Hey, mumshies ever wonder how I get to travel with my 2 kids for a full week without losing it? I’m going to share you my secret… I have special tools! Traveling can be relaxing for most people but when you’re a mom it can get stressful. Worry no more because I’ve come up with a perfect solution to cranky kids without the use of the conventional tablet!
Things to bring in your Toddler’s Travel Bag
1. Milk
Of course, you need your daily essentials to be ready when you’re going on a trip, but ever wondered if you can provide milk to your crying toddler faster? I introduce to you the Mixiebaby bottle! I came across this bottle while watching other YouTube Moms prepare their diaper bags. I have not seen anything like it in the Philippines so I had to order it in Canada just in time that my mother- in- law was coming for her March break. This has honestly been a lifesaver for when Aiden is cranky and not having it. You wouldn’t imagine how impatient a three-year-old can be. Having that one pop- up on the bottom of the bottle can provide you with milk in seconds. The patented airtight design keeps formula dry and separate from water until it’s time to be used. Ok I know it’s really hard to understand what I’m talking about but picture this, your baby’s formula milk will be placed in an airtight compartment then comes the right amount of water for one feeding and when you’re ready to feed your baby, you pop the button on the bottom part of the bottle and viola milk is served. No more bringing along your bulky milk container which has been making a mess in your diaper bag, all you need it one bottle and you are good to go. I love this bottle especially when we are doing quick errands and I want to be prepared with just one bottle, I can just get one Mixiebaby bottle ready in my bag at all times.
I know what you’re thinking, why am I even putting so much effort into explaining this bottle if you cannot even buy it in the Philippines? Well, a few weeks after using my Mixiebaby bottle I came across a celebrity Instagram story having the same bottle! They actually sell this product through Instagram! I was so relieved because I wanted to order another set for Travis.
2. Baby Wipes
This product has all the love and praise of every mom out there. There is nothing that a single damp baby wipe cannot clean, may it be your son’s sticky hands, dirty butt, messy mouth, puke or even the spilled coffee on your shirt as long as you have a pack of this around you will be good. I don’t think I have ever left the house without baby wipes in my bag and if I did I’m sure I have a pack of it in my car. If you’re a first-time mom you might have bought a whole box of baby wipes from the grocery store and use them every single day but when you’re traveling a whole pack of 100 pcs can be bulky inside your baby bag. My mommy tip for you is always carrying a small pack in your diaper bag and leave the big packs at the hotel. If you have those handy baby wipes containers free with your changing pad, you can easily refill your container every day depending on how much you use.
3. VICKS Baby Rub
Am I the only mom who keeps a VICKS BabyRub in her bag at all times? Travis was not feeling 100% on our first day in Manila and I was so relieved that I brought with me my VICKS BabyRub. It is important to rub a small amount of this on Travis’ chest when he sleeps otherwise he will get irritated and have an awful rest. Whenever my kids start sneezing I make sure this is rubbed onto their chests for instant relief. I know a lot of moms have converted to essential oils but I still consider VICKS BabyRub to be one of the most effective ways to relieve my kid’s from a clogged nose. Another helpful tip is to rub VICKS BabyRub onto the soles of your kid’s feet before putting on their socks at night, I don’t really know the science to this but it has been proven and tested a lot of times that it lessens their coughing at night.
3. Lollipops
If it’s your first time to travel with your baby you might encounter that the flight attendants will ask you to breastfeed or give your baby his bottle when the plane is taking off. This lessens the chances of your baby to feel that uncomfortable feeling in his ears. It’s basic knowledge that adults chew gum when the plane is taking off but I don’t suggest giving your kids gum at an early age. There were times when Aiden didn’t want to feed or drink water because he was too busy looking outside the window so I gave him a lollipop just to make sure his ears do not pop from the pressure. This is a great way to keep your kids entertained when flying!
4. Surprise Toy
This is a tip I learned from watching other YouTuber mom’s videos and I find it very effective for kids. When their attention span has passed and they are getting bored with the toys you’ve packed it is always good to introduce something new. Packing a surprise toy or surprise egg will save you from a trip of tantrums. They get so excited about opening their new toy that they will keep themselves occupied for a couple of minutes. I usually bring one or two surprise toys for Aiden because he loves them so much and it keeps him seated for almost the whole flight. This is also a good bribe item for them if they eat their food or take naps during the flight (yes, bribing is normal when you’re a parent).
5. Snack Box
The main attraction for their bags is their snack box, I’ve seen this being used by other YouTube moms and I swear by how effective and convenient this is! Just buy a small divided container and store all your kid’s favorite snacks. Not only does it save you from bringing bags of chips in the plane, but it also gives your kids a variety of snacks to choose from. I also like how you can only add a few per snack because the serving proportions will be limited to them. I try to add as little sugar snacks as possible but I give them a good amount when they are behaving well. My kids love the snack box and prefer it rather than letting them choose from packs of snacks.
6. Coloring Books
You can never go wrong with bringing a coloring book on a flight, this can save you hours of entertaining your kid. Just be sure that you pack along washable crayons because the last thing you want to wake up to from your nap is a window full of colorful baby murals.
7. Toys
This would be your first thing to pack inside your toddler’s baby bag but you have to be smart when packing toys. You cannot just randomly pick out a toy and hope that your toddler will use it for the whole flight. You have to screen the toys based on how your child plays by himself. I’m lucky because Aiden loves playing alone and even at his Daycare he takes a few minutes away from the kids and play on his own. This was something I was concerned about in the beginning but after reading numerous blogs and articles I’ve realized that this is quite a good trait to have. Kids who learn how to play by themselves tend to be more independent, they can be entertained on their own which means you don’t have to stop everything you are doing to play with your kid. My son loves role playing with his toys which is why I packed along small character toys. It is also good to let your toddler pick out his own toys so you will be sure that he will love playing with the item. Do not pack anything that makes a lot of noise because your kid will want to make the sound go off and this will cause a lot of stares during a flight.
8. Reusable Straw
We’ve been using reusable straws for a while now and I can’t imagine myself using a plastic straw out of choice anymore. I always pack with me my reusable straw as well as 2 others for my son and husband. When we are at airports my son will automatically ask for snacks to keep himself occupied and I always use my reusable straw for his juice or milkshakes. Always bring one during a plane ride because some planes will not offer straws for your kids and it will be harder for them to finish their drink. Imagine having your kid sip juice and there is an unexpected turbulence, you will end up having to clean up your kid for the next 10 minutes.
9. Books
My youngest is currently a year and 4 months old and he doesn’t appreciate toys as much as Aiden. I remember Aiden being different from Travis because at a young age he would like looking into my bag finding himself something to play with but my youngest does not have any interest when it comes to toys. He will hold it and play with it for not more than 8 minutes then he is done. So I always make sure that I pack with me small books that have animal photos on them because he loves imitating the sounds I make when reading him a story.
10. Tablet/ iPad
Most moms nowadays only pack their kid’s iPad and they are good to go. I on the other hand only give their tablet when it’s absolutely necessary. I will not choose to give their tablet as soon as we reach the plane because I want my kids to be away from the screen for as much as they can. I always try to entertain Aiden the natural way rather than having him on his tablet for the whole day because he is only 3 years old and has a lot of other options to choose from. This goes the same with my Travis because he doesn’t show any interest with the tablet whatsoever. The only time I’ve seen him watch the tablet was when his brother introduced to him some animal songs but aside from that, I have not seen Travis wanting to watch the tablet all by himself.
That’s it for my travel tips when traveling with your toddler. Hope this could help you on your next trip!
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