Travel...

So we have done a little travel in the US - with a baby and now a toddler. As it turns out traveling with a baby is easier, yes easier. One or two toys, stroller, a port-a-cot, clothes and bottles and you're away.  Now it seems it's more toys, more food, more clothes and just more everything really and a little someone who wont stay where you leave them.

We are traveling by car down south later this month so I thought whilst I pack I might as well share some of the gadgets we have to make our life a little simpler.

The first is the 'bundle me' - a generic version of a stroller foot muff to keep the little ones warm. You can (usually) buy a stroller specific version, though it is probably cheaper to purchase one like the JJ Cole Bundle Me. Available from Diapers.com, Giggle, Target, Babies R Us and a number of other retailers. You can buy them in a variety of sizes and weights from wind proof to arctic. There's an infant sized one that fits in a capsule car seat and the toddler version that will fit into your stroller.

Next we have a travel cot. When researching we had just spent 2 weeks using a traditional travel cot - heavy hard to set up and hard to move around. Then we found the Baby Bjorn Travel Crib Lite. It weighs less than 4 kilograms and sets up in less 30 seconds, and down again in less than a minute. It's so light and simple even I can do it. There is a cute video on YouTube of the Dad Labs guys getting the demo.  I think it is worth the money. 

There is a Phil and Teds version of the travel crib which is lighter (2.7kgs) and folds smaller but there are a few things I (personally) didn't like about it when compared to the Baby Bjorn Crib - it has an inflatable mattress rather than a 'traditional' mattress which I felt could become a hassle, and it has a narrower top opening which could be closed which didn't appeal.  The crib is approximately $240-$280 from: Baby Earth (cheapest) or Giggle, Babies R Us, Target, Diapers.com.

Next is the portable highchair - and I can't live without this. It brings little O right up to the table is as clean as I keep it, is easy to install and uninstall and light enough to carry around with at all times in the bottom of the stroller. Oh, and the best part - the weight limit is 18 kilos which equates to roughly a three or four year old which means I don't have to buy a booster seat later.  Approximately $49 from Baby Earth, giggle, target, diapers.com, Amazon.

Toys... travel toys are a personal choice you're going to know which ones the kids will like and want to play with. But my neat trick for keeping them all together is this - the Tide fine washables bag from the Container Store. It's big enough to fit a few toys in but small enough not to be too bulky, it's flexible, light weight, see through so I can see the toy I'm looking for and it's cheap. It's only $3.99. Plus, I can use it home for my fine washables too.

The number one toy for our travels is the Gertie ball. It inflates with a straw so you can pack it flat and inflate it at you destination. Perfect. You can get yours from Tugooh Toys in Georgetown, Kinderhaus Toys in Clarendon or Amazon or Baby Earth.

I also take with us a small bottle of dish washing liquid for washing cups, plates, bowls, sippy cups and any accidents that happen in the car. I also take some liquid tide in a mini packet in case I need to wash out strawberries from a favourite t-shirt.

Happy travels if this post holiday season takes you on a journey!

(Note: I've not compared the US prices and products to those available in Australia.)