The question was posted on our Facebook wall a few days ago – though I’m sure you’ve noted my know-it-all persona, I’m always happy to be handed a question I DO NOT yet know an answer to.  Reading and researching is much more fun than you’d expect – plus I’m sure plenty of you blog-readers live in urban areas where this situation is prevalent.  (side note: Has MTV’s Jersey Shore completely ruined the use of the word “situation” in all other context aside from 20-somethings binge drinking? I feel silly using it- it’s like the word carries a stench relating to the show now…)

While I can’t even wrap my mind around not owning a car (the commute to downtown for those of us living out here in our little boxes is about 30 miles), I have been reading all morning about urban-dwelling families who DO NOT own a car seat, even for use only in cabs.

Apparently, the NYC Taxi and Limousine Commission (and other similar sized urban areas that rely heavily on public transportation) are exempt from the general rules and regulations of child restraints.  However, the articles I’ve found on babycenter, www.car-seat.org and so on always leave parents the option of bringing a seat for their little one and strapping it in.

It got me thinking of what I’d do if I lived in a similar situation… Living here (and remembering the lashing we got after posting pictures of kids incorrectly strapped into car seats), it seems like if I brought a car seat for my infant, I probably wouldn’t install it correctly when hopping into a cab.  I’m very back and forth on my feelings… and I think it’d depend on the age of my baby.  A tiny new baby – I’d feel comfortable with the baby in a sling/Bjorn and wearing my own seatbelt… then again, infant carriers are best used when the baby is still tiny and not weighing 20lbs (Seriously.  NEVER comfortable to carry in one of those things.)

The thought of hailing a cab, holding a diaper bag, a baby, and possibly a car seat – even with a husband’s helping hands, seems like quite an ordeal.  THIS must be why urban families walk to the grocery store (pushing a stroller, perhaps!)

What do you think?  Does the length of time you’d be IN the cab determine whether or not you’d use a car seat?  Or your child’s age?  It’s a whole new world of things I’m unfamiliar with – enlighten me!

::Michelle
The Mom Squad

Tags: baby, baby in taxi, carseat, infant safety, public transportation with children, safety, urban parenting

Well, I just hung up the phone with one of my oldest and dearest friends – laughing as we said our goodbyes.  Somehow, we always end up talking about the importance of our children’s education, from pre-school to college… mind you all four of the children between the two of us are younger than four years old.

It seems silly to be “thinking ahead” or planning for what will surely be the rest of my child’s life when they still seem so very young… but the more I talk to other parents, educators, and listen to so-called plans from our local, state, and national government, I get the feeling that it’s not so silly at all.

My husband grew up in Houston (proper – smack dab in the middle of the city) – I grew up in small-town-Texas and we have VERY different education backgrounds.  Because of the zoning and the HISD public schools my husband would have attended, his parents opted to send him to private Catholic school from the very beginning.  (In my hometown, our Catholic school didn’t even open for business until I was already too old to enroll – it was only K-8.)

Growing up in a small town, our extra-curricular activities were somewhat limited (for example: no rugby, lacrosse, swim team, and much more…)  My husband argues that the athletics in private schools are much less competitive than public schools – quoting the numbers of children in private vs. children in public.  I’m not a huge athlete (or even a small athlete… I’m coordinated and enjoyed being in dance but sweating? Ehh, not so much my thing.)  For that reason, I’m not overly concerned about the private school vs. public school pros/cons for the purpose of competition in athletics.

I’m more concerned about the quality of education my children will receive.  Both my husband and I are tremendously smart (I know, that hubris is off-putting, but I think it’s important as a woman to embrace my intellect) – he’s a mechanical engineer by degree and I’m a hairstylist (and laundry goddess, chef extraordinaire, and momprenuer…) Even though I’m an adult, I’m still uncertain if the schools we respectively attended had tremendous impact on our life choices.  He’s an engineer because he loves math and numbers, I’m a hairstylist because I talk people’s ear off and love to do creative things (hence dreaming up the idea for this website!)

So my question to you guys is… What things have factored into your decision to enroll your child in public school, private school, pre-school, prep-school, home school… (the list goes on and on!)  I’m weighing everything, tuition costs, standardized testing, classroom size, “open concept” rooms.  I’d love to hear what you think as well.

My idea of the perfect classroom size!

I want my kids to know that they REALLY CAN do ANYTHING – I also feel like that’s my responsibility to teach them.  I’d like it, however, if the school they were attending could back me up on that.

::Michelle
   The Mom Squad

Tags: Catholic school, child, children, education, elementary school, high school, kinder, middle school, private school, public school

We ♥ handmade seller:  http://www.cuteandcomfycushionknee.com
What she sells:  a durable, water resistant kneeling cushion to save your knees while bathing baby!

Hey everyone!  With the New Year upon us, we’ve been busy trying to add new places and update places that have closed or moved in the last year.  We were thrilled to get the opportunity to share a great product with you guys (you know how much we love debuting new ideas!)

I had no complaints about the floor plan/layout of our home until the day we brought a baby into it!  All of a sudden, there were so many things I had never thought about (like the amount of space between the potty and the bathtub!)  One of my “parenting secret weapons” when the baby was crabby was a nice warm bath!  It could be 3 in the afternoon or 4am – either way, it was a sure fire way to calm the baby and I’d get a few minutes to enjoy the serenity of quiet!

Since I spent SO much time in the guest bathroom (ours has a garden tub, making it too deep to bathe babies in) – I decided to invest some research into making it a bit easier on my body (let’s face it, kneeling on the tile floor wasn’t very comfortable and the potty takes up a third of the space in front of the bathtub so I wasn’t too keen on WHAT I might be kneeling in… if ya know what I’m sayin…)

I tried a tubside kneeler (similar to this one I found at babiesrus) but it left me no space in the bathroom AT ALL – (layout complaint, the bathroom is so narrow!)
Then, I tried a foam kneeler pad (like this one by Fisher Price) – but it was slippery, bulky, and I wasn’t crazy about the “aquarium” theme – this is our guest bathroom as well so we tried to keep the balance between kid stuff and family-bathroom.

Well, the Cute and Comfy Cushionknee solves all of the flaws I was finding in my pain-in-the-knee solutions!  It’s 18” wide, the cover is removable and washable – plus I can pick out the fabric that coordinates with our bathroom AND just stand it up next to the cabinet to store it! 

If you’d like to try one for yourself, you can purchase one through the website www.cuteandcomfycushionknee.com AND get $3 off with our exclusive coupon: byebye3For a chance to win one (this makes a GREAT baby shower or new baby gift – it’s the things that Moms DON’T think of that make the biggest difference!) you can enter the following ways:

1. Visit www.cuteandcomfycushionknee.com then comment below letting us know which fabric you like the best
2. “Like” Cute and Comfy Cushionknee on Facebook
3. Follow @cushionknee1 on Twitter

(for each entry, return and leave us a comment letting us know!)

We will be using Random.org to select a winner THIS SUNDAY!

Tags: bathtub kneeler, handmade

A few months back when we were sharing that adorable felt play food (THIS blog about our handmade favorite Bug Bites Play Food) – I was doing my research, browsing her blog to pull pictures so we could showcase her products and I stumbled across an idea that made a GREAT Christmas for my children!

On her blog, Becca shared the idea of making your kiddos a play kitchen (as opposed to buying one that comes in pieces you have to put together anyway!)

This was a great solution for me – we don’t have a play room so any large toys must also double as aesthetic home décor (you know, something to match the paint chipped walls and crayon doodles scrawled across the lower half of the house..)  I looked up a few pictures by googling “homemade kitchen, play kitchen ideas” and got started!

I picked up two pieces of furniture from a small town resale shop ($6/each! SCORE!) – They were both end tables, one hexagon that I thought would give a great shape to the kitchen and a one-drawer end table as well.  I sat down with my father (let me just tell you now – he is AMAZING!) to draw out our ideas of how to complete this project.

I had planned on painting both pieces the same color and setting them by each other in the living room for the finished product… my father had other (more extensive and BEAUTIFUL ideas!)  He put a lift underneath them (and secured them to it as well), built a topper to go across them both (so it can appear as one piece), and added a great backsplash as well.

Here’s the project before we painted it:

And here it is finished and gorgeous in my living room!

I love it so much, it matches my kitchen “theme” and makes me happy to have built something for my kids with so much love and work from so many people!  I was so happy to come across this idea of making  something so unique and personal for my kiddos, just wanted to share it with you guys!

Hope you all had a great holiday!!  And best wishes for 2011!
:: Michelle
The Mom Squad

See my inspiration from Becca’s blog post here

Tags: hand made kitchen, homemade play kitchen, kid kitchen, play food, play kitchen

Favorite seller:  http://www.etsy.com/shop/gingersnappz
Etsy feedback rating:  819, 100% positive
What she sells:  Nursing covers, burp cloths, key fobs, mini key fobs, checkbook covers, nursing pads
Custom requests:  YES

I hope you are all having a FANTASTIC Friday!!  I am going to wrap up my “Mommy-Must-Haves” blog series with one of my MOST USED nursing accessories.  I found a FABULOUS seller on Etsy who makes the most adorable nursing covers…EVER!  (If you have spent $45-$50 for a Hooter Hider or Bebe Au Lait…you may want to stop reading now…because the price of these beauties may give you a serious case of buyer’s remorse, lol!)

Brenda, the owner of Gingersnappz, makes professionally sewn nursing covers in just about any color and print imaginable.  They are VERY well made—made of high quality fabrics—and priced at $21.88 before shipping!  (Shipping is only $2.99 for the first item and $1.50 for each additional item.)  The covers are a generous 25” L X 38” W.  They come equipped with a special flexible boning material that allows you to see your baby while nursing, as well as a terry cloth corner for wiping up small messes or storing breast pads!   These covers make AWESOME shower gifts, stocking stuffers…or just a special treat for a mommy-to-be!  I bet you can’t guess which fabric I picked for MY new cover!!

As a special bonus to our already amazing giveaway, The Mom Squad is adding one of these gorgeous covers to the prize package in coordinating purple fabric! 

We will be using Random.org to select a winner for this FABULOUS prize package THIS SUNDAY!  If you haven’t already, by sure to stop by Wednesday’s blog and comment to win!  (There are several entry options, so be sure to get those additional entries in to increase your odds of winning.) 

Good luck!!
~Gina
The Mom Squad

Tags: bfing, Breastfeeding, diaper bag, etsy, handmade, nursing cover, nursing in public, nursing mothers, nursing room locator, travel nursing pillow

Dream a Little Dream of DreamSwaddle!

So today’s Mommy-must-have comes to you by the company Mum 2 Mum.  I just happened upon this little gem while looking up reviews for the Warm Milk Baby Hobo Convertible Diaper Bag.  (If you haven’t already, be sure to skedaddle over to yesterday’s blog and comment for your chance to WIN a FREE diaper bag!)  Apparently, the DreamSwaddle was a find that another mommy had at the ABC Kids Expo in Las Vegas, NV.  (All I can say is that my pocketbook is thankful I wasn’t able to make it out to THAT particular venture!)  She loved it so much, she VLOG’d about it on YouTube.  I saw it and INSTANTLY fell in love. 

I was unable to successfully swaddle my daughter–subsequently, she didn’t start sleeping through the night for MONTHS (rather than weeks!)  It was such a hassle to have to unwrap her, change her, and then wrap her back up again…she was born at the end of December, so it was mighty chilly and she would always wake when taken from the snug confine of her swaddle.  We ended up just ditching the whole swaddle thing only a couple of weeks after birth. 

I am bound and determined to SUCCESSFULLY swaddle this next baby…and I honestly feel as if the DreamSwaddle is going to help me accomplish this!

“So Gina…I have bought XYZ swaddle blankets before and they are all the same…what makes this one so different and great and worth getting?”

Well my friends…I am glad you asked! 

Here is what I LOVE about the design of this particular blanket:

*Made from 100% SOFT cotton

*Easy to firmly wrap baby with inner wings and outer wings that have a “secure Velcro system.”

* (My FAVORITE PART!)  A DOUBLE zipper so you don’t have to unswaddle your infant to change a diaper in the middle of the night!

image taken from DreamSwaddle's facebook fan page

Need more proof on how amazingly cool this swaddle is?  Watch the video below!
 

I have priced the DreamSwaddle on several websites and so far have found the best deal on Ebay.  It sells for $29.99 and has FREE shipping!  (The shipping was also extremely fast!)  I will be sure to do a follow up review for those of you who are interested once baby arrives and we can finally try it out!

Of course – we think it makes a great Christmas gift!

~Gina
The Mom Squad

Tags: baby, baby blanket, easy swaddle, how to swaddle, sleeping baby, swaddle, swaddle blanket, swaddling

Good morning!  What a wonderful Wednesday it is!  I am ESPECIALLY excited about today’s blog because it features a BRAND NEW product that not only promotes and supports breastfeeding, but it’s just flat-out brilliant!  Let’s not waste any time…I bring to you:

The Baby Hobo Convertible Diaper bag by Warm Milk

As an expecting mother who has been through the trials of nursing a baby once already, I am pretty confident in knowing what works and what doesn’t when it comes to breastfeeding.   (Because after all…after we have our first child, we all magically become “experts” in the art of breastfeeding and child-rearing…right? HA-HA!)  During my first few weeks of mommy-hoodem, I found the most challenging and difficult aspect of breastfeeding was positioning my daughter in such a way that would allow for a proper latch.  I never left the house without a boppy—just so I could sit in the back of my SUV and nurse comfortably.  (Okay…only semi-comfortably!)  I wasn’t opposed to nursing in public, but it was simply impossible for me to do for the first 2 months because let’s face it…you can’t carry a boppy around on your back.  (Without getting strange looks anyway!)   This led to less trips out and about with my new baby, and A LOT of cabin fever!  Having a new little person to care for was an adjustment in and of itself, but having to stay home all the time so I could properly and painlessly nurse her became tiresome.  I wanted out!  I needed to SHOP!

Well I’m glad to say that problem is SOLVED!

Since no one can explain this diaper bag better than the brilliant individual who invented it, I will share the description straight from the source!

The Baby Hobo Convertible Diaper Bag 

“Take all the storage and convenience of a fully functional diaper bag and add to it the support and luxurious comfort that a nursing pillow provides. That is the essence of the Baby Hobo Convertible Diaper Bag – wrapped in one lightweight and elegant new design.  Whether you are venturing out to the park for the first time or shuttling the little one off on extended vacation, you can pack light and know that when your baby tells you it’s time to eat, you’ll do it in style and comfort.”

This awesome bag is not only one of the nicest and roomiest of diaper bags, but it also DOUBLES as a nursing pillow!  I will be able to take my daughter to school, dance, and play groups and comfortably be able to nurse my son while I wait on her!  No more cabin fever for this lady!  (Can you tell this is one of those products that I am chomping at the bit to use?!) 

Just to quickly break down the AWESOME things I love about this new bag:

*It has 17 (YES FOLKS, 17!!) pockets  – Gone are the days of digging through the bowels of your bag for a pack of gum, a pacifier, chap stick, cell phone…you name it.  EVERYTHING will have its own place!

*Stroller attachment rings – These guys are already ATTACHED to the bag!  No more stretching the straps of your diaper bag over bulky stroller handles!  (As a matter of fact, Warm Milk has designed their OWN stroller clips and will have them avaliable SOON!)

*Adjustable, padded non-slip shoulder strap – Am I the only one who HATES it when your diaper bag slides off of your shoulder?  This bag is also designed to wear across the chest in a messenger style if you wish.  Can anyone say “hands free?!”

*2 insulated bottle pockets with cinch cords to contain spills – These are GREAT for bottles on the go, or for mommas who pump at work. 

*Cushioned changing pad

*Roomy interior – Because you can NEVER have too much space!

*Coated canvas makes bag easy to clean – I have a toddler…toddlers have sticky fingers.  Problem solved!

*Large buckles for one handed fastening and unfastening – Because when you have children, you learn quickly that you will learn to do most EVERYTHING with only one hand…and usually while balancing on one foot too!

Annnnnd my favorite part!

*A soft, removable and washable pillow which allows for a comfortable nursing surface for your baby.  (Once your baby reaches a certain point, you may find that you no longer need the pillow.  Just pop it out and you are left with yet another HUGE pocket!

The possibilities are literally endless when it comes to this diaper bag.  I have filled it with everything in my toddler bag PLUS the things I keep in my purse, and there is STILL extra room!  (We are talking makeup, sweater, extra change of clothes, 6 diapers, a FULL package of wipes…you get the idea!)  I am pretty sure you will run out of strength in your arm to CARRY the bag before you ever ran out of places to put things!  Who would have ever expected to have such a problem with a diaper bag?! 

Feeling lucky?!

Warm Milk has VERY graciously offered to host this week’s giveaway!  One lucky blog reader will have the opportunity to take home this AMAZING diaper bag in the color Lavender Leaves — along with a matching nursing cover from one of our Etsy favorites!    

HOW TO ENTER

Check out Warm Milk’s website here:  www.warmmilk.com and leave a comment below telling us what your favorite aspect of this diaper bag is!  (Think it’d make a great gift?  Love to try it out yourself?  LET US KNOW!) 

Additional entries:

• Become a FAN of Warm Milk on Facebook  & leave a comment below letting us know!
• Tweet, Tweet?  Follow Warm Milk on Twitter & comment again separately to tell us you also follow them on Twitter.
• Retweet about this contest and comment letting us know you RT’d!  You can RT once per day until the contest ends Sunday so that’s 5 more chances to win!  (copy/paste to share it with your tweeps): Check out the @warmmilkinc convertible diaper bag (w/ #travel nursing pillow) @ the @byebyewithbaby blog & enter 2 win! http://bit.ly/fLTvrM    

  The lucky winner will be drawn SUNDAY and shared in our blog! 
  Goodluck!

~Gina
The Mom Squad

*The Mom Squad will verify additional entries through facebook and twitter before using random.org to randomly select the winner.  BBwB does not share, sell, or distribute your e-mail address with any third parties or businesses.  In the event that you are selected as the winner, BBwB will contact you directly.

***********Contest has ended!  Congrats to our winner & thanks to everyone for entering!*********

Tags: bfing, Breastfeeding, breastfeeding in public, diaper bag, nursing in public, nursing pillow diaper bag, nursing rooms, travel bag, traveling, traveling with baby, traveling with family, warm milk

Favorite seller:  http://www.etsy.com/shop/Sweetiebugs
Etsy feedback rating:  37, 100% positive
What she sells:  Blankets, quilts, pillowcases, pillows, gift sets, burp cloths, and mini quilts
Custom requests:  YES

Have you ever come across someone and just thought, “Wow…We should TOTALLY be friends?”  Well, this was how I felt when I re-introduced myself to the owner of Sweetiebugs-Christie.  You see, a couple of years ago, I found an ADORABLE chenille blanket at an AMAZING price on Etsy…and although the seller only had a few items listed…and I would be her first sale…I HAD TO HAVE THAT BLANKET, lol!  I received the item shortly after my purchase.  It was (and still is!) one of the most adorable and beautiful things I have seen!   It still looks the same as the day we got it in the mail…and that’s after a couple of years of steady use and washing.

Amazing, right?!

But I digress…

Recently, a friend of mine was searching for a custom blanket to give to her two girls from her third child who is due at the beginning of February.  I immediately went to my Etsy page to look up the seller I had come across those two years ago–and what do ya know…she was still open and ready for business!  Not only that, but her shop was filled with even MORE adorableness!  (I’m not sure if that’s a word…but for the sake of today’s blog…it is! )   I quickly decided that I loved her work all over again and hurriedly contacted her to see if I could talk her into making me an adorable blanket for my son.  We called this project, “Project Cutest Blanket Ever (PCBE).  (No…really…we did, lol! )

Christie is seriously one of the nicest, most easy going, FUNNY, and fun ladies I have met!  We corresponded via Etsy messages several times–plotting and planning the blanket—and it truly is a work of art!  She went out of her way to hunt down different shades of chenille to find the one that matched the fabric I wanted…and even special ordered the Michael Miller print I just HAD to have.  Talk about going above and beyond!  Her shipping is super fast, and she makes sure the blanket is covered completely to keep it safe from the elements. (Well…and so it will fit in the box, lol!)

If you are in the market for something handmade and FABULOUS, defiantly shoot Christie a message on Etsy!  I PROMISE you will NOT be disappointed!  Now…check out my awesome blanket!

**Come back tomorrow to read about the COOLEST, most creative DIAPER BAG you have EVER seen!  Oh…and did I mention a GIVEAWAY?!  Yeah buddy!

~Gina
The Mom Squad

Tags: baby blanket, baby gift, baby shower gift, blanket, custom baby blanket, etsy, personalized baby blanket

HO! HO! HO! And a Merry Christmas to all of our wonderful blog readers!  This is my favorite time of year…for MANY reasons!  My wedding anniversary is in December, my daughter is a December baby, my birthday is mid-January and we are expecting our son sometime at the end of January.  (Can you hear my husband’s wallet screaming? har har!)  Winter truly is the happiest season! 

While the true meaning of Christmas is not that of presents or of Santa Claus, many of us find ourselves in a tizzy trying to find the perfect gifts for our friends and loved ones.  Mommies-to-be can be especially difficult to shop for during this time because their focus has shifted from what items they might enjoy for themselves, to items that they will need for their new bundle of joy!   Take it from me, when we say, “Oh I really don’t need or want anything for myself this year.  If you feel the need to do something, I would love XYZ for the new baby!” –We REALLY mean it!  It’s not a ploy to trick or tease!  (Regardless of what my husband thinks, lol!)

With this in mind, I have compiled a list of my “mommy must-haves” to share with mommies, daddies, grannies, friends and relatives alike.  Throughout the week, I will introduce items that I have used with my first child, as well as a couple of new items that I am chomping at the bit to use with my son once he is born!  In true BBwB fashion, there will be a giveaway…and if I am not mistaken…It is our biggest yet!

To kick off my list of favorites, I bring to you:  Lilypadz!

(Say what?  What the heck is a Lilypad?  Why do I want them and where can I get them?)

Well friends, Lilypadz are what I consider to be the godfather of all nursing pads!  I was first introduced to them by a fellow Army wife after complaining on a message board about “leaking issues.”  (Those of you who have nursed before are nodding your heads…and those who have not are probably scratching yours and wondering what this “leaking” is of which I speak.)  You see, once a mother’s milk comes in, she no longer has any control over that particular part of her body.  At any random moment (usually at the most inopportune times!) a nursing mother can experience “let down” and unless she is well prepared, she will find herself in a very natural, yet very awkward situation. 

After trying disposable pads, I decided I could do without the annoying crunchy feeling against my already tender skin.  I then moved to soft fleece pads.  These were nice, but they had to be laundered, and also left a very noticeable “ring around the rosie” if you will.  I was at a loss…until I tried the Lilypadz.

From the Lilypadz website: 
“LilyPadz® are a patented, innovative nursing pad made of a skin-like layer of silicone. The unique design of LilyPadz® maintains pressure on the nipple while in place and forms a non-absorbent barrier that actually PREVENTS breast milk leakage. No more inconvenient pad exchanges, and both you and your clothes stay dry!”

Lilypadz can be purchased at Motherhood and Target stores– and are also avaliable at numerous places online.  I recently found them on Amazon for 50% off of the retail price!  Because they are reusable, there are some cleaners and wipes that may be purchased alongside the pads to extend the life of adhesive.  

If you are looking for a great stocking stuffer or shower gift for a mommy-to-be, be sure to keep Lilypadz in mind!  

Stocking Stuffer!

Come back for tomorrows pick!  I will be featuring one of my all-time favorite Etsy sellers!

~Gina
The Mom Squad

Tags: breast fed, Breastfeeding, disposable nursing pads, lilypadz, nursing, nursing pads, reusable nursing pads, washable nursing pads

5 HOLIDAY TRAVEL TIPS
from The Mom Squad

1. Have a PACKING LIST
When it comes to packing for an extended trip, it’s easy to forget a few things here and there.  Our best advice?  Make a list – or better yet, print a checklist (this ensures someone else has wracked their brain thinking of every little thing) or download a packing application!
Our favorite resource for travel lists: www.travelmamas.com 
They have various lists (airplane travel, school-aged children, packing for babies…) as well as lists of places to rent baby gear!

Our favorite packing app: www.babypackandgo.com ($.99 in iTunes)    
This app has great packing lists specifically for parents (TONS of baby items in the catalog to add to your list as well as the option to customize!)  Also has a “task reminder” feature that can help you schedule feedings, diaper changes, naptimes, and etc.!

2. Know where you’re going!
There is nothing worse than getting lost in an airport or missing your exit during the busiest travel-time of the year!  For this reason, we suggest you take a little time to check out the airport you’re traveling through by visiting http://www.byebyewithbaby.com/ and entering the airport name (or code.)  You will find a link to the airport’s website, the locations of changing tables, nursing rooms, and play areas, as well as information from other parents who have visited (hints that may make your travels easier!)  If you’re driving to your destination, get familiar with your route – research and plan stops along with way (if possible) so that you aren’t scrambling to find a clean bathroom in the middle of nowhere!  Our website can help you find clean gas stations, nursing rooms, and diaper changing stations along the way- when every minute on the road counts; take advantage of making a multi-purpose stop!

3. Pick up items AT YOUR DESTINATION
Travels with two children under the age of three taught me very quickly that the back of my SUV, while seemingly huge – becomes a Tetris game once loading the car begins.  For this reason, we started packing one diaper-bag’s worth of items (three diapers, travel wipes, a pull up for my oldest, and a few snacks) then stopped in once we arrived wherever we were going to get the full week of supplies.  Diapers, wipes, baby food jars, toddler snacks, apple juice… even formula if need-be!  You can search our website to find a grocery-store at your destination – if you can head out to shop after you unpack, you could even pick up items you may have forgotten!

4. When it comes to TOYS, think like a KID
Ever notice how much your child adores a wooden spoon and a plastic bowl?  This serves as a great reminder that just about anything can be a toy when they use their imagination!  We usually pack one or two toys for each child (put in their respective backpacks) for in the car play and while we are on vacation.  Packing a bag full of toys usually leads to lost or misplaced toys – so pack lightly (let them choose which two they want to bring!)

5. Portable DVD / Movie Player / Game Systems
I go back and forth on this topic all the time – while I know parents survived for many years without playing movies in the car, we live in a world where these things have been made possible for a reason!  For long drives (and flights) – I absolutely see purpose in playing a movie to keep a child’s attention directed at something other than “are we there yet?”  While I feel like my two are too young for a handheld game system, there are a few apps I have downloaded on my iPhone that I’ve used to stop the screaming when we were stuck behind a train and my patience was wearing thin!
Our new favorite iPhone app for kids: We Wish You A Merry Christmas Lite (free in iTunes)

If you need help to ease your travel woes, don’t hesitate to email us!  themomsquad@byebyewithbaby.com  We’ll find a solution somehow – together, we’ll make traveling a breeze!

Tags: baby app, diaper changing table locations, family travel, grocery store finder, holiday travel, iphone app, nursing room finder, packing app, packing list, portable dvd player