droolicious : travel

Five Finds for On-The-Go With Your Little Monkey

JeanneSager — Wed, 13 May 2009 13:30:00 GMT

The comparison between kids and monkeys is an obvious one. Both wiggle out of any situation. Both love to climb. And both are just too darn cute. With roadtripping on my mind of late, and starting to top the minds of parents planning vacations everywhere, I've put together a list of my favorites for on-the-go with your little monkey!

Before you can get this show on the road, you have to have everything ship shape and bristol fashion. Or car shape and booster fashion as the case may be. The olli from clek has earned its place as parents' favorite booster seat because it's easy on us all! With a strap that makes it easy for them to carry (especially if you're taking a trip by plane or train), a easy click system into the LATCH on your standard automobile and a design that's easy on their hind end and legs on long car trips, the olli has alley-ooped into our hearts. Throw on a Paul Frank cover (which can be removed for washing!), and I'll be a monkey's uncle if this isn't the best booster seat I've found yet. Get one from CSN Baby for $99.99 with free shipping with little Julius monkeys printed all over or get the Standard Julius (just one big monkey face) for the same price (including free shipping) from Strollers.com.

If your kids are crazy about the little rubbery decals for their Crocs, Martin the Monkey from PakNak is waiting to clamber up onto their bag. For dressing up their bags when they're on the go, PakNak's decals sport a Velcro backing so they can be changed in and out while the "loop" side of the Velcro stays attached to their bags. We're bananas for Martin, but he's got other pals out there too. Get them from PakNak for $3.99, and take advantage of the promotion going for Babble readers - enter PAK20 at checkout to get 20 percent off your order.

And what's a bag decal without a bag to put it on? They weren't monkeying around when they made this one. The Four Peas Blue Monkey Duffel bag does succeeds where many bags for kids fail by offering plenty of space for all their stuff. Whether this is an "overnight at grandma and grandpa's" bag for hauling all their valuable stuffed animals or the suitcase for all their staples for summer trips, the sturdy nylon and denier bag (PVC-free), can handle everything they want to stock inside. Bonus points for the adjustable strap to make this one last out of toddlerhood and on toward teen. Get it from PolkaDot Patch Boutique for $46.

Before you offer up a primate education, I know monkeys and chimpanzees are not the same thing. Monkeys have tails, chimps don't, and so forth. But most folks who are fans of one are fans of the other, and every kid could use a friend in the backseat on a long trip (especially one who doesn't scream "I'm not touching you" with its finger hovering a quarter of an inch from his forearm). Why this admittedly non-monkey buddy? His plush outside is made from 100 percent soybean fibers, his insides from 100 percent Kapok. Part of Aurora's eco-friendly "Aurora Naturally" line, he's super soft and naturally resists bacteria (because we all know how clean kids keep their toys.) Get him from Amazon for $29.99 and qualify for free shipping.

Truly a two-for-one deal, Steven Joseph's toiletry bags are so soft and cuddly kids can fill them with their toothbrush and other must-haves or they can use them as a pillow on the ride to granny's house. Steven Joseph doesn't monkey around when cooking up goodies for kids - the bags are all machine-washable. Get the monkey toiletry bag for $18.95 from Chocolate Cake Club (add $10 if you'd like to get it personalized).

And check out these on-the-go goodies:

Roadtripping With LEGO

Gwyneth Reads Eric Carle!

Bye-Bye, Plastic: Reusable Organic Sandwich Bags

Aaron Burgess — Fri, 08 May 2009 19:30:00 GMT

Assuming your kids' snacks and sandwiches lean toward the dry variety, this reusable 100% organic unbleached-cotton sandwich bag seems like a sound idea for reducing plastic waste. Not sure how well it'd hold up against a drippy PB&J, but that's a problem your washing machine can solve.

$5.99 from Bebeloosh's Etsy shop.

Neat Seat for On-the-Go Eating

Lisa Mulcahy — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 18:00:00 GMT

Taking little ones out to eat is always an adventure. Whether it’s a good or bad experience often depends on how you keep your kids corralled and happy at the table.

Restaurant highchairs leave much to be desired, and that’s not even talking about the germ factor. Here’s a handy solution that adjusts to almost any chair. The Totseat, $36.99, functions like a portable highchair but is really a cushion that keeps kids harnessed to the chair. It folds up, comes with a carrier backpack and is machine washable.

Bumble Bee Kid's Travel Pillow

AmandaHill — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 21:00:00 GMT

The Bumble Bee seen above is of a special sort. It's a Bumble Bee Travel Pillow for your little one. I can't count the times that my daughter has fallen asleep in her car seat and needed something to hold up her sleeping head.

The Bumble Bee travel pillow would come in so handy on both long and short car trips. Check it out at Amazon.

MediBuddy AKA Mom's Buddy

Cathy Hale — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 14:00:00 GMT

Toddlers are cute, precocious and active. That being said, they are also accident prone. Bumps and scrapes can be resolved easily with the MediBuddy First Aid Kit. This handy little kit includes colorful crayon bandages, knee & elbow bandages, sting relief pads, gauze pads, burn relief cream, antibiotic and more. The little packs are so convenient, you can carry one in the car, the diaper bag, your purse, etc. Retails for $5 at BabyEarth.

Mod Cuddly Wuddlee Gift Set

Cathy Hale — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 15:00:00 GMT

A new addition to the Diapees & Wipees family is this adorable gift set for baby boy, Blue Zoo. Set comes with a super-soft chenille blanket trimmed in a modern-print fabric. It also comes with a coordinating Diapee & Wipee set, which is a great travel companion. It holds a few diapers and wipes - fashionably! This gift set retails for $44 at Polka Dot Whale. Makes a great baby shower gift!

Little Voyage: La Petit Suitcase

Cathy Hale — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 21:00:00 GMT

Whether you're headed to grandma's house or on a big adventure, your little one will enjoy carrying his or her own weight. This perfectly petite Timi & Leslie Le Petit Voyage suitcase is made especially for little hands and big imaginations. It features a removable shoulder strap, waterproof lining, bottle tote, stroller straps, changing pad, wristlet and easy-access key FOB. Not to mention a lively circus print. On sale for $115 at Bella Blu Maternity.

Triple Stroller: The Big Caboose

Cathy Hale — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 22:00:00 GMT

I have lots of friends with three young children. I'm sure triple the hugs, triple the smiles and triple the laughter is great, but what about transporting these tots? The logistics of getting around with two can be a challenge. Well, my favorite stand-on double stroller, the Joovy Caboose, has a sibling now - the Joovy Big Caboose Stand-On Triple Stroller.

This is a great solution for traveling with three small children. Two get to ride in seats and one can sit on the padded jump seat or stand. Granted, the ride isn't super-duper luxurious, but if you need to get around with three kids safely in tow, it's hard to beat this stroller. Features include two full size seats with canopies, child trays, footrests and a large basket below. This stroller comes with two universal car seats attachments so you can easily use an infant seat.

Before you can fully appreciate the triple stroller, you've gotta get to know the double version. I bought mine in May 2008 and have loved it ever since. They've made many improvements to the newer ones, so they are even more accommodating now. Read more about the Big Caboose.

Star Baby: Sheryl Crow with Her Travelin’ Little Man

SunnyChanel — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 23:00:00 GMT

Sheryl Crow is a jet setter. And if you are on the go as much as a celebrity like her is, you need baby items that make transitioning from car to airport to plane and back to car again as easy as possible.

Crow simplifies her travel by putting 1 ½ year old son Wyatt in a Lily Gold Sit ‘n Stroll 5-in-1 Combination Car Seat/Stroller. This handy dandy baby transporter goes from car seat to full function stroller with a simple push of a lever. And with all the stresses traveling with little ones can cause, having one less thing to worry about is certainly a plus. You can pick one up here for $249.99.

Backseat Peace Without Pimping Your Car

Heather Kuldell — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 03:03:00 GMT

Some folks can rely on their in-car DVD players or video game consoles for a little road peace, but if you’re entertaining a decidedly younger crowd, consider going low-tech. The Kicky Pants AutoMobile offers car-seated kids entertainment that dangles from the ceiling, which means no crying over dropped toys. The AutoMobile is a stretchy strap that can be secured around the “oh crap” handles above windows. It includes plastic rings that can be used to transform the toys you already have into mobiles that can dangle over front or rear-facing child seats. Unlike the other new fangled car systems, this one costs only $19.99.

Take It Away in a Timbuk2 Hidden Backpack

Heather Kuldell — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 16:01:00 GMT

BYOB used to mean bring your own beer, but theses days it’s bring your own bag. Yay for the earth, but woe for the person who forgets. And even if you remember, you probably don’t have an extra hand to carry between the diaper bag and kids. (Just hope the cell doesn’t ring, too.)

Plenty of BYOB options exist, but the Timbuk2 Hidden Backpack offers something unique: a foldable, packable backpack. Toss it in your diaper bag and pull it out for extra hauling power. Timbuk2, a longtime bike messenger bag manufacturer, knows about sturdy. The hidden backpack is made of a rip stop, 90% recycled PET (as in plastic) fabric that can be washed in the machine if it gets nasty. When you’re done, it zips into its bottom and looks like a wallet.

Available in kelly, black, khaki and starlet at Timbuk2 for $28.

Puddle Jumper Travel Kit Complies with TSA Rules

Heather Kuldell — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 22:07:00 GMT

When you find baby toiletries you like, traveling without them isn’t preferable. If you want to step up from the zip-top baggy, check out the Clear Bag System’s Puddle Jumper Travel Kit. On the practical side, the TSA-compliant kit comes with a clear, zipper-top case and includes one 1.75-ounce pump bottle, three 1-ounce bottles, one mini-spray and one small jar. Not only are the bottle leak-proof, they can be personalized with your child’s name and feature your choice of bumble bees, frogs or ladybugs.

Available at Tots on the Go for $55.99.

Lillebaby's EuroTote: Carry, Travel, Stroll, Play and Sleep

elizabeth leach — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 20:30:00 GMT

Question: What starts as a Moses Carrier, becomes a bunting, then, a stroller bag, play blanket and travel bed? Answer: The EuroTote by lillebaby!

Carry your precious cargo to the car in the EuroTote, place your precious cargo in car seat (still snuggly in the EuroTote), then lift precious cargo (now peacefully sleeping) out of car seat (still snuggly sleeping in the EuroTote) and proceed to comfortably carry child into store or place EuroTote in stroller and wheel child into store. This Scandinavian designed baby carrier covers all the bases!

Not only does this carrier make mom and dad's life a lot easier, but it's also beneficial to your baby. Babies love to be in a snuggly, protected, soft space (like mommy's belly) and the Eurotote is calming to baby. Research shows that leaving a baby in a car seat for long stretches can cause colic and delayed motor development (scary), so it's nice to have another option besides the car seat for carrying baby.

Use the EuroTote from infancy to three years old. A summer weight mesh top is included for warm weather. Available in black, red, brown and green. EuroTote is machine washable. Find the EuroTote at lillebabystore for $119.95 and free shipping.

(We reviewed the lillebaby EuroTote here in 2007.)

Toddler Stroller Blanket

Lisa Mulcahy — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 00:28:00 GMT

Sure there are a ton of stroller blankets for infants to keep warm and cuddly, but what about toddlers? Not so much. When I came across this big girl bunting I had to share.

Designed for the toddler set, this feet free stroller blanket, $99, is a brilliant idea since most toddlers I know are too wiggly to keep a blanket on. It has openings to accommodate harness systems and also has a handy “hop out” flap that lets little ones get in and out easily.

More Strollers: Why the Mod Rocks

Cathy Hale — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 02:00:00 GMT

Strollers are boasting modern appeal like the Maclaren Quest Mod. What’s interesting about this stroller is every single stroller is unique because every piece of fabric is non-repeating. Seriously, no two strollers are the same. In fact, Maclaren sends representatives to fashion shows across Europe to determine emerging trends in fabrics, color and patterns. Bravo! The newest 2009 version of the mod features a variety of apple-themed prints. Shop Albeebaby.

Features above & beyond basic Maclaren strollers:

Carry handle on side of frame
Adjustable leg rest
Foot-operated linked parking brakes
Improved Buckles and hubcaps
Four seating positions
Viewing window on hood with UV Protection
Sporty colors and reflective trim

Pop A Squat, No, PopATot

Lisa Mulcahy — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 16:30:00 GMT

When my son was of the exersaucer age it was heaven. I could put him in it, know he was safe and attend to what I had to do. The only problem is that I became dependent on it, so much so that I lugged it everywhere, to grandma’s, to the park, to the beach. Now finally there’s a portable version.

I was a little skeptical when I first saw the photo of PopATot, $49.99. Sure, it’s not sleek and sexy, but I’m willing to toss good looks sometimes for safety and function. It’s amazing how it folds up into a small carrying case. Could have saved me a lot of hauling. Right now you can get free shipping and a $10 rebate.

Baby Wearing Made Beautiful

Cathy Hale — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 15:00:00 GMT

It may be one of the oldest parenting traditions in the world, aside from breastfeeding and natural childbirth. Parents around the world have been wearing their babies for centuries. Happy. Safe. Secure. Comfortable. There are plenty of reasons why it's such a beneficial form of transportation.

Me personally? I didn't sling my babies with much success. And I can assure you, after trying to put on a sling and place my baby into it without dropping him on the floor, I was a frazzled, sweaty mess. Nothing like the relaxed smiling mommy in this photo. Then again, I never tried Hotslings.

I been around many mommies who do enjoy baby wearing and one of the their favorites is the Hotslings Everyday Baby Sling Carrier. I've seen it in action. First, the slings are beautifully crafted and the prints are amazing. Second, they are 97% cotton and 3% spandex so they have some give and provide a snug fit. Hotslings pouches are a single piece of fabric without buckles, snaps or rings. The sizing is crucial to your comfort, so make sure you follow the sizing chart. Check out the Everyday Collection. If you've never worn a sling and you're curious as to how they work, check out the website for detailed instructions.

Etsy Alert! The Dining Out Travel Bib Set

SunnyChanel — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 15:30:00 GMT

I wish I had this when my kid was still bib worthy. This very handy bid unfolds (it snaps closed) to revel different pockets for a child size fork and spoon as well as a pack of travel size wipes. I can’t tell you the amount of times we forget one of those four elements. Here, it’s all in one and totally convenient. To find out more or to get one so you’ll never forget any of these items again, click here.

Personalized Travel Gear

AmandaHill — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 14:00:00 GMT

This travel gear, with the option of personalization, is adorable. If you have a little traveler, they would probably love it. It is so adorable yet functional. This fun polka-dot pattern is both kid friendly and durable. The material is the same material used to make parachutes. The pieces range in price from $16.00-$29.00 from Pottery Barn Kids.

7 Days of Potty Training: On the Go Gear

Lisa Mulcahy — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 17:09:00 GMT

If there’s any phrase to live by when potty training, it’s “Time is of the Essence.” Whether you’re on a desolate stretch of highway or only a couple of minutes away from a bathroom, toddlers can’t hold it. It’s not their fault. They just haven’t learned the skill. So get used to the idea of going everywhere with a potty in your car. Here’s a great one that comes with a sleek travel bag.

Fisher Price’s Potty on the Go has sturdy fold out legs and utilizes a disposable bag and absorbency pad system to ensure sanitary waste removal. The tote bag also includes pockets for storing wipes, hand sanitizer and other potty essentials.

$79.99 on Amazon.

7 Days of Traveling Helps: The Ultimate Game Book

Erin Behan — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 12:01:00 GMT

How much would you pay for peace and quiet in the car or on the plane? $13.57 sound pretty good? That seems a small price to pay for this Klutz travel kit that comes with a book filled with just about every travel activity known to humankind, such as games, lyrics, crafts instructions, and a 100-page activity book with dot-to-dot, crossword puzzles, mazes and more. Accoutrements include colored markers, game pieces, and embroidery floss for friendship bracelets. If you're still skeptical, check out Amazon, where the kit gets pretty amazing reviews--and only costs $13.57.

How the Wheelie Car Seat Bag Solved My Travel Panic

elizabeth leach — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 15:00:00 GMT

It seems crazy to spend a lot of money on a car seat and then check it at the airport knowing all the abuse it will take. I've had my car seat and stroller returned to me wet and scratched up and probably full of germs. Now I have a brand new Britax and I plan on using it for many years to come. And what about carrying this new gigantic car seat all the way to the gate? It doesn't fit on my stroller anymore. I'm experiencing travel panic.

After stressing and surfing the internet for a solution I came across Tots On the Go and the genius JL Childress Wheelie Car Seat Travel Bag. The bag is padded so the car seat is protected. The bag has high quality rubber wheels so you can roll it to the gate. There's also an adjustable shoulder strap. The price $39.99 and enter code: BABBLE for free shipping. Check out Tots on the Go for a lot more useful travel gear like bags for stollers and play yards, too.

Now, I can look forward to my vacation with one less thing to worry about!

Avoid Crayon Chaos

SunnyChanel — Thu, 29 May 2008 15:42:00 GMT

The other day we were on a flight back from Disneyland (the happiest place on earth) and as part of our in-flight entertainment we stocked up on a variety of coloring books for our kid. I presented my little one with her new pirate activity book and she was extremely excited to start marking up the lily white pages. I managed to dig out a yellow, blue and brown crayon from the depths of our diaper bag. All was fine and good until she wanted to color his pants. Red. They had to be red. She repeated over and over red, red, red, rojo, red. When she throws in a little Spanish we know she means business. Thing is, in the chaos that is her diaper bag I couldn’t find a red crayon anywhere, a tip of black, a half of green but the free range crayons swam around the bottom of her bag like a lost school of fish. Now I wish I had spotted the Dine.n.Doodle Roll-n-Go Crayons set before we set sail. This crayon keeper will hold 16 regular crayons or 8 big crayons and keep them organized, contained and all in one piece and will hopefully keep the peace when your budding artist demands their favorite hue. $9.00

Get Packin' with Stella McCartney

SunnyChanel — Tue, 13 May 2008 14:50:00 GMT

We’re about to embark on a couple family trips, a Napa wedding and more importantly Disneyland! In previous excursions I would just throw all my toddler's stuff in my already stuffed suitcase (I’m a hopeless overpacker). With the myriad of clothes, stuffed animals, books and art supplies that she needs to survive, I think it’s high time that she lug her own stuff in her very own suitcase, and it might as well be a designer one right? Stella McCartney has teamed with LeSportsac on a line of bags, totes, backpacks and travel cases and created this mini suitcase for the jetsetter in training. It goes for $120 but you can assuage some of your wallet guilt due to the fact that it’s made of 100% recycled Eco polyster fabric.

First Look: Nestt Car Seat for Your Little Chickadee

Aaron Burgess — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 16:03:00 GMT

Odds are good that you've never seen a car seat like the Nestt, and until the design geniuses at Think/Thing get their prototype into production, you won't. But this novel-looking seat is far more than a pie-in-the-sky concept, and perhaps more importantly, it's the handiwork of designers with the necessary breeding experience to incorporate function into their form. Tired, as many of us are, of "wrestling and lifting a struggling 30 lb. baby into and out of a car seat several times a day" (as they note in the Nestt's accompanying video), team Think/Thing created a seat that, with just six moving parts, can tilt and swivel on its base (below) toward your waiting arms in a single Zen-like move.

Safety, of course, is also a major concern, if not the major concern, and according to Think/Thing, the Nestt has Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards 209, 213 and 225 (i.e., the ones all parents should have memorized) in the bag. The egg's shell has an embedded steel safety cage for side-impact protection, and in addition to its retractable and indexed belts, the seat features an air suspension system. And with its washable memory-foam cover -- available, at least in theory, in various colors to match your aesthetic sensibilities -- it looks to be as cozy as it is safe.

Think/Thing claims the Nestt is the best car seat in the world, but you tell us: Would you buy one?

(Thanks to DVICE for the tip-off.)