2012 Gear Guide – Sleeping

girl and suitcase...Baby Travel Gear and Accessories For Helping Baby Sleep While Traveling…

Have Baby Will Travel has been online for five years, and in that time I’ve learned that there are some things that can make your life a whole lot easier while you’re traveling with baby – for eating, sleeping, playing, and getting around. Some are must-haves, some are nice-to-haves, some may seem excessive – but if there’s a product or service available that could possibly make your life easier, wouldn’t you want to know about it?

Some of these I’ve used personally and loved. Some of these I wish were invented when my kiddos were smaller. Some of these were out of my budget but I wished I could afford. All of these will either help give your baby a safe place to sleep while you’re on the go – or even possibly help baby to fall asleep!

travel bed, travel crib, travel cot, baby bjorn, baby bjorn travel crib

Baby Bjorn Play Yard Light

Baby Bjorn Play Yard Light

I’ve seen and lugged my fair share of baby travel beds, and the Baby Bjorn one, while pricey, is probably the sturdiest one I’ve come across. It’s also incredibly easy to set up, incredibly easy to take down, and weighs only 11 pounds – most certainly lighter than the baby that’s likely sleeping in it. It’s not exactly the most compact when folded, but if you are lucky to be flying an airline where checking luggage is not extra and you’re not sure about your sleeping arrangements at your destination, this way you know you have a safe and secure place for baby to sleep.

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Travel bed, travel cot, travel crib, phil and ted, nest, phil and ted's nest

Phil&Teds Nest

Nest

Those clever Kiwis at Phil&Teds have created a cool multi-purpose travel bag/travel bassinet for those hitting the road with baby. Nest is a lightweight bag – approved for overhead storage in airplanes – that can hold all of baby’s odds and sods while you’re en route, and then serves as a cosy bassinet for baby to sleep in. It is safe and suitable for newborns and infants up until about nine months of age, so if you’re planning on doing a fair amount of travel while baby is quite little (as you should!) than Nest is a great investment.

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Canadian shoppers be patient! Nest is not yet available in Canada.

toddler travel bed, travel bed toddlers, baby travel gear, inflatable travel bed

Toddler Travel Bed

The Shrunks Toddler Bed

This inflatable bed is BPA-free, pthalate-compliant, and offers toddlers a comfy and fun place to sleep when you’re out and about. The toddler bed + pump weighs under 8lbs, and can fit in a suitcase. How I wish this was invented for those few trips we took when my daughter was too big for a pack’n’play, but too small for a real bed. The inflatable toddler bed fits regular crib sheets, and they also have a version that’s a twin bed that fits regular twin-sized bedding as well.

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Travel Bed rail, portable bed rail, shrunks bed rail, inflatable bed rail

Travel Bed Rail

The Shrunks Inflatable Bed Rail

Yet another product by The Shrunks that I wish was invented when we traveled with our daughter as a toddler. Travel bed rails seemed impossible to find, and I laugh when I think of some of the crazy contraptions we built with the hope of keeping her safe in her bed. Staying in family-friendly hotels and resorts does not necessarily mean they will supply bed rails, and this little invention can give you some peace of mind without taking up much room in your luggage.

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travel night light, tykelight, baby travel gear

Travel Night Light

Tykelight Night Light

My kids are good sleepers, but the are used to certain sights and rituals that come with bedtime at home. And while we follow our bedtime routine while we’re traveling, how wonderful it would be to bring along the nightlight they’re familiar with?! Plus, we’re always fiddling with hotel room lighting arrangements to try to come up with the best light-enough-to-see-but-not-so-light-it-disturbs-our-sleep level, so just bringing a nightlight from home would alleviate all those issues!

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back to sleep bear, baby travel gear, white noise machine, baby sleep aid

Back To Sleep Bear

Back To Sleep Bear

Bringing along your baby or toddler’s woobie or lovey is a no-brainer, and this one actually has an added feature that could be a bonus for travel. Not only is it a cuddly (and safe) teddy, the soundbox acts as a white noise machine, and can play womb sounds or a song or message that mama or dada records. The soundbox has an audio and motion sensor, so it automatically starts again if baby cries or the bear is moved. The soundbox automatically shuts off after five minutes, conserving battery life.

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baby sleep sack, baby travel gear, baby travel gear sleeping, travel sleep bag

Baby Sleep Sack

Wearable Blanket

The Back To Sleep Wearable Blanket is another step in maintaining at-home sleep habits while you’re away with baby. I used a sleep sack with my kiddos when they were small because I knew they would always be cosy and warm, and also it helps limit their mobility and keep them on their back. I’m certain that traveling with the sleep sacks when they were little helped my children fall asleep when we were traveling, and it’s kinda nice to have the crib bedding and baby blanket all in one.

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goodnight moon, travel goodnight moon, baby travel gear

Goodnight Moon

Goodnight Moon

We had to buy a new copy of Goodnight Moon for my son, as my daughter’s copy is so beat-up it’s barely readable. And now my son’s copy is in the same state. Both of their Goodnight Moons have come on just about every trip with us, as maintaining our bedtime routine while we’re away is key to helping them fall asleep. We’ve read Goodnight Moon almost every night for six years. To say we can recite it word for word is an understatement – it’s become part of our psyche! I tell myself that’s a good thing 😉 Whether your bedtime ritual includes Goodnight Moon or a different book, don’t forget to bring it on your trip.

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comfy critter, baby travel blanket, baby travel toy, baby travel gear, travel gear guide sleeping

Comfy Critter – Shark

Comfy Critters

This is a really cute stuffie, pillow, and blanket, all-in-one! Packing a stuffed animal, pillow and special blanket into your already-bursting carry-on bag is not always feasible, so these little guys are not only cute, they are very functional. Introduced pre-flight, it could help make flights cuddly and cosy as opposed to chilly and cramped. The shark is really cute, no? There is also a Bunny, Puppy, Lamb, Unicorn, Chick, and an ultra adorable Ladybug Comfy Critter.

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Check out all the 2012 Baby Travel Gear Guides for EatingSleepingPlaying and Getting Around when you’re traveling with a baby or toddler!

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