Top Must-Have Baby Items for Your Car

When you have a baby or a toddler, you end up carrying around a lot of extra loot. You have to be prepared for the unexpected while on the road. Sometimes a little advance preparation can really come to the rescue on the days when your brain is in a fog resulting from too many things to do and too little sleep.

I discovered this one day when my oldest was a toddler and I was racing to get her to daycare and myself to school. I quickly grabbed our bags and my daughter and headed to the car, strapping her into her seat. When we arrived at daycare and I went to get her out of the car, I noticed I had failed to put shoes on the poor kid! I had no time to return home to retrieve them as I would surely be late for a staff meeting. Thankfully, a kind neighbor, who was a stay-at-home mom, agreed to run up some shoes to my girl. From that point on I tried to remember to keep an extra pair of shoes in my car (appropriate to the season at hand).

To make it a little easier during the time I had little ones, I made sure to keep some tried and true items in my car.

Baby Must-Have Car Items:

1. Car seat (I know, duh)
2. Toy bar that clips onto the car seat (My son was very entertained by his Tiny Love 00688 Musical Nature Stroll Stroller and Car Seat Toy)
3. Cup holder
4. Grocery cart /High chair cover
5. Diaper changing kit (includes wipes, diaper and mat)
6. Mirror (to see them when they are rear-facing)
7. Seasonal hats
8. Favorite blanket
9. Small cooler with bottle, juice, bottled water and light snacks
10. Extra baby wipes
11. An extra onesie or outfit
12. Socks and shoes (they are always taking these off!)
13. Spare bottle or sippy cup with lid
14. Crayons and a coloring book 
15. A TV with great DVDs like Baby Signs

What do you NOT need? Those bottle heater things. They don't work and if you really want to feed a warm bottle get a large cup of water from a drive-thru filled 1/3 of the way up with hot water and dunk the bottle in for a minute or two.

What can you not live without in your car for your baby?

 

Here is my full list of Must-Have Car Items.

Travel Tips Retake

I should have taken my own advice. I thought I would save my company some money by not checking a bag. After all, I was only going to be gone two nights. I also wanted my bag to be easily manageable in stowing in overhead bins, etc. So, I packed for a conference in a basic duffle bag and my work back pack.

Now, I am 5'1. I travel out of the Atlanta airport which is one of with largest airports in the country. I should have known better.

So, I get to the airport to find that not only was Park and Ride full, but the daily airport parking for South terminal was also full. I had to find a space in North terminal and schlep all the way inside to security. I quickly realized the error of my ways when my shoulder felt like it was out of joint by the time I made it through the first checkpoint.

And as luck would have it, my gate was the farthest gate in the terminal.

Upon arrival at Reagan International, I realized I would need to take the Metro to Bethesda = more schlepping! I even scanned the gate for a travel dolly I could purchase to no avail.

So, lesson learned. No matter how short the trip, be prepared. Have a bag with wheels What are some of your favorite travel tips?

Down Syndrome Awareness 21 Things to Know

October is Down Syndrome Awareness Month and in honor of that, I'd like to share 21 things about our two year old son and our journey:

1. We did not know we were going to have a son with Down syndrome.
2. It would not have mattered If we did.
3. The doctors suspected he might have the chromosomal disorder at birth because his PDA (in his heart) had not closed, the shape of his eyes and his low muscle tone.
4. Many pediatricians and NICU doctors are un-informed about the potential of people with Down syndrome.
5. People don't know how to respond to the news. (Hint, say "congratulations on the birth of your child")
6. We decided we would not treat or expect any differently from our son.
7. We could not predict the amazing love we'd possess in our hearts for him.
8. He brings joy wherever he goes with a winning smile and great earnestness.
9. He works hard to do what may come naturally to others (like walk and talk).
10. He is very curious.
11. He loves to swing.
12. He can feed himself.
13. He's learning to dress himself.
14. He can understand many words, but can only say a handful.
15. He uses many signs to communicate.
16. If he is not supposed to go somewhere, he'll figure out how to get there.
17. He is very tactile.
18. He has good fine motor skills.
19. He goes to preschool and has many friends.
20. He loves music and to dance.
21. He won't wear shoes!

As you can see, our son is like many other two year olds and we are very proud of him.

On Sunday, we walk in Buddy Walk Atlanta as team Sheran Stars to help raise awareness about Down syndrome and show people the great potential people with Down syndrome have!