Have you been scrolling past everyone’s overseas holiday photos and feeling that quiet pang of “we can’t afford that right now”?

And even if a local getaway sounds doable, you might be thinking about the packing, the nap timing, the feeding stuff, the toddler meltdowns, and wondering if it’s even worth the effort.

In this episode, Dr Renee White shares practical, mum-tested tips for planning a staycation that actually feels like a break. Not perfect. Not Instagrammable. Just genuinely restorative.

Renee walks you through what to pack, what to skip, simple hotel hacks that make life easier, and one money-saving tip that could save your family hundreds on accommodation. Because sometimes the reset you need isn’t a week overseas. It’s a couple of nights close to home where someone else makes the bed and you don’t have to do the dishes.

You’ll hear about:

1. A simple membership tip that can save hundreds of dollars on accommodation
2. Renee’s essential packing list for travelling with babies and toddlers (and what you can leave behind)
3. Easy hotel hacks to make sleep, feeding, and settling smoother
4. How to plan your days around naps without feeling stuck in the room
5. The mindset shift that helps staycations feel enjoyable in this season of motherhood

If you’ve been craving a break but feeling like holidays are off the table, this episode will meet you right where you are. You don’t need to go far to feel the benefit. You just need a change of scenery, fewer jobs on your plate, and permission to keep it simple.

Resources & Links

📲 Connect with Renee on Instagram: @fillyourcup_

🌐 Learn more about Dr Renee White and explore Fill Your Cup Doula services

🍪 Treat yourself with our Chocolate + Goji lactation cookies

✨ This episode is proudly supported by Fill Your Cup, Australia’s first doula village.

If this episode helped, share it with a mum who needs a break but doesn’t want the chaos. And don’t forget to hit subscribe so you never miss an episode of The Science of Motherhood. 💛

Disclaimer

The information on this podcast presented by Fill Your Cup is not a substitute for independent professional advice. Nothing contained in this episode is intended to be used as medical advice and it is not intended to be used to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease, nor should it be used for therapeutic purposes or as a substitute for your own health professional's advice.

[00:00:27] Dr. Renee White: I'm Dr. Renee White, and this is the. [00:00:30] Science of motherhood. Hello and welcome to another check in Tuesday, episode. This is The Science of Motherhood, and I'm your host, Dr. Renee White. In today's episode, I am sharing practical tips [00:00:45] for taking that stress free staycation with your newborn or your smart small child this summer.

[00:01:16] Dr. Renee White: And maybe you've thought about a local getaway, but then imagined the absolute chaos of packing for a baby, the cost of accommodation [00:01:30] or you know, and whether it's even worth the effort, like honestly. So if you are feeling stuck between wanting a break and feeling like family holidays are just too expensive or overwhelming with little ones, you are definitely [00:01:45] not alone. And I really think this episode is going to be for you.

[00:02:22] Dr. Renee White: We have used this hack many, many, many times as a family, and so I'm [00:02:30] also sharing why sometimes the best reset for your nervous system isn't a week overseas, it's just a couple of nights somewhere close, you know, somewhere close by where someone else does the dishes and changes the [00:02:45] sheets. Honestly, mamas, is that not what we're hearing?

[00:03:16] Dr. Renee White: So, let's talk about staycations with little ones. I know that for many of us, the cost of living crisis means that overseas holidays or even interstate trips just aren't in the [00:03:30] budget right now. And honestly, that's completely okay because what I have learned over the past few years, both personally and from chatting with hundreds of parents through fill your cup, is that, what we actually [00:03:45] need isn't necessarily a two week European holiday.

[00:04:13] Dr. Renee White: And here's [00:04:15] the beautiful thing about staycations with babies and toddlers. They have no idea whether they're at a resort in Bali or a hotel 45 minutes from home. As long as there's a [00:04:30] pool in the summer, maybe some new things to explore and their parents are a little bit more relaxed and you are happy.

[00:05:06] Dr. Renee White: Now, if you are in Australia, getting an RACV membership isn't just about [00:05:15] roadside assistance now for around $55 a year. You get access to member discounts at their participating hotels and resorts across Australia. And I'm not talking about like, you know, [00:05:30] saving 10 or $20, I'm talking about saving hundreds of dollars.

[00:06:02] Dr. Renee White: So when you are paying $55 for the membership, that's annually, right, and potentially saving a hundred or more per night on accommodation. To me it's a no brainer. Like it's an absolute no brainer. We have been to [00:06:15] like four five RACV resorts consistently as a family, and it is spot on. Because it is so family friendly, like they've really thought about it.

[00:06:58] Dr. Renee White: Alright, let's look at [00:07:00] the essential must-haves for traveling with a baby. Let's talk about what to actually pack because this can feel very overwhelming and you know, you can bring everything but the kitchen sink.

[00:07:42] Dr. Renee White: Your baby's regular sleeping [00:07:45] bag or swaddle. So familiarity is everything for these kids and a nightlight if your child uses one at home. So the sleep environment it is, is pretty crucial. You know, even if everything else is different, if [00:08:00] your baby can sleep in, you know, a, a, a darkish kind of familiar sounding space. You're really setting yourself up for success.

[00:08:34] Dr. Renee White: And if you're breastfeeding, remember your nursing pillow. I used to travel with this all the time. And if you use, you know, if you do use that, maybe even, if you know, for [00:08:45] some mums, and I was definitely like this, I needed to like have like a Muslin cloth for a bit of privacy. I was just one of those mums who just got very nervous when I was in public.

[00:09:29] Dr. Renee White: [00:09:30] Snacks, snacks and more snacks, particularly for toddlers because hotel breakfast might be a bit late. Having said that though, at RACV resorts, the best thing I think was the buffet breakfast because it was pretty early on. And [00:09:45] they've just got so many opportunities to try new foods and, you know, without, without a lot of food wastage, they've just, you know, can put it in front of them.

[00:10:08] Dr. Renee White: Now what not to pack. Do not bring the entire nursery. You don't need 47 toys. [00:10:15] You don't need seven outfit changes per day. Pack light and know that worst case scenario, there's most likely gonna be shops wherever you go. So you know, if you need the extra onesie or something like Woolies, sell those and it's pretty, it's [00:10:30] pretty easy.

[00:11:05] Dr. Renee White: Request, request a ground floor room if possible, less worry about noise for other guests or, you know, and it's, it's easier access for [00:11:15] prams. Ask if they have connecting rooms or suites, if you're worried about that, like kind of room sharing with a light sleeper and check if there's a fridge in the room for storing milk and snacks.

[00:11:49] Dr. Renee White: When you arrive, here are the things that I would highly recommend. Do a quick safety sweep. Cover power outlets, or check for like potential choking hazards. Move [00:12:00] any breakables up high, especially if you've got those little ones who just love getting into things. Set up the sleeping space first, so it's ready when your baby needs it.

[00:12:40] Dr. Renee White: Always had the room ready for us to go because the timing of the [00:12:45] flights and when we kind of got there was bang on when Eva was having her sleep. So, my kind of nap time strategy. If your baby still naps, plan your days around this. You know, the beauty of a [00:13:00] staycation is you can come back to the hotel for nap time, unlike when you're traveling far from home.

[00:13:31] Dr. Renee White: Um, ask for a table in the corner or a quiet section. Go to the early dinner, like go to the five 30 instead of seven. We always had backup snacks as well and you know, have a [00:13:45] chat and a strategy with your partner. Take shifts if your baby's unsettled. You know, one person walks them around while the other one eats at the restaurant.

[00:14:20] Dr. Renee White: Looks different than a pre-kids holiday, and that is something my husband and I really had to kind of come to grasps with, but eventually [00:14:30] like, you know, you're just like, yeah, that's okay. So success isn't lying by the pool for six hours reading a novel. Trust me, you will get back there. I have it. It's, you know, it can be something different.

[00:15:03] Dr. Renee White: It could be, you know, simply being in a different space where a mental load of your home isn't surrounding you. So I guess what [00:15:15] I'm trying to say is lower your expectations of what a holiday looks like right now, and you'll actually enjoy it more. So I just wanna kind of finish off. With, I guess my [00:15:30] personal staycation philosophy, I've learned that sometimes two nights away locally can be more restorative than a week long trip.

[00:16:13] Dr. Renee White: You know, it's not [00:16:15] about missing out on European holidays, it's, it's really about, you know, reframing what rest and connection looks like for you and your family right now. So here is my challenge for you. Before summer ends, [00:16:30] book one or two nights, somewhere within an hour or two of home. If the RACV membership or you know, your state equivalent is up your alley, go for it.

[00:17:06] Dr. Renee White: If you need help with routines before you go, or you're worried about your baby's. Sleep being disrupted. Remember that our fill cup doors are here for support. With all of that, we can help [00:17:15] you feel confident with sleep strategies and routines that you know that essentially makes your traveling feel less daunting.

[00:17:44] Dr. Renee White: So if [00:17:45] you found this helpful, please share it with another parent who might be feeling like. Holidays are maybe a little bit off the table right now, and always you can find, fill your cup at I fill your cup.com. And if you need any support during [00:18:00] pregnancy or the postpartum period, we're here to help. Alright, I'll see you next time.

[00:18:29] Dr. Renee White: Head [00:18:30] to our website I fill your cup.com to learn more about our birth and postpartum doula offerings where every mother we pledge to be the steady hand that guides you back to yourself. Ensuring you feel nurtured, informed, and [00:18:45] empowered so you can fully embrace the joy of motherhood with confidence. Until next time, bye.