Traveling Mom Takeaways

At the end of my blog entries, I will post Traveling Mom Takeaways.  This will serve as a place for my Master List or me to enter these as I think of them until I ca get them on a related blog entry.

The Master List

In flight:

Toddlers:

- Fill 1 bag with squeeze pouch food, bin, spoon (attachable spoons are best!), disposable place mats OR put a Lysol wipe in a Baggie for the toddler crowd. Has to be small so you can pull it out of your bag when you sit and fit in the seatback pocket for access as soon as you need it.  Even if they like finger food, it's a mess and also you don't want them to choke during turbulence. Bring puffs or Cheerios for a clean finger food. 

- Fill another bag with 2 or 3 diapers and wipes and disposable changing pads (thinner than cloth changing pad). Also put in seatback pocket. 

- totally worth it for an international flight to buy baby her own seat, for 2 reasons: 1 is turbulence. I experienced sudden turbulence when my daughter was 5 months old and I had to hold her in a death grip the rest of the flight. It was terrifying. Also, if you want a chance to sleep on the plane, you can only do that if baby has their own seat. Otherwise you have to be awake to hold them. And you won't be able to eat the meals on your tray table with a baby on your lap.

- as a general rule, if it (whatever IT is) is under your seat in a bag, you won't see it again til you get off the plane. Put whatever you will want or need in the seatback pocket. Think of that as being about 2 gallon ziplocks or so. Remember the pockets only hold a couple magazines. 

- bring your own bottled water or drink so  you can put the lid on and drink when it suits you. Juggling kids and full drinks on tray tables sucks and can lead to red wine all over you and your baby. Trust me, I know From experience. 

- you don't get to judge me because this is my blog: baby Motrin or Tylenol (test before flight for adverse energizing reaction.) 

2 and older:

- Not all internationally flying planes have seatback TVs. I highly recommend a tablet loaded with TV shows and movies that you know your kid likes. We got a refurbished iPad mini from Apple at a discounted price. 

- I wish we had take the iPad on the plane in this case instead: insert link

- you don't get to judge me because this is my blog: Benedryl Rapid Melts (test before flight for adverse energizing reaction.) 

Jet lag:

-the first night you sleep because you're exhausted. The second night is always harder.

- meals, as well as sunlight, reset your body's circadian rhythm.

- Gwenael always takes melatonin to sleep

- I am breastfeeding so not taking anything but I should have looked into Benedryl for myself.

Sleeping: 

- an apartment is always more comfortable than a hotel (kitchen for baby food prep, space for kids, gear). Try airbnb.com or VRBO.com if you haven't. 

- always choose the absolute closest place to what you want to see because there are too many variables to stop you from getting there (weather, moods, hunger, naps) so it's well worth choosing the option that's right in the heart of it. If it means you have to pay more, I'd prioritize Location in Your budget above all else.

Packing:

- we're singing the praises of our packing cubes! Gwenael didn't want me to buy them and he keeps raving about them. It takes a lot to get a man to rave. I found mine at Marshall's at a discounted price.

- duffel bags are a great solution to avoiding the over 50 lbs fee at the ticket counter.