by: Haley “HeHe” Stewart of Tranquility by HeHe
Traveling over the holidays can be a struggle when you have tiny humans. Kids seem to add so many new layers to traveling…more than I even knew was possible. I am an avid traveler and have been supporting families with small children for nearly a decade. Through this, I have learned many tricks to making life simpler and smoother for parents. One of my favorite “life hacks” to share with parents of little ones is how to travel light.
There’s no doubt that traveling with kids with inevitably create the need to travel with more stuff, but it doesn’t have to be a painful as many of us would image. I have put together a packing list for new parents that will help make traveling with kids much less of a headache! This podcast lays out tricks to make traveling with young children easier! Here is a list of clothing to pack for your baby, sleep necessities and helpful hints to minimize the “stuff” you have to bring along!
Clothing:
When packing for you baby, you want to pack outfits that can are interchangeable and can be work together. You want to make sure you are packing layers to account for varying temperatures. Remember, babies are more sensitive to temperature changes than adults so pack for cold, warm, and hot temperatures. You can check out a complete packing list here.
- 3 pants (footed, not footed, or a mix)
- 4 shirts (2 short and 2 long sleeve)
- 1 jacket (if needed, if not leave it)
- 3 Socks
- 3 Bibs
- 3 burp clothes (if needed, if not take less)
Packing a limited number of pieces means you will most likely need to wash your baby’s clothing before your vacation is finished. I recommend that you take along Laundry Detergent: Melt away strips and use the hotel sink or shower to clean their clothes.
HeHe Tip:
Pack only a few diapers and wipes. When you get to your destination, you can purchase all the wipes and diapers you need. You’ll thank me later.
Sleep is the most asked about aspect of traveling with tiny humans… their sleep. It is best to always travel with the same sleep space for your baby. Just as they are comfortable and feel safe in their sleep space at home, you want to create this same feeling when you travel. Your child will feel more secure and adjust better to sleeping away from home if they can learn what to expect as far as their sleeping space is concerned.
The Sleep Necessities:
These are the things that you need to make it through the trip as a sane individual. I recommend taking only one or two of each item. When traveling with kids, traveling light is key. If anything happens and you must, you can always purchase an extra bottle or pacifier at your destination. Be aware that other countries will not always have american brands available.
- 2 Swaddles
- Safe Space for Baby- Traveling bassinets are perfect for this. Many parents will like the Smilo Lounger as a travel companion. You want to bring along something that makes sense to travel with. Think a safe sleep space that is lightweight, portable, and bonus points if it can be packed in the bottom of a large duffle or suitcase!
- White Noise
- Pacifiers
- Bottles
HeHe Tip:
Try to be as consistent as possible with your child’s sleep/bedtime routine. This will help your child feel safe and ease the anxiety that comes along with traveling by providing them with a predictable ending to their vacation days. Maintaining their sleep routines while on vacation will help your child get better, more restful sleep while away, too.
Cleaning on the go: Germs are everywhere and traveling only increases the chances that you or your babe are exposed to something icky! You can purchase wipes to clean airplanes seats and armrests as well as any highchairs your little one sits in. Fizzy tablets are great for cleaning pacifiers, bottles, and pump parts on the go! The Smilo pacifier disinfecting case is the perfect match for the tablets! It can be used in the microwave or by dropping the tablets in the case!
Baby Carrier:
Carrying your tiny human while on vacation will be a total game-changer! Soft carrier, hard carrier, front carrier, back carriers… it doesn’t matter. Whatever is appropriate for your child. I recommend hard carriers for babes 6 months and older. I also love their gear for preschool aged children!
Baby Gear:
Before you hauling/shipping/flying a stroller + carseat, check at your destination for a rental company for baby gear! Baby Quip is a company that serves over 100 locations in the USA! Many parents report damaged baby gear when they ship or fly their belongings and many times it isn’t covered by damage reimbursement!
HeHe Tip:
Try changing over the contents of your diaper bag to a backpack! Backpacks are spacier and can be worn. There are precious backpack diaper bags! I love bags with stroller straps and a changing pad; especially made with Vegan Leather! Make sure your bag has enough storage space for a small electric breast-pump if you are using one.
Also shop Breast Milk Storage Bags and Nursing Pads for convenience
If you have a bag that you absolutely love, you can purchase an insert that turns any bag into a diaper bag!
You can also check out more on traveling with young kids in these articles! There are helpful hints such as TSA requirements for breastmilk and formula, plus the importance of your I-C-E envelope!
Get a free guide to traveling with kids here!
by: Haley “HeHe” Stewart of Tranquility by HeHe
