Life
/ March 2017

Niagara Falls AGAIN + A Packing List

Ok, I am sure you are sick of hearing about Niagara Falls, we have been visiting it a LOT lately. Since my MIL is in town we just went again. She had never seen the falls before. Since they are only two hours away from us we had no choice but to go. It was just a quick trip, but we packed in a lot of fun. We ate lunch at the Fallsview Buffet (SOOO worth the price for that view, the food was good but not amazing), we walked along the falls, visited some tourist shops and bought delicious chocolate and went on a bunch of rides in one of the arcades on Clifton. It was a good day.

Since it was just a day trip we packed light. Everything we brought had to either be left in the car or carried. There are so many little things that are easy to forget when you are traveling with a baby and a toddler, and I realized I would love to have a packing list for traveling with a baby and a toddler that I can always go back to. Especially since we have another vacation (involving palm trees 😍😍😍) coming up very soon!

On my list I included only the absolute essentials. Traveling light makes a trip with a baby SOOOO much easier, so if you are trying to decide what to pack for traveling with a baby and a toddler, these are just the basics. My motto is if you really need something else you can always buy it! I would much rather risk spending $5-20 on something that I may or may not end up using if I pack it.

Checklist: Packing List for Traveling with a Baby and a Toddler

Diapers & Wipes

A diaper is something I wouldn’t be caught dead without. Blowouts are rare (thank heavens) but one is enough to teach any parent that diapers must alway be on hand… How many diapers really depends on your baby. I read one blogger say she needed a diaper per hour, Zander only uses 3-5 diapers a day. You know your baby, so just go off of that and then bring a couple extra to be on the safe side.

Clothes

One outfit per day plus a pair of PJ’s should be just fine. If you are only going for the day pack one spare outfit in case of emergency.

Snacks & Formula

When you are traveling with a toddler you can never have too many snacks! I use a Lily Jade diaper bag because it has so many little compartments inside the removable insert (and I just updated to this cute canvas one for spring!!). It is perfect for stuffing with granola bars and squeezie fruit packs. Minimal mess snacks that can be eaten without utensils or napkins are the best for travel!

Bring a bottle for your baby too. Even if your baby is 100% breastfed there is a chance you might be caught in a situation where a bottle would really help. If your baby is screaming in their carseat and there are no rest stops nearby for example… This exact thing has happened to us way more than once and so I always pack a bottle just in case.

Good Shoes

Toddlers get blisters too! For a long day of travel, make sure your kids are wearing super comfy shoes that won’t give them blisters. I brought Zoey on a long shopping trip once in a cute little pair of boat shoes. It absolutely broke my heart when she started crying and complaining about her feet. I took her shoes off and found big, red welts on her heels!! Since then I have been really careful about the shoes I buy. She still remembers it to this day and will remind me about the time she got “blis-terds” when we are picking out shoes 😂.

I really like Bobux because they are cute and super comfy. They are gentle on cute little baby feet. The other bonus is that they are designed to slide on easily, but hold on snuggly. That equals no lost shoes! If anyone has ever lost a toddler shoe while out on the go, you know how annoying this can be. Toddlers have a skill for dropping and losing things. And babies will take off any piece of clothing that can be removed, especially socks and shoes. We love our Bobux because they are super comfy, stay put AND they are adorable. I just got this pair for Zoey and these ones for Zander. I thought you guys would like them as much as I do, so I reached out to the brand and they were kind enough to offer you guys a 25% discount code for Bobux shoes. Just enter RACHAEL25 at checkout!

Comfort Object and Entertainment

Definitely don’t pack a whole toy box, but bring one or two that will help entertain your kids. Zander is in the chewing stage. He just wants to eat EVERYTHING. I don’t go anywhere without at least one baby chew toy. Zoey loves playing dolls. Every time we are going out the door she walks up to me with an armful of her ‘friends’ (at least 5-8 toys) and asks, “Can I bring all dese??” I always tell her she can bring one for each hand. She usually will choose two, and then line the rest up on the floor at the top of the stairs that lead to the garage, and give them each a hug and kiss goodbye… I love it!

Stroller

A good stroller is essential to parenthood in my opinion. And it is definitely an essential item on the packing list for traveling with a baby and a toddler. I have tried a lot of different stroller brands and loved many of them. But the one I use the most is my Evenflo Sibby Stroller. This stroller is perfect for two kids. It has a little kick board that a toddler can ride and the rear facing carseat can clip right in. You can also completely decline the seat, which makes the bed area so big it can easily fit two kids (although this isn’t a recommended way to ride!). I found our double stroller way too bulky and heavy so I got rid of it. This one works way better for me since Zoey can walk, ride the kick board or hop inside the bed with Zander.

I am pretty sure that sums up the essentials on my packing list for traveling with a baby. We travel any time we get a chance, which isn’t often… But we LOVE to travel, so I always try and make the most of it by preparing really well before we head out the door.