Every time we travel with bb I am amazed by how much stuff a 25 pound child needs. After a few beach vacations with bb, I feel like I have found the happy medium between being totally unprepared and packing WAY too much. This was a beach vacation we had to fly to, so I was forced to limit what I brought to the essentials (which is still an obscene amount of stuff). But I still felt totally prepared. So here’s everything you need (& need to know) before going on a beach trip with your toddler.

Grandparents

I am half kidding…but really. Blake and I both got to sit poolside and enjoy a cocktail while bb played in the pool with her gram and papa and it was glorious. I actually cannot imagine a more perfect vacation than being able to relax while watching your little one have the time of their life in the pool with their biggest fans.

Sunscreen

bb has crazy sensitive and fair skin. We spent the better part of last summer trying to figure out a sunscreen that didn’t give her a rash but still provided adequate coverage/didn’t rinse off after a second in the pool. If you are a mom and try to stick to cleaner products, you have probably already stumbled across Gimme the Good Stuff‘s website. If you haven’t, you must check it out now! She does product guides for formula, sunscreen, shampoo, laundry detergent and even mascara. That’s where we found Babo Botanicals and it is the BEST! We bought both the SPRAY and the STICK. We would cover bb in the spray then add the stick to areas that tend to get burnt (nose, cheeks, hands, etc.) PS- if this is your first time heading to the sun with your little one, apply the sunscreen before you leave the hotel room and before you put the swimsuit on your little one! Poolside or beach sunscreen application is just a recipe for disaster. Same goes for your sunscreen, mama.

Long sleeve swimsuit

Like I said, we have a crazy fair skinned baby so coverage is key. If we are going to be in the sun for longer than a half hour, I always put her in a long sleeved swimsuit.

Sunglasses + hat

Here is the deal, all hats are NOT created equal. Here are bb’s preferences. She HATES the under chin strap, so forget those. Some of the big floppy ones catch the wind easily and off they go. The two that work for us are, (1) a wide brimmed baseball cap with elastic back so they stay on and (2) a super stretchy floppy hat that basically suctions to her head.

Floaty

I feel like we have tested them ALL by now. Here is the verdict…the muscle man floaties with the chest strap is the way to go. bb is 22 months and she was swimming alone in the pool with this floaty after about 5 minutes. We’ve also tried: (1) a regular baby life jacket and she can’t keep her balance in that, so skip that one unless you are on a boat and actually need a real life jacket; (2) a baby float with sun canopy: she loved that until about 10 months when she wanted to have more freedom and swim like the “big kids”; (3) a swan inner tube, I am actually not sure what I was thinking when I bought that one, major flop.

Beach snacks/water

The key here is no mess and no sand. Snack packs are our jam. Speaking of snacks, make sure you have some wipes to wipe down their little hands before snacktime (but what mama doesn’t have a stock pile of wipes nearby at all times). Don’t forget to hydrate your little ones during a day in the sun. We prefer to bring juice boxes so you can just toss it when you are done. Better than having to rinse sand and grime off your sippy cup.

Toys

Nothing can ruin a beach day or pool day quicker than a toddler with toy envy. By the end of the trip, we have bought about every pool and beach toy on the market. Here were the greatest hits, (1) a kick board, which bb referred to as her “boogy board” because she heard the big kids call theirs that, (2) toys that sink to the bottom – she was totally fascinated with watching us dive down to the bottom of the pool to pick up her troll dolls (3) bucket and shovel – obviously and (4) balls – the pool ones that can fill with water then be squeezed out. This one is totally unnecessary and didn’t fit in our suitcase on the way back, but we also got her a tiny wagon that she could load all of her toys into for the day and drag around, which was a huge hit.

Swim Diaper

If your little one is still in diapers, I would recommend packing two swim diapers. We wash them out after a day of swimming and let them dry overnight (when you are in a hotel without access to a washing machine). But sometimes they do not dry entirely overnight and no one likes to put on a wet swimsuit.

Wet bag

Usually, we strip bb down at the pool before we head home/back to the hotel. So a wet bag is key for the wet swimsuit and swim diaper. Itzy Ritzy makes awesome ones that are machine washable and super cute.

Robe

So this one is definitely not a necessity, but it works for us. Have you ever tried to put a wet child into fresh clothes? It’s like that scene in Friends when Ross can’t get his leather pants back on. So we always just wrap her in a warm and fuzzy robe post pool day.

Things we have brought in the past but find unnecessary now:

A baby beach chair: while these are quite possibly the cutest thing, they sit in them for a hot minute then move onto something new, so for a trip when you are limited on space, ditch the chair.

Baby tent: this was 1000% necessary when bb was immobile and we could actually keep her confined to the shade. Now, good luck keeping her inside a shaded tent.

Beach blanket: like I said, good luck keeping your toddler confined to a certain space on the beach. And unless you practice some kind of parent voodoo, you are unlikely to get much time to yourself to sit on said blanket as most of your time will be spent in the sand or water with your little one!

Happy travels with your little one! xoxo

The post everything you need for a beach vacation with a toddler appeared first on But First Koffee.

A couple weekends ago, we flew to Boston to visit my sister. The flight out there was one of the worst we have had. We took a naptime flight and thought she would for sure fall asleep during the flight. Welp, she was wide awake the entire flight and by the end of it Blake and I were at eachother’s throats. Before we flew home at the end of the week, Blake and I said to eachother that we were not going to repeat that flight experience. We took a deep breath and kept our cool the whole flight home and things were 1000% better.

Every time we travel with BB I learn something new. We pick up a new trick from other parents or buy something new that is game changing. Maybe by the time she is 18 I will have it entirely figured out. But in the meantime, I will keep sharing what works for us along the way! Right now, these 5 things are live savers for our family and ESSENTIAL for travel with a toddler!

ps – I am finishing this post mid-flight on our way to Atlanta and it is one of those easy flight (so far!) so fingers crossed we make it back to the ground without any tantrums.

(1) Babyzen Yoyo

If you travel a lot, this stroller is a godsend. It is pricey but worth every.single.penny. It was actually designed by AirFrance with the intention of being a travel stroller. It folds up into a tiny backpack sized carryon and fits into the overhead bin. No gate checking required. It also fits down the aisle of the airplane, so you can roll it right up to your seat. We registered for the Uppa G Lux and we have honestly used it once, so sad. I plan to sell it because we will probably never use it. BB could not get comfortable in the Uppa umbrella stroller. But she loves the Babyzen.

Aside from how easy it makes traveling with a stroller, we use it at home too. Our everyday stroller we use around the city is the Bugaboo. I absolutely LOVE our bugaboo but it is kind of a hassle to get in and out of the car. So when we are not traveling, we keep the Babyzen Yoyo in the car at all time. That way, when we are driving somewhere, we don’t have to load our big Bugaboo in and out of the car. We have a lightweight stroller waiting for us in the trunk!

You can buy an infant attachment, but we bought this stroller when BB was past that stage so I can’t comment on whether it is worth it! During the infant phase, I am a big fan of babywearing. We did that through the airport until bb was about 18 months and she got too heavy. For tips on traveling with an infant/baby, see HERE! 

(2) Suitcase for your tiny tot

This was a game changer for us. The first step in winning the travel game with your toddler is making them SO excited to get on an airplane. Around 18 month, we took her to Nordstrom and told her she was old enough to pack her own suitcase for the airplane. We let her pick out a suitcase and then when we got home we let her pack it with all her favorite toys. It has become a travel routine now that works so well for us. The day before we travel, we let her pack up her own suitcase.

It is also the perfect way to get out some toddler energy at the airport. As soon as we get through security, we take her out of the stroller and let her walk to our gate. She feels like such a big girl pushing her own suitcase through the airport. It gives me all the mama heart eyes watching her be so proud of herself :).

(3) Monkey snack pack + freeze dried fruit

Ok, this seems so small and random, but it is a godsend. We NEVER travel without it. We pack a few things of freeze dried fruit (mango and apple are good choices for travel, strawberry and blueberry tend to stain her hands, so we don’t bring those when we are traveling) in our carryon and when things get a little hairy on the airplane, we bring out the monkey snack pack. She loves it and it takes her FOREVER to reach her little hand into the snack pack and pull out a piece of food. The longer she can enjoy a snack on the plane, the longer she is happy and the longer mama can relax. Do yourself a favor and buy one.

(4) Cosco carseat

I love getting to know people I would never have met or interacted with if it weren’t for my blog. I love interacting with new people on the blog for many reasons, but top of my list has to be connecting with other moms and sharing tips + tricks. On our last trip to Boston, another mom reached out and told us the BEST tip! Up until this point, we have been lugging our super heavy and bulky carseat with us on our trips. And by “we” I mean my mule (husband) had been lugging it through the terminal. She recommended buying the $40 Cosco carseat that weights 1/2 what ours does and makes it sooooo much easier to get around the airport. Another perk, we won’t damage our nice carseat during the hussle and bussle of our trips. I honestly don’t know how we made it this long without figuring this out! PS – the next thing we plan to invest in is THIS travel cart for the carseat!

(5) Giraffe Lunchbox

Like I’ve mentioned, snacks are essential for this family to make it through a flight. Like her mama, BB is food driven, so one of her favorite snacks is an easy way to keep her in a bright and cherry mood. We try to pack as many healthy snacks as we can, so we aren’t loading her up on junk every time we fly. One of BB’s favorite snacks is an orange. She loves when I slice it into little triangles for her so she can hold onto the peel and bite into it like a “big girl,” which is now her favorite phrase. My sister got us this adorable little cooler/lunch box and it is the perfect size for travel. We pack it with her snacks + a bib + her water whenever we fly. It keeps everything cold, plus easily accessible during the flight.

Happy toddlers + happy travels! Good luck!

For more tips for traveling with your little ones, see HERE!

The post 5 things you need for traveling with a toddler appeared first on But First Koffee.

Here are 12 tips that worked for us. Happy travels!

1

Talk it UPPPP

In the weeks before my first solo flight with BB, I got her obsessed with airplanes. We bought airplane toys, airplane books, and we pointed out every single airplane in the sky. I wanted her to be extra excited for our plane ride. It worked like a charm. She was in toddler heaven at the airport looking at all the planes out the window and she was so excited to get onto the airplane. We chose an aisle seat, so we were able to watch the other airplanes out the window before we took off. This was HUGE and wasted so much time once we boarded the flight.

2

Plan ahead

A calm mama = a calm baby. Frantic packing and scrambling to the airport does not exactly exude an atmosphere of calm. So, plan ahead and pack ahead so you can be in a state of mama zen on the day of your flight.

3

Timing is everything

When you book your flight, if you have some flexibility try to pick the time of day when you know your baby is happiest. For us, that is the morning. Also try to time your arrival at the airport perfectly. I do not like to have a ton of extra time at the airport. I want to check my bags right at the 1 hour deadline, go through security, get to the gate and board relatively quickly. The less time I have at the airport with the baby, the better. If being rushed stresses you out, add in some extra time.

4

Curbside checkin

If your airport has curbside check-in, I would recommend using that. My mom was able to drop us at the airport, so I had her hold BB while I checked our luggage and her carseat. If you do not have an extra hand to help with checkin, I would suggest doing a trial run and attempt to carry everything (luggage, baby, and carseat) before you get to the airport. If you have too much to manage, rethink your luggage and maybe consider renting a carseat when you get there.

5

Be hands free

I check everything through to the final destination except the Ergo carrier and my backpack. People have very strong preferences about which is best, using a stroller at the airport or baby-wearing. We have done both and I have a VERY strong preference for baby-wearing. Here is why… if you go the stroller route, you have to take baby out of the stroller and get the stroller through security. Some strollers fit through the x-ray machine, but if they don’t, they have to be searched and it takes forever. With BB in the Ergo, all I have to do at security is take my backpack off and my phone out of my pocket and slide them through the x-ray machine. We have TSA pre-check so I do not have to take off my shoes and I can wear BB right through security. The Ergo does not set off the x-ray machine.

6

How to dress

Comfortable, obviously. But you also want to wear pants with pockets! The goal is to be able to get from checkin to gate without having to set down your baby or reach into your backpack. So, you will need to access your boarding pass and baby’s, your ID and ID for baby, and your phone. I wore these lululemon pants with side pockets and put my phone in one side and our boarding passes and IDs in the other. I also find it easier to have paper boarding passes while traveling with the baby. Speaking of baby identification, here is what works for MOST airlines: a passport or a copy of the baby’s birth certificate.

7

Bag of tricks

We try really hard not to let BB watch TV or use electronics. This has been pretty easy for us for the first 16 months, but plane rides are the first time I have wanted to stick an ipad in front of her and sit back and relax for the remainder of the flight. But hope is not lost for entertaining a toddler throughout your flight without electronics! It just comes down to simple math. Take however long your flight is, and fill that time with activities you know command your tots attention. If you have a 2 hour flight, add a half-hour before takeoff and 15 minutes after touchdown, and you have 165 minutes that need to be filled. The goal is to fill that time with space saving tricks. A toddler’s attention span is pretty short, so fill that bag up with tricks galore. Here are some “tricks” that work for BB:

• Stickers: BB loves stickers. I stick one on each hand and she spends 5 minutes trying to figure out how to get it off.
• Post-its: I do not know if BB enjoys anything more than pulling every.single.post-it off one at a time and sticking it in random places. If you pick the window seat, let them post-it their hearts out all over the wall.
• A magic drawing board: no mess and hours of fun.
• A new awesome toy: you know your baby and you know what type of new toy they will go bonkers for. Nothing commands a toddler’s attention like something with novelty.
• I SPY: BB loves this game. We do “I spy” during takeoff and landing when you can see things on the ground from the window. She is obsessed with cars so I think I said “OMG Blake, I spy a car…” about 1,600 times on our flight.
• Noodles: if you have watched my insta-stories, you know BB loves dry pasta noodles (so random, but trust me and just give it a try). I bring a small amount of them in a tiny tupperware container. She likes placing them one by one into an empty water bottle. I brought the smallest version of the Swell bottle, because she likes the noise it makes when the noodle drops into the bottle. Usually, the more random the toy the longer it holds their attention. Get creative, mama.
• Books: BB loves books but she has to be in the right mood for it. I bring one of her favorite books on every flight just in case the mood strikes.

8

What else do you need…

Pack light! BB is 24 lbs, so carrying her alone is hard work. I wanted my backpack to be as light as possible. I checked my computer and everything else I would usually have in my carryon. The only things in my backpack were essentials for the baby.

• A change of clothes for baby and a spare shirt for yourself, just in case (I also bring a wetbag in case so you have something to put the blowout clothes into) + extra socks (this might sounds weird but BB’s socks always get filthy when we fly…she loves to pull her shoes off at inopportune times)
• Diaper kits + a few spare diapers
• Tricks
• Snacks + water (I also pack a ziplock bag for the trash after snacktime)
• Disinfecting wipes for mama and baby’s hands
• A pacifier and a pacifier strap + an extra pacifier or whatever security item your child loves
• An extra ziplock bag so you can *attempt to clean up your aisle when the plane lands

9

Snacks

Once you have gotten over the crumbs and the mess, food on a plane is the BEST way to keep a toddler entertained. Pick foods you know your tot loves AND snacks that take a long time to eat.

10

Diaper plane kit

I always change BB’s diaper right before we get on the plane, but if you do have to change a diaper on the plane, you want to be prepared. Most planes now have a nice sized changing pad in the bathroom. You can also use your seat, but I find it easier to use the bathroom. For your diaper kit, all you need is a large ziplock baggy, a diaper, and a handful of wipes. I packed TWO of these kits in my carryon. Think through how long your flight is and how many time you think you will need to change a diaper, and that is how many diaper kits you should have. The flight attendants do not want you to throw the diaper into the trash in the bathroom. So when you are done changing the diaper, throw everything into the ziplock baggy and then throw is in the larger trash outside the bathroom. This also scores points with the flight attendants, and we can all use a flight attendant on our side while flying!

11

How to go to the bathroom on the plane

Ok, so you are prepared for diaper changes and every other thing, but what if mom needs to use the facilities? I put BB in the ergo and wore her with me to the bathroom. I read other tips like (1) befriending a person in your aisle and asking them to hold your baby (wasn’t comfortable with that) (2) hold your baby in one arm (not coordinated enough for that) and (3) if your baby can stand let them stand on the floor in the bathroom (sounded like germ city to me). So, baby-wearing won.

12

If all else fails, fake it til’ ya make it

On the inside you might be screaming, crying, and counting the minutes until that flight lands, but from the outside you look like super mama who has everything under control! If I can do it, so can you. You’ve got this mama!

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The first couple times we flew with BB, we would carry on SO much. I always though “what if…” Guess what, you don’t need to carry on a lifetime supply of diapers, that lotion you’ve never used at home but think you might need in some sort of lubrication disaster at 30,000 feet, or three different types of thermometers.

Luckily, I have always had Blake there with me when I travel with BB. But, I wanted to see this trip if I could pack everything I need for the baby and myself into one carryon. I am contemplating some solo flights with the baby this coming year, so this was our trial run.

Here is what was in my bag…

DIAPERS/WIPES – You need enough diapers and wipes for your travel day + some extras. Along with your ID and boarding pass, diapers and wipes should be the most accessible items in your carryon. So I put them in the front pocket of my backpack. I know I can carry BB into the tiny airplane bathroom with my backpack and not need to dig to the bottom of the bag to find them.

SNACK BAG – I love these Itzy Ritzy snack bags and I always have a good snack packed with us for our travel day. The time between boarding and takeoff is always a little hairy for us. BB get’s frustrated she can’t walk around. As soon as the plane starts to move, she calms down. A great distraction for our food obsessed child is a snack. So we feed her during that time. A couple good snacks if you’re trying to avoid cheerios and other junk are peanut butter toast, an avocado, or apple sauce. Think anything that doesn’t need to be refrigerated.

EXTRA PACIFIERS – I can’t think of anything worse than running out of pacifiers on a travel day, GOD FORBID. This trip, we forgot to pack our favorite drop happens clip. But usually, that is in my bag too.

SWELL BOTTLE – Now that BB is off of formula and drinking whole milk, we have to bring enough for the travel day. I fill up my large Swell bottle (which keeps the milk ice cold) with enough milk + ice + some extra milk. Just be sure to thoroughly clean your Swell after your travel day.

BOTTLES – Enough bottles for your travel day plus an extra in case of delays or emergencies. No matter the time of day, we always give her a bottle during takeoff.

BLANKET – If you have any items that are essential to your child’s happiness, that should be in your carryon. I always think worst case, what if our checked luggage was lost? BB will not sleep without her special blanky, so that is always in my carryon.

GREEN GOO – Another essential for us. While her lotion and baby soap could be purchased at a Target if our checked baggage was lost, the Green Goo is only sold online. Thanks to Meg McMillin for clueing me in on this AMAZING cream. BB has uber sensitive skin and this is the best we have found for rashes.

BABY TOYS – I used to go overboard here and pack a million toys for our travel day. But, in reality, she finds the safety packets, airplane window, and seatbelt to be WAY  more entertaining than any toy I could pack. So I throw in a book and maybe one other small toy just in case.

CHANGE OF CLOTHES – Always pack a change of clothes just in case. BB is older now, so blowouts are rare. But when she was younger, I also always packed a change of clothes for myself too. During the first 45 minutes of our long haul flight to Barcelona, she pooped all over me. That would have been a long, dirty flight without a change of clothes.

MEDICAL KIT – Just in case, I pack my medical kit which has baby Tylenol, Benadryl, and a thermometer. I also always make sure I know her exact dosage before we fly. Because in a moment of emergency on a plane, with no wifi or ability to call the pediatrician or Google it, that’s a necessity.

COMPUTER – Don’t forget about yourself, mama. What do you need while you’re on vacation? A computer is a necessity for me, so that’s always in my carryon.

PASSPORT OR OTHER AGE DOCUMENTATION – Most airlines require proof of age if you are planning to hold them on your lap. BB has a passport, so we bring that. But a copy of her birth certificate or a visit summary from your pediatrician with your child’s date of birth works as well.

ID + BOARDING PASS – Make sure your ID and boarding pass are easy to get to. I usually keep them in the side pant pocket of my lulu pants. Or, if you’re traveling with someone else, let them hold onto the IDs and boarding passes for the entire family.

Happy travels!

For more on traveling with a baby, HERE are 10 tips for flying with a baby.

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Although she has flown so many times, each time she has been at a different age and stage developmentally. I would love to tell you that we are now experts and have it down to a science, but babies don’t work that way. But, I can share 10 tips we have found helpful.

1

Fly early and often.

BB’s very first flight was a long-haul flight to Barcelona. She was about 10 weeks old and she slept the entire time. Things have only gotten harder from there. We had so many people tell us we were crazy to travel with an infant, but it was the easiest trip we have taken with her, thus far. I will share more tips about flying with an infant in a later post.

2

You know your baby best.

I read every blog I could find about traveling with a baby before we took BB on her first trip. The most popular recommendation is flying at night, supposedly the baby will be tired and sleep the entire flight. Maybe some lucky parent out there boards an evening flight and enjoys a glass of wine while their kid catches some zzzs. That has not been our experience. BB does MUCH better flying earlier in the day. You know your baby, pick the time of day when your child is happiest.

3

Remain calm.

We have taken flights where we are frantic, rushing through the airport, bags everywhere, your basic nightmare. Kids pick up on that, and no one likes a frantic baby.

4

Check as much as you can.

Have as many free hands as possible. I always wear BB through the airport, so we check her car seat, stroller, and just about everything but a diaper bag or backpack. Which brings me to my next tip…

5

Use a backpack as your diaper bag.

Especially, if you are traveling alone with a baby. Again, free hands are key. It also makes certain necessities, like going to the bathroom, much easier. Unless you plan to hand your baby off to a stranger in the next stall, keep wearing your baby and backpack and work those thigh muscles.

6

Distractions, oh so many distractions.

The first couple flights, our diaper bag was bursting with enough diapers and formula to survive a month on a desert island. Unless you are traveling to some extremely exotic or remote location, pack enough diapers and formula for your travel day and put the rest in your checked luggage. If your luggage gets lost, god forbid, you can run to the closest grocery store. Fill that diaper bag with some favorite toys. And, when in need, resort to the safety pamphlet.

7

Pack a change of clothes, for mama and baby.

Between boarding our flight to Barcelona and takeoff, BB had a major blowout that got all over me. Luckily, I always pack a change of clothes when I am on a long-haul flight. Now, I pack a change of clothes even if we are just flying an hour. Also, make sure to pack a wet-bag for any dirty clothes.

8

The 24 hours before the flight are the most important.

Before BB, I usually spent the day before traveling packing or running errands. Now, all packing and errands are done two days before, so the entire day before can be devoted to maintaining her nap schedule and bedtime. We also try to have a very relaxing day before travel. No play-dates or things that could throw her off schedule.

9

Feed during takeoff.

Whatever your preferred method of feeding, bottle or breast, do it during takeoff. Luckily, we have not had a problem with her ears. But, we have sat a few rows away from some sorry sucker who forgot to feed their baby during takeoff. It was a rough flight.

10

Get over the germs.

Our first couple flights, I disinfected every single surface. The airplane seats, the tray tables, the seatbelt, and god forbid I let her touch the magazines in the seat pocket, her hands would be sanitized in an instant. Now that she is past the infant stage, I just cringe and let her play til her heart’s content with every germ-laden safety pamphlet.

I linked our travel essentials, below.

Travel and travel often!

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