Sorry for the delay...

Sorry for the delay everyone, but even Gear Mommy needs a vacation.  A week at Carlisle Bay in Antigua hit the spot perfectly.  I'll do a full post soon, but Carlisle Bay ranks as one of the very best family luxury resorts I've ever been to.  Unlike most resorts that are "kid tolerant," Carlise Bay really goes out of their way to be kid (and family) friendly.  Amazing.

Quick Favs - Car Seat + Airport + Go-Go Kids Travelmate = Easy

As a family who travels a lot, we love smart gear that makes traveling easier.  Lugging a carseat through the airport for the sake of safety on the airplane is one of those things that we have always done even though it is a royal pain.  If you've ever had the joy of carrying a convertible car seat through an airport you know what I'm talking about.  The Go-Go Kidz Travelmate has made it much, much easier.

The Go-Go Kidz Travelmate is basically a set of rollerblade style wheels and a retractable suitcase-like handle that attaches to the back of your convertible car seat.  It weighs less than 5 lbs and allows you to drag/push the car seat like a suitcase.  You can load in a small tot (fully strapped in of course) or just plop your carry-on onto it and wheel away.  

When you get to the plane/taxi/rental car you just unscrew the adaptor and install the car seat into the seat.  On the plane, the Go-Go Kidz Travelmate fits in the overhead bin or under the seat in front of you.  For safety's sake, make sure you fully remove the Travelmate and adaptor before installing your car seat.

Its worth mentioning that it doesn't work with every car seat, but here is a list of compatible car seats courtesy of Magic Beans website:

Quick Favs - CARES Child Aviation Restraint System

As a family who travels a lot, we love smart gear that makes traveling easier.  We love the CARES harness (an abbreviation for Child Aviation Restraint System).  It is an FAA-certified 5-point harness that works with the seatbelt on the plane to make traveling tots safer.  It can be used throughout the flight instead of a carseat for children 22-44lbs (even take-off and landing).

We started using this when Tot #1 was about 2 and it has been great.  It weighs less than a pound, folds up into a tiny bag and easily stashes into a carry-on or purse.  We just check her car seat with the rest of our luggage and it makes getting through the airport a lot faster.


To install the CARES harness You simply slide the red band over the top of the seat (you need to open the tray table on the seat behind you) and tighten the buckle when you have it at your child's chin level.  The two black straps have loops at the bottom that allow the airplane seatbelt to pass through.  The chest buckle clips just like a car seat and "voila!" you have one secure tot (and zero car seats dragged onto the plane).

Although the lower weight limit for this is 22lbs, it may be a challenge for a child younger than 2 who may want to sleep on the plane.   If your child is under 2, it's probably worth using your car seat instead.  Check out our recent review of the Go-Go Kidz Travelmate - its a great option for making airline travel with a carseat easier.

Quick Favs - Car Seat Cover

With two kids who occasionally get carsick, we've come to value the concept of a removable car seat cover.  After trying several, the Emmalu Designs Waterproof Removable Toddler Car Seat Cover is our hands down favorite.  It works well on both our Britax Diplomat (which has lots of strange shaped padding and curvaceous angles) and our Radian65 (which is very simple and rectangular).  It gets high marks for covering all of the main trouble spots well with minimal exposed velcro, gaping or bunching.  It also offers a variety of easily adjustable should strap heights.  For the parent of a carsick tot the icing on the cake is that is removes very quickly and its washer/dryer safe!  Yipee!!

Quick Favs - Baby Bjorn Light Travel Crib

In a world where the typical pack 'n play weighs 30+ lbs (which is about as much as a full bag of golf clubs), the Baby Bjorn Travel Crib Light at 11.5 lbs is a dream!  As if the featherweight wasn't enough - it easily folds fits in a suitcase-size handled travel bag that's sturdy enough to check on an airplane.  And better yet - it actually has a soft 1" foam mattress.  And even better - the sides are angled inward from bottom to top so its very, very difficult for a toddler to climb out of.  Wait it gets better - it unfolds itself!   It's expensive, but its so comfortable you'll never leave home without it (and you might just leave it set up in the spare room for the tot to nap in!).

Don't forget to order the organic fitted sheet too!

Quick Favs - Travel Changer

The Pronto Travel Changer is the very best changer I've come across. Compact enough for a diaper bag/backpack/stroller, just enough pockets for the essentials (wipes, diapers, etc.). Perfect for changing in the park, in the airport, or - God forbid - an airplane bathroom. At $30 it's a little expensive, but totally worth it.

Quick Favs - Travel Bouncer

I LOVE this travel bouncer from One Step Ahead.  It has all the features of a regular boucner (vibration, music, etc.), easily folds/unfolds, stows in a handy carrying bag and is light enough to schlepp to a playdate a 1/4 mile away (or throw in the back seat of your car).  This was key for Tot #2 at Tot #1's playdates.  Also, at $39.95 you can't beat the price!

Review: Phil&Ted Wriggle Wrapper

The Need:  Something small enough to fit in a purse/diaperbag that can substitute for a highchair.

The Solution: The Wriggle Wrapper 

(no, that's not me in the photo, this is stock footage)

I just ordered the P&T Wriggle Wrapper and LOVE it.  It is a simple, compact solution for wrangling a squirmy baby/small toddler. This is a great solution for when a kid who is too small for a high chair, no high chair is available or when the high chair in question is, well, questionable. 

We used it in a restaurant for breakfast, in an airport lounge, sitting at the table reading the paper and just about anywhere else we could think of.  For all the on-lap applications it was great.  Easy to put on (even one handed), easy to adjust, comfortable for the tot (who is psyched to be sitting on your lap AND at the table) and easy to wipe clean.

Apparently you can also use it alone on a chair or as a substitute for a crib/bedrail, but we haven't (and probably won't) test those options out.  For the "hand's free" option alone it has more than earned it's keep.  I would put this on my "must have" list for parents of 2 under 2.

Adventures in Potty Training: Part 2 - Potty To Go

Ah, every parents' favorite words 5-10 minutes after you leave home (or 5 minutes after the plane takes off)..."need to go potty!!"  Unless you're traveling in an RV - and even if you are - this poses a problem.   You can either ignore it - at your peril - or find a place for them to do their business.

Oh, but what about a potty seat?  Do I put it in my trunk and haul it around? No.   Here are two great options for potty-on-the-go.

Primo Folding Potty Seat

At under $9, weighing less than a pound and folding small enough to fit in your diaper bag (or handbag) this is a great potty seat.  Folds down to about 5" x 6" x 2" so fits easily in a gallon size plastic bag with none of the "dirty" side touching the "clean" side.  If you rejigger your Skip*Hop Pronto changer you can put this in the mesh section, diapers/pull-ups in the zippered section, and a small pack of wipes in the outer zip pocket, a Charmin mini-travel toilet paper in the mesh toggle pocket on the outside and you've got a full changing/potty kit.

I also like that this has handles in the front for those times when the tot needs something to hang on to or brace on (preferable not the edges of the dirty toilet seat).  This is my favorite for size, weight, price and ease of use.  All you need is a toilet.

So what if you don't have a toilet - like if you're in a park or on the highway or find an extraordinarily long line for the one working toilet at a rest stop (which looks disgusting)...here is a full potty-to-go ("flushing" included).

Potette Plus Potty On The Go

For $16, including 3 liner refills, you have an instant potty.  No toilet needed.  Refills are about $0.50 a piece so you don't want to make this your everyday potty, but if you find yourself without a toilet you - and your little trainee - will be glad you had one.

If you're in the park (or by the side of the highway) and are pretty sure that the tot is only going to make #1, then you can skip the bag altogether.  Double bonus - you can flip the legs out and it become a toilet-top potty seat.

I keep this in a Skip*Hop Saddlebag on the side of my double stroller just in case we need a potty at the park. 

Just like any potty chair it can be difficult from some kids to get used to a new potty.  I would recommend a daily in-home test drive for a week or two before you travel just to get everyone comfortable.