First Trip Without Baby: Leaving an Instruction Manual
Whether you first leave your baby for an overnight trip away when they are five weeks old, five months old, or five years old, it is probably going to be a little tough. Even if you are beyond ready for a little kid-free time, or even just time with your other kids, it is still an unquestionably huge transition for you and them. I'm about to go through this transition for the first time with my second daughter, and while I have been through this once before with my first daughter, I'll withhold giving too much "first time away" advice before we both survive this big milestone.
However, there is one tip that works for me when I first leave a little one behind that I feel totally comfortable sharing now since its jinxing potential is low. This tip is that when you first leave your baby for a trip away, consider writing an instruction manual for those caring for him or her without you...even if they don't really need it.
If you write down everything that others need to know to get your little one through a normal day and night, you can breathe easier knowing they have all the information they should need, they know what to expect, and perhaps best of all, you have a snapshot in time to save for yourself. It's the last part that really is the key long term.
I don't know about you, but with kiddo #2 it is been so much harder to find the time to mark things down in the baby book like what the first words, favorite foods, etc. However, if you take the 30 minutes to write out an instruction manual of sorts, then you have everything captured right there beyond just the first words of favorite toys. You can print out a copy and stick in the pocket of the baby book for safe keeping.
While this is the first time I will leave my 19 month old behind, it's not the first time I have written up one of these guides. I have done it before for my second daughter when a grandparent has come to stay with us and help out. I also have several from when my first daughter stayed with her grandparents while we were periodically away in her first few years. I now have all of those moments in time captured for myself and my daughters to look back on in the future. Otherwise it can be so very easy for those early months and years to mesh together in a bit of a blur.
Writing a Baby Instruction Manual
If you want to leave a guide for those caring for your kiddos while you are away, here are some good things you might want to include (even if they already know most or all of it!):
- Overview of your kid's personality and developmental stage
- Walk through a normal day and schedule including wake-up times, naps, feedings, meals, playtimes, and bedtime...
- Listing of favorite and least favorite foods, snacks, and drinks
- Favorite toys, games, and activities, as well as those they don't enjoy very much
- Tips if things go wrong including dealing with discipline, bad moods, or bad days
- Highlight of where the little one is developmentally with milestones like rolling over, walking, words they can say, etc.
- Contact information and consents for doctor's, babysitters, teachers, and schools
While there is no magic length, most of my "baby instructional manuals" end up around 1,000 words long, which may seem like massive helicopter parent overkill, or woefully inadequate when talking about someone taking over care for a little living human being.
Does anyone else leave behind an instruction manual or similar on their first trips without the baby along for the ride? What type of info do you write down for those who pick up where you leave off?
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 5X | New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Valuable dining and food-related credits
- Flexible rewards with airline and hotel transfer partners
- Multiple travel and purchase protections
- No foreign transaction fees
- Access to Amex Offers for additional savings (enrollment required)
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- Pay It® lets you tap in the American Express® App to quickly pay for small purchase amounts throughout the month and still earn rewards the way you usually do. Plan It® gives you the option to split up big purchases into equal monthly payments with a fixed fee. You’ll know upfront exactly how much you’ll pay.
- Updated! $120 Dining Credit: Earn up to a total of $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub (including Seamless), Buffalo Wild Wings, Five Guys, The Cheesecake Factory, and Wonder. This can be an annual savings of up to $120. Enrollment required.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants after you pay for eligible purchases with the American Express® Gold Card. That’s up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: Earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin’ locations. Enrollment required.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Enjoy up to $120 in Uber Cash annually with your Gold Card. Just add your Card to your Uber account and you'll get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
- New! As an American Express® Gold Card Member, you can enjoy complimentary Hertz Five Star® Status. Enjoy benefits like skipping the counter at select locations, adding an additional driver at no additional cost*, and vehicle upgrades**. Benefit enrollment and Hertz Gold+ registration are required. *Additional drivers must meet standard rental qualifications and must be a spouse or domestic partner to qualify as complimentary. Other additional drivers subject to fees. **Benefits are subject to availability and vary by location. Additional Hertz program Terms and Conditions including age restrictions apply.
- Take advantage of a $100 credit towards eligible charges* at over 1,300 upscale hotels worldwide when you book The Hotel Collection through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App **. *Eligible charges vary by property. **The Hotel Collection requires a two-night minimum stay.
- Book your travel through the Amex Travel App with added peace of mind – backed by American Express® service and support. Only for American Express® Card Members.
- Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.