Traveling with Infants? Don’t Leave Home Without These Essentials
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Just because you’ve added a new addition to your life, doesn’t mean traveling has to stop. In fact, these days, thanks to a plethora of products, it’s easier than ever to take baby on the road. Here are some of our favorite picks.
DockATot (starting at $185.00)
The DockATot baby lounger gives parents a safe, snug spot for little ones to comfortably relax, play, and get in tummy time and sleep with a unique shape and design. Favored by celebs like Kim Kardashian West, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Molly Simms and Tiffani Thiessen, moms (and dads!) love DockATot’s for its portability. What’s also neat about DockATot is that it provides your baby with a microclimate that mimics the womb, creating a nurturing, but 100% breathable environment for your infant traveler. The stylish covers come in a variety of colors and patterns, and are machine washable.
Tula Baby Carrier (starting at $149.00)
Another popular option for carrying baby on the go is with the Tula Baby Carrier from Baby Tula. This carrier keeps baby and wearer comfortable during airport trips, long walks, and makes napping on-the-go a breeze! Tula Baby Carriers are made of quality, handmade canvas and come in both infant and toddler sizes, allowing you to carry your little one from the time he or she is born to when they start walking. We love how comfortable this carrier is, thanks to a wider panel and the padded straps, that help distribute weight. And being hands free when traveling is also a serious plus! If you’re traveling to a hotter climate, consider a carrier with a mesh panel to keep you and baby cooler.
Balboa Baby: Adjustable Sling ($60)
Car Seat Swaddle ($59.00)
The Cocoon Company Anywhere Swaddle allows your baby to stay calm, quiet and snuggled whether in a car seat or jogging stroller. Made from organic Peruvian pima cotton, it can fit in most 3 to 5 point harnessing systems, making it super multi-purpose. Soft and very easy to use, it’s another great baby travel accessory.
Wiggletot Diaper Changer ($29.99)
The Wiggletot Diaper Changer makes changing diapers while traveling stress and mess-free thanks to its clever design. It features a changing pad cover and detachable vest combo (complete with attachable toys) that keeps baby in one place and entertained while you swap out diapers and helps prevent leaks and messes from dirtying up more clothes. We love it for road trips and hotel stays.
Finn + Emma
Finn + Emma make a number of fantastic traveling infant products, including a fair trade Wood Teething Rattle ($19.00). Made in India from untreated Indian hardwood, finished with non-toxic vegetable seed wax, and stuffed with beans that make a rattle sound like the ocean when shaken, the rattle is meant to be chewed upon, and is very soft and smooth. Another rattle option for baby is the fair trade Mini Rattle Buddy (startign at $22.00), which is made from organic cotton yarn and stuffed with sheep’s wool from Peru. Finally, we love the Finn + Emma Play Mat ($59), which is made from super soft organic cotton and non-toxic, eco-friendly dies. It has loops to attach play gym toys (sold separately) but can also be used as a changing mat or stroller liner, making it very versatile.
Green Goo Mama & Baby products
Green Goo knows how delicate and gentle babies can be, which is why they created a Mama and Baby product line made entirely from organic ingredients. The line includes a Baby Balm, Belly Balm, Nursing Comfort Cream and Herbal Sitz Bath all made with pure and natural ingredients. For traveling parents, check out the Mama & Baby travel set ($24.95), which includes tins of their popular baby balm, belly balm, comfort cream for nursing moms and a sitz bath tea bag, all in a convenient pouch that’s easy to toss in the diaper bag or have on hand when braving the airlines with baby.
Brain Builders Rattle ($8.99)
Popular in Japan since the 1970s, the Educational Eddie Rattle by the People Toy Company, just launched in the U.S. and is already gaining recognition as a go to all in one baby development toy. It’s quite a unique rattle, consisting of fun shapes and textures from chewable rope to teething feet, that help stimulate your child’s senses and development while keeping them entertained for hours. Because it has so many facets, this rattle is a perfect infant travel toy. So much so, Baby Maternity Magazine named it their 2016 Toy of the Year.
Little Peanut on the Go
Both an organizing app and an online store, Little Peanut on the Go is a fun, and useful, app for travel: both with and without the kids. Parents can stay organized by creating packing and to-do lists or building care schedules for caregivers while away. There’s also an option to share photos directly with kids if a parent is traveling solo. Also check out the super cute apparel for the jetset baby crowd from the online store section of the app. We adored the “jet setter” white tee and the onesie (each at $19.99) for baby’s first flight.
Ah Goo Baby
Ah Goo Baby focuses on making comfortable baby products that simplify life for parents living an active lifestyle with their kids. This includes The Stroller Blanket ($34.95), which is beyond versatile and can be used in a stroller, to cover a car seat or as something to lounge on. It also works as a cover-up for mom while nursing! The full sized blanked is topped by custom-milled 100 percent cotton signature patterns, and backed by a super soft and snuggly ultra plush fabric. They also have a memory foam Plush Pad ($34.95) for comfortable on-the-go diaper changing. It works great for travel and also for grandparents with visiting little ones. The product we love most though, are the Stroller Clips ($14.95). These make grocery shopping a breeze, as you don’t have to move baby from the stroller, but instead can clip a bag or basket directly onto it, creating your own shopping cart. The clips can carry up to 40lbs of weight and can attached to anything from a stroller to a bike using the Velcro clip – meaning mom can make double duty use of them for baby and herself.
Wallaboo
Wallaboo makes a variety of baby products, including super soft blankets, carrying slings and the Baby First Aid Kit ($26.50). Carefully selected specifically for infant and toddler first aid needs, it is great for travel or outdoor activities. Everything is organized in a water repellent pouch and contents include a single-use Thermometer, emergency foil blanket and a saline wound and eye-wash among other items.
