Travel Mad Mum, in May 2015 in order to chronicle her travels with Esmé in tow. At the time she was a little over halfway through that first 10-month trip.
Advertisement
Edwards was most nervous about visiting Taiwan because she found little information about traveling there with kids. However, she was pleasantly surprised by how accessible it was.
Vietnam and Bali were also welcoming.
Advertisement
While some people called her selfish for using her maternity leave to travel, Edwards said the reality is quite the opposite.
“It's an amazing time for all the family to be together, to get used to being a new family,” she said.
Advertisement
“Shaun, her dad, got to spend the year with her just as much as I did, and their bond is just as close.”
She also consulted a doctor who said that the best time to travel with babies is when they’re breastfeeding, since they get immunity from breast milk.
Advertisement
Traveling came with some unexpected parental perks, too.
“We didn't have to do any cooking or cleaning, or maintain a household,” she said. “We just had unlimited 24/7 eyes on Esmé, and she had our full attention all the time.”
Advertisement
Now two years old, Esmé has been to 17 countries and counting, and they continue to travel about once a month.
This year, they’ve already been to Thailand, Cambodia, South Africa, Spain, and Cuba, with Italy next on the list.
Advertisement
Not every moment is glamorous...
And traveling with a baby certainly has its challenges.
Advertisement
But the Travel Mad Mum (and dad!) are well-practiced at handling them, and said that Esmé couldn’t be happier.
“The other day she said something to me like, 'Mom, I want to go on a swing,' and then she said, ‘Actually, I prefer to go on an airplane,’ as if it's such a frequent occurrence that it's as often as going to the playground.”