Living in the van is much like adjusting to any new situation or living space. You need to trial and error, reset, refresh, and re-energize.
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Biggest takeaways from the first 5 days of van life
The elements impact how we could utilize the van
Minnesota summers are not ideal for van life! Most people who do van life live in places with cooler climates. We tried out our first van trip in Minnesota in the high heat and the start of mosquito season. Andy did an awesome van build but the weather is uncontrollable. We weren’t able to use the pull-up kitchen counters the first night because, with the doors open from the back of the van, mosquitos would have swarmed into our van. We ended up sitting outside at the picnic table to cook. The weather is going to come up, and we will need to keep this in mind and be flexible in how we can cook and do things. Having quick snacks and dehydrated meals on hand is a must in “emergencies” like this where you can’t leave the van to eat. A shelter for the sunny elements is important too!
Organization in a van is a learning curve
Flexibility is key when traveling with kids
We were so excited for our first night in the van. We reserved a campsite weeks ahead of time at Nerstrand Big Woods State Park in southern Minnesota and neglected to check how the weather would be that evening. The weather was in the 90’s so we made a decision to change our reservations and head up north instead. While having reservations can make things easier, flexibility when planning with kids (or even without kids) is necessary because you never know what may come up.
Plan for breaks and structured movement time for baby and yourself
We need to work our schedule around his feeding times and so our days are split up by long breaks. The long breaks are also a good time for the baby to be able to have some movement time. He goes from sitting in the car seat to the hiking backpack to being held to avoid putting everything in his mouth. Structuring movement time for the baby is important for his own development, and it will help wear him out for nap time and bedtime. Movement time for yourself can improve your mood the remainder of the long driving days and allows for some “you” time. Just make sure baby is in a safe zone!
The adjustment period is tough
We sold our house and moved into the van. Our entire life was flipped and changed. This was especially an adjustment for the baby. The baby was used to sleeping in his own room in a crib. We are now all sharing a small sleeping space. The first night he cried, wanted to be in our bed, and woke up multiple times. By the third night, he slept really well. Since he was adjusting to a new schedule, we were exhausted during the days. Know it will take time to adjust to the new environment but it will get better with time.
Plan for hang-out times with other people
We are in the van with our baby constantly and it can be exhausting. Having time to meet with other people to “entertain” the baby gave us a small break. This small break can refresh your “parenting” mindset. Seeing other people and getting a change of pace can also re-energize your vibes.
