Travel is something that’s always been important to my husband and I. Now that our baby boy is here, we have no plans to stop traveling, however, we know that vacations are going to look a bit different than they used to. We recently set out on our first vacation as a family of three—a long road trip down to Ocean City, MD and Washington, DC.

Whether learning from my mistakes or benefitting from things I thought of ahead of time, here are my tips for traveling with a 3-month old!

1. Practice your baby’s sleeping arrangements ahead of time.

This is something we didn’t do that I really wish we had. Whether you opt for a Pack n’ Play or a travel bassinet, making sure your baby is comfortable sleeping in it before you leave can save you from a few sleepless nights on vacation. Our Charlie had a hard time sleeping the first couple nights of our trip, and we eventually realized it was because he didn’t like the bassinet insert that came with our Pack n’ Play (it jostled around every time he wiggled during the night). We took the insert out and he slept great after that, but it would have helped if we figured that out ahead of time.

2. Get comfortable with feeding on the go.

Another tip that’s all about practice. If you’re breastfeeding, practice nursing in public until both you and your baby are comfortable. I don’t typically nurse in public because it’s not something I feel comfortable doing (if you’re naturally comfy with it, you have my full respect and a bit of jealousy!). So, before we left for vacation I spent a couple days feeding Charlie with a nursing cover until he got used to it. This ended up being a good call because he was NOT fan of being covered up at first. I figured there may come a time on vacation when I’d have to pull out the nursing cover and I was right.

For bottle feeding and pumping on the go, my number one recommendation is these Pump & Bottle Wipes. You can find them for about $5 at Target and they’re an absolute life saver (I promise I make zero dollars from this blog, I am just linking them because I love them). Bonus, you can save room in the diaper bag by only bringing one bottle with you and using these wipes to clean up in between feedings.

3. Pack more than you think you’ll need.

I’m a chronic over-packer for myself, and even more so for my baby. I planned on two outfits and a sleeper per day and it worked out great to have plenty of backup in case of messes. We packed 50 diapers for a 6-day trip, which ended up being a bit more than we needed, but again, it felt good to know we had plenty. Exceptions for this tip would be if you’re flying or if you’re staying near a store where you can easily get more of what you need.

4. Baby-wearing is your best friend.

Whether you’re walking along the beach or strolling through a museum, your baby carrier is going to come in clutch on vacation. Again, just linking ours because we love it, but make sure you have one that is ergonomic and comfortable for both you and baby. While we were out and about, we’d switch between the stroller and the carrier to help Charlie stretch and to calm him down if he was getting antsy.

5. Adjust your expectations.

Remember that this is a family vacation now and adjust your expectations accordingly. For example, my pre-vacation google search of “best restaurants in X city” had to change to “family-friendly restaurants in X city.” If you can make reservations during your baby’s nap time when you’ll have a slumbering dinner date, that’s great! If they’re having a rough evening, you might have to switch plans and order in. It’s all about flexibility. Know your baby’s limits, listen to what they need, and go at their pace.

Overall, I think the success of your vacation really depends on how you prepare ahead of time. If you’re active with your baby and taking them out shopping and to restaurants back home, you should have no problem doing the same on vacation.

I’ve heard it said that “vacation with kids is just parenting in a different location.” And it’s true—but parenting at the beach is way more fun.