Womb to Bloom - Maternity & Beyond

If you think you stressed out over stocking your nursery with the perfect layette, just wait until you try to pack for your first trip away from home with your baby. If you don’t concentrate on what you’re doing, you might end up packing nine tops and no bottoms, or a swimsuit but no swim diapers. Not to worry, though. If you take it slow and spread the process out over time, you can be sure of packing everything you need plus a little extra just in case.

At least two weeks before your departure date, sit down and think about where you are going. Will you be staying with family members or are you traveling to a vacation spot to stay in a hotel? If you forget to bring something, how easy (and expensive!) will it be to find and purchase that thing, be it a clothing item or supplies like diapers or diaper cream? What activities do you plan to do, and will your baby be participating in them as well? Will this be the first time the baby takes part in this activity, or do you already have the equipment your baby would need? What will the weather be like? Will you be able to do laundry during your trip or do you need to pack enough clothes to last the entire time?? Are there any formal events you will need to dress the baby up for?? Will the questions never end???

Once you’ve spent two or three days thinking about these questions, make a tentative list of things to pack. First, write down the clothing basics: how many onesies, tops, bottoms (pants, skirts, and/or shorts), sleepers or sleepsacks, socks, and possibly shoes or booties you’ll need. Then, write down extra clothes you might need, such as sweaters, sweater vests, jackets, coats, hats, sun hats, dresses, tights, swimsuits, snowsuits, gloves or mittens, boots, pool shoes, dress shoes, and so on.

Once you have this list, think about how well the items mix and match and how many outfits you can make using these items of clothing. If space is limited, it doesn’t make sense to bring a pair of pants that only matches one shirt when you could bring another pair of pants that goes with several shirts. You don’t have to go so far as to plan out exactly what your baby will wear every day you are gone (though it couldn’t hurt!). Do, however, make sure you are bringing enough outfits to clothe your baby the whole time you’ll be gone, taking into account whether you will be able to wash the clothes at some point and how many outfits your baby usually goes through in a day.

Now brainstorm other items you might need to bring, mentally strolling through a typical day with your baby and thinking about the things you use the most. Do also take into account new places to which you might be going on vacation (such as the beach or out in the snow) and what you might need there. Some things you might need include slings, carriers, feeding supplies (heaven help you if your baby relies on a particular bottle warmer or wipe warmer), baby sunglasses, baby sunscreen, diapering supplies (diapers, wipes, rash creams), special medicines, grooming supplies, baby blankets, burp cloths, baby washcloths and/or towels, and a first-aid kit. If you are breastfeeding, make sure you write down all your pumping and bottle supplies, nursing pads, and any other accessories you use.

At the end of the first week, make a final, neatly organized list with items grouped by kind and two check boxes next to each item so you can check things off once as you pack them before leaving your home and then again at the end of your trip when you are packing to return home. Leave the list in a handy place in the nursery so you can add any additional items to it as they come to mind. Spend the next week tracking down any items on the list that are in storage or tucked away in closets so that you have them at-hand when it’s time to pack. Go out and purchase any special items (snowsuits, swim diapers, etc.) that you might not already own.

Then, two or three days before departure, go ahead and pack, checking off the first set of boxes as you go. If you are flying somewhere and have booked an airplane seat for your baby, it might make sense to check a suitcase for him or her, too, so that you have an extra suitcase-worth of space. BUT, do not put all of the baby’s things in one suitcase and all of yours in the other. Put a mix of both of your clothes in both suitcases so that if one suitcase gets lost you both have things to wear (and you are not left trying to squeeze yourself into one of your baby’s onesies!).

Now, the final thing you’ll want to pack is your camera (plus batteries, battery charger, and film or memory cards). After all, if you’re going to all this trouble to travel someplace else, you will certainly want to take some pictures to remember the trip!