Six months ago I became a mom of two. Besides sibling jealousy, one of my main concerns was how I was ever going to leave the house again! I was terrified of the thought of having to chase my very active toddler while cradling my delicate newborn. Absolutely terrified!
One of the activities I enjoyed with my oldest before her little sister came along was Toddler Time at Georgia Aquarium. We went faithfully on the first Monday of every month for story time and sing along, craft, snack and of course watching those gorgeous beluga whales in the Grand Ballroom. So, when the baby was about 3 weeks old, I was determined that I would take both girls to the aquarium. We made it – albeit 15 minutes late – and I was so proud of myself. I wore the baby in a carrier and thankfully the toddler took mercy on me and didn’t run around too much. The best part was that I faced my fear and realized hitting the road with 2 under 2 wasn’t quite as scary as I thought it would be.
After lots of trial and error – many, many errors – there are a few things that I MUST have whenever I’m on the go with my little ones. Here’s my list of excursion essentials when traveling with children.
1. The Sac Ventura Backpack purse. With a baby and a toddler, I’ve all but ditched carrying a purse. Usually, I just tuck my license and credit card into the hidden pocket on my yoga pants. How do I find time to do yoga, you ask? I don’t. I just wear yoga pants because they’re comfortable and relatively good at hiding spit up and Veggie Chip dust. They’re like mommy camouflage, but I digress. Whenever I need a purse, this is the one I use. I’m able to fit my cards and lip gloss along with a few other things for my girls while keeping my hands free.
2. Diaper Clutch. I LOVE my J. J. Cole Diaper Clutch, similar to this one. The snap-on strap makes it easy to attach it to my stroller. Even with a potty training toddler, I still find enduring uses for this clutch. I can fit 2 diapers, 2 pull ups, a changing pad and wipes in it.
3. Pack It Cooler Bag. No need for those bulky ice packs taking up precious space. These are better than your run-of-the-mill bottle bags. The perfect for fitting sippy cups, snacks and teethers for the baby and keeping everything nice and chilly with built-in ice packs. Best of all, it folds flat for easy storage in the freezer. Bonus – the detachable strap makes it easy to hook it onto your stroller.
4. The First Years Take and Toss Spill-Proof Sippy Cups. These are great for on the go. I keep a couple in the car that I can refill while we’re out and about.
5. Contigo Purity Glass Water Bottle. Mama needs to stay hydrated while keeping up with the kiddos and nothing beats this water bottle. Don’t let the glass scare you. The silicone sleeve prevents breakage and the leak proof lid and stainless steel carry loop make it perfect for traveling.
6. Primo Folding Potty with Handles. We are right in the thick of potty training, so this is a must in our on the go gear. It folds up to roughly palm size so it fits easily into a bag or purse and keeps your little one from touching icky, germy public restroom surfaces.
7.Super Undies! I first found these awesome training pants at MommyCon Atlanta. These are the perfect hybrid between diapers and underwear. And if my kiddo has an accident, I just have to change the insert, not the entire pair of underwear. Plus, my daughter loves the super cute Alien Invasion print.
8. Innobaby Aquaheat Kitchen on the Go. I don’t actually own this yet, but it is on my wish list. This is another awesome product that I discovered at MommyCon. At the time, I was thinking that I would use it for warming bottles on the go. I never imagined that I’d make it to six months exclusively breastfeeding, so I haven’t had a need for it yet! However, I can see how this can be used to warm up lunch for a picnic at the park or on a hectic day of running errands.
