27 Tips and Products for Traveling With Baby in Safety and Style

You can travel with a baby and have a great time, with a little preparation and a lot of patience. The trick is to balance traveling light with having the essentials.

Here are my 27 tips for traveling safely and in style with your baby.

Getting around:

1. Bring your infant car seat: If you are using an Infant Car Seat, you can transport your seat in a lightweight and convenient frame that converts the seat into a stroller. I’ve tried out my friends’ and I am definitely getting one the next time around. Check out these:

• Kolcraft Universal Infant Car Seat Carrier ($49.95–a great buy!)
• Graco Snugrider Infant Car Seat Frame
• Baby Trend Snap-N-Go Frame ($59.95)
• “Snap N Go Double Infant Car Seat Carrier by Baby Trend” ($74)

2. Bring a car seat for your older baby or toddler: For a Convertible Car Seat, there are a variety of carrying options:

• The Gogo Kidz Universal Travelmate Universal ($84.99 from Elite Car Seats) will convert your car seat into a stroller, allowing you to easily pull baby and the car seat.
  Go Go Babyz Go Go Kidz Travelmate from BabyCenter ($89.95) and make sure to check out our coupons page for the latest deals from Baby Center.
• Although on the pricier side, the TriplePlay Products Sit ‘n’ Stroll - Midnight Blue ($219.95) transforms from a stroller, to a car seat, to a booster seat. So, it is the only seat you’ll need for your toddler on your trip.
• If you just want to attach the car seat to your luggage for easy transport, the
  TOTEaTOT Travel accessory for children ($29.99) is a less expensive option. This is a clever invention, which converts to a backpack when it is not in use as a seat carrier, but it does not provide a stable base to keep the car seat securely in place.
• If you aren’t a baby wearer or are traveling with two adults, you may like carrying your car seat as a backpack with the Cheeky Monkey Pac Back ($39.95).
  

3. Your favorite baby carrier: Baby carriers provide the easiest, safest, hands-free way to take baby along. Shop Along for the Ride or Attached to Baby and check out my budget picks for baby slings and wraps. Right now, we have exclusive coupon codes for both on our sidebar.

4. A lightweight stroller: I am a committed baby wearer…but sometimes I need a little break. That’s why it is great to have a lightweight stroller. For under $50, your best bet is the Chicco Caddy Stroller (right now $34.97) or the Jeep Wrangler All-Weather Umbrella Stroller ($34.62). Both are under 12 lbs and fold easily for carrying. You can also pick up inexpensive umbrella strollers, Babies R Us even offers one free with purchase from time to time, but I prefer something slightly more substantial.

5. Pack your bags: Teach older kids responsibility by allowing them to pack their own choice of toys and extras in a case they carry on their own. Keep it small and light, though, because there is a good chance you will have to add the weight to your load at least briefly at some point in the trip.

Stay safe and comfortable:

6. For safe fun in the sun: Don’t forget to bring the “three S’s”: sunhats, sunglasses (we LOVE ParkerG’s), and sunblock (Australian Lizard is our pick)! Baby can stay cute and healthy!

7. Take along a portable baby bed (newborns and babies): You never know what sleeping arrangements will be available, so consider one of these options.

• For babies: Depending on how light we need to travel, Baby Diva uses the KidCo PeaPod Indoor/Outdoor Travel Bed ($49.99) or a super lightweight playard: we like the Compass Light & Portable Playard & Bassinet ($72.90-89.99, full review)
• For newborns only: you may like the convenience of a a folding travel bed, like the Eddie Bauer Infant Travel Bed ($29.99)

8. Sleeping options for toddlers and older kids:

• For older tots: KidCo PeaPod Plus Travel Bed ($79.99, on sale) makes every trip into a camping adventure.
• For kids: This Deluxe Inflatable Bed for children and the Junior Dora the Explorer Ready Bed ($27.99) are easy to bring along, as are these Bed Bolster to Go portable, inflatable bed rails ($39.95).

9. Keep the car cool:

• Get a car shade to keep the inside cool while you are out sightseeing.
• Here’s a new product I have not tried out yet: the seat chiller for a cool, comfy baby seat.

10. Have fun in the car:

• A Baby Safe Mirror for the car is an essential: baby will love to check out her cute self and you can take a quick glance at your sweetie with the sweet Rainforest Baby View Auto Mirror (pictured) or the Fisher-Price Deluxe Auto Mirror with music and flashing lights.
• Car Seat Gallery keeps babies stimulated and occupied with high contrast images while you drive.
• For older kids, make sure you bring a variety of car games, like the “Are We There Yet?” Travel Game or other Travel Toys and Games.
• If you are going to pop in a DVD, perhaps something educational, like Baby Signing Time would work or check out the selection at Amazon.com.

11. Bring a portable booster seat: Feeding a squirmy baby on your lap can be a challenge and also make it difficult for you to eat your own meal. Some lightweight and portable booster options are:

• The On-The-Go Booster Seat ($24.95) is an inflatable seat for your child, 9 months’ +.
• The Jump Seat Booster Seat ($34.95) works for 6 months’ + by hooking onto the back of a regular chair and then folding for easy transport.
• Here’s a great deal on the Chicco Travel Seat ($49.99)–you don’t even need a chair, just a table, to hook on this booster.

Air and International Travel

12. Use Orbitz for a discounted plan ticket for baby: If you are traveling by air, experts recommend purchasing a plane seat for your infant, rather than having your baby travel “in arms.” Many airlines offer discounts for a baby under two, but only Orbitz allows you to book the reduced rate online. If you call Travelocity or other websites, most will assist you by phone, but I prefer the convenience of booking the tickets online. Special Flight Deals on Orbitz!

13. Get an escort: It is perfectly legal Call ahead and request an escort pass for someone who can help you get baby to the gate. If you do not do this, your spouse/friend/parent cannot even pass baby to you through security.

14. Get more space: If you have a newborn, you may wish to request a bulkhead (front row) and a bassinet. Personally, I prefer to have the baby in a car seat for take-off and landing and during turbulence, but this is another option.

15. Consider a cruise: Cruises make it easy to get around from place to place without having to worry about loading and storying baby’s gear at each stop. You may be a great culinary adventurer, but your tot may have other plans: cruises offer a wide variety of familiar foods for fussier toddlers.

16. Make sure you have a passport: Passports are required to take baby out of country and you will need to have the consent of both parents or legal guardians to get that passport.

17. Fly Safely: Use a car seat (see tip number one) or, if you will have a car seat waiting at your destination, consider CARES: the FAA-approved airplane harness for children over 1 year old and over 22 lbs.

18. Save Time: Print out your boarding passes in advance when possible and find out what you can and cannot take on the plane with the most up-to-date Permitted and Prohibited Items list. If you are traveling with another adult, one can board ahead of time to install the car seat or stow items.

19. Keep Baby Comfy in the Air: During the flight, pressure can cause baby discomfort. If you are nursing, you have a natural, readily available way to alleviate ear pressure. Otherwise, try feeding baby or giving baby a sippy cup. A pacifier is good to have on hand, as well. If all else fails, ask your doctor about administering a small dose of infant Tylenol.

Do Not Forget!

20. Ziplock bags: You can store food items, garbage (including stinky diapers), and wet clothing in these. Of course, being a parent you already know this–just don’t forget them!

21. A first aid kit: Depending on the age of your child, you should include an aspirator, thermometer, calamine lotion or hydrocortisone cream, petroleum jelly, antibacterial cream, tweezers, scissors, nasal aspirator bulb, Adhesive tape, cotton-tipped swabs (Q-tips), liquid soap, oral syringe or medicine dropper, A hot-water bottle, an ice pack, butterfly bandages, band-aids, cotton gauze, tylenol. Ask your doctor for more ideas.

22. Any medications, along with prescriptions: If you are traveling out of country, or plan to leave baby with a babysitting service, make sure you have a copy of up to date vaccination records.

23. Laminate it: Consider laminating any really important documents or keeping them in a waterproof pocket…because you are traveling…with a baby.

24. A Few of My Favorite Things: Baby’s favorite lovey, pacifier, blanket, and books! Amazon.com has great deals on baby board books–most are included in their 4 for the price of 3 promotion. The wubbanub is a great pacifier for the car as you can easily find and retrieve it. If your baby is attached to a particular soft friend, make sure you bring or can easily find a duplicate.

25. Baby Friendly Snacks: If baby is eating solids, bring some convenient snacks along, just in case you cannot find baby appropriate foods where you are. Bring along a cooler if you have the space. Otherwise, choose snacks that will not spoil and will stay tasty even if left in the car, such as veggie puffs, dried fruit you can tear into strips, or raisins (for older kids only, raisins can be a choking hazard for little ones).

26. Playtime: Bring along age appropriate toys from one of these great toy stores:

• Babies R Us
• Gile Toy
• KB Toys
• Oompa Toys
• Paragon Toys

27. More Ideas: Check out Madallie, the Children’s Travel Store and also this great selection of Travel Solutions for Baby and Travel & Gear for Children!

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• Mamanista Travel Tips: Travel Toys
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