TRAVELLING WITH A NEWBORN – KENSI GOES TO LONDON

Not going to lie I can’t believe Kensi has already been to London and she wasn’t even six months old! Travelling with a newborn was scary to me. There was just so much to consider, from the packing to the plane ride to the jet lag. Overall, she did amazing!! I did go into this vacation with a different mindset. Knowing that I had to take breaks for Kensi I knew this wouldn’t be my typical running around London taking pictures type of visit, it was very chilled. I still managed to hit some of my favourite Instagram spot from my ‘A GUIDE TO LONDON INSTAGRAM SPOTS‘ blog post which was nice! I hope my experience and tips for travelling with a newborn help you in your adventures!

WHAT TO CONSIDER WHEN TRAVELLING WITH A NEWBORN

The packing along took me about a week to figure out. There is just so much to consider! The first thing that I looked for was an AIRBNB that was child friendly and had a lift. Yes, when travelling to Europe you need to make sure that there is a lift available. I know that it was very important for me because we would have the stroller.

BABY EQUIPMENT RENTALS

Finding Airtots was seriously the best thing ever! When making a list of things I needed to bring with me it got to be long very quickly. There were things that would make the stay there more comfortable for us all, but it is impossible to pack a bouncer in a suitcase. That is where I searched around and found Airtots. Let me tell you… IT IS WORTH EVERY PENNY!!! (or pence if you’re in England).

The selection of the products is incredible, you can either pick from their mega bundle packages which has everything… from a cot to diapers and wipes. Or, you can select just the things that you need. Second, their customer service is incredible. The communication was great, and they were super flexible with my request to swap out some items. I thought given the time difference it would make the experience difficult was it was actually amazing. They even coordinated it for the equipment to be there for when we arrived at the AIRBNB. This was important to me as it was an overnight flight and given the plane ride and the jet lag, I knew she would crash right away. Overall it was amazing to have things that made our stay feel homier.

BABY CARRIER

Given that London isn’t stroller friendly I knew a carrier was a MUST. I have the Baby Björn Mini and love it, which is great for shorter walks. Knowing that I would be out for longer periods of time the Baby Björn Baby Carrier Free was a must. It is their newest baby carrier and truly an incredible product. All their carriers are super easy to put on, but what sets this one apart is the amazing support system it has for your back. It features a waist band (which the mini doesn’t have) and padded shoulder straps which making baby wearing super comfortable. The Baby Carrier Free also features a 3D mesh which helps to keep the area ventilated. London being a humid city I knew that I need to have as much breathing room as possible and the carrier did not disappoint. The Baby Carrier Cover was an amazing add on. It provides a nice cover to keep your baby protected from the elements. A must have in my books!

BACKPACK DIAPER BAG

I cannot believe I have been six months without a backpack diaper bag. It is truly a game changer!! Knowing that I would be baby wearing Kensi a lot I needed to have a backpack diaper bag to help even out the weight when I was out and about. I did a lot of research and the one that caught my eye was the Freshly Picked Classic Diaper Bag. I was shocked about how much I could actually pack in it! Not only did I have to pack my diapers, wipes and toys… but also all the bottles, water and formula. I would easy need about 4-6 bottles an outing (you can never pack to much food!). Surprisingly the diaper bag held a lot of things in it and was also super comfortable to wear.

EMBRACING FOR ALL WEATHER CONDITIONS

Unless you’re going on a beach vacation you need to pack for all sorts of weather conditions… specially if you’re going to England. One minute it will be nice and sunny and the next it will be pouring! not to mention the how strong the wings can be. I wanted a cover for the travel stroller that would keep Kensi warm with a soft, warm and protect her from the rain. The JJ Cole Urban Bundleme was absolutely perfect for our trip, it is super versatile and fits all strollers. This brand was a newer find for me, but I am truly liking their products. The Pacifier Pyramid is one that I use on a daily basis. It keeps her paci in a clean place when she isn’t using it.

CREATING A DEDICATED SAFE SLEEPING SPACE

While Kensi’s sleep is nowhere near perfect, one thing that has really made a difference is having her own space and blackouts. Which is definitely easier when you’re at home but when you’re travelling with a newborn you don’t know what type of conditions you will find. The SlumberPod is truly a genius invention, it’s so compact that it fits in a carry-on. It makes sharing a room doable. The setup is super easy, and once it is up it creates a canopy on the crib which essentially makes it a private area for the baby. I love that you can close it all up and it creates a dark environment to sleep in while still being safe. It’s something that is now in the car at all times so when she has a nap while visiting grandparents, we can set it up and she’s in her comfortable space.

ESSENTIAL MUST HAVE ITEMS

If your baby is bottle fed there are some items that are crucial when travelling. Boon is a great brand that offers functionality and a beautiful design. The AIRBNB offered a dishwasher which was great because I could wash the bottles and the accessories in the CLUTH. The TRIP is a travel drying rack and bottle brushes in a compact case which is perfect for the travelling experience. Yes I pre-wash all the parts! This can be used anywhere and fits in the diaper backpack. I also had the extra PATCH which gave me more room for drying the bottles since there was a lot to dry! I absolutely love all the products that Boon makes… but one that stands out the most is the NAKED Collapsible Baby Bathtub. If you live in a smaller place this is a huge space saver. Not only is it easy to store at home but it also fits your suitcase!! can you believe that!

TRAVELLING WITH A NEWBORN WHO HAS SENSITIVE SKIN

Since winter arrived Kensi has been having such dry skin. I have tried different creams and body washes, and nothing was the right fit for her. One thing that had me concern was how Kensi’s skin would react to the change in the weather, having products that were good for her skin was a must. Recently I discovered Noodle & Boo Essential Care Kit and so far, it has been working for her. I love that the products are dermatologist test which just gives this first-time mom some peace of mind. Also, not to mention they all smell amazing. This kit is amazing for travelling, all the products are 2 ounces each which makes it super convenience to pack along your journey.

PACKING THE SUITCASE

Packing the suitcase was a week worth of planning… I have always been an early packer, but this time around because there was SO MUCH to consider I wanted to take my time. Let me tell you… travelling with a newborn is no easy thing, but I learned a lot.

The best way I found to pack her clothes was using IKEA SKUBB organizing cubes. THESE WERE LIFE SAVING!! The same way that I have her drawers organized at home was the same way that the clothes in the suitcase were, they are also super easy to stack up. Where there would be gaps that the cubes made I would either fill them up with her towels and washcloths or the toys that would fit. One thing that I make sure to have both in the suitcase and on the carry on were wipes and medicine. You never know when your baby might feel under the weather.

Knowing that I had to be organized for this trip I wanted to have things in a dedicated space. Stasher bags are my newest obsessions and for a lot of different reasons. They are reusable silicones bags that you go from the freezer to the microwave and can be washed in the dishwasher. You can use them in the tradition food storage bag way or you can use them to store ANYTHING. The fact that I could use the dishwasher to clean it means it is sanitized which made storing her pacifiers super convenient and a clean environment. I also used the bigger sizes to store the bottle accessories, medicine and toys. It just gives me peace of mind knowing her things are in a sterol place.

TRAVELLING WITH A NEWBORN THE FLIGHT EXPERIENCE

The flight had me worried… I knew that I didn’t know how she would react… if she would be screaming the whole time or be chill. To be honest she did AMAZING!! I was honestly so proud of her. Totally a proud mama feeling! Now let’s hope all the future flights are the same.

OVERNIGHT FLIGHT

Going to London was an overnight flight. I picked the bassinet option seat, which was nice but it didn’t work out. At the start of it I laid her down to sleep when she was getting drowsy and she actually slept in it for about an hour. Then they flight attendants were coming around offering dinner and the loud noise woke her up and she lost it. After that every time I tried to put her down, she would cry. It’s like she got traumatized from the rude wake up and couldn’t do it again.

If your baby is a light sleeping I suggest not getting the bassinet option (well for the sleeping part of it, if you want the extra leg room then you can). Keep in mind that having the toilets right in front of you makes it difficult. There are a lot of noises in that area because of people gathering to talk, the opening and closing of the doors and the flushing.

We had bought Kensi some noise cancelling children’s earphones and that helped a lot! I would say that it’s a must for sure. When dressing your baby for the flight we originally had her in a PJ because that is what she wears at nighttime… but because the bassinet was a fail, she had to sleep on us. She got hot often, and she would wake up crying and as soon as we moved her around a bit she went back to sleep. I would suggest bringing them in an onesie and cover the baby if they are cold, this way it would prevent have those heat strokes. Overall, she did do amazing on her first flight ever!

DAYTIME FLIGHT

Now coming back home it was her daytime so I knew it would be a lot more demanding because she wouldn’t be sleeping. I was worried that she would be bored and cry a lot… but she really did do amazing. I packed A LOT of toys which kept her entertained. As well as lots of walking up and down the aisle with her lol! She napped when she was tired and played the rest of the time. At the end of the flight there was feedback for other passengers that she did amazing. It was definitely a proud mama moment!

I know that not all flights will be the same… and she will have her days and that’s totally ok! Any tips you mamas have for me? would love to hear that works for you on your flights because travelling with a newborn is never easy!