traveling with baby essentials: 5-6 months

I flew with Quinn by myself again this month.  It was definitely worth it.  Matt was going to be away for a wedding that he was in, so I figured I might as well go hang out with my family up north instead of stay at home alone with the baby.  Things went pretty smoothly.  The first time I flew with Quinn was when she was three months old.  I did things a little bit differently this time around now that she is a few months older.

These are some items that I found to be the most helpful while traveling with a baby at 5-6 months.  I also answered some more detailed traveling questions below.

1. I don' why, but babies seem to LOVE these simple links
2. The Ergo Baby Carrier is still one of my favorites, and is easy on the back.

3. We just bought this Baby Jogger City Mini.  It's not really for jogging, although I have gone for a short jog with it.  You can fold it up with one hand!!  It's wonderful!

4. I wish I had a Chicco Hook On Chair. We put Quinn in the exersaucer to feed her baby food, but this portable high chair would have been nice.

5. Q's teething got worse while we were away.  I was really glad I packed teething tablets. Seriously, babies change overnight!

6. I always bring single-serve powder packets in case I need them.

7. Quick Clean Micro-Steam Bags are a quick way to cleans pacis and bottles.  You can use one bag 20 times!

8. My sister brought this Bumper Jumper when she travelled to Florida with her family.  It's a great  space saving substitute for a big exersaucer or jumperoo.

9. My Dad bought this rattle for Quinn.  A few toys small toys like these were perfect for keeping Quinn entertained on the plane.

10. I bought a car seat travel bag to help carry and protect the car seat since we decided to check it at the airport.  It actually worked out well because my luggage was overweight, and I was able to throw some stuff into the car seat bag to even it all out!

What gear did you bring for carrying the baby?

I brought the car seat (without the base) in a car seat cover bag (some have roller wheels, others you can wear like a back pack) and our new City Mini Jogger with the Ergo underneath it.   Most car seats can be installed without the base.  I prefer to not bring the base because we end up changing cars a lot anyway, and it's just one more thing to lug through the airport.  (Just follow the installation instructions carefully.)  We have a Graco SnugRide car seat, and it installs well without the base.  I chose to bring the big stroller, as opposed to our Snap n' Go, because we planned to be outside a lot and I didn't want Quinn to be stuck in the car seat for walks, etc.  When we got to the airport, we checked our suit case and car seat bag.  I kept Quinn in the stroller until it was time to board.  At that point, I put her in the Ergo carrier so I had my hands free and brought the stroller to the service counter where they gave me a baggage claim ticket.  They went ahead and checked it right at the gate.

What baby items can I buy when I get to my destination?

My mom already has some baby gear at their house, like an exersaucer and crib, which made it a little easier for me to pack.  For a baby that is five months old, it's helpful to have something to keep them entertained.  Luckily, they aren't really on the move yet so it doesn't take much!  My sister used the Bumper Jumper (above) with her little one who loves to jump and wiggle.  The nice thing about it is that it's small enough to travel with.

Here are some things that I found were just easier to buy when I arrived to my destination:

Diapers

Wipes

Formula

Baby Food (Quinn is just starting solids, so I didn't need to bring puffs or one of those pouches on the plane.  I did bring some baby spoons.)

What were your sleeping arrangements with the baby?

For sleeping, I always bring Quinn's Sleep Sheep from home.  I think it helps her feel more comfortable in a new place.  I have also heard of bringing a crib sheet from home because it smells familiar to the baby.  We don't especially love it when Quinn sleeps in our room....well, I don't because I wake up to every little noise she makes while asleep!  Most of the time we put her right outside of our room, or if there is a connecting bathroom, we try to get the pack 'n play in there.  The best part about the bathroom scenario is that it's really dark and the fan makes for a nice white noise.

 

I would be happy to answer any questions you might have about traveling with a little baby!  Just post a comment or e-mail me.

 

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