Aussies like to call babies "Bubs", a term I find very cute.
I thought it could be useful to share what I've learned about travel with babies and toddlers for those of you considering it, or who are looking for new travel tips. If you don't have kids or plan to travel with kids (or don't love me so much you'll read anything I write), this post will likely interest you about as much as paint drying.
We've taken a 6 week old to Portugal, a 3 month old to California, a 22 month old to Israel, and both an 8 month old and 3 year old to Australia. On our first trip with a child (to San Francisco), I essentially brought our entire house with us. When you first travel with a baby, it feels like you need to bring everything,
just in case.
I'd like to think we've streamlined the process of travelling with kids a bit since then, but it still does mean bringing lots of stuff. Hopefully, the right gear will make your travels easier and more enjoyable. And it's all about being prepared for multiple different types of situations.
Here's the gear I think is important for babies and toddlers, birth-age 2
1) A great stroller, with a good sized under storage bag and a rain cover.
A good sun canopy is gold too. I've never met a baby who likes sunlight in his or her eyes. It's also essential that it recline back so that the baby can sleep on the go. Far from necessary, we like cup holders too-- so that we can drink our coffees while we're on the move. Because we HAVE to have our coffees. Never mind that they cost $5 a pop here in Oz. We're just going to pretend its not true, and move on.
2) A comfortable baby carrier, which can be easily stowed in your stroller's under bag. You never know when your baby might need to be cuddled. If you're in the middle of an airport, or in a restaurant or mall and the baby is freaking out in the stroller, these are a HUGE relief. When I travel anywhere, even within the city at home, I usually take a carrier with me, just in case. I love the Ergo Baby for its great support and design.
In our stroller storage basket or in a diaper bag, I tend to carry:
3)
A nursing cover or scarf if you're nursing. These tend to double as burb/puke cloths after a feed, stroller blankets or sun shades in a pinch
4)
A change of clothes for the bub, in case he/she has an accident, or rolls around in a mud puddle spontaneously
5)
Baby wipes and diapers
6) A
bib
7)
Pacifiers. Soooooooo necessary. Clips that keep them attached to the baby are a great convenience as well.
8)
Snacks. Always snacks.
9)
Bottles. Always bottles.
10) Far from essential, but a
pack 'n play (portable crib) is a great thing to have. Unless you know you're guaranteed a crib at your destination, it's great to have a safe place for the babe to sleep. If you're doing extended travel, you can bring it with you to use as the baby's crib while away, and then ditch it before coming home (this is our plan). On the down side, they are heavy and a bulky to transport.
11)Also not essential, but if you're nursing, a
breast pump is great to have. It means easily expressing milk if you need to. And, you can potentially leave the babe with a family member or babysitter, and go exploring on your own for a bit. I love the Medela Swing, because it's tiny and light. So easy to pack.
For toddlers aged 2-4, I recommend:
1) A
change of clothes, especially extra underwear and pants or shorts
2) A pad of
paper and crayons
3) A couple
quiet toys, that can be used independently, and in multiple environments, but that won't be too disruptive to others. Puzzles (stored in large ziplock bags), stickers and sticker books, small cars, books with flaps)
4) I hate to say it, but: an
iPad or iPhone if you have one. I never thought I'd be "that parent". But here's a truth: kids hate waiting in long lines. And: kids get sick of bus/taxi/plane rides after about 30 minutes, one hour if you're lucky. Here's another truth: so do adults, and we use plenty of tools to keep ourselves busy to avoid boredom during travel. Why wouldn't we offer small kids the same distractions? There are so many amazing educational games, and if they're into a particular show, you can download a bunch of episodes (commercial free! ) from iTunes.
Traveling with two small children:
1)A great
double stroller with raincover
2)
Snacks. Always snacks
3)
Toys they can both use
4)
Bibs
5)
Diapers for each child, and wipes
Traveling in a hot climate:
1)
Muslin blankets to: use as a thin sheet at night, provide shade over the stroller, give the baby something to cuddle with, even when it's hot
2)
Sun hats, sunscreen, water bottles
3)
UV sun cover for the stroller. Not essential, but good to have. It means that your stroller holding your sleeping kids can remain in full, direct sun, while shading and protecting them from the sun.
4) A small toiletry bag that is left permanently in the stroller with: diapers and wipes,
sunscreen, shampoo, soap. Super useful for showering off at the beach, and killing two birds with one stone by avoiding a bath later on
5)"Rashies":
long sleeved bathing suit tops that 95% of kids and probably 75% of adults here in Oz wear. There's a hole over the ozone here, and the sun is 10 times stronger. But even in less extreme weather, they're useful for kids and mean more time in the sun, and less worries about sunscreen
We love to travel, and don't want to feel forced into doing only "family friendly" travel. We think it's possible to adapt travel to make it appropriate for kids, and it can be a great experience for everyone.
Anyone have anything to add?
