Baby Travel Gear Guide – Getting Around

Baby Travel Gear For Eating, Sleeping and Getting Around…
A mule to carry it all would be nice too!

There’s getting there and getting around… Getting there means you have to carry all your stuff and your little one, and getting around once you’re there means making sure you have the gear necessary to enjoy yourself.  There seems to be the stroller camp, and the carrier camp – and never the twain shall meet.  I’m in the middle – they both have their pros and cons for different reasons.  For me, in the airport, a stroller is indispensable.  I can load it up with the child AND some bags, and while she’s buckled in she has no choice but to stay put, even if she’s being difficult.  We’ve flown with our stroller on Air Canada and on the cheapest of charters and never had an issue with gatechecking it.  In Mexico it was waiting for us on the tarmac and in Cuba it was at the baggage check.  Everywhere else it was happily waiting for us at the next gate.

I probably would have used a carrier more had we had one that didn’t feel as though my back would split in half.  With this baby we’re going to invest in a good one – hopefully we’ll have better luck this time.

Getting Around:
For walks and daytrips, depending on the age of your little one, you’ll want both.  Some will still argue the case for just one or the other but having both gives you the most options.  Plus, carriers or slings – for the most part – don’t take up a lot of room in your luggage, so it’s not a big deal to take it along.

Even if the sidewalks or trails aren’t the most stroller-friendly, having even a lightweight one with you means you have a safe place for both eating and sleeping while you’re out and about.  Carriers or slings can become hot and uncomfortable for you both in warmer weather.  Because our daughter hated her carrier (and so did my back), and we’ve always brought along our big, bulky jogging stroller.  It does fold so we’ve been able to gate-check it (even on the cheapest charter) and it has sailed over sand, cobblestones, steep curbs and any terrain our destination has presented.  We’ve never regretted bringing it on any of our trips.

Personally I think there’s no need to invest in a stroller specifically for travel, so here’s some other nice-to-have gear to help you get around…

Trunki (See all Ride On Toys)

Family travel just got more exciting!  Wave good bye to tiring travel, tears and tantrums with a boredom busting Trunki, the world’s first ride-on kid’s suitcase!  Designed for family holidays, children can pack, sit-on and ride their own luggage, while parents can keep them in tow.

**note – be careful closing it because the clasps are prone to break**

ERGO Baby (See all Child Carrier Front Packs)

This is the one we’ve decided to invest in… The ERGO baby carrier’s ergonomic design supports a correct sitting position for the baby’s hip, pelvis and spine growth. It disperses most of the baby’s weight between the hips and thighs, which helps to eliminate compression of the spine when hanging by the crotch which most other designs require. The ERGO baby also balances the baby’s weight to parents’ hips and shoulders, and alleviates physical stress for the parent.

ERGO baby recommends a weight limit of 40 pounds for its carrier; however, the carrier has been tested up to 90 pounds. Our carrier will accommodate you as long as you would like to carry and/or your baby would like to be carried. This carrier holds you child longer than most traditional carriers on the market.

Many celebs have been photographed toting their tots in an ERGObaby, including Julia Roberts, Amanda Peet, Keri Russell, Bridget Moynahan and Elizabeth Hassellbeck.

Wet Happened

I think this is an ingenius idea!  Now that plastic bags are on their way out, this is a smart and eco-friendly way to store all the laundry that you end up making while traveling.  With the spills, diaper leaks and motion sickness that can (does) happen while you’re traveling – throw all the messy clothes into the Wet Happened bag, and then throw the bag and its contents in the wash once you’re there.  Having a couple of these would definitely make getting there and getting around a lot easier, as I’m always the one who forgets to replenish the (ever-dwindling) supply of plastic bags anyway!
Of course, all of these things are not necessities.  But, if they make your life easier while you’re away, it’s well worth the effort to lug them along.

Cares Harness Child Aviation Restraint

CARES is the only harness type child aviation safety restraint  ever certified by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).  It is an elegantly designed belt and buckle device for kids 22-44 pounds that is easy to use and creates a safe airplane seat for your child without the hassle of carrying a 20 pound car seat.

CARES weighs just 1 pound and fits into a 6″ stuff sack!  It is simple to install, adjustable to virtually any size airplane seat, and keeps your chilid as safe as a car seat would.