By Captain And Clark, on January 27, 2016

Travel gear all expectant parents need

The hubby and I are officially halfway through this pregnancy, which means that baby prep is in full mode. The constant talk of diapers, bottles, and onesies and the fact that we’re avid travelers leaves most of our family puzzled as to what exactly we’ll request on our baby registry.

Aware that our future travel plans involve tacking on another human and all of his stuff, we’ve compiled a list of baby travel gear that we believe will make future adventures easier on parents and baby alike. We believe in traveling as light as possible, and while that’s easier said than done, it’s what we’ll continue to strive for even after the newest traveler arrives. As first-time parents, we feel like we’ve prepared as best as we can (hello, Amazon reviews and online forums). Now we are just as excited to test out these items as we are for our little guy to get here.

Here are a few functional and lightweight baby travel items that will hopefully leave a little money in the bank left for future vacations.

Travel systems are perfect for families on the move

Travel system

From my extensive research, travel systems are great for parents constantly on the move. A travel system typically includes a stroller with an attachable car seat (that can easily be snapped into a base fitted in the car) and also a bassinet. Travel systems make it easier to transfer the child from stroller to car without having to disturb the little one by physically moving them. As we live in an area where we rely heavily on our car, we opted for a travel system that is a stroller–car seat combo. We have our eye on the Britax 2016 B-Agile 3/B-Safe 35 Travel System in black.

We might invest in a bassinet as we tend to enjoy long walks. That way, if our little mister falls asleep on the way home, we can remove the bassinet and bring it to his room without waking him. For those that live in big cities and tend to rely on public transportation, a bassinet might be the way to go in lieu of a car seat. 

Viewfinder Tip: When traveling, pack a bike lock to secure your stroller while adventuring around a new city.

Baby carrier

There are going to be times when we don’t need to travel with a big stroller, and that’s when a baby carrier will come in handy. While I think the baby wraps (like the Moby) are great and easy to pack, I wanted something that was durable and not very complicated to put on and take off. After hours of research, we decided on the Baby Bjorn Baby Carrier One. I love that baby carriers allow my hands to be free while I’m exploring a new city or packing for future trips.

Changing mat 

We fully accept the fact that we’re going to be changing a lot of diapers while on the go. Airports, hotel lobbies, and train-station platforms might not be the most ideal places to take care of business, but we plan on (hopefully) being prepared in any situation. We wanted a changing mat that was going to be durable but also travel friendly and easily stowed. We have our eyes on this changing mat that conveniently folds into the size of a clutch and might purchase two: one for the diaper bag and one as a backup. 

The Kånken backpack is our diaper bag of choice

Backpack

In lieu of a diaper bag, I’ve decided that a backpack would be the best option for our traveling family. I wanted something that is easy to carry with little to no fuss. I think I might go with this little number, a Fjallraven Kånken backpack. My husband and I will be able to take turns carrying the backpack, and it will fit all the necessities that we need while traveling with our tot. 

I love that backpacks are so versatile. We can strap it to our backs, our fronts, or even sling it to the side. What’s better is that backpacks easily strap to strollers and can be thrown under most airplane seats without issue. 

Travel high chair

I originally found these to be silly, but the more I thought about it, the more useful they seemed. These traveling high chairs allow your little one to sit at the table with the grown-ups. It will be great for the days that we’re exploring a new destination with the baby in his carrier (sans travel system). We can pop this in our trusty diaper backpack and bring it out when at a restaurant or simply stopping to take a break. 

We like the My Little Seat travel high chair that comes with a five-point harness, is pretty light, and can easily be packed away. It also appears to be one of the more comfortable travel high chairs on the market. 

?What are your must-have baby travel items?