Photos: 1) Elisa, enjoying her snack, in front of a Fra Angelico masterpiece in Florence;, and 2) Pausing on the town wall, Monteriggioni.
We leave soon for a family trip to Italy. When I pulled out the folder used for our last trip there – five years ago – I found my version of “Tips for traveling overseas with a toddler.” I smiled at how different (e.g. smoother) our preparations were this time around with a six-year-old.
I thought I’d share the old list for those of you contemplating a trip with your little ones overseas. We used it well when travelling with our daughter from ages 8 months to 4 years or so across three continents and 12 countries. If one is prepared, travelling with babies and toddlers can be fun and rewarding.
1. Luggage: When Erik met me his travel philosophy was, “Take whatever fits in one piece of carry-on luggage.” Our philosophy with a baby was something like, “Baggage carts are not that expensive – free outside the US – so why not be comfortable?”
2. Sit n Stroll by TriplePlay: A Sit n Stroll converts easily from stroller to car/airplane seat and back again. It can be forward or rear facing and supports babies from 5 to 40 pounds. Not only is it great for flying, but when Elisa was young and we were based in Hong Kong, I used it in taxies.
3. First aid kit: I always have a quick chat with our doctor about our itinerary for specific country advice, but when Elisa was a baby, I generally carred a thermometer, baby Tylenol, powdered hydration fluid, syringes, anti-bacterial cream, sun screen, Benadryl (if you are using it as a sedative, be sure to consult your doctor and test it beforehand – it has the opposite effect on some children!), and insect repellent. (CDC has guidelines for what what percentage of deet is safe for children: http://www.cdc.gov/travel).
4. Extra food, diapers, and clothes for baby: I always bring enough food and diapers in our carry-on to last 24 hours (at least). The last thing you need when you are stuck in an airport is a hungry, wet baby.
5. Extra change of clothes for mommy (or daddy): Most people remember to bring extra clothes for the baby, but it’s also nice to have an extra t-shirt for mommy in case of an accident.
6. Baby backpack: Depending on where and how long you are traveling, a backpack provides a nice break for parents and baby from the stroller. It also makes sense if one is going to be visiting places that do not offer a smooth, clean sidewalk (e.g. most places in the world).
7. Electrician’s tape: When I was unable to find outlet covers for specific countries, I always carried electrical tape as a temporary solution. It served us well a number of times!
8. Toys and books: Toys are overrated; anything can be a toy. I did used to bring padded photo books of family and friends, and Elisa, even at 2, selected a few favorite books to include. We tried to have one new diversion for each hour on the plane, but for our daughter, favorite tales plus reusable sticker books ruled!
9. Inflatable booster seat : We often travel off the beaten path where high chairs in restaurants simply do not exist or offer a preacrious perch. This inflatable chair was great in giving our daughter – and her parents – some independence when dining out. It fits nicely into a small backpack or diaper bag.
10. Serviced apartments: The only way to go, and they are often less expensive than hotels. You are able to heat bottles and cook meals at home when everyone is too tired from jet lag to go out.
11. Pack N Play: These are huge and awkward and honestly, we didn’t travel much with ours but if you have the stamina, providing a consistent place for baby to sleep makes all the difference. We did bring ours in our luggage when we first moved to Hong Kong, and Elisa slept really well when we first arrived because she recognized it as a familiar bed.
When I wrote this list, four years ago, it all sounded so simple. Today, as I look at our two backpacks for the three of us, I’m not so sure. Do you have tips? Please share!