Gone are the days when I could show up to the airport 30 minutes before my flight with nothing but a carry on. These days I show up with a carseat, stroller, diaper bag, and large suitcase at least two hours before the departure time. Let’s be real…traveling with a baby is hard work and TSA doesn’t make the experience any less stressful with all of the ever changing rules. The first time I traveled with my son was to the Gordon Research Conference in Boston….it was terrible weather so we were delayed and eventually our flight was canceled. We were put on a different flight that connected through Minnesota which was completely out of the way but to my surprise my sweet boy remained his happy and jolly self through all of the mishaps. Me on the other hand needed a vacation! After a few trips with majority of them being solo…I have learned a thing or two. And I do not travel without these 7 essentials.
1. Ceres Chiller: For storing breastmilk, formula or any liquids the Ceres Chiller is your best friend. It has two compartments for storing both ice and milk separately. You can also buy adapters that allow you to pump directly into the container.
2. Bugaboo Butterfly Stroller: I love, love, love my bugaboo stroller. I use it exclusively for travel. It is lightweight and compact which allows it be stored in the overhead compartment. It also can be closed and opened with one hand which is very useful when traveling with a baby solo. I use the Uppababy carrier that has back straps so that the stroller can be carried like a backpack. Bugaboo does make a travel case which is the same price as the uppababy bag but at the time it was not offered on babylist. I know a lot of people like the Doona since it doubles as a stroller and a car seat. However my son is on the taller side (95th percentile in height) and I knew he wasn’t going to be able to use the Doona for long so I opted for something he could use for an extended time. And do not worry if your baby still needs a car seat, you can purchase adapters which allow a car seat to be attached to the stroller.
3. Guava Lotus Travel Crib: You know when I first purchased the Guava lotus I did not think it would be a travel favorite for me. I thought it was just a fancier pack and play but boy was I wrong. Similar to the bugaboo, it is very lightweight and compact. It comes in one piece so there are not multiple parts which make set-up and take down easy. The only negative is that it does not come with a crib sheet so you will need to purchase one separately. I purchased the plush quilted crib sheet and my son has never had a problem sleeping in the crib. It also comes with a case that can be worn as a back pack.
4. Hatch Rest Go: Hatch really broke the mold with this travel sound machine. It is super small and can fit easily in a diaper bag or purse. It also has a clip that allows it to be attached to a stroller, car seat, or travel crib. I do not go anywhere without it.
5. Dagne Dover Medium Diaper Bag: I love all of the compartments and fits all of the essentials.
6. Zomee Z1 Rechargeable Double Electric Breast Pump: For all my mother’s that are still pumping I absolutely loved this breast pump when traveling. The only negative is that it does have a lot of parts but the compactness was perfect for traveling.
7. Travel Baby Bottle Drying Rack: This is not necessarily a must have but it can be very useful in hotels where there is little counter space for drying bottles. It also comes with a brush and space for storing a travel size dish detergent bottle.
8. Lululemon Everywhere Belt Bag Mini: I love this bag because it can be worn across my chest for easy access to phone, cards, passports, etc.
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