- Take the time to count your daily diaper usage for a few days before your trip. We could have halved the number of diapers we took.
- Apparently the TSA has to check one of each KIND of baby food puree you bring through. Our DIA guy was nice and told us he would check only one out of three kinds (Beechnut jars, Gerber tubs, and an individual applesauce cup). We also could have checked all but one jar for the flight, but we were keeping the food together.
- If you are lucky enough to get a seat for your baby, use it with the carseat facing forward. We did rear-facing on the way out. Although it was nice to have Jack facing me, his car seat was very upright and we were still restricting the chair in front of him. On the way home we put it front facing. He had a lot of room to recline and no one in front or behind him was restricted. With the cramped upright seat to Boston he slept 45 minutes, with lots of head lolling and furrowed brows. With the reclined seat to Denver he slept 2.5 hours with that blissful pale baby face.
- We need to teach Jack to drink with a straw. That’s how restaurants serve him water, and it would be so much neater than his sip and spit method from a cup.
- When you have two sleep sacks and one has been used for a week and one has been freshly laundered, take the dirty one. We took the clean one. Not sure if it would have made a big difference, but he was pretty freaked out about the strange room and strange crib. A familiar scent on his blanket could have been soothing.
- We need to teach Jack to leave place mats and plates alone. We cleared his table space like we do at home when we ate out. It’s works, but I felt embarrassed for the mess he leaves on the table.
- Umbrella strollers rock for travel.
Hey, Serin's sister here. Not sure if I've commented before, but I've been silently stalking your blog.
Anyway, have you heard of the Tiny Diner? It might solve your eating out problem. I think they're really cool.
I also liked the tip about letting your kid face forward. Why didn't I think of that?
Thanks for commenting! I love having lurkers. The Tiny Diner looks pretty cool, but I think Jack could rip it off the table. Some reviewers said their kids do that too. And btw, I seriously do not understand placemats. I guess they are for the after three years old camp?