Globe-toddling

Is a mountain of baby gear spooking you off taking your baby abroad? Fear not! You can leave home without bringing the entire nursery.

After lots and lots (and lots) of trial and error, we’ve got it more or less down to a science. Here’s a list of the things we won’t leave home without —and the things we leave at home.

What you’ll need.

1. Car seat. And wheels for your baby’s ride.

Do you need a car seat on the plane? In my humble opinion, it helps a lot, but isn’t required. Do you want one on those poorly paved, winding mountain back roads where loitering cows lurk around every corner? Yes, most definitely yes.

So how do you get a car seat from A to B when it’s not in use? We’ve found that the best solution by far is the gogo Kidz Travelmate. This simple but ingenious contraption is basically a board with scooter wheels that straps onto just about any car seat, making it into a primitive stroller.

While the small wheels and the low clearance don’t exactly make it a proper baby buggy, they do help you scoot around airports and well-paved spaces like a dream. Plus, take your baby out and you’ve got yourself a hand trolley for your carry-ons.

2. Baby carrier.

A fringe benefit of the Americans with Disabilities Act is that US buildings and sidewalks are usually wonderfully wheel-friendly and thus stroller accessible.

Large, modern international cities are generally equally stroller friendly, although the historic parts of ancient towns may not be. (Don’t believe me? Try carrying a stroller up the spiral staircase of a castle turret.)

But the farther afield you go, the more it makes sense to forgo wheels completely.

Enter the baby carrier. There are basically two categories of carriers: framed carriers (i.e. backpacks) and soft carriers. Both do essentially the same thing: strap your baby to your body. But each has it’s own benefits and drawbacks and depending on your destination, you may find both equally necessary for your trip.

Backpacks

Backpacks are the workhorses of baby carrying. They are rugged and ready for long-haul hikes and off-road adventures. Many now have hydration systems built in, so you can carry a couple of liters of drinking water —in addition to your baby —quite comfortably. Many also include day packs and all sorts of other bells and whistles, making them a multi-purpose device par excellence.

The downside to backpacks is that all this convenience comes with a lot of bulk. Your kid and your gear will easily project a foot or more off your back. Which is fine if you’re hiking in the great outdoors, but not so fine if you’re turning around in a cottage crystal shop.

Soft carriers

For a more compact conveyance, frameless carriers are the way to go. These days, there are almost as many wraps, straps, and slings as there are babies in the world. The pros and cons of each of these devices is quite literally a movement all its own. Our personal preference is for the versatile Ergo.

Baby carriers let you keep your baby close, which is helpful not only in the aforementioned turning-around-in-a-crystal-shop scenario (not that I’d ever bring a baby into a crystal shop, but I digress), but also for providing TLC on the go. That’s because in a soft carrier, your baby rests against your body, whereas in a backpack, they essentially sit in a chair behind your shoulders. The soft carrier’s snuggly arrangement seems to keep our girls happier for longer periods, so we can climb that castle turret and see the castle’s museum while everybody stays quiet and content.

The cons to baby wearing is that you have to carry gear and water separately. Some carriers (including the Ergo), have after-market accessories to help with the hauling a bit, but these aren’t intended for the heavy lifting serious back country trips demand, and they do return you to those bulky take-out-half-the-store proportions.

If there are more adults than babies, one person can carry a day pack and hydration system for both parents. Or if your wanderings won’t take you too far off the track, it is perfectly feasible to wear a baby and carry a diaper bag.

3. Diapers and wipes.

OK, you don’t technically need to bring these, since both cover and clean little bums the world over. But we prefer to for two reasons: first, the quality and variety of diapers overseas can be variable at best. Buy diapers in a developing country and you may find that you’re seriously kickin’ it old school. Wipes can be similarly retro. And not in a good way.

The second reason is that it forces you to hold room in your suitcase for souvenirs. As the trip goes by, diapers go out, treasures go in. It’s a great system.

4. Familiar snacks.

Eating in other countries is one of the best parts of traveling. But finding baby-friendly food can sometimes take more time than a fussy toddler is willing to wait, especially if you’re arriving at odd hours or in a remote area. So it’s helpful to have some items on the spot. You don’t need to bring an entire bushel of snacks —you will find baby snacks locally —but a few boxes of favorites go a long way to buying some peace and quiet when things start to go cranky or mealtimes get delayed.

5. Bibs, sippy cups, and other vital feeding supplies.

Can your kid drink from a real glass? Eat off a porcelain saucer without whipping it on the floor? Will a metal teaspoon do in a pinch? If the answer is ‘no’ to any of these questions, bring along a set or two of the mealtime items you use at home.

6. Medicines and your pediatrician’s phone number.

There are two levels of pharmaceuticals that we pack. Level One is for trips to modern cities, where the equivalent of baby Tylenol —and a pharmacist that speaks English —are likely to be found at any corner drugstore. Level Two is for trips to more exotic locales, when we include medicines for a variety of contingencies.

For Level One trips, we just bring the diaper bag essentials: pain killer/fever reducer, diaper cream, and a little first aid kit for boo-boos.

For Level Two trips, we arrange a consult visit with the girls’ pediatrician, where we discuss the CDC’s guidelines for that destination, assess the kids’ vaccination needs, and come up with a list of helpful over-the-counter meds, which we buy here, since getting them in developing countries can be confusing or even risky. Lastly, we get a prescription for antibiotics, which we won’t plan to use without calling the doctor for her blessing first. Which makes keeping her phone number handy an advisable thing.

7. Sunscreen

Ever since an ill-fated snorkeling trip using locally-purchased sunscreen on our honeymoon rendered me both unable to sit and amusing to others, I’ve fostered a deep suspicion of unfamiliar sunscreens (hey, the label said it was waterproof!). Maybe this is unfounded, but all these years later, I still prefer to slather my skin with stuff I know and trust. When we’re talking about my kids and the sun, I take no chances. Especially since their sun products also need to live up to claims of being sensitive and tear-free.

8. Toys and activities.

Experience has taught us that it is easy to overdo this category. Do NOT pack a suitcase consisting solely of toys and books. Just a handful of each will do. Keep them small and light (e.g. paperbacks are better than board books) and dole them out slowly.

I begin by making each child an activity bag for the plane. Starting weeks or months before our trip, I grab small, inexpensive toys, books, and stickers from big-box dollar departments and bookshop clearance tables. I then select a small group of favorite toys and books from home. Then I fill a wee carry-on for each kid.

Incidentally, starting in toddlerhood, most kids simply adore the idea of having their own luggage. Older kids can even be included in the toy packing process, which they all also seem to love.

Once underway, we have a rule that the bags are not opened until we’re in the air. And then only one toy at a time. Otherwise, you’ll blow through your bag of tricks before drink service begins.

Packed at the bottom of a grownup’s carryon is our emergency portable DVD player. If your child is at all captivated by TV, this may become your most beloved possession if things start to melt down at 30,000 feet. Don’t forget earphones—not ear buds, which aren’t sized for little kids’ ears.

While getting through the flight without your child driving the entire plane bananas is the first task of the toys you bring, it is not their only purpose. Once you get to where you’re going, you’re going to be in a hotel room with nothing more to play with than a corded telephone (which is endlessly amusing).

Time to break out those toys again. We also find that this is where tried-and-true favorite books come in handy. These little familiar tastes of home go a long way to contenting kids about to go to bed in a strange room.

That DVD player also isn’t ready for retirement. While watching foreign kids’ TV is fabulously entertaining for adults and kids alike (you haven’t seen Scooby Doo until you’ve watched it dubbed into German), it is nice to have the option of re-watching that favorite Pixar film. Plus, having an in-room TV is never a guarantee, especially the farther afield you travel.

Keep in mind that you will invariably be coming home with more toys than you left with. Every place on the planet has enchanting objects that your child (and you) will covet. Be it handmade dolls from a rustic marketplace, or charming and cheerful wooden toys from a posh toy store, you will find irresistible souvenirs to add to your entertainment arsenal along the way.

9. At least two wardrobe changes per day.

Laundry can be an option when you’re away from home, but I wouldn’t count on it. Bring at least two outfits per day for your child, especially since you’ll be eating all your meals out and may need a goo-free shirt before dinner.

10. Zipper storage bags.

At home, my earth-loving, granola leanings have led me to all but ban disposable plastic products from my kitchen. On the road, I make an exception. Zipper storage bags in quart and gallon sizes are indispensable for carrying wet and gooey things around. Be it a food-covered spoon, ice cream-soaked shirt, or diaper disaster, it is comforting to know that the contents are hermetically sealed before you toss them back in your day pack.

They also help to organize your gear without adding bulk. Use one for your baby’s eating implements. Another for diapers. Another for baby snacks. Another for medications. Toss an extra handful in just in case. They weigh next to nothing, so go to town.

What you probably won’t need.

Travel crib.

Almost all hotels will let you borrow a crib, and usually for free. Always call or email ahead to reserve your crib (often called a cot overseas), not only to be sure that they have them, but also so you can open your door to find it ready and waiting—often adorably so.

The quality of cribs does vary. The dozens we’ve seen have ranged from the spartan metal and rough-sheeted one we dubbed “the institution crib”; to the cute but worrying one in Peru that was replete with cheerful bedding… and lengths of wire in place of the many screws it had lost; to the luxe bassinet in Austria that came with a teddy bear and bath toys.

If you’re willing to gamble a bit on the quality (the odds of getting a good baby bed being far better the more upscale and modern the hotel), then you can leave a hefty piece of gear at home.

Our fall back in the event of getting a shoddy crib (like in Peru) is to simply let our kids share our bed. Which is a perfectly reasonable option for us, but may not be for others.

Travel high chair

We used to travel with a portable high chair, but have stopped bothering for three reasons:

1. Many, many restaurants have some sort of high chair—although this is less true in rural or developing areas,

2. Both strap-to-the-chair and hang-from-the-table styles require furniture that is in good repair and suitably shaped. Rickety furniture, stools, benches, round-backed chairs, cafe tables, and artsy furniture can all render a travel high chair useless or dangerous,

3. Even the smallest high chairs are bulky, especially considering that they need to be brought along on all excursions.

Instead, prepare to be flexible. If practical, we’ll bring along the car seat-cum-stroller. Or we request a booth. Worst case scenario, we switch off holding the baby on our laps while the other parent eats. This option is hardly ideal, but we’ve decided that it beats carrying a high chair around.

Multiples of everything.

The watchword for packing for kids is minimalism. Yes, you need a lot of stuff, which is all the more reason to keep that stuff to the bare essentials.

Aside from the two-per-day clothes rule, you generally don’t need to pack on a per diem basis. For the following, I go with a two-per-trip guideline:

Baby blankets (they will have blankets on the plane, and hotel towels can be substituted for blankets when you’re in your room).

Above-mentioned kid’s dining items (you can wash these in your room between meals)

Jackets/sweaters (varies by climate, of course)

Shoes

And that’s about it.

Rest assured that even in the most remote of areas, there are children. And thus there are children’s products for purchase. So if you forget or run out of anything, chances are excellent that you can buy it locally.

In our experience, everything one child needs fits in a large suitcase. And if it doesn’t, we winnow down the pile until it does.

Then you can line it up with the rest of your luggage and chuckle that the smallest person in the family somehow has the biggest suitcase.

But it’s a well-packed suitcase, and with it, you’re ready for your family’s next adventure.
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