On the Road with Baby

August 6, 2008 11:44 AM

Life on the Road: What baby gear should I get for a nomadic couple of months?

So next month the hubby and I are taking the wallababy on a two month visit to North America. He'll be nearly seven months when we leave. The longest we'll be in any one place is about two weeks but many of our stays will be much shorter. We'll be staying in a variety of homes that will be equipped with anywhere from no baby stuff (great-grandma's house) to every baby thing imaginable (a obsessive grandma).

I know being on the road will likely be stressful for the little guy and I want to normalize his life as much as possible. Since we live in Brazil, we'll be leaving everything but his car seat and Maclaren Easy Traveller at home. Plus, he's an active guy and on the cusp of crawling and is no longer interested in bouncy chairs and swings. We'll be driving a Ford Focus, if that gives you an idea of what kind of trunk space we'll have. Neither hubby nor I are in to having tons of baby gear around and we don't want to buy a bunch of stuff just to leave it in the U.S. when we go home but we're willing to get a few things to make the kid's life better while we're on the road.

So what would you recommend? What is worth giving up trunk space for? What can we take from place to place that will keep our baby entertained and, more importantly, help him feel at home away from home?

posted by wallaby to travel & transportation (10 comments total)

A padded quilt that you can put on the floor everywhere you stay. He's going to be crawling everywhere before your trip is over, might as well let him crawl on something he recognizes and it will serve double purpose as a cozy in the car. Any standard quilt would do or you could get fancy with one of those activity kinds (my son really loved the one that made squeaks and crackling noises but I think that might lose its appeal during a cross-country drive).
posted by jamaro at 12:15 PM on August 6, 2008

CD or mp3 player of his favorite songs.
Assuming that he's started to eat real food by 7 months: 3 sippy cups; 3 sets of utensils and plastic dishes (if he has favorite teething cracker or dry rice cereal that you can only get in Brazil, bring along a box of that).
Whatever you use as part of his going to sleep at night routine.
Several favorite teething toys.

Since he will be mobile, I highly recommend a pack-and-play. You can use it during the day when you're visiting a place filled with fragile antiques and you just don't have the energy to watch him every second, and also as a place for him to sleep in at night so he doesn't crawl off in the middle of the night and fall down the stairs.
posted by jujube at 12:18 PM on August 6, 2008

I'd give up trunk space for the ability for him to sleep in the same bed every night. My cousins traveled a lot with one of their babies and they loved their pack-n-play. This way, every nap, every night he get the same bed (and blanket, teddy, whatever he sleeps with now.)

Other than that, just a few favorite toys. If he uses a high chair, you also might want to consider a chair that will clip on tables everywhere you go.

I hope this helps and I hope you have a lot of fun!
posted by allthingsbright at 12:21 PM on August 6, 2008

Nthing a pack-and-play.
posted by drezdn at 12:25 PM on August 6, 2008

- A roll of painters tape to cover electrical outlets.

- I like the idea behind the recommendations for the pack-and-play, but that thing's monstrous! 20 pounds and voluminous! We use this travel tent and love it. We lightened even more by ditching the blow-up mat and pump, and using a small, self-inflating therm-a-rest pad instead. 3yo still uses it, though just for sleeping since he can get out of it.

- iPod nano or similar loaded with pictures of his favorite things from home (pets, places, friends, toys). And some short videos. We've liked the Scholastic Video Collection--not so long that they're impossible to break free of but long enough to reset everyone's attitude when things get cranky. We also use a silicone grippy case (example) that keeps it clean and is easier for baby hands to hold onto.

- I know you're focused on comfort and entertainment ideas, but at the very least have a thermometer and infant tylenol on you. Much easier to whip out a thermometer and be able to give a dose of tylenol that gets you through a rough patch, than to toss and turn in the middle of the night in a strange town wondering when and where exactly you should run out for basic meds.
posted by cocoagirl at 12:58 PM on August 6, 2008

Check out this list from Maggie Mason: 15 Must-Haves for Traveling with Babies and Toddlers. Good luck!
posted by onlyconnect at 1:36 PM on August 6, 2008

An iPod for a 7-month old? Really? (Huh?)

There are better pack & plays - smaller, more portable. I like the idea, but there's no reason you need to carry a 20-lb monster.

- Stuff to chew on. Unbreakable, washable, the sort of thing you feel comfortable leaving him in the backseat alone with.*
- a sling or other right-up-next-to-you kid carrier.
- little refillable airtight containers for snacks*
- seconding the infant Tylenol/ibuprofen and thermometer*
- I cannot say how convenient I find the Bumpo for our 5-month old.
- parent-kid things you can do when you take a break on the road: bubbles, a blow-up ball*

* These you undoubtedly already know, and I feel a little embarrassed even suggesting them
posted by Emperor SnooKloze at 3:18 PM on August 6, 2008

I couldn't do without a pack-n-play, unless you're already cosleepers.
Definitely a baby quilt or other blanket lovely.
Does he sleep with a sound machine of white noise? My kids do, and I think it helps them realize that it's sleep time and will help block out unusual noises.
If you're going to be in the car a lot, a portable DVD player with some baby cds will be a huge help (you can get a case to hang it to the back of the seat). My kids both LOVED Baby Mozart.

Also once you're in the US, you could go to children consignment stores and pick up some gently used toys or other products for cheaper than buying new....and then maybe sell them back to a consignment store at the end of your trip?
posted by texas_blissful at 3:26 PM on August 6, 2008

Ah, yes.....the Bumbo! That is a GREAT chair.....just make sure you do NOT ever put it on a counter or table; babies have died from being able to roll out of the chair then have a big fall.
posted by texas_blissful at 3:28 PM on August 6, 2008

Don't do the Pack-n-play; it's the antithesis of portable, no fun at all. Maybe one of those tents. I've tried the former and am dying to get the latter as a result.

If you're on the go, nothing is easier than a baby carrier. The Baby Bjorn is popular, but far more comfortable is the Ergo Carrier. Your freedom of movement is unparalleled when you carry your baby. This carrier as a bonus allows either front or back carry, and fits me (6'0") and the wife (5'3"), so size isn't an issue.

I'd consider ditching the stroller, really. Unless your wallababy sleeps quite well in a stroller. Our nine-month-old sleeps far better while carried than in a stroller, and we find it more convenient to wear baby anyway. One less thing to keep track of.

You may consider even buying a car seat in the US; I think your baby is young enough to not be required to have a separate seat on many airlines. You could save quite a bit. If loves the car seat like many babies, though, by all means bring it and make the flight much easier on yourself.
posted by RikiTikiTavi at 4:00 PM on August 6, 2008