Serenity Scoop

Daycare logistics can seem overwhelming and the transition can be emotional. Here's a comprehensive list of what to pack, plus tips to ease the transition. 

While baby’s first airplane ride might be a fun line to add to the baby book, the reality is, it can also be kind of stressful. From flight delays and crowds to lots of lines and tight spaces to contain a little one, there’s plenty to navigate when flying with baby. So we’re simplifying your planning with 10 must haves to bring for your flight!  Baby’s First Airplane Ride: 10 Must Haves to Bring Spare clothes Blowouts, spit up, mealtime messes. They’re all a reality of baby life and they don’t take a break just because you’re traveling. Make sure you have an extra outfit or two for baby plus an extra top for anyone who will be holding baby (doesn't hurt to also throw in an extra pair of leggings....we've been there: sh*t on in hour one of an eight hour travel day). We like footed jammies for babies while traveling since they keep feet warm without risking the loss of a sock or bootie. And be sure to pack your extras in a resealable bag that you can reuse for dirty clothes! Changing kit  It might seem obvious, but it’s often the obvious things we forget. Create a kit with diapers, wipes, a changing pad, and plastic bags to hold dirties in case you aren’t by a trash can (if you pack diaper cream, make sure it is 3 oz or less!). You might also want to get some overnight diapers for the trip in case you need to go a bit longer before a change can happen. And trust us, pack more diapers than you think you need in case of delays or unexpected messes.  Baby carrier Babies can be hard to contain while traveling and babywearing can make things so much easier! But as a heads up, know that you’ll need to have baby out of the carrier for take off and landing. Some airlines and some flight attendants are a little more lenient than others and will let you just loosen your carrier, others will make you fully take baby out and onto your lap. White noise machine Airports and airplanes are full of noises. If your little one is used to sleeping with white noise at home, pack a portable player for the trip. Whether you use it in the car, stroller, plane, or gate, having familiar sounds can help sleep happen when it might otherwise be hard. Feeding essentials  Depending on baby’s age and status of feeding, this may vary. If baby is eating solids, then pack some healthy portable snacks like puffs and pouches. You might also want a spoon in a travel case to keep things clean on the go. You can always ask for a disposable cup on the plane or from a restaurant and spoon feed from there.  If baby takes formula, make sure to bring pre-portioned formula (check out our grass-fed A2 formula here) and bottles. And if baby is breastfeeding, make sure to pack mama’s water bottle and some electrolytes! (we love LMNT!)      PACK SERENITY KIDS      Non-toxic sanitizing wipes Nobody wants to get sick on vacay! Little ones touch everything, so whether you sanitize the surfaces that surround them or their own hands, it’s important to keep things clean! We like Dr. Brite’s non-toxic and biodegradable wipes! Small sensory toys, books, and teethers If your little one is old enough to need to be entertained, pack a bag of small toys and books to keep them stimulated. Try packing a few favorites plus a few new things to mix it up. We love this Very Hungry Caterpillar Crinkle Book and this compact activity center. For toddlers, we love Melissa & Doug Water Wow books and the B. toys Magnetic Drawing Board. Pacifiers and clip If your baby uses a pacifier, be sure to pack a few. We also love using a pacifier clip like this one from Mushie to minimize dropping on dirty airport floors. Nursing / stroller cover Not that you need to cover up while feeding your little one (unless you prefer to!), but babies can get distracted with all of the new sights and sounds around them. A nursing cover can help keep baby at the breast for a feeding, or can help block some light and distractions if you’re trying to sneak in a nap. We love the AMMA Cocoon! Anything you can’t go a night without  Luggage gets lost, so make sure you carry on anything for baby (or you!) that you can’t go a night without. This might include medicines, toiletries, sleep sacks, and other essentials.      GEAR UP WITH SERENITY KIDS      Fasten Your Seatbelt Travel, especially airplane travel, can be stressful. And adding little ones to the mix certainly doesn’t help. Hopefully this list simplifies things a bit for you so you can sit back, relax, and (at least sort of) enjoy the ride!

Taking baby on a trip is fun and exciting, but it can certainly be stressful too. There are so many logistics to think about, and somehow the littlest members of the family require the most stuff. So we’re simplifying the process as much as possible for you. We’ve covered some basic tips already, but now we’re digging even deeper to share our list of must-have essential travel items for babies. We break it down into what you need for the three key aspects of any good vacay – sleeping, eating, and adventuring!  Bring, Borrow, or Buy? Of course, for any of these items, consider what you pack vs. what you rent or borrow vs. what you buy there or ship ahead. For example, your hotel or Airbnb might already have a crib you can use (you might want your own sheets). Or, if you’re going somewhere to see friends or family, they may have an extra stroller or some eating utensils that you can borrow. Another great option is Babyquip for easy, clean rentals of baby stuff! The fewer bulky items you have to bring, the smoother your travels will be!  And finally, remember that you can often shop at your destination, or ship stuff ahead. Send a big box of Serenity Kids snacks so you only have to pack what you need for travel. We often plan to make some of our meals ourselves while we travel, so we always scope out the area around our hotel for a healthy grocery store nearby. Or you can ship a box of your staples ahead from Thrive Market. Baby Travel Essentials for Sleeping We all know that sleep (especially baby sleep) can make or break a trip. The goal when traveling is to make baby’s sleep environment as comfortable and similar to home as possible. If they’re used to darkness, put their bassinet or pack and play in a closet or the bathroom where it is darkest (and blast that white noise if you do at home!). Here are a few baby travel essentials we take when we travel: White noise sound machine  Baby monitor (don’t forget the power cord!) Travel bassinet, pack and play, or travel bed for toddlers (and any sheets needed) A SlumberPod (game changer!) or portable blackout shades (black trash bags and painters tape can also stand in for blackout shades when needed!) Sleepsacks Any favorite stuffies from home (if used) Humidifier (if needed) Bedtime books (a few faves from home!) Baby Travel Essentials For Eating Mealtimes can be messy with little ones. And when you’re traveling, the logistics of where, when, and what to feed baby can be a bit stressful to think about. Here are our baby travel essentials for making sure mealtime is stress-free for parents and babies when traveling. Of course, Serenity Kids pouches and puffs are the ultimate in convenience when traveling! Portable high chair (we like the Inglesina for most situations, and the Summer Infant Pop N Sit for outdoor eating) Bibs (we typically love silicone bibs, but Bapron or Bumpkins basic bibs are a bit smaller to pack) Formula and bottle warmer, if needed Breast pump, if needed Snack containers  Pouches (ours are nutritious, delicious, AND convenient) Puffs (ours are the healthiest out there!) Utensils (we love travel kits like this and this) Bottles, sippy cups, or water bottle      SHOP SERENITY KIDS      Baby Travel Essentials for Adventuring Travel can involve lots of different types of adventures, depending on the location, season, and your own appetite for adventure! Here are a few baby travel essentials to pack along (or be sure you have in your diaper bag at all times when leaving your hotel or rental house. Diapers  Wipes  Sanitizing wipes (we like the clean bamboo based wipes from Dr. Brite) Pacifier clip (we love Mushie) and extra pacifiers (for when they fall and you just don’t feel great about giving them back to baby!) Playmat or blanket for picnics and play (Gathre mats are great!) Diaper changing pad or mat that can contain messes and protect your little one from gross floors Extra baby clothes/shoes/socks  Toys (anything appropriate for where you’re going, like shovels for the beach) Wet bags (or resealable disposable bags) Travel car seat  Travel stroller  Baby carrier  First aid kit  Hat and/or sunglasses Sunscreen (if age appropriate) or UPF clothing Serenity Kids puffs & pouches for road trips, plane rides, and beach days! How to Make Your Baby Packing List Ready to make your own baby packing list? Here are a few tips: Categorize: organizing your list into categories can help you think through all of the different elements of your days (baby clothes, baby feeding, baby sleeping, your clothes, your toiletries, etc.) Make it electronic: Use something like Google Docs or Sheets to make your list so that you can share it with other travelers and can refer back to it for future trips. Date your list: Make sure to label your list with a date so that you can refer back to it for your next trip of a similar season, or in a few years if you happen to have another baby and want to know what you packed at a certain age. Update as you travel: You’ll probably think of things you wish you had (or bought while there) as you’re vacationing. Add them to your list as you go, or to a note in your phone so that you can update your list when you get back.      SHOP SERENITY KIDS      Conclusion   Hopefully this list of baby travel essentials helps you plan and take some of the stress out of travel with babies.   With a little prep, you can focus on making memories while adventuring with your little one!      CONVENIENCE ON THE GO       

Traveling with babies and toddlers can be stressful and complicated; here's ten trips and must-haves for family adventures, big or small.

Moms need support postpartum, especially from their partner. Here are ten things a new dad can do to help a new mom after bringing baby home.

The postpartum phase of motherhood is rough; support and helpful resources are essential. Read this article with marriage advice for postpartum parents on how to get through the fourth trimester and beyond.