The Minimalist Baby Packing List: 5-Day Trip

A few days ago, when we were flying to Utah, a flight attendant came over and kindly told me how good Fox had been on the flight (he really was terrific!), then asked me if it was his first flight.  I thanked her and told her that it was actually his fourth flight this week.  He is becoming a pro-flier (with sufficient snacks, toys and a decent nap, anyway).  

I have tried really hard not to shy away from the difficulties of travel, and specifically the challenges of traveling with a baby.  I am typically a homebody.  I like being at home and having a routine with regular nap times and mealtimes,  But, I do recognize the benefits (and fun) of getting out and seeing the world, learning about new places and people, whether that means in your own town, or halfway across the world.

So we travel! And I love it!

If you follow me on Instagram, you have seen a few photos from our trip to Las Vegas this last week, SLC over Christmas Break, and my many photos from our trip to France last year.  All of these trips were with Fox, and although I am not a professional packer by any means, I did think it would be useful to show what I brought along on our latest travel excursion.  I feel like I have learned a lot about what you should bring when you have a baby!

I am also planning a follow-up post about tips for traveling with kids, so stay tuned for that as well!  Happy Packing!

In the Suitcase:

Essentials:
4 T- Shirts
1 Romper
3 Pairs of Pants
1 Baby Suit (optional)
1 Button Down Dress Shirt (optional)
2 Pairs of PJ's
1 Pair Socks
1 Pair of Dress Shoes (optional)
1 Pair of Mocs
Swimsuit + Swim Diaper + Rash Guard (summer only)
Sweatshirt

Sources:
Striped Tee: Gap via ThredUp || Striped Onesie: JC Penney || Grey Tee:  American Apparel via ThredUp || Lion Shirt:  Badger + Rue
Suit: Target (similar) || Floral Shirt: Old Navy || Shoes: Gerber
Jeans:  Second Hand || Red Pants: H&M (similar) || Navy Shorts: Old Navy || Romper: Carter's via Sam's Club
Track Jacket: Adidas (Couldn't find anything similar)
Mocs:  Freshly Picked
White PJ Shirt: Second Hand || Blue PJ Shirt: Second Hand || Plaid PJ Pants: Made by me
Swimsuit: Target || Rash Guard: Amazon || Swim Diaper: Second Hand (is that TMI? We washed it first)


For the Plane:

Essentials:  
A few small toys
Books
Baby Carrier
Extra Outfit
Burp Cloth/Bib
Diapers
Wipes (not pictured)
Snacks (not pictured) - I like apple slices, granola bars, fruit snacks, & pretzels.  I like food that is not too messy, and that takes a long time to eat.

Sources:
Bib: Aiden + Anias || Quiet Book: Deseret Book or Amazon || Burp Cloth: Amazon || First 100 Animals: Amazon || Baby Carrier: Lillebaby (I actually use the Essentials Carrier on vacation, but it was out in the car, so I didn't go get it).

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Paris: Part 1

The first time I visited Paris, back in 2009, I had just finished my second semester of college French.  I entered the city feeling quite prepared to talk to anyone and everyone.

 I was traveling with 7 other college students from my study abroad program and we arrived in Paris early in the morning, around 8 or so.  After checking into our hotel, we realized that we were all starving and definitely needed something to eat before heading off for the day's adventures.

I quickly found out that the French only eat meals at particular times of day, so the restaurants around our hotel were only serving coffee at 10:30AM, because breakfast time was over.  After some wandering, we finally found a very cute little cafe that was serving a limited selection of food.  The waitress was a lovely older woman who regrettably only spoke French.  Well, regrettably for foolish me.

I started off confidently enough, but quickly realized I hardly understood a word from the menu or from her.  I was the only person in our group who spoke any French, so it was incredibly unnerving, and embarrassing.  In the end, the only thing I understood was that we could order hot cocoa and ham and butter baguettes.  So I did the only sensible thing I could think of:  I ordered one for everyone.

My favorite:  Pain au chocolat (or chocolate-filled croissants)

Yesterday, I had another sliced ham and butter baguette, and it brought back fond memories of my first trip to Paris.  My bumbling French, my wonder at this beautiful city, and my love for French pastries.

This trip has already been so much different than my first trip to Paris.  I have a family that includes a small baby, so I have spent a surprising amount of time in our hotel room while he naps.  And I have been surprised at how much that doesn't bother me.  I have had time to think, relax and read.  Then, when he is awake, we go explore the city with Adam.

A mostly family photo on the converted walking gardens.  So much airplane hair in this photo...

Our first day here, we had a wonderful time wandering an old railway track that has been converted into walking gardens.  We enjoyed it so much we went back the next day with the stroller and walked all the way down to Place de la Bastille. One of the things I liked most about the greenway was that it definitely felt like a local place.  Lots of French people taking an afternoon stroll.  I love feeling like I am enjoying the city like a local would.

 Place de la Bastille

A painting restoration studio.  I think this job would be so scary and so cool!  

Adam had some preparatory responsibilities the first few days, and Fox has been adjusting to the time zones, so other than those two smallish outings, we only ventured out for meals in the area where we are staying.  So on Tuesday night, we finally wandered downtown to the Hotel de Ville, across the river to Notre Dame, and then back past the Hotel de Ville for our praluline (a brioche bread with candied nuts in it), by the Centre Pompidou.  Adam has been telling me about the praluline for weeks, and it was great to finally try it.  It was delicious, and we found out that the store that sells them also has a location in Lyon.  We might go get one every week until we return to the US...

Our praluline

Walking over one of the many bridges in Paris

Yesterday, I had heard that the students were going to visit Notre Dame and they were going to climb the towers to the top.  It sounded like fun, so I met the group, and went up with them.  What a view!  It was gorgeous!  Historical landmarks stretching out in every direction, window-boxed apartment buildings, and the green river below.  It was quite a sight.

I guess Fox was not impressed with the view

Happy Thursday!  

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Flying with a Baby: On-Board Packing List

I have to admit that traveling always stresses me out a little.  I love going new places and seeing new things, but typically, a few weeks before we leave, I start getting butterflies in my stomach. 

I start making long lists of things to get done before we leave, and lists of  things to bring to ensure we don't forget anything important.  This trip will be a little different than previous trips, and, consequently, the butterflies have multiplied.  This will be Fox's first time on a plane, we will be traveling for 7 weeks in a foreign country, and we are planning on taking as little as possible.  

I have these fears of Fox throwing up all over our seat neighbors on the airplane, spilling my orange juice all over the person next to me (this did happen on a plane flight once... except someone spilled it all over me), or eating all my tasty snacks in the first ten minutes of the flight and then having sticky fingers for the next 7 hours.  Which is why I will be bringing my Huggies One & Done Wipes on our flight.

These wipes are thick, they actually smell good (a big win for me!), and they clean like a dream. I love them!  Huggies even has a few fun little videos about all the uses for them, because they are great for loads of other messes (like wiping up dirty plane germs, anyone?). These cute videos just might alleviate your fears of traveling with messy little ones (or big ones) this summer! 

I may even have to keep them around after Fox is no longer in diapers, I like them that much.  After all, Kids Outgrow Diapers, Not Messes*.  Or so Huggies tells me :)  So, this is what I am planning on bringing on the plane for Fox and me:

For Fox:  

Diapers

Wipes (Huggies One and Done Wipes in my reusable Huggies Clutch 'n' Clean)

2 blankets (a swaddle blanket, and a thin blanket for the bassinet that we reserved on our international flight)

2 bottles of milk

3 burp rags 

2 pacifiers 

2-3 small toys

1 extra sleeper 

1 onesie

1 zip-up hoodie

plastic bag (in case we have a blow out in the airport/dirty diapers on the plane)

Fox loves these Huggies Wipes too!

For me:

snacks (probably homemade cocoa-dusted almonds, my favorite granola bars(see recipe index) and dried fruit)
1 extra tee
1 long sleeved chambray shirt for layering (why are planes always so cold?)
socks
lip balm
water bottle
rain coat
lotion
PJ pants (in case our luggage gets lost)
iPad
phone
And probably some more Huggies Wipes in case I make a mess on our flight... Sometimes I am a bigger mess-maker than my baby... How embarrassing!  

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