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Traveling Must-haves for the lower tox baby and toddler parents
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items Travel items that have changed the game for this mama! We did not anticipate being a traveling family, but our 2YO has now been to 10 different states and we already have plans for more! From the mountains of West Virgina to the beaches of Oahu, Hawaii, we've traveled by air and by land and have had much better experiences because of these items! We certainly identify as “scrunchy” but we also recognize that quality sleep and convenience while on the go can be a bit harder to achieve without some “less-crunchy” items. For us, a good night sleep and smooth travels are reasons to compromise on some alternative products. These are not things we use every day, but they make traveling a breeze.
Sections
4
Sleep
Carriers
Seats
Medicine Cabinet
Sleep
As a scrunchier mama, finding things that support my family while traveling can be hard. We make compromises in some areas - for example, solid sleep is incredibly important to everyone in my family. We are very unhappy people without it haha. This m...
Now this is a good fit for specific situations - it does not fold down quite like the Guava Lotus, but it is a bit taller and narrower than the standard play yard - this makes it great for taller toddlers or narrower locations. We found it a nice fit for a roadtrip as it packs down flat and slides right into the trunk.
Bugaboo Stardust Portable Travel Playard
This here is the one thing I seriously regret not buying sooner! We just got back from a week in Hawaii with our 2 year old and it was absolutely life changing. Being able to create a separate, blackout, sleep space for our son within our small room was wonderful. I was worried about it not being breathable enough, but we put it right next to the AC vent and had a portable fan in the designated pocket and it was perfect! For any kiddos who love their own bed/sleep space, this is an absolute must have! We tested it out at home for a couple of nights before our trip which I think also helped set us up for success. We used it with SlumberPod's SlumberTot, but it is easily compatible with almost all travel play yards too.
SlumberPod
This was such a fun last-minute purchase for our family vacation this year. We went to Hawaii and had gotten the SlumberPod but did not want to bring a play yard. Our son is on the verge of crawling out of a crib, so having a bed version was a great in-between step for us. The tent still keeps him contained but I'm not worried about him falling. I will say, my one complaint - as with any air mattress, there is some significant off-gassing that occurs - we inflated ours a few days before the trip to let it air out. There was still a bit of “plastic” scent while on the trip, but much less than before. We added an organic cotton crib sheet to the mattress as well as a waterproof pad.
SlumberPod SlumberTot Inflatable Toddler Bed
I typically pack my full size hatch if I have room, but this guy is great for car rides, trips to grandma's or the one-off overnight. It comes in a variety of colors and offers a variety of sound options. Volume is easily adjustable making it a great add-on to your packing list
Hatch : Soothers & Sound Machines - Baby
We have loved our HelloBaby monitor - it uses no wifi, travels super easily, and their customer service is great! They have several different size and shape options to pick from
Hello Baby Monitor
Carriers
Now these can be a bit harder to find as they are no longer manufactured. But we found a Kelty Kids TC2.1 on Facebook Marketplace and it was such a great find. I think we paid around $50 which seems to be the going rate for these older models. But it is much less cumbersome than the newer hiking carriers. That said, it fits easily in the overhead compartment and offers a detachable diaperbag - it was such a great multiuse tool to have. We used it hiking, as a stroller alternative, and brought the diaper bag piece with us everywhere we went otherwise.
With Kids
This is my favorite carrier for little guys! My 30lb toddler will still sit in one, but it is not as comfortable for either of us any more. The biggest perk is that they fold down smaller than any structured carrier and can be tucked in a purse, diaper bag, or backpack and take up such little space!
Baby Ring Sling Carrier for Infants | Front, Hip, Back
So this one is not my absolute favorite for traveling, but it is worth the mention. This carrier is a supportive workhorse, but it is bulky to pack and does not just easily fit in your purse or backpack. I certainly find that I sweat in mine - mind you, I have a 30lb toddler and don't have the mesh version. But at the end of the day, I know that I won't be in pain carrying my heavy toddler in this carrier if I'm out and about.
Ergobaby Omni 360 Baby Carriers - All-in-One, Mesh & ...
note - I haven't tried this item, but it sounds like the travelers dream. I've only traveled with my uppa baby Ridge jogger and it is super helpful to have for certain destinations, but it can also be a drag to get on airport shuttles. This one is on my list to consider if I really need a travel stroller.
Momcozy ClickGo Lightweight Stroller
Seats
Hands down, the best $40 I've ever spent. This cart holds up to 100lbs and while it says not to let the child ride the seat while its on the cart, it carried my 30lb son in his 25lb Britax Poplar seat all over 4 different airports this week. With a narrow enough car seat, we were able to wheel my son down the aisle of each aircraft as well. Such a helpful tool - and now i'm sure we'll find other uses for it around the house. Collapses down to fit under the seat in front of you or up in the overhead compartment - super nice
Car Seat Dolly for Airport, Black Roller Cart
So slightly controversial - this seat is no where near light. It is VERY heavy. But paired with a car seat dolly, it fits so nicely on the airplane. It even fits straight down the aisle on the cart with my son in it. If you need a narrow seat - or maybe for 3 across in your car, the Britax Poplar is a wonderful nontox option for your family
Britax Poplar Convertible Car Seat
Again, another hit or miss for us. We do have this car seat and thoroughly appreciate it's “light weight” nature. I think its only 8lbs which is an absolute dream to carry through the airport. It's “Crunchy” with no added flame retardants and that. All that said, with its lack of weight comes lack of features, the buckles are not my favorite and the bottom piece often gets stuck under my son's butt as I put him in the seat (in contrast the Britax has an added pad on the crotch buckle that keeps... And for some reason, my son doesn't love sleeping in this seat which makes it less favorable for long trips. So again, pros and cons, but it depends on the situation as to whether or not we're loving this seat.
Romi 2-in-1 Convertible Car Seat
Medicine Cabinet
This little spray helps protect you and your little ones on the go. We use it here at home, but it comes along in my carry on when we travel - especially by air. There is no telling how many extra germs we come into contact with at an airport/airplane, so knowing that I can help support my kiddo's immune system on the front end is a relief
Kid's Propolis Immune Support Throat Spray
This is my favorite sunscreen to have on hand - I use it on my whole family! It is so small and portable, but protects even the most sensitive of skin
Baby Mineral Sunscreen Stick SPF 50 For Sensitive Skin
This is a nice addition to our travel bag. It's an “all in one” product for us that can be used on diaper rash, cuts, scrapes, - anything really.
Active Skin Repair First Aid Spray Medical Grade