Best Travel Tips for New Parents

Traveling with family is rewarding but getting to the destination can be grueling. To lighten the load in preparation and enjoy the plane ride I have a few tried and true travel hacks for parents with small children. You will nurture the idea of travel being easy and fun the more you travel with your little one. As your child grows travel will foster independence, teach responsibility, patience and adaptability-all wonderful traits to learn and practice through life.

Pack in advance- As you’re doing laundry a month or so before your trip create a space in your laundry room or in a closet to queue up items to be packed for each individual. Buy suncreen, pull out the sunglasses & their case. Begin gathering other toiletries that need to be packed as well. This space will be your landing pad when items return home from the store. If your child had a recent growth spurt make playtime a fun “fashion show” and check that clothes are still suitable. Trying on existing pieces will help build your shopping list for anything you need to purchase for upcoming trip. Buying items at home is more affordable that purchases at a resort location where prices are jacked up for tourists. Be smart about what to pack and what to buy when you arrive at destination.

Pack a day(10) or two of diapers and buy the remainder at destination so you’re not taking up valuable space in the suitcase.

Purchase a travel stroller with backpack! You will use this stroller for years to come. Our City Tour stroller lasted us 9 months to 7 years. You want a travel stroller that works for you; not one that makes extra work. Choose a sturdy and compact travel stroller that will not need disassembled at the gate while balancing your coffee. Make sure your travel stroller comes with a travel bag. Our City Tour by Baby Jogger came with a backpack that it slides into and fits in overhead bin. The City Tour backpack fits the stroller and in the winter we can stuff a coat or two in as well.

Traveling teaches children culture, flexibility and how to adapt in new environments.

Keep your carry-on lightweight- I get you want to carry-on everything and not have to deal with baggage claim but hear me out. Once you dump everything at curbside check-in(around $4 a bag) you have hands free to hold a coffee & your little one if needed. The lighter you keep your carry-on the lighter you will feel.

The City Tour Stroller by Baby Jogger has traveled the world, is lightweight to carry up and down stairs and conveniently folds up into overhead bin carry-on size backpack. The City Tour stroller backpack can fit a few additional items after the stroller has been packed up such as jackets for on flight storage making it super handy.

Best Baby Shower Gifts

So many people receive that Baby Shower invite and head straight to the store to wrap up a cute outfit or trend of the season stuffed animal but the truth is baby showers could be even better if the gifts given could help support mom and baby on a deeper level.

Baby and Me Yoga Class at Mothership Launchpad Chicago

Best Baby Shower Gift Ideas:

-Diapers. Absolute best gift is diapers because they are the most needed item for a baby from birth for at least the next two years. You cannot go wrong gifting diapers to any couple with a newborn, infant or one year old. The gift that keeps on giving. ProTip is to write some encouraging notes or jokes on the new diapers to cheer up a sleepy parent on the night shift.

-Postpartum Massage. What more can I say? Mom needs to relax and heal.

-Housecleaning. If someone, could come in clean all the bathrooms & kitchen, freshen all the bed linens and do the laundry you would have one appreciative new mom and dad.

-Gift certificate to mom’s favorite restaurant tied with a ribbon around the neck of a bottle of champagne. Takeout is wonderful for that day that feels like you’ve had no sleep.

-Light weight travel stroller easy for a new mom to maneuver in and out of a car is essential. City Tour 2 by Baby Jogger travel stroller will stay with the family long past newborn stage and can serve a family well up to 6 years especially on vacations and dinners out. City. Tour Stroller. is very durable and comes with it’s own travel backpack to store in the overhead bin.

-Gift certificate for a pre or postnatal yoga class. Get strong with or without baby with a class that’s right for their needs.

- Gift certificate for a new moms group. Help them find a group of mom friends in the same stage of motherhood.

We would love to hear what your favorite baby shower gift ideas are in the comments!

Prioritizing Prenatal and Postpartum Wellness

Proper prenatal and postpartum care supporting both mom and baby are so important for the well being of a young family. Prenatal care can help an expecting mother develop a birth plan for her child’s delivery which will help the birth partner, spouse or friend help advocate for mom’s wants and needs during labor. Each mom and baby are unique and deserve the special attention the mom desires. Prenatal care helps educate a mother for her labor and delivery as well as her postpartum journey.

A few tips for Before, During and After Pregnancy

Before Pregnancy: Optimize your diet with whole foods, walk to achieve healthy resting heart rate and keep your body ready for the marathon that is labor. A goal of 10k steps is great! The fitter you are during your pregnancy the smoother your labor will be.

During Pregnancy: As soon as a you find out your pregnant schedule prenatal visits and if you aren’t jiving with your OBGYN now is the time to find a labor and delivery doctor that fits your needs. Find a community for expecting or new moms to join. This group of women who are in the exact stage of motherhood you’re in will be so helpful to your journey through your motherhood experience. Moving through pregnancy will make all the difference. Continue eating whole foods and staying active while waiting for you’re little ones arrival.

Recovery After Labor: Whole foods will get you through your recovery along with perinatal ice packs. Nipple shields will help protect your sensitive skin through breatfeeding as your uterus shrinks back into its shape over the first several months. Take an easy during your recovery whether you had a C-Section or natural birth. Both types of deliveries require rest, nurturing and bonding time with baby for mom to properly heal at her own pace. Join a local new moms group to find moms friends in the same stage of motherhood you are experiencing. You’ll find having mom friends with the exact same child will help you navigate so many questions you will have as your baby develops. It is so reassuring to know you are not alone in early motherhood and that other moms have the same questions as you. Don’t forget about you. It’s ok to wait to care for your baby but you also need to care for your body, mind and soul. Implementing yoga/pilates, meditation, massage and exercise are all great self-care activities to keep your cup full as a new mom. Moving your body during pregnancy and postpartum will make all the difference for your body and your mind. The real goal here is to be the healthiest mom you can be because in return it will benefit the whole family.

Wellness is wealth!