SWEATER: BP (old) similar HERE | JACKET: TopShop (old) similar HERE or HERE | JEANS: Express | BELT: Gucci | SUNNIES: Quay Australia | OLIVIA’S JACKET: Zara | OLIVIA’S HAT: Zara | OLIVIA’S BOOTS: H&M
Hi babes! I have been slacking big time on my blog and Instagram lately and for that I am so sorry! Honestly it gets tough sometimes trying to put new outfits together and remix what I have on a stay at home mom budget. I see so many bloggers buying new things all the time and constantly having new outfits to post about and I was starting to feel down, so I took a little break from social media and reminded myself what’s really important in life. It’s not all the material things, it’s being able to stay home and watch my baby grow up that’s the most important thing to me. I still continue to live everyday with my little girl being present and in the moment. And if that means not being able to check Instagram in a few days or post to my blog as often as I would like then I’m ok with that. I am looking forward to getting back to posting more regularly though and showing how you don’t have to spend a lot of money to look stylish. It’s all about investing in the right pieces to mix and match your wardrobe. Basics are life! HAHA!
Anyhow, these last few months Olivia and I have had the opportunity to travel quite a bit, both with my husband on work trips and back east to visit family. I’ve written a post before sharing some tips on flying with a baby but I’ve noticed a lot has changed since Olivia has grown into a busy toddler. I thought it might be helpful to other mamas traveling alone with little ones to share some things that have worked for me in all our recent travels. I know these pics are old, they are from November when we went to Paris for Olivia’s first birthday, but I realized I never shared them on my blog before and they are some of my favorites!
1. If you don’t already have a backpack diaper bag, do yourself a favor and get one ASAP! I recently got THIS one and I’m honestly not sure why I waited so long to get one! It makes traveling so much easier since both of your hands are free to chase after your always-on-the-go toddler. Make sure to pack some disinfecting wipes to wipe down EVERYTHING on the plane and they are nice to be able to wipe down cribs, remotes, and pretty much everything if you stay at a hotel. It’s always handy to have some little packs of tissues too.
2. Make sure to bring plenty of snacks and drinks for your babe. On our last trip to Florida, our first flight was delayed which made us miss our connection so we had to be put on a different flight unexpectedly. We had to wait at the airport for 6 hours before our new direct flight would depart and I was so thankful I had a bunch of snacks with me. Airport food is so expensive and I was not expecting to be delayed for 6 hours before another 6 hour flight. Needless to say you always have to expect the unexpected. I picked up one of THESE little bottle coolers and it fits perfectly in my diaper bag for when we travel or even if we’re out and about for the day. When I travel I always bring 2 sippy cups of milk, a yogurt, an applesauce cup, granola bars, fruit snacks and some sort of crunchy snacks for Olivia’s little snack cup. I always like to have lots of variety just in case.
3. Bring a few small toys and activities with you for both in the airport and on the plane. Olivia LOVES cars! So I always bring her 2 favorites with me whenever we travel. I also have a few games on my iphone too that we play if she gets restless. I always make sure to bring her a blanket since most flights get really chilly, and I bring a few of her favorite books since she is all snuggled up in my lap anyway. If you can get your own seat for your babe by all means that would make things so much easier, but sometimes it’s not in the budget so we plan on having Olivia on our laps as long as we can on domestic flights.
4. Invest in a good travel stroller! I’m actually a little stroller obsessed and have 3 different ones that all serve a different purpose. I have my everyday stroller, my jogger and my travel stroller. I did a ton of research before investing in the Uppababy G-Luxe. I wanted something that was lightweight, and folds up small but that was also comfy for Olivia and had some sort of suspension system to make it a smoother ride for her. I do recommend practicing opening and closing the stroller with your toddler in your arms since it can be a little tricky the first few times. I still highly recommend getting a cover like THIS one even while gate checking your stroller. They are cheap and help protect your stroller from damage and bad weather.
5. Try to time flights around your baby’s schedule if at all possible. For short flights it’s not a huge deal but when we fly from California back to the east coast it’s a good 6 hour flight. I try to take a super early morning flight so Olivia will be ready for a nap by the time we get on the plane. I always keep a cup of her milk handy for take off and it really helps with her ears popping.
6. Give yourself plenty of extra time! I’m one of those people who likes to get to the airport super early. You never know how security is, or how long it will take to check your bag, so I always allow extra time just in case. I also always like to buy a big bottle of water before a flight and I like to change Olivia right before we board the plane. I like to find a more empty area somewhere near our gate and get her out of the stroller to run around and play for a while before we board the plane. She’s always more relaxed if I let her get all that energy out. I also highly recommend getting the TSA precheck if you are able to. It is a lifesaver with time and with all the liquids you have to take with kids. And remember, the more you travel, the easier things will get. Getting there is all part of the trip so try to enjoy!
xoxo
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