I recently shared my top tips for traveling with a baby or toddler, and I thought it might be useful to also share a roundup of our favorite travel gear. From strollers to car seats, cribs to monitors, we’ve researched and tested a range of products, and these are our favorites.
Munchkin Baby Food Grinder
Rosie is now beyond needing pureed food, but when we were on this trip, we traveled with this manual food grinder and it worked a treat. I can't tell you how many people came up to us to ask where we got it from! Whenever we dined out, Justin and I would order something healthy for ourselves, and we'd use this gadget to puree a nutritious combination of foods for Rosie. Then we'd just wash it out with soap and water at the restaurant, or throw it in a ziplock bag if we were in a hurry. It worked a charm, and allowed us to feed Rosie a broad range of foods.
Lilly Gold - 5 in 1 Sit ‘n’ Stroll Car Seat/Stroller
This product is truly innovative; it's the only stroller on the market that converts into an international car seat or booster seat. The wheels simply retract into the seat. It was designed by a frequent flying Mum, and it's genius. It also meets or exceeds all international safety requirements.
Baabyoo Ultra lightweight Baby Stroller
It was surprisingly difficult to discover this amazing stroller; I don't understand why it's not more widely known. This incredible stroller folds up so small we can take it on the plane as carry on! This has transformed our airport experience, both before and after boarding. The seat also fully reclines so babies can lie flat and have a sleep in the stroller. IT'S AMAZING.
Phil & Ted's Lobster Highchair
This compact baby seat safely attaches to the side of a kitchen island or dining table and is a great substitute for a highchair. In the US and Australia we're used to restaurants providing highchairs for children, but this isn't always the case throughout Europe and South America. We used this seat endlessly - even at restaurants from time to time - and if it makes you nervous to look at the seat hanging, you can always put a chair underneath it :-)
Lotus Travel Crib and Portable Baby Playard
There are a variety of travel cribs on the market and this is our favorite. It's easy to assemble, and fold away into a neat backpack. We've also filled it with toys and unzipped the front so Rosie can use it as a playpen. Apparently it's one of the most eco-friendly options on the market too, which is another bonus.
Waterproof Silicone Bibs
When we're at home Rosie uses washable cotton bibs, but when we're traveling we shift to these silicone ones. No one wants to be encumbered with loads of laundry while traveling, and these bibs can be easily cleaned in the sink with warm soapy water.
Munchkin Miracle 360 Trainer Cup
These water cups really are miraculous; in our experience, they have never leaked a single drop of water. I feel 100% confident throwing these into any travel bag, knowing that everything else in the bag will remain dry. They are also a source of bemusement for Rosie who will often be found shaking them upside down trying to figure out why the water doesn't drip out - like it does out of all her other sippy cups!
Baby Monitor App + Adjustable Phone Mount
Depending on our accommodation set-up when we're traveling, we often feel more comfortable having a baby monitor on Rosie. Justin and I have both downloaded the Cloud Baby Monitor app ($3.99) on our phones. We use one of our phones as the 'parent unit', and the other as the 'child unit'. The child unit is secured above Rosie's crib, using the adjustable mount pictured below, so that the phone's camera has her in full view. Then the parent unit becomes a monitor with high resolution video and sound. The app alerts you to noise and motion, and even allows you to speak to your child through the parent unit, play soothing music, and turn on a light on the child unit. Providing the WiFi connection is strong, this system has worked brilliantly for us.
