easy travel outfits & tips for traveling with a toddler
top: Charming Charlie (similar here), shorts: Nordstrom, shoes: Material Girl for Macy's (in store only, love these), tote: Nordstrom, earrings: Dillards (similar here), nameplate necklace: Nordstrom, bracelet: Kendra Scott via Rocksbox, watch: Target, sunnies: Nordstrom // on Bear- shirt: Crazy 8 (love this one!), shorts: Target, sandals: Nordstrom (ISO, online here)
When we're traveling, we try and be a comfortable as possible while still looking presentable. We're usually arriving somewhere just in time for a gathering or family event, so we need to not be in yoga pants or sweats (my preferred comfy clothing!). I usually pair a simple shirt with loose fitting shorts or jeans, and always wear flats or sandals. Bear would normally wear something slightly more casual, but we were stopping at Texas A&M for meet the Aggies this particular day so he needed to be decked out in maroon! We did skip the bow tie for comfort and safety reasons (Bear didn't oppose).
Bear has been a traveler since he was just shy of five weeks old, & he's been on plenty of road trips since. Zach and I are both from small towns in West Texas, and it takes us a solid 7 hours to drive from Houston back home. The first time we took Bear to see our family, it took us 10 1/2 hours to get there because we had to stop every hour or so for him to breastfeed. Now it's pretty much smooth sailing, and we make great time on the road! We're by no means experts, but here are some of the trip tips that have helped us survive car rides over the past several years.
1. Leave a little early. Inevitably, something is going to deter you somewhat and having extra time to waste is never a bad thing. Toddlers also need to get out and stretch their legs some on a long ride, so make sure and plan extra time for pit stops.
2. Bring extra snacks and water. For some reason, it seems like Bear always drinks the most when just chillin' in his car seat. There have been times we were stuck in heavy traffic, completely out of fluids, and Bear was asking for a drink. Talk about feeling like pitiful parents! We haven't made that mistake in a long time; now we pack several extra water bottles and his favorite snacks into a small bag within reach. There are containers like these that work really well for self-feeding during car rides.
3. Bring a portable DVD player or iPad. Some parents may frown at this, but it really is a lifesaver. We try to limit TV time for Bear at home, but we make an exception for road trips (and flights!). He gets to watch Thomas the Train and Planes when we take long car rides, and they really make the trip more enjoyable for him.
4. Get a car sun shade. We have this one and it's been great for long trips. There's nothing worse than looking back and seeing your little one try and nap in the car while the sun is beating down on their face. These shades really help provide comfort and keep them cooler.
5. Make sure you have a spot in the car to do a diaper change. On several occasions when Bear was younger, we pulled over in a tiny town with one gas station and the restroom had no changing station. This can be a nightmare if your car is loaded down and you have no room to lay your child and change them. Bear is a pretty big boy, so we make sure and always leave a spot in the back of our SUV to change him. Also remember to pack extra diapers and wipes!
Of course this list would change quite a bit if Bear were potty trained...hopefully soon. :) We also always put an extra outfit in the car in case of spills, and try and stop at least every 2-3 hours to let Bear out to play. I'm not sure if we just got lucky or if starting him so young helped, but we have a pretty good little road tripper on our hands.
Hope you have a great weekend! I'm having some girlfriends over tonight for a closet raid and girl talk on the patio. Can't wait!
xo, Britt