10 Must-have Items for jet-setting Mamas and Babies

So far, we have taken our 8-month-old on eight trips. Day trips, overnight road trips, cross-country plane trips - seven different flights to be more specific! And I was solo with babe for five of them. I'm by no means a travel pro, but I have figured out what works for us (for now). I was asked to, and I'm happy to share some of the products that make our air travels easier and less stressful. Note: these are all items I actually own and recommend.

For the mama

1. Nursing tank.  Perfect for hassle-free breastfeeding. I pack an extra one in my carry on.
2. Cozy/long cardigan. I always get cold in planes, and it can also double as a breastfeeding cover up.
3. Leggings and compression socks. You will never catch me flying in constricting jeans, skirts, or shorts (refer to #2). Also, after pregnancy and after trying out these super cute and comfy socks, I'm never flying without a pair again!
4. Toms. I talked about why I love these shoes here...
5. Scarf. ...and why I love wearing scarfs while traveling here.
6. Chewbeads. These were a gift, and my little teething guy LOVES them. 
7. Water bottle. Altitude + constant nursing = dehydration station.
8. Snacks. I always have food in my purse.  Fruit, granola bars, chocolate, you name it.
9. Audiobooks. In case the baby sleeps (lucky you!) but you aren't able to (womp womp).
10. Backpack. I skip the traditional diaper bag and use my fiance's backpack as my carry-on. It is not necessarily attractive but it's roomy and has a ton of pockets for easy one-handed access.



For the baby

1. Baby carrier. If I could only pick one item to bring, this would be it. It's not just great for getting through airports, but my babe loved nursing and falling asleep in there during every flight we took. You can read more about why I love this carrier here.
2. Wet bag. These are not just for cloth diapers. S#%t happens. And you want said s#%t contained.
3. Two-piece footie pajamas. Footie PJs keep babies warm without having to deal with socks, but the trick is to go for a two-piece; they make it easier to check/change diapers.
4. Wipes. Refer back to #2.
5. Pacifier. Nursing, giving a paci, or bottle can help with ear pressure during take-off and landing.
6. Blanket. Now that baby is older, I use these to cover dirty floors/surfaces for him to sit on.
7. Inflatable nursing pillow. Having an extra seat makes it easier to use it onboard, but once you reach your destination, it's a life-saver. Read about it here.
8. Bottle of water. Refer to #5.
9 Fruit snacks. It doesn't get easier (or less messy) than these organic fruit pouches. Check the ingredients to be sure there are no surprises.
10. Toys. We bring compact, quiet, one-piece toys; a new one for the novelty aspect, and old ones for familiarity and comfort. 

These are products that work for our family. It might be different for yours, and that's ok!

I'd love to hear from you. What's on your list?


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Travel Tips

14 comments:

  1. we're taking our first flight with baby this november ... so im sure i'll look back on this post for some tips! xo jillian - cornflake dreams

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  2. Great tips! I'm trying to think of anything else we brought along, but I think you covered it all. B and I are flying solo next month. I'm scared out of my mind! lol

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  3. Great roundup! I've heard Yes, Please is better on audiobook because it's actually Amy reading through everything! Toms are some of my go-to travel shoes too!:) No baby yet, but a lot of my friends have the chew beads and love them!!

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    1. Thanks Jenny! Tina Fey reading BossyPants was SO funny, so I'm sure Amy Poehler's is just as good! And a comfy travel shoe goes a long way, doesn't it? xoxo

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  4. I wanted to hear the bossypants audiobook. I've read it, but I keep hearing it's so much more amazing hearing it in her voice the way she intended it to be read.

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    1. Hi Esther! The audiobook is SO worth it, especially if you're a Tina Fey fan like I am!

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  5. I'm all about 2, 3, 4, 5, and 7 for the mama.

    I can't believe you travel so much with a baby. I could never do it. At least not regularly. I usually take Sophie on short trips, never plane trips.

    I definitely believe toys and entertainment work the best for us when we travel.

    liz @ <a href=http://www.sundayswithsop

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  6. Great tips! I always have snacks!
    www.amemoryofus.com

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  7. With the exception of #1 I could use all these tips now! xo, Biana -BlovedBoston

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  8. Great tips! I always try to fly in leggings or a maxi dress too. Jeans are overrated in my opinion!

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  9. We have flown a few times with our little guy and he did great when he was under the age of one but its getting more difficult. I will definitely be bringing lots of snacks and the iPad:)

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    1. Ah that's definitely what I hear too, so I'm trying to enjoy traveling during his baby phase as much as possible! Thanks for stopping by, Lindsey!

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  10. We love traveling with our trio! It's fun seeing things through their eyes. It sounds like you've got things figured out but, as crazy as it sounds, it just gets better! I look forward to seeing where you guys go next! Thanks for sharing with us at Waiting on...Wednesday! Hope you'll link up again tomorrow!

    Holly @ www.iwillservewhileiwait.blogspot.com

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Thank you for taking the time to comment, it means a lot to me! Please note I respond privately via email, so If yo are a no-reply blogger, check back!

Louise

About the Writer

I'm Louise, a Tampa Bay based Brazilian-American travel blogger. Join us as we learn and share the ins-and-outs of traveling with a toddler and our sweet rescue pup Oreo, while promoting local nonprofits and wellness along the way.