Visiting the Shedd Aquarium with a baby

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Traveling with a baby has a lot of unknowns. Is it worth the hassle? That depends on what your goals are. My extended family planned a big get-together over the holidays at the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago, IL. It was a nice semi-central location for a lot of us Midwesterners to meet up. But, considering my little man was about 8 months old at the time… would it be worth the extra effort? In our situation, the answer is yes. So here are a few things that made our trip easier!

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Check out this growing list of “Must Have” items when traveling with baby!

Tips for visiting the Shedd Aquarium with a baby:

1. Having another adult (or 2!) along for the car ride is ideal. Driving from WI to IL – especially while driving through the bigger cities – it was a game changer to have someone sitting in the backseat next to the baby, keeping him entertained while he wasn’t napping. *Be sure to bring plenty of toys, books, pacifiers (if your baby uses them), etc. and brace yourself, because melt-downs tend to happen at the most inopportune moments.
2. Stop every couple hours (or when baby tells you it’s time) to stretch your legs and let your little one have a break from the car seat. If you can coordinate feeding/diaper changes with meal times/bathroom breaks for the adults too – even better.
3. Stay overnight in a hotel the night before so you can rest/relax before heading to the Shedd the next day. We found that a portable Pack ‘n Play was pretty slick for the little guy to sleep in overnight.
4. Bring a baby carrier! (<– I LOVE this one!) With one little babe, (assuming they enjoy baby wearing) it is pretty easy to get around wearing them. Strollers are another option, and there are places to “park” your stroller as needed, however I feel it is less to monkey with & prefer to just bring a baby carrier.
5. If you wear your baby…. Bring a backpack diaper bag with only the essentials while at the Aquarium (bottles, diapers, wipes, burp cloths etc.) Yes, it may look a little funny, but who cares? Also, security will examine your bag upon entrance.
6. When it’s time to change your babies diaper, look for the family restrooms. These have more space and privacy.
7. Seating options are pretty easy to come by throughout the Aquarium, so when it comes time to feed the baby you won’t have to go far.
8. Don’t expect to see all the things. Baby will have a limit of excitement & interest. Napping can be tricky, so enjoy it while you can, but be sure to have realistic expectations.

Every little babe is different. My little guy loved watching the big fish in the aquariums, the dolphins, and observing all the people! Overall he did well, but after our trip home we were all pretty exhausted.

Where are your favorite places to travel with infants?

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