Where to Wednesday: Top Travel Gear

Last time I posted on the Chirping Moms we had just taken our son on his first road trip.  Since then, he’s visited five more states and is on his way to being a frequent flier! 

In order to manage my chronic over-packing problem, I started to make a master list of all of the essential baby gear that we travel with. I found it was really helpful to divide things up by categories such as sleeping, eating, playing and airport must-haves. 

One of the best things we’ve done is rent baby gear so we can eliminate packing bulky items. We’ve had great luck renting car seats and pack n plays from local companies and I’ve been really impressed with how affordable the pricing is too. If it’s cheaper than a checked bag, sign me up!  

While I haven’t overcome my over-packing, but I have narrowed down my must-have baby gear for traveling. 

10. Loveys. A lovey takes up very little room and is a great toy or soother if you’re trying to get the baby to sleep on-the-go. I’m also not ashamed to say that I used one as a burp cloth on my last flight when Connor dribbled milk all over the place. 

9. Umbrella stroller. Depending on your trip, you may or may not need a stroller. If you do bring one, make sure it reclines for easy napping. If you don’t want an umbrella stroller, we are obsessed with the Mountain Buggy Urban Jungle for longer trips. It’s extremely lightweight but handles really well and it folds with one hand. 

8. Muslin blankets. We always carry one and pack one in the suitcase for the flight home. They can be used to create play spaces in the airport or hotel room and you can also throw one over yourself if the baby needs to eat while sitting in your lap.

7. Books! My favorite books to throw in my bag are Indestructibles. They really can’t be destroyed and you can wash them off if they get dirty when you’re traveling. I also love this Eric Carle book because you can clip it onto the baby carrier or stroller. 

6. It’s Ritzy Wet Happens Pack a spare outfit in one of these bags and when a mess happens you can swap the wet clothes into the bag. Nothing will leak out of the bag and you can easily wipe the inside lining dry before machine washing when you get home.  

5. Ergo Carrier It is a million times easier to have your hands free, even if it’s just for getting on and off the plane.  Connor loves facing out in the Ergo 360 so he can see all of the action in the airport and is much less squirmy as a result! 

4. Pacifier Clip This is a must have. It eliminates the risk of dropping the pacifier on dirty airport floors or worse, losing it right before takeoff. 

3. OXO On-the-Go Drying Rack and Bottle Brush. I thought this was an excessive purchase until I started using it. When you’re in a small hotel room, it is so nice to be able to wash bottles and have a spot for them to dry. Being able to easily wash bottles means you don’t need to pack as many!  Don’t forget the travel size Dapple baby bottle & dish soap.

2. Munchkin Disposable Bibs. Because I have a messy eater and there is nothing worse than carrying around food-soaked bibs in your bag all day. My other favorite bib is the Munchkin To Go Bib
because it rolls into a pouch.  Put a spoon and a pouch of food within the bib pouch and you’re all set. 

1. Mixie Baby Bottles. These are the best bottles when you’re on-the-go! Formula goes in the bottom, water goes in the top and you mix by pressing a button on the bottom of the bottle when the baby is ready to eat. When we’re flying, we don’t actually put water in them until we’re through security, saving a little extra time with TSA.

Last but not least…I never leave home without wipes. In addition to baby wipes, I also like to travel with Wet-Ones to quickly clean the germy surfaces on the plane. But my favorite wipes of all time are Well-Kept phone wipes. If you think about it, your phone is pretty gross, especially after a long day of travel. These help cut down on the transfer of germs from phone to hands to baby. 

Believe it or not, we have a few more trips coming up this year. As Connor gets older and more mobile, I know our needs will change and my must-have list will change too!  I’d love to hear what your favorite travel gear is, so be sure to leave a comment on the post.

– Meghan Wolf