Traveling

You’ll never travel lightly again. Even parents who swear they’ll never get a minivan suddenly realize why it’s not really a choice but a necessity. Your one child will generate more equipment than both you and your spouse combined! Just take a look at the following list of traveling necessities …

Stroller

There is a myriad of stroller types and brands out there—it’s up to you to find the one that’s perfect for you. We decided to purchase a Graco travel system (now discontinued, but the link brings you to a similar one) to save some money. A travel system is a stroller and car seat in one. Both pieces function on their own, but you could also fit the car seat into the stroller and push it around that way. We liked our travel system a lot and found all the features useful, but the stroller itself was heavy and bulky, which discouraged me from folding it up and taking it in the car.

We ended up also purchasing a much simpler umbrella stroller. You can start using an umbrella stroller as soon as your baby is able to hold up his own head with confidence. They don’t cost very much (unless you feel like spending a lot, in which case there are some very fancy versions), and they are bare bones, but to me the portability is worth it. We keep our Graco stroller in the house and use it to go on walks around the neighborhood, while our umbrella stroller rides around in the car.

Car Seat

You will need to have a car seat ready for your trip home from the hospital—it’s illegal to drive your baby around without it. There are three stages of car seats: infant, convertible, and booster. The infant one lasts for up to six months, the convertible until three years old, and the booster until seven. Technically, the convertible is good for holding newborns too, but new parents seem to prefer getting the infant version first.

The advantage of the infant car seat is that it’s smaller and more portable (most come with a handle, while convertible car seats don’t). This is important because your newborn will fall asleep in his car seat a lot, and if you don’t want to disturb him, you’ll have to take the whole seat out when you exit the car. We got an infant seat that was part of a travel system, so the seat fits directly into the stroller, which was very handy.

We had to purchase a convertible car seat a few months ago, after our baby outgrew her infant seat. We chose the Combi Coccoro for its compact size and chic design (most car seats are designed to match the upholstery of your car and are pretty ugly, in my opinion). At nine months, our baby is very happy in it, although I worry that maybe the seat is a little too compact and she’ll outgrow this one too soon. It hasn’t happened yet, though, so I’ll withhold judgment until later.

Car Seat Head Support

Your newborn’s head will flop around in her car seat, which is why head support cushions have become such a hit. The most popular brand is Kiddopotamus Snuzzler, although we received the Eddie Bauer version as a hand-me-down, and found it perfectly serviceable. We used it until our baby was able to hold up her own head (about four months).

Car Toys *

You don’t need to purchase toys that are specifically made for the car, although the appeal is that they have straps and rings designed to attach onto the car seat so your baby will always have them within arms reach. The Bright Starts Traveling Trio that we received was a hit with our baby. She stared at the brightly colored toys as an infant, then began reaching out for them, and then loved using them as teethers. The butterfly with crinkly wings, in particular, is her favorite, and sometimes I’d attach it to her wrist when we left the car.

Car Mirror *

Because your baby has to sit in a rear-facing position for at least the first year of her life, baby car mirrors have become a very popular item. The driver of the car can look into the rearview mirror to see the baby’s face in the baby mirror. The baby can also see herself in the mirror. We got a Fisher-Price mirror that also plays music. I wasn’t counting on that feature to matter very much, but it quiets my crying baby every time. As soon as the music starts (you use a remote to turn it on), she stops bawling to see where the sound is coming from. I’ve found this mirror to be a godsend, as there’s nothing more stressful than driving with a screaming baby in the backseat.

Pack ‘n’ Play

Our pack ‘n’ play has been indispensable, and was particularly so in the first few months. We got it partly for traveling, but mostly for the bassinet feature, which many of them have. We set up our pack ‘n’ play next to our bed for the first three months, and that was where our newborn slept the whole time. When she turned three months, we transitioned her to her crib in her own room, and moved the pack ‘n’ play downstairs for her to nap in. Now at nine months, we use it solely as a travel crib. I imagine that when she starts crawling, we’ll also use it to fence her in.

It’s easier to cover your pack ‘n’ play’s pad so that when it gets soiled, you can just throw it in the wash. We’ve been using the Graco Quilted Sheet and it’s been just fine.

Baby Carrier

The BabyBjorn that we got is great. Whenever our baby cried for a long period, we’d stick her in it, and she’d instantly quiet down. It grows with your baby, and we’re still able to use it at nine months. My only complaint is that for a sleep-deprived parent of a newborn, the instructions for how to put it on are ridiculous. Isn’t there a way to make the straps and clasps less complicated? It wasn’t until after I’d used the Bjorn for a month that I felt comfortable enough to put it on without assistance. There are other baby carriers that exist, including some very comfortable looking slings, but I haven’t tried any of them out and can’t vouch for them.

Travel High Chair *

The Inglesina 2010 Fast Table Chair is perhaps the coolest baby gear that we own, and it works so well. You hook it onto any table and voila—instant high chair. It’s completely stable and portable. We bring it to restaurants and other people’s houses, and my baby loves to sit in it. We’d purchased the Phil and Ted version originally, which was even smaller and lighter, but it didn’t have enough padding and she seemed uncomfortable in it, so we ended up exchanging it for the Inglesina.

Diaper Bag

Figure out what type of bag you like to carry—backpack, messenger bag, tote, etc.—then get that kind of diaper bag. We registered for the Carter’s messenger bag in brown suede because it’s gender neutral (so my husband can carry it too), and it’s easy to hang on the handlebars of the stroller (but take care not to load it with too many things or it may tip your stroller over). It comes with a portable changing pad and just enough pockets. We get so many compliments on the stylish design.

Travel Wipes Case

You will need this for your diaper bag. We own an Especially For Baby case that we bought for three bucks from Babies ‘R’ Us (it’s not on their website). I’ve also heard good things about the Skip Hop one.

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