Ariane Goldman isn’t like a regular mom—she’s a cool mom. While new parents often fear their days of traveling will end after having kids, the founder of HATCH—a hub for fashionable mothers-to-be and stylish maternity clothes—thinks otherwise. In fact, Goldman’s travel schedule amped up considerably after giving birth to her first daughter: Her own pregnancy inspired her to found the company in 2011, and business has kept her on the go ever since.

“My partner and I are not afraid to travel with kids. We want to show them the world and have them grow up being nimble and not locked down to just one culture,” shared Goldman.“Traveling is the greatest education a child can receive because you realize how small we all are. We often think our world is just about us, but traveling allows you to look at cultures and textures and other people and habits and traditions and realize that there are so many variables and different types of people in life.”

“Traveling is the greatest education a child can receive.”

The mother of two daughters and two businesses (she’s also the mind behind bridal dress company Twobirds), Goldman has mastered the art of being a mom, setting a standard for her children and raising them to love travel at the same time. Below, she shares her best tips for traveling with kids, from packing advice that’ll save you from headaches to the little perks nobody tells you about pre-childbirth.

What first-time parents should pack

Do what you’ve gotta do! If it means snacks galore, if it means downloading movies—you just kind of give them the stuff that you never give them so that they can get through it. Definitely come prepared with wipes all the time, not only for them but for you, too. A change of clothes and a Ziplock have saved my life several times over when the orange juice spills, when the milk spills. And don’t be overambitious with things that you bring on the plane—think about how little space you have. Bring paper and crayons and things that are contained.

Setting the standard for her daughters

The guilt gets super real—I work a lot, I travel a lot, and sometimes my daughters reach for my husband before they reach for me, which is always a heartbreaker. But I’m doing something really amazing, and when they talk about their mom in class, knowing that mommy’s the boss and running a business—just that lesson alone makes me believe that I am shedding a light on what they can be and that they can do anything they want without compromise.

Packing for four

I usually pack the night before for them and I have it down at this point. You realize at the beginning of having kids that you overpack, but eventually, you figure out how often they go through things and hopefully you can do a wash while you’re away. Some people just put their whole family’s things in one giant case; we used to share, but now it just depends on how long the trip is—if we’re away for two weeks, mama’s got to have options.

Airplane fashion for the whole family

We do some matching pajamas, but typically the kids wear leggings or just something super comfortable—and then whatever they wear usually gets pretty banged up on the plane, so when we land, we always change. For me, I’m always about comfort, usually wearing sneakers and cashmere.

“Just know that you’re not alone.”

My absolute favorite travel outfit is the HATCH cashmere airplane cardigan, which is amazing. It doubles as a kind of blanket and it’s just incredible. And I love my cashmere travel set from Lingua Franca, and cashmere socks–I always put on socks on the plane. I also love Warby Parker: They’re inexpensive, they’re durable, they’re awesome, and I can lose them and not feel guilty, so I have a couple pairs!

One secret perk of being a traveling mom

Typically, the coolest part is that flight attendants will always hook a mother up—they never charge. It’s so awesome because they just know that you’re in it! Definitely don’t feel guilty for ordering a Bloody Mary—just don’t put the Bloody Mary mix near your kid, because they’ll spill it. (Maybe a gin and tonic might be a little cleaner!)

Mommy-daughter skincare routine

I take care of myself on the plane and I tend to do these Gold&Snail eye masks. You keep them in the fridge and they’re awesome—my daughters and I do them together, too, which I love.

“It’s a little bit of a selfless experience.”

Since I’ve was twelve, I’ve been wearing Issey Miyaki, my favorite beloved perfume. If I’m taking an overnight red-eye, I always travel with a little pillowcase. The HATCH Mama Nipple and Lip Bomb is amazing—I swear by it and I travel everywhere with it. It just hydrates, and I’m so proud that we created something so awesome and good for women, pregnant or not. Natural deodorant, of course. And then serum for my skin. Obviously you get dehydrated on a plane, so oiling up and making sure I’m hydrated is always really important. 

Wisdom for new parents on the go

Go in knowing that it’s a little bit of a selfless experience. Just know that you’re not alone and that other people have been there before, and kill it with a little bit of humor.