Product Spotlight Series: Travel Accessories

doxiemoxie212 · February 2018

This is a place for FTMs to ask questions and S+TMs to share the wealth of knowledge they've accumulated on baby products. Each week we'll spotlight a new category of product to help streamline and make it easier to refer back. This week it's.... travel accessories! Anything you found helpful for baby while traveling whether by foot, car, train, plane or boat. Think travel sleep areas, toys that help calm/soothe/distract baby, or even just general tips about traveling with baby.

Please use the prompts below to try to share as much relevant info as you can in a format that is easy for those reading to absorb/respond to. If you'd like to recommend/ask questions about more than one product, please copy/paste the prompts as needed.

For S+TMs:

Any lifestyle factors that could influence your picks:
Favorite [travel accessory]:
Link/picture:
Cost (either actual dollar amount, or just $, $$, $$$, etc.):
What you like about it:
What you don't like about it, if anything:
Is there a [travel accessory] you don't have but are considering? Why?:
Is there a [travel accessory] you've tried that you absolutely hate? Why?:
Additional thoughts on [travel accessories]?:

For FTMs

[travel accessory] you're interested in:
Link/picture:
Cost (either actual dollar amount, or just $, $$, $$$, etc.):
Any questions about it/them for S+TMs?:

To view past Product Spotlights or view the upcoming schedule, see here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1gjNtxy2Kd2JceTYYR5wkwVcpTbU-khgazhjcZnfI1y4/edit?usp=sharing

(Also just a reminder that if anyone wants to revive old threads to ask questions as we get further along and it becomes more likely everyone is doing further research, please feel free!)

krash_ · February 2018

Interested in a baby mirror for the car. Did you find this necessary? I have heard mom's say that it actually made them feel less comfortable because they were constantly looking at baby in the mirror rather than the road.

catlady1215 · February 2018

@krashke I was a definite yes to mirror. It made me feel much more comfortable being able to see his face. Even with moving the 5 yr old behind the driver once this one comes, I'm probably going to find a very small mirror to attach up front so I can see his face easily behind me without having to move the rear view mirror all the time.

catlady1215 · February 2018

I won't even try to recommend which one we got cause I'm sure it's been changed so much in 5 years. But I would recommend the one with a remote and light, for night time driving.

ramennoodlegif · February 2018

@krashke I had two different kinds of mirrors, but the one for rear-facing wasn't really compatible with our vehicle, so I said eff it since it was tough to keep positioned. The one I have now clips on to the visor and I started using it more when DD became front-facing, just after her 2nd birthday.

mytinc · February 2018

+1 on the mirror for the car.

I also loved my infant car seat cover /canopy. It looks like the one I bought in 2013 is discontinued now, but something along these lines. It worked great to shield baby's eyes/sensitive skin when carrying them to/from car, especially in summer sun. I also draped it in such a way that I didn't need to buy the hanging window shades that never seemed to stay in place. The one I had had a hole in the top so you could easily peek inside to check on the baby.

doxiemoxie212 · February 2018

Can someone walk me through airplane travel with a 5-month-old (ish)? We're going to a wedding in November that we'll have between a two to six hour flight for (depending on if we move to CA or not), and we'll likely be staying in a hotel and renting a car. Do you bring your stroller and carseat with you? Do you bring a smaller stroller than you typically would use? Do most hotels have cribs you can use and are those generally safe/clean?

(I personally don't give a fck if she cries on the plane, or whatever, that kind of thing has never bothered me. I'm more concerned with all the stuff I'll need to pack/bring...)

May14th2011 · February 2018

@doxiemoxie212 I took my regular infant seat/stroller system. The hardest part was getting through security because the tsa doesn't care that you have a baby, they'll yell at you all the same. They always make me put both carseat and stroller on the belt, through the scanner. It's a hassle with only one adult, lol.
I gate checked my stroller and carseat (which you're really not supposed to do), and never had an issue. The best option is to buy a ticket for baby and put their seat on the plane.
Every hotel we've stayed at has either had a roll away crib or a packnplay. We generally stay at cheaper hotels, like days inn, and they baby beds are always clean and in good quality.

marcus7676 · February 2018

+1 to carseat mirror. We didn't have a light or remote for ours, but it's a must if you'll be driving the kid around yourself.

We traveled internationally with DS when he was 9 months (@doxiemoxie). We brought both our stroller and carseat because we purchased him a seat and because we were going to be driving abroad. Personally, I wouldn't trust rental carseats because you have no idea whether they've been dropped / in an accident, etc. I regret bringing the stroller because it was unnecessary - - it actually convinced us to buy an umbrella stroller when we returned. At 5 months though, I'm not sure if these LOs will be able to handle umbrella strollers (I think they are six months +). If you aren't going to be walking a lot, I wouldn't bring the stroller. Wear the baby in the airport - we used an ergo - as it keeps people away and calms the baby.

A lot of hotels will have PNPs or cots for rent. You probably can use that as a filter when you book. Don't bring one - - there are also companies that rent them if you'll be in a big enough city. Bring your own sheet (know whether it is a PNP or something different).

The house we rented in Europe said it had a crib. I bought a special sheet for it (european sizing). We got there and it was an old painted wrought iron death trap with a feather mattress. DS could stand himself up and the bars barely reached his waist. I ended up pushing it into a corner, putting high back chairs in the front of it and removing the feather mattress. Was it safe? Probably not. Did it do it's job? Yes. Chances are, anything a hotel has here (as long as its a reputable hotel) will be safer and reasonably clean.

doxiemoxie212 · February 2018

@May14th2011 @marcus7676 so if we stay in NYC, I've debated not getting an infant carseat at all, but it sounds like if we'll be traveling when she's 5 months old, we'll probably need one anyway? (We don't need one here in NYC - hospital doesn't require it, and we wouldn't use it since we don't get in cars hardly ever, and likely would reduce to never with a newborn.)

rnielsen321 · February 2018

@doxiemoxie212

Took our wee one to FL to see the grandparents and would recommend Tylenol/Advil what have you for the flights. Make sure you have access to it. So you can dose on the go (with permission from your doctor of course), world of difference! Believe me.

We also used the carrier to have some hands free time. Perhaps borrow an umbrella stroller?

You may want to look into equipment rentals in the area you are travelling to. I know a lot of our friends with kids do this to avoid baggage fees, and handling all the stuff.

We didn't take our stroller as the warranty would have been VOID unless we used their airline approved travel case. And that was another like $100 in fees to check it. Car seats were free.

We ended up at Once Upon a Child and bought her a play mat, and a few toys. we rented/borrowed a PnP, and ended up buying a second hand umbrella stroller while there. (which does not cost $$ to check) We returned the toys/playmat to OUAC and got like 50% of our $ back. So like renting.

May14th2011 · February 2018

@doxiemoxie212 I'd get something like the Cosco Scenara Next. It's a cheap, lightweight convertible seat for babies. I paid $37 for it and it's so light and easy to carry through the airport. You can use the seat until they're over 2, so not just an infant seat.
If you're interested in babywearing, and won't need the stroller when you land, then I'd just babywear through the airport.

doxiemoxie212 · February 2018

@May14th2011 def will be baby wearing, honestly even if she hates it lol; more concerned with how to deal with her in the rental car.

May14th2011 · February 2018

@doxiemoxie212 I'd do the Cosco Scenara Next. It's for newborns up to like 30lbs? (I don't remember the upper weight limit) My 2 yr old still fits in it, rearfacing. Very easy to install.

pupsicle23 · February 2018

@doxiemoxie212 Definitely baby wear if you’re into that. It’s perfect for the airport and easier than a stroller. We flew with a stroller once and it was a huge pain in the butt. I doubt you’ll use a stroller much during a wedding weekend, anyway. We gate check our car seat. Cosco seats are great. When I’ve flown home and been picked up, I’ve also borrowed a car seat from my mom’s friend who had a new one that she occasionally used for her grandchild.

Bring bottles or plan to nurse for takeoff/landing and bring layers because planes can be freezing or hot. Bring changes of clothes for the baby and a shirt for yourself. One time DD had a blowout on the plane, and I rode 5 hours covered in poop. It was cool.

icecubeinthedesert · February 2018

Question about carseat mirrors: DH and I always have to adjust rear view mirrors and seats if we use the same car. Do these mirrors need to be repositioned a lot to be able to see baby? Or is most of the adjustment within reach (i.e. just in the rear view mirror)?

And thanks @May14th2011 for the recommendation on the Cosco seat for travel. Hadn't thought about what would happen if our carseat ended up damaged below the plane (even if gate checked). I'd be much less concerned with a $35 seat, and we probably wouldn't need it in the airport if baby likes babywearing.

catlady1215 · February 2018

@icecubeinthedesert dh always moves my seat back a bit. And we never had issues with mirror placement. He's only like 4-5 inches taller than me, if that though. But if you needed to, it'd just be the rear view mirror.

elsie42 · February 2018

Has anyone purchased a bag to put the carseat into when checking/gate checking it on a plane? I've seen a few on Amazon, wondering if it's better to get the kinds that are padded or is just a cover enough? Example of non-padded vs. padded

Also love reading all of these tips. We're planning to fly with baby at around 3 months for my BIL's wedding in September. It'll be a 2.5 hr direct flight so I'm hoping it'll be fairly easy, and we just plan to bring him/her as a lap child. We also have another wedding invite in December which would be a cross-country flight so we'll have to see what to do for that. Andddddd we're also kind of tossing around the idea of going to visit my family in Ireland next year at some point, so lots of traveling possible for this baby!

marcus7676 · February 2018

@elsie42 We received the Britax travel bag at our shower for our stroller - - since we registered the bag, if something happens, Britax will replace the stroller. We also purchased an unpadded red bag for our carseat. The reason we went with an unpadded bag is we bought a cheap convertable to travel with (as opposed to our Britax). If you are checking an expensive seat, I would consider a padded bag. When we flew with our bucket seat, we bought DS his own seat, so no need to check it.

llamamama14 · February 2018

Have any STMs used a shopping cart hammock? Today at the grocery store it occurred to me that it might be nice. In the past when baby was under 6 months I would put the infant bucket carseat in the cart but that takes up a lot of room and recently I've been putting my 3 yo and 1 yo in the car shopping carts but the cart on those don't fit a carseat in them. I don't like babywearing while shopping. I find it to be a pain when bending over to reach things on the shelves or running after my toddlers.

I'm thinking the hammock would leave more room for groceries and would be well suited to a summer baby.

Pictures of what I'm referring to in spoiler.

Image result for shopping cart hammock for baby

MissKittyDanger · February 2018

@llamamama14 I've heard of those hammocks, so I'm curious about the answers. My husband and I have entertained the idea of baby-wearing while doing groceries, since we have a carrier. That way she's close and I'm not losing cart space. {plus neither of us are having to grab carseat either}

MissKittyDanger · February 2018

2 things

1 - mirror wise, I know a lot of you ladies are for it. Is there a recommended style that you loved?

2 - I've seen online about bins some people keep in the car of baby stuff in general. Yay vs nay?
To get an idea, a photo from google:

Image: https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/81h4o7dDwyL._SY355_.jpg

We have a plain folding bag/box that I considered having in the car but I'm not sure if it'd be even a good idea.

aharv77 · February 2018

@MissKittyDanger Most of the stuff in the bin shown I just kept in the diaper bag so I didn't have a need to keep an extra organizer in the car. Once I stopped carrying the diaper bag, I *tried* to keep something similar in the car except for little toys and books. Everything ended up all over the car anyways. I don't think you'll need it unless you plan to not keep a diaper bag.

MissKittyDanger · February 2018

@harveyabbey77 I'd like to say I'll have a diaper bag, but I was kinda thinking the days where neither of us are on the ball and forget something lol

aharv77 · February 2018

@MissKittyDanger That makes sense! You've gotta do what works for you!

jsl82 · February 2018

Hi Ladies- so I thought of a few extra travel tips this week.

Feeding on the go- when DD was under 6 months and we would go on long car trips I would bring my pump (so I could pump and give her a bottle if needed while we were still driving- but I usually just fed her when we pulled over to change her diaper). I would however, start each trip with a 4 oz bottle that I put in a coffee tumbler with some hot water. This would keep it warm until she woke up and I could feed her the bottle. This helped lessen the amount of times we would have to pull over- but expect a normally 4 hour trip to take up to 6 hours after baby.

Now that DD is self feeding, we take her to diners for pancakes some mornings (the ones I don't want to cook). We put these disposable place mats down on the table, so that she doesn't have a plate (which she will throw) or have to eat off a table that was likely cleaned off with a questionable rag. When we forget these in the diaper bag, it is upsetting- as we have to hand her bites of food- so can't really eat our own meal as easily. You can find these anywhere but here is the link for Buy Buy Baby's mats.

@MissKittyDanger the car storage always seemed like a good idea to me- but I usually packed a diaper bag with what we needed. There were a few times I thought I had more diapers in my bag than I did, so having a spare bag in the car would be helpful. Baby wipes can be used for a million things, so keeping a package in the car can help in none baby situations as well. Also a changing pad that stays in the car would be helpful- for changing in the car (car trips, going to the park or other places without a bathroom/changing station). Also would be helpful to keep change of clothes for you in the car- BFing leads to leaking when you aren't expecting it, and spit up happens all the time. I use to keep an extra outfit for DD in the car too- but she outgrew her clothes too fast- and the car clothes were always forgotten and so a size or two too small. We had toys attached to her car seat- but her favorites were in the diaper bag.

krash_ · February 2018

@jsl82 MH and I were talking about driving and stops with LO in the car today on our 4 1/2 hour car ride and I said we could give them a bottle instead of having to stop to nurse but he said you would still have to stop to burp them. How did that work?

twelvetwosomeonenew · February 2018

When we flew last year we checked our carseat with our luggage ((in one of the bags, because I am cheap and I put both the kids life jackets in with it to save room in my luggage. Haha)) and we kept her in the stroller thru the airport (except TSA) ...... but she was almost 20 months, so I realllllly didn't want to chase her around.

jsl82 · February 2018

@krashke you do have to stop frequently- the younger the baby the more frequent the stops. When DD was still newborn we noticed that within minutes of a feeding she would need to be changed- so the bottle trick, doesn't
prevent you from pulling over- just prolongs the amount of time between leaving home and the first stop.

This is how our trips would go, We would leave our house and DD would fall asleep and stay that way for an hour to 2 hours- and then wake up screaming (hungry and hated the car seat). We would pull over on the side of the road and I would hope into the backseat, and DH would start driving again- but would be looking for a rest stop or an exit. I would feed her the bottle while we were on our way to the first stop. We would pull over some where and I would burp her and change her diaper. I would stay in the back seat and play with toys and stuff to try to keep her entertained as we went on the next leg of the trip (this was the miserable part of the trip since she would be awake and cried most of the time). We drove usually another hour or so- than would find somewhere to pull over and eat. I would nurse the baby- DH and I would eat some type of fast food- burp and change the baby and usually she would fall asleep for another hour long nap. The next time she would wake up we would find somewhere to pull over and I would feed her, burp her and change her again- than we would have another hour long drive with the baby awake. The next stop we would make we tried to stop some where we could walk around with her for a little bit. And then we would make the final leg of the trip. I don't think we made any trips with her before she was 4 months old. The first stop was the shortest stop but the rest could add an extra half hour to the trip.

taykc90 · February 2018

@May14th2011 May14th2011 said:

I gate checked my stroller and carseat (which you're really not supposed to do), and never had an issue. The best option is to buy a ticket for baby and put their seat on the plane.

Are you saying you're not supposed to gate check either the stroller or the carseat? Or just not supposed to gate check the carseat? I feel like I always see people gate checking strollers I didn't know there was an issue with that. Also are you "not supposed to" because the airlines don't like it or is it some sort of a safety issue as far as the carseat possibly being damaged? Just wondering.

So the general consensus for younger babies is no stroller in the airport? Good to know as I have been concerned about finding a compact infant stroller to take on plane trips but maybe I shouldn't be too worried about it? We don't have anything planned but we do like to travel.

pupsicle23 · February 2018

@taykc90 we traveled a fair amount with dd when she was tiny, and I always found wearing her to be easiest. I think we brought and checked the stroller once, and it was a pain. We always gate checked the car seat. I know there are differing views on that, though, and I think it’s up to your comfort levels of baby flying unrestrained and the potential treatment of the car seat.

May14th2011 · February 2018

@taykc90 the official stance is that you're not supposed to check or gate check the carseat. It can get broken, and baby does need a seat on the plane in case of turbulence.
But like I've said, I've both gate checked and regular checked seats and never had an issue.

MissKittyDanger · February 2018

I'm passing along information that I learned this weekend that could help someone {or just confirm what people already knew ... oops?}

We received a Peg Perigo convertible carseat for free, and Baby Trend Convoy stroller {3 wheels}
Unbeknownst to us, convertible doesn't leave the car.

Cool. Fuck. Guh!

Also Peg is not a very good brand to mix with other brands. So we're now looking at bucket carseats that fit the stroller and we may be getting another stroller {Graco} so we've been holding off.

*head desk*

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