When you are going on vacation or travelling for the holidays, you need a strategy to bring along enough toys for a small child without having to pack a whole suitcase for every toy your child has touched within the past year.

We have travelled overseas a lot with our children, and we had to figure out over time what worked well for us. Each child’s needs can be different, so be sure that you are sensitive to what your child will experience on vacation and how best to balance the comfort of familiar toys with the excitement of travel and new experiences. As your children get older they are better able to take what comes on a trip, but they still need a few comfort items. As we get ready for a month-long trip over the holidays, we’ve started talking about what we need to take with us.

These are a few of the ways we have kept the balance of toys under control as we travel.

Take Comfort Toys

Each of my children has gone through stages of needing particular toys, pillows, blankets, and books with them. The soothing effect of having these is worth the space it takes to pack them. If your child talks, you might ask, “Which toys do you need to have with you at grandma’s house?” If this results in two important toys, perfect. If you have 21 stuffed animals, board games, and giant pillows lined up, work to narrow the choice down to a few. The younger a child, the higher stimulation an unfamiliar place might bring on. Familiar comfort toys encourage some down time to recover before heading back into the adventure.

Take Creative, Quiet Toys

Whether you will be travelling by public transport or in your own car is important in determining what kind of toys you need. Dings and beeps and clickity-clacks don’t work so well on a plane, when other passengers are already looking sideways at you, wondering if your child is going to disturb them. Quiet toys that hold the attention work well on the plane. This might mean cloth books, drawing materials, fuzzy felt story scenes with movable characters, finger puppets, or other small, soft toys that encourage long periods of play but won’t create more noise if they are banged on a tray. If you are driving, the noise level depends on what the other passengers can handle. A noisy, singalong car trip certainly has its appeal.

Play with Daddy’s Old Toys

Whether you are stopping in with the grandparents for an extended stay or just for Thanksgiving weekend, you children will likely be interested to know what you played with when you were their age. Of course, this only works if your parents haven’t cleared out those old toys years ago. In my husband’s family, they have generation after generation of toys still out, from Dobbin the mid-19th century rocking horse (whom all grandchildren ride) to bagatelle, a pinball game from the 1920s, and Granny’s own dolls from the 1940s. If you are travelling home for the holidays, ask your parents or parents-in-law to gather a few old toys that your children might be interested in. It’s great fun to watch as your children realize you really were their age long, long ago.

Encourage exploration

You don’t always want your child to be focused down on a toy. Encourage looking around, watching people, taking in the scenery, even just looking at license plates. Not every moment has to include toys for entertainment. At Granny and Grandpa’s house, my kids create a whole new world of games in the huge garden, and they spend time talking, reading, and exploring with their grandparents. We don’t want to recreate home on vacation, but we do want to have a few familiar toys to give a child an anchor during the adventure of travel.

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If you are preparing for airport travel over the holidays, consider wearing your baby rather than pushing a stroller. It is much easier to move through a crowd, and your baby will likely be happier up near the faces in the crowd rather than surrounded by a sea of legs.

Very young children might be bothered by the busy-ness and crowds at the airport. Babywearing gives your child a place to tuck into a familiar space and hide against you. Or, for a more adventurous child, babywearing gives your baby a good vantage point to see all of the excitement.

Choose a carrier that is very easy to get on and off. You may need to remove it at security and carry your baby through in your arms. Some parents find that they are allowed to wear an all-cloth carrier (like a mei tai), but you will certainly have to remove a ring sling because of the metal rings. Be prepared just in case.

Choose a carrier that is comfortable. If you have to stand for a long period of time or if you plan to wear the carrier on a long flight, you will be glad you considered comfort. I wore a ring sling on every flight with a baby, and it was very easy to nurse or get up without too much fuss.

Front carry or back carry? You might find back carry easier as you check in or claim bags, but a front carrier will make it easy to just scoot into your seat if you are flying with your baby on your lap. A baby carrier that makes either easy is a good choice for air travel.

Greet the flight attendant. I think I’ve already told the story of me getting hassled for holding my baby in a sling on my lap on an Air Canada cattle car from Toronto to London. If you are going to have your baby on your lap, my advice is to board early and make sure the flight attendant sees your carrier and knows how you are going to use it. It’s better than having them threaten to turn around because you are a breastfeeding, babywearing threat to the flight. (I got to have a chat with the pilot while I defiantly breastfed. They didn’t turn around.) I understand that most flight attendants are better informed about breastfeeding on a plane now, especially to relieve ear pressure during take off, but just prepare yourself to calmly explain your carrier to avoid an incident.

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I hear parents afraid of flying with cloth diapers. They’re only little pieces of cloth—nothing to be afraid of. Whether you are going to wash your own diapers once you arrive at your destination or use a diaper service while you are there, you really can do it!

If you can camp with cloth diapers, you can fly with cloth diapers. No problem. Just plan for the tight space in your bag and the tight space for changing diapers. You and your baby will be clean and happy when you arrive.

Essentials for Flying with Cloth Diapers

Wet Bag

Don’t choose just any old bag or a plastic grocery bag. You need a wet bag with sealed seams because this is going in your carry-on luggage with all of your purse and the novel you never quite get to and your snacks. Make it a really reliable wet bag. The Bummis Fabulous Zippered Wet Bag is double seamed on three sides, and the small size is perfect to hold 3-4 diapers

Simple, Flat Diapers

Don’t use your all-in-one diapers on the plane. They will be more bulky to carry and more difficult to get clean once you arrive. Simple diapers, flats or prefolds, will be the least bulky, since you will likely be able to reuse the cover. Flats are the easiest diapers to clean because you only need to force soap and water through one layer. They rinse easily. Unless you know you will have access to a great washing machine, go with hand-washable diapers on the plane.

Wipe-clean Covers

No matter what covers you use at home, for travel you might find it convenient to have covers that are easy to wipe clean. Bummis Super Brite covers are lightweight and easy to wipe clean because the inside layer is just laminated polyester. It won’t absorb messes. These covers also come in cute colors and patterns, so you might find yourself with a conversation starter if other passengers watch you change diapers.

Spray Bottle

If you need to pack your bottle empty to get through security, you can still fill it in the restroom once you are on the other side. Just be sure that you have an easy way to clean up messes. Hope for no messes, but be prepared. If you travel enough, a big, messy diaper will certainly happen while you are on the plane. Armed with a bag full of dry, reusable wipes, a spray bottle, natural hand sanitizer, and an extra set of clothes, you can tackle anything.

Choose the Front Row

For diaper changes, I found kneeling on the floor in the front row so much easier than juggling a baby between parents in the cramped rows further back. Changing diapers in a tiny airplane toilet is even more difficult. The front row with a big changing pad will make diaper changes much easier.

Pack Your Confidence and Good Attitude

The best advice for travelling with cloth diapers comes from parents who have done it. Don’t let someone who hasn’t used cloth diapers on the road tell you it’s too hard. When the Real Diaper Association (RDA) asked their members for their best travel tips, one mother said, “I am so glad that I decided to travel with cloth. It was much easier than I had anticipated, and when it was over, I felt accomplished.” RDA compiled the best cloth diaper travel tips from parents into one sheet. You can even read all of the original cloth diaper travel tips for details.

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1. Bring New, Interesting Baubles

When we travel overseas to see Granny and Grandpa, we test all patience. My first piece of advice for very long flights is to fly overnight and make sure no one naps before the plane lifts off.

For daytime flights, my strategy has always been to bring one interesting new thing per hour of flight time, without repeats for the flight home. A couple of one-trick toys might be fine, but creative toys, like crayons, might hold attention longer. Just make sure you have enough variety to delight and hold your child’s attention. I found planning new baubles for young children to be one of the most important pre-flight preparations.

2. Pack Snacks

The tiny bag of peanuts or cookies you get on the plane might not be enough to hold over a toddler for hours. You probably don’t need as much variety with snacks as with toys, but the general idea is similar. Have several different snacks, and don’t keep bringing out the same one each time your child is hungry.

3. Prepare Reusable Wipes

Messes will happen. You will need to wipe up, so take a bag of dry wipes and a small (less than 3 oz.) spray bottle. You can leave the bottle empty and fill it with water on the plane to make things even easier, but just be sure that you have the means to clean up easily.

4. Have Natural Hand Sanitizer

Being in such prolonged close quarters with dozens or hundreds of other people makes this is an appropriate time to use your natural hand sanitizer, like Clean George.

5. Dress in Comfortable Clothes

Soft, cotton will not pull or pinch, and layers let you adjust to variable temperature. Pajamas with sweater, hat, and socks are perfect.

6. Bring Something to Suck

Before air pressure equalizes during air travel, we often feel a little pain before the pop. For children, the tighter ear space can cause more pain. It helps to swallow, so encourage your child to breastfeed, drink from a sippy cup, suck on hard candy, or chew gum.

7. Check National Security Sites

Travel rules keep changing, so familiarize yourself with the rules for every country you will be travelling in.

• Canadian Air Transport Security Authority, “Travelling with Infants and Small Children.”
• U.S. Transportation Security Administration, “Traveling with Kids.”

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Adding a few buckles and snaps to a Mei Tai, with some extra padding and structure, will give you a soft-pack or “buckle” baby carrier. Soft structured baby carriers include the popular Ergo Baby Carrier, a favorite for Dad, as well as the hip-carrying baby carriers that are gaining in popularity for toddlers and older babies. Just because baby is getting bigger, doesn’t mean you have to stop carrying them!

A structured baby carrier evenly distributes the weight of your baby across both shoulders and hips, making it comfortable to carry for long periods of time. Most parents find they can carry a baby, especially a heavy toddler, the longest in a structured carrier. Our best-selling Ergo Baby Carrier can be used with a baby more than 40lbs and the Beco Butterfly II can be worn with a child up to 50lbs.

Because the tiniest babies need more support for head and neck, a structured soft pack carrier is best for an older baby with head control (3 months+).

With their comfort, ease of use and mainstream appeal, it’s easy to see why soft-structured baby carriers are so popular among parents. If you do a great deal of walking or hiking with your baby, this is the baby carrier to choose.

This post is part of a series in which we give an overview of baby carrier styles, comparing the specific baby carriers available within each style. Despite the variety of baby carriers on the market today, nearly all fall into one of four basic styles.

• Baby Wraps
• Baby Slings (includes pouch slings and ring slings)
• Mei Tai Baby Carriers
• Soft Pack Baby Carriers

Soft Pack Buckle Carriers

Advantages

• easy to use
• ergonomic, so weight is evenly distributed to hips
• very supportive
• usually Dad’s favorite
• high resale value

Disadvantages

• not usually recommended for newborns who cannot hold their heads up well (3 mo +)
• does not fold compact for travel or in a diaper bag
• can be more expensive due to the amount of workmanship required in their manufacturing

Soft Pack Baby Carriers Compared

BabyHawk Oh Snap Baby Carrier
Style: Soft Structure Baby Carrier
Age: 15lbs to 45lbs
Carrying Positions: Front (in or out), Back

Beco Baby Carrier, Beco Butterfly II
Style: Soft Structured Baby Carrier
Age: Suitable for newborn to 50+ lbs
Carrying Positions: Tummy to Tummy, Back Carry
Origin: Made in the USA and China

Gemini Beco Baby Carrier
Style: Soft Structured Carrier
Age: Newborn to 35+ lbs
Carrying Positions: Tummy to Tummy, Back, Hip
Origin: Made in the USA and China

Ergo Baby Carrier also in Sport Style
Style: Soft-Pack Structured Baby Carrier
Age: Suitable for newborn (with infant insert) to 40lbs
Carrying Positions: Front (infant to toddler), Hip, Back (with older baby only)

Ergo Performance Baby Carrier
Style: Soft-Pack Structured Baby Carrier, light and durable for activities
Age: Newborn to toddler
Carrying Positions: Back, Front, and Hip

FreeHand Baby Carrier
Style: Soft Structured Carrier
Age: Newborn to 35lbs
Carrying Positions: Front (facing in or out), Newborn carry, Back carry

Pikkolo Baby Carrier
Style: Hybrid Mei Tai & Soft Structured Carrier (A Mei Tai with Buckles!)
Age: Newborn to 40 lbs
Carrying Positions: Forward Facing In or OUT, Hip & Back Carrying

Scootababy Hip Baby Carrier
Style: Soft Structured Hip Carrier; a cross between a Mei Tai & a Sling
Age: From head control (approx. 5 months) to 40 lbs (toddler)
Carrying Positions: Tummy to Tummy, Hip/Side, Back (short periods)

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If you are going camping with your baby, you may be wondering about the logistics of diapering. Yes, you can use cloth diapers while camping! Many parents are willing to share their experience to help you succeed.

Steps to your cloth diaper camping success include WHAT to take, HOW to wash, and what to do if you run out of diapers.

WHAT Diapers to Take Camping

When I wrote about camping with cloth diapers last year, I was more open to prefolds. I suggested prefolds or flats will work. The more I read about camping success with flat cloth diapers, I am shifting to all-out flat diaper advocacy.

Take flat cloth diapers camping!

These are the easiest diapers to get clean because they are just one big layer of absorbent cotton. Flat diapers are cotton gauze or birdseye squares from 27″x27″ to 36″x36″ with a flat, finished edge—a lot like a large, absorbent dish towel. Or give the Hemp/Cotton flat cloth diapers at bynature.ca a try – a wonderful alternative to traditional flats that are only 2-layers left open at one end for easy washing and drying.

• 30-40 flat diapers. If you are ambitious about washing every day, make it 20. If you have an older child who doesn’t need frequent changes, you can take fewer diapers. You can double the diapers for nighttime.
• 4-6 covers.
• 30-40 cloth wipes.
• A spray bottle for water to wet the wipes and the baby’s bottom
• 3 wet bags. 1 bag for clean diapers (can be used to hold dirties in an emergency), 1 bag for wet-only diapers, and 1 bag for soiled diapers.

Yes, other types of diapers than flats will work. If you are only camping for a weekend and don’t plan to wash diapers while camping, use your regular cloth diapers. Just keep in mind that the longer diapers sit without washing, the harder it will be to get them clean when you get home. You may need hotter water, more rinsing, or an extra wash.

HOW to Wash Cloth Diapers While Camping

If you are only camping for a weekend, you may not need or want to wash diapers while you are away. If you are camping for a week, though, you would defeat the purpose of reusability if you had to buy 75 diapers just to cover a week (barely). Wash! It’s not difficult.

If you will be washing diapers while camping, add to your packing list:

• Travel-sized biodegradable laundry detergent. Be sure it is phosphate free.
• If you are traveling by car, bring a bucket. I have found that a 5-gallon bucket is perfect for dirty diapers. You can use it as both diaper pail and wash basin. If you aren’t traveling by car, you will still need to have some way to hold water to wash the diapers.
• Rope for clothesline
• Clothes pins

If you aren’t washing diapers while out, make sure you have a large, laundry-sized wet bag.

First of all, dump the poop. Whatever facilities you use for yourself, dump the baby’s poop there. That’s a lot better plan than keeping a wet bag full of poop hanging in your tent. This way, you get rid of a lot of the waste before it smashes and soaks into the diapers.

The next choice, how to clean. You can just swish the diapers in bucket of warm, soapy water, but you probably won’t get the diapers reliably clean that way. To kill any micro-creatures that are trying to live in the diapers, you can boil them—just like my grandmother did. You can see a great photo and a description of boiling diapers while camping in EnviroJon’s post linked below.

If boiling isn’t an option, flat diapers become even more important because you can clean them so much more easily than diapers with multiple layers. Swish them, agitate them, beat them, and knead them like bread. Do whatever you have to do to get the diapers clean.

Don’t use too much soap, since it will be more difficult to rinse when camping.

You may have to rinse a couple of times until the water is clear.

Finally, hang to dry. You can drape flat diapers over rocks or in trees, or you can pin them to a clothesline. A breeze will soften the diapers a bit, but you can take care of that softening by hand by rolling the diapers around a bit to help the cotton fibers flex post-wash.

Bother! I Ran out of Cloth Diapers While Camping

Diapers do a simple job: they soak up pee and hold in poop. Anything absorbent will do this job. If you run out of cloth diapers while camping, you have a choice: wash the diapers or borrow other absorbent items from around camp.

If you start borrowing and you have quite a young (small) baby, your husband’s socks (or your socks, for diapering dads) might do the job if the are cotton or mostly cotton. You wouldn’t want to use your own, so just tell him his were bigger so you had to. A big cotton tube sock can be folded over to make a narrow but quite absorbent diaper.

For a bigger baby, you need to make a wider poop catcher. You may need to resort to T-shirts. I have tried this. It’s such a simple diapering solution! Lay the shirt out with the neck at the top. If the shirt is wide (anything but a small women’s shirt), you may need to fold the shirt over then back open again leaving a wide strip down the middle with triple shirt layers (6 layers of fabric). This is a bit like a prefold. If the shirt is long, fold down the hem toward the neck. Fold in the sides much the way you would when folding a prefold. Put the baby on the new diaper, and tuck or tie the sleeves at the waist. If you use a small T-shirt, the diaper will be snug without a cover. If you have pre-folded the shirt, you will need a cover to keep it from unfolding and falling off.

For a bonus, put the back of the T-shirt toward the baby’s bottom and any logo from the chest of the T-shirt will be on the baby’s bottom.

There are also the options of moss and cattail fluff. Native peoples of North America used whatever absorbent material was a hand for the simple job of catching baby waste. In my area, that means cattail fluff. It’s sticky. I could work for you if you have a layer next to baby’s skin, but it would be a big mess to scrap poopy fluff off your baby’s bottom. It’s not a great option, but it’s an option. If you are adventurous enough to camp for weeks with a baby, maybe you want to try it. If you are going to try it, consider a silk liner next to the skin.

Who Has Camped with Cloth Diapers?

Check out EnviroJon’s great photos of boiling cloth diapers in a stock pot on a camp stove and drying diapers on a line outside the tent.

AutumnB’s video talks you through a diaper change in her pop-up camper. She was only gone for a few days, so she put the dirty diapers in a wet bag to wash when she arrived home. She uses a nice-looking, snug wool cover, so YES! you can use wool while camping.

Jessica of VeryBaby took cloth diapers camping with no wash facilities. She has a lot of tips and advice to make it work.

Image © Paulburns | Dreamstime.com

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Hiking with baby is one thing but camping with a baby? Sure! You plan, you pack, and you adjust your expectations.

Practice Camping. If you aren’t quite sure whether you or your baby are ready, try a backyard camp out with all of your gear to see if you have what you need. This may also be a way to ease your baby or toddler into the idea of camping if you haven’t tried it before.

In addition to your own camping gear, you will need baby gear for camping.

Food

• Baby food or grinder (if child is eating solid foods)
• Sippy cup (if child is drinking water)
• Snacks (again, if)
• Bibs

Clothes

• Extra clothes with an emphasis on layers
• Cotton shirts that snap at the crotch
• Hoodie (to keep the neck covered)
• Hats
• Pajamas (footie pajamas mean fewer chances for creepy crawlies up the legs)
• Clothesline

Diapers

• Diapers
• Diaper Covers
• Wipes
• Wet bags
• Spray bottle
• Natural hand sanitizer

Grooming

• Bath tub (so you can use warmer water than you might in a cold shower or stream)
• Grooming items like tweezers and nail clippers

Baby carrier

• Backpack carrier for hiking
• Sling or soft carrier for around camp

Toys

• Her favorite blanket or toy
• Games and toys
• Rattles or chew toys (if you can tie it to your pack, even better)
• Storybooks
• Waterproof blanket to create a play area

Safety

• First aid kit – add baby items
• Whistle (3 years +)

Toddlers may need more activities

• His own flashlight
• Paper
• Pencils and crayons
• Books
• Buckets and shovels
• Containers like old yogurt cups to collect rocks and sticks

Image © Davidebner | Dreamstime.com

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If you want your children to care about what happens with the environment, nurture their connection with nature from the time they are very small. If you are a hiker, you may be ready to get back out there WITH your baby. With a few planning considerations, safety precautions, and the right gear, you and your baby or young children can have a great time hiking.

My husband and I have hiked with our children since they were tiny. Now, the children have their favorite spots that they want to visit over and over. This past holiday weekend, my husband and son went hiking up to 10,000 feet above sea level. They both saw their first rattlesnake, and they spent a long time watching the pikas pop up (like whack-a-mole my son informs me). Last week we saw on IMAX The Wildest Dream, a documentary about a 1924 attempt to climb Mount Everest, and we’ve been flying around Everest on the Google Earth flight simulator for days. But, they wanted to get into the mountains themselves. Hiking was inevitable this weekend. And, hiking is so easy with a 10-year old. I’m glad we started early taking our children on walks and hikes.

Considerations

I don’t need to tell you that things are different now with a baby. That doesn’t mean you need to stay home, but it does mean you will see things differently. A bit of scrambling when you were hiking without another person on your back will not seem like such a great idea now. As a matter of fact, don’t hike with a newborn. They are too sensitive to sun exposure to take the risk. Give it a month then go out.

The landscape is different, so change your view to match. Ask other active parents where they like to go. Hiking doesn’t have to mean big changes in elevation or narrow paths. Just make it somewhere that is interesting to see, hear, smell, and touch for both of you. If your child is at that curious toddler / preschooler age, prepare to stop—a lot!

In summer, start early morning or late afternoon to beat the heat. You can build up to longer hikes at warmer times, but give yourself a better chance for the win first time out.

Go with a plan to be flexible. If things go well, stay out for a while. Have a short version planned in case not everyone is happy with the situation. Prepare yourself in mind and gear to improvise.

Safety

• Choose a trail that requires no more attention than you can give with a child along.
• Sun Protection - Whether physical (shirt and hat) or chemical (sunscreen), be sure that you protect yourselves from the sun. Watch the tips of ears and noses and backs of necks especially.
• Stay hydrated – Bring plenty of water and drink it. Remind your child to drink it, or, if you are breastfeeding, you drink it while you stop to feed the baby.
• No running – Especially if you take a toddler or curious preschooler, make sure they understand that there is no running if you are hiking in a place where they could tumble any distance.
• Safety whistle – For a child old enough to blow, you may want to give him a safety whistle to wear around his neck. Make sure he understands that this if only for blowing if he needs help.
• Leaves of three, leave them be – Teach your child about plants, starting with the ones to avoid and continuing through “No, darling, we don’t put those in our mouths.”
• First aid kit – Be sure you have a small, basic first aid kit with some kid additions in your pack.

Gear

Snacks & Water
Bring enough not only for the child but for the breastfeeding mother. Keep hydrated!

Sun & Bug Protection
Lightweight, long sleeved-shirt and a hat helps with both, but you may need sunscreen and some kind of natural bug deterrent.

Baby Carrier
The right baby carrier depends on the age of your child and the length of your hike. For a baby who still needs neck support (up to about 6 months), a front baby carrier will work well. For an older baby or toddler, a back pack gives you the best balance and freedom and gives the child the best view. Even for a child who wants to walk part of the time, you may need to have a sturdy framed back pack baby carrier to carrier your child at times until she becomes a stronger hiker.

Explorer Gear
For my son who loves machines that go ping, this means compass and magnifying glass. For my daughter the digger, a trowel and a bag to carry rocks. Whatever explorer gear your curious child is likely to need, make sure you have a few tools to help them feed their curiosity.

Camera
You will all want to remember this.

Diapers
Flat cloth diapers. So many people I know are talking about flat diapers for travel this past week, and I’ll talk about that later this week. Leave the poop behind and make carrying diapers easy on yourself by taking the simplest diapers of all.

Blanket
Use a blanket to cover baby from sunlight and heat. Useful as a changing pad, too.

Clothes
Bring another layer (jacket or shirt) and another complete set of clothes. If watching a toddler in wet pants try to hike with a super-wide stance down the trail sucks the fun out of the experience for you, imagine how much less fun it is for the toddler.

With a little planning and a great attitude, you can help your baby love the outdoors as much as you do.

Image © Mangroove | Dreamstime.com

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