Traveling with a toddler...

There’s nothing more gratifying than going on vacation with my husband and daughter. I love being able to explore a new or even familiar city with my two favorite people in the world. While going away always excites me, I always find myself slightly stressed before any kind of adventure. Because I’m a Type A personality with an always full diaper bag of just in case items, I always worry whether whichever city we’re visiting will have DD’s favorite snacks, dye-free acetemenophin just in case we need it and the kind of milk she usually drinks. I don’t feel comfortable unless I bring along these items myself. Something about driving around looking for a drugstore that carries our preferred items doesn’t appeal to me. I rather bring it along and if we don’t use it, save it for the next trip if we haven’t passed the expiry date. This works for me but my adorable husband has grown tired of being the carrier of a bag full of items we almost never use. In spite of him reminding me that DD has never needed dye-free gas drops, I feel safer knowing they’re there just in case. In order to lighten my husbands bag carrying load, we’ve come to a workable compromise. I mail a small box of items to the place we’re visiting ahead of time with my can’t travel without essentials and pack what’s really needed to make DD comfortable and happy. In an effort to do this, I’ve tried out a bunch of essential items to make traveling with a toddler easier and lighter! Your husbands will thank you and your little one will be happy.

If you’re conscious of germs like I am, you’ll appreciate Califone’s Kid Headphones. Do you really want recycled airline headphones anywhere near your childs ear? I don’t! I bring along my own headphones so I wouldn’t allow my daughter to use headphones that likely aren’t sanitized by my standards.

My daughter has fallen in love with her Tiger designed headphones. She’s been walking around our home reminding me that they’re “my headphones”. We haven’t used them on a plane yet but I’ve let her listen to a small amount of music on our computer for her enjoyment. If you want your little one to enjoy airline entertainment or you’re bringing along your own portable DVD player, these headphones are a must have! My husband and I love the nifty external volume control. Also available in a panda and bear design, you can purchase these at amazon.com for around $17.00. I recommend checking out http://www.califone.com/ for more info on their great products!

If you’re child loves to color like my daughter (she recently started drawing her own circles!), you’ll appreciate Giddy Up’s Color-N-Carry activity travelers with markers. With over 100 activities in each mini box, you can choose from an array of characters like Dora, Spider-Man and My Little Pony. Available at stores like Toys R’ Us and my favorite site, amazon.com (around $7.00). If you prefer not to use markers, many come with jumbo crayons instead.

If you’re little one isn’t interested in a coloring book to keep her busy, try Melissa & Doug’s Basic Skills Board. Not as sturdy as the ones I used in pre-school but great for parents who want their children to have some quiet time while learning. Your little one can learn to zip, buckle and snap a smiling teddy bear for around $15 at amazon.com.

See, my travel bag is light already. I’ve even learned not to go overboard with snacks for DD. I always pack her a container full of sliced grapes (her favorite fruit), a sippy cup of milk and an almond butter and no sugar added fruit preserve sandwich just in case there’s a delay.

Last month, I discovered Ella’s Kitchen Organics, an all organic brand of fruit and vegetable purees for the mom on the go. The veggie pouches have come in handy since my daughter’s two year molars are coming in. Her appetite isn’t the best when she’s in pain, but she’s happy to suck down the spinach, apples and rutabaga pouch. Makes me feel better about filling her tummy up when she's not in the moo for chewing.We get ours from Babies R’ Us. For fruit, I recommend the Purple One, a blend of black currants, blueberries, apples and banana. Why travel with red dye #40 crappola when your little one can take along something tasty and healthy?

For me, a vacation isn’t complete without some sweets for mama. Because I’m still getting rid of the weight I gained while I was pregnant, I have to choose my sweets carefully. Instead of Twizzlers, I reach for a  FruitaBu Smooshed Fruit (grape is my favorite). They’re meant for kids but I find them a little too sweet for a toddler but just right for an adult.

Finally, once you’ve made sure you’re child has what he/she needs for travel,what about some entertainment for madre? I recommend Eric Jerome Dickey’s Tempted by Trouble. You don’t have to be a fan of his to enjoy this page turner. Complete with twists and turns, there’s enough drama to keep you interested without being too heavy for enjoyment.

Enjoy!