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de-addict" you to shopping. I will share five things. I don't think you need them when traveling with an infant or toddler. I think these things are too cumbersome, just get in the way, and are unnecessary, because there are simpler alternatives. What do I know about this? Well, I'm a young mother of an almost two-year-old child, and we traveled a lot with her when she was still very tiny. She has been to the north-to Alaska, to the south-to Patagonia, and traveled by planes, trains, boats, buses, and cars. So we had different experiences and I feel like we learned a lot. I'm definitely a fan of minimalism when it comes to travel. The fewer
things I have to take, the better. So if you need this kind of advice, I can help you. And if not-well, maybe stay and I'll tell you about another approach. First, you don't need the most expensive stroller on the market. It seems like every list of baby essentials recommends buying the most expensive stroller. And I understand why. Everyone around is trying to make money. They want to sell you a product with a high commission, but I don't believe you need a cart that costs a thousand dollars or even more. I've seen these. They exist. So when traveling, I look for a stroller with big, sturdy wheels. This is what I need.
I know that we usually end up in cities with uneven pavement, broken sidewalks, cobblestones, or find ourselves in the wilderness where we have to push the cart along dirt or gravel roads. So I need something that can withstand potholes and bumps. So I'm looking for a model with big wheels, not those small wobbly ones that come with cane carts I also like it to be foldable, preferably one-piece. I tell you, whole, because I traveled with a stroller that consisted of two parts. And when the sun visor was added, it turned out to be three parts in total. This is very difficult. So choose the whole option. You might even consider a jogging stroller with three wheels: one in front and two in the back. But yes, I like big, rubber, sturdy wheels. I never
worry about a stroller that folds up and fits on the carry-on rack. I know a lot of people want strollers to be really small to take on a plane, but I always drop ours off at the gangway and that works for us. So, that means I can use it the whole time we're at the airport. I walk him straight to the plane door, just before boarding. I pack it, it goes on the plane, and after landing I either get it at the exit or, as has happened several times, I pick it up along with my luggage on the conveyor belt. So I repeat, you don't need the most fashionable stroller. You don't need the most expensive one. Mine is used. It had three owners before me and it works great. Facebook Marketplace is also a great place to
shop. If you have the money and want the most expensive model, of course, buy it. I just don't think that having the most expensive thing is necessary for a good trip. This may be an unpopular opinion, but the next thing I don't think you need is a sleeping pod, a kind of light-tight sleeping pod. It looks like a tourist tent, completely black. And I understand why. Some babies have a harder time falling asleep. But I just can't imagine lugging a tent with me on top of all the suitcases, and then setting it up in a hotel room. It takes up so much space. So this is not an option for me. I know many parents are thrilled with this tent. But I think it's worth considering other alternatives.
First, I'll tell you how we act when traveling. We take a room with a king-size bed, where we all fit: me, my husband and the child in the middle, or a room with two double beds. I lie on one with the child, my husband on the other, or we ask for a cot if it is available. So, you now have three different options for arranging your baby's sleep. As for darkening the room, I noticed that almost every hotel has blackout curtains. Honestly, I can't think of a single time when this wasn't the case. Unless I recall my old backpacking trips, cheap rooms or hostels, but almost every hotel has curtains that can make the room pleasantly dark. That's why I don't think you need this crib structure that you have to carry around with you everywhere and
set up when traveling and moving. Personal opinion. Number three: the child does not need his own suitcase. I'll tell you, we've traveled several times with just one suitcase for three-one large suitcase for all of us. For me, my husband and our child. Half of the suitcase was for my husband and I, and the other half was for the kids. Half of her department is just diapers, the rest is clothes. I know it may seem crazy: three people, one suitcase, but it's quite realistic. I only pack for a week and then we just schedule laundry. I also take things that are easy to combine and can be worn many times, such as jeans. So yes, you don't need a lot of luggage to travel with a baby or toddler.
Number four: white noise generator. I know, I know, this might be another controversial issue. I know that many babies can't fall asleep without it. But this is not our experience, because our daughter has never used such a device and falls asleep peacefully to any sounds around her-perhaps we have trained her that way, or, conversely, we have not trained her that way. That's why we don't take a white noise generator with us. In my opinion, they are quite bulky. You know, they're usually this big, and it's just an extra thing to have to carry around. So if your child doesn't need it, don't pack it. Again, there are alternatives. My advice: If you have a phone, tablet, or laptop that you can turn on white noise for,
or a TV in your hotel room- turn it on for background sound. I remember this helping me fall asleep as a child: I would just turn on the TV in the living room, and I would always fall asleep in the middle of the day. So, these are options if you don't want to lug around a bulky and inconvenient device. Okay, another thing that I find a bit excessive and completely unnecessary are highchairs that attach to the table in a restaurant, a rented apartment, or any other place you live. Again , it's just something that's quite large and bulky, and I personally can't imagine lugging it along with all the other luggage. So that's one of the things that I do n't think you need. So what to do instead? When we go to a restaurant, we ask for a
high chair for feeding. I would say that in 80% of cases they are available. Sometimes they're a little sticky, so I just take some wet wipes from my bag, wipe the chair down, clean it a little, and put the baby in it. And if there is no high chair, she sits in her stroller and eats there. She sits next to me and I feed her during my lunch. I think it works great for us, but then again, I'm a minimalist, so I don't like carrying around what I think is unnecessary stuff. You may disagree. Now that I've shared five things that I do n't think are necessary if you're traveling with a baby or toddler, I'll talk about what I think is really important and what I can't do without. This thing is a well- stocked diaper bag. We travel with this
bag, and it has everything we need for possible emergencies. So what's inside the bag? There is a changing mat, diapers, and wipes. I have a few spare sets of clothes. It's either two bodysuits, or two pairs of pants and a blouse. I also have a light sweater in case it gets cold. I also take a muslin diaper if it's windy and I need to cover the baby, or if it's very sunny and I need to protect them from the sun. This is a thing that can be her water cup, snacks, and a few small toys. Very small, travel-friendly toys. Usually only two or three. Now she likes the development board with small zippers, buttons, laces, and other similar elements. We also have a little crab with silicone legs. The one toy that can be chewed on because it
cuts teeth is a little squeaky flamingo. These three things -and it all fits in a diaper bag. I also take a small iPad, a tablet, with cartoons downloaded. But this is a last resort if we have already exhausted all other options after a very long day of travel. These are the essentials I carry in my diaper bag. So, that's my minimalist approach to traveling with a baby or toddler. I hope I've shown you that it's possible and reassured you that you don't need to take a million things to have a good trip with a baby. Now I would like to hear from you.
What things are indispensable for you when traveling? What, in your opinion, is unnecessary and what can be done without? I really want to know your opinion. Write in the comments below, and we'll see you in the next video.
