Tag: baby

Travelling with a Baby

Lydia | February 11, 2013

John Lewis Shape Sorter and Stacking Cups

My baby and I travelled all the way from London to Auckland. We flew across the globe together and had a stopover in Hong Kong for a night to refresh ourselves and catch up on a few hours of sleep.

The build up to our flight from London started a couple of weeks before our departure. I didn’t want to think too much about the flight as it would kick start butterflies in my stomach, whilst I wondered how I was going to manage such a long journey on a plane with my baby.

The very thought of leaving hubby behind in London for 8 weeks was daunting. Knowing how much he’d miss us and how much we’d miss him made it almost impossible to fathom. On the bright side we’d Skype daily and Imogen and I would be spending Summer with our family and friends in New Zealand whilst hubby was busy at work in London during the coldest months of the year.

It was the bit in the middle, the journey, that I didn’t want to do. I tried to keep as calm as possible. I was going to travel across the world with my baby. Just me and my baby! I found it easier not to dwell on it too much and put all of my energy into the preparation of fun activities for us and what we’d need to pack in our on-flight luggage.

Here’s my list of on-flight essentials that I’d travel with again:

Fun Activities

Samsung Galaxy Tablet with CBeebies episodes downloaded from iPlayer
John Lewis Shape Sorter and Stacking Cups
Baby Book Sets
Farm Sticker Book
The Gruffalo Colouring Book
Crayola Coloured Crayons Pack of 8
Soft Toys
Favourite Toy Charley Bear

Food and Drink

Organic Baby Pouches and age appropriate baby snacks
Formula Milk Powder in formula pots

Essentials

Nappies
Nappy Bags
Sudocrem
Baby Wipes
Sachets of Calpol and Nurofen, should they be needed
A change of clothes for you and your baby
If your baby is walking Baby Reins are brilliant when you’re at a busy airport and queuing for check-in and security

Knowing how hard it was travelling that distance myself made me realise how important it was to make it fun experience for my baby. And last but not least a positive attitude, a strong resolve and a calm approach all helped.

What are your tips for flying with a baby or toddler?

The Baby Style Guide to Wearing Sunglasses

Lydia | February 9, 2013

Baby sunglasses are just so darn cute and handy for keeping harmful UV rays away from baby’s eyes. I bought Imogen’s sunglasses from John Lewis for our holiday in New Zealand. They’re pink and green with little roses on the frame and have category 3 lenses.

Imogen’s been wearing her sunglasses a lot over the past few weeks and has created the Baby Style Guide to Wearing Sunglasses.

1. When you’re learning to wear sunglasses it doesn’t matter if you put them on upside down or askew. So long as you put them on all by yourself and smile.

2. Watch grown ups. Copy how they keep their sunglasses from slipping down their nose.

3. Point to whatever you like in amazement. No one can see where you’re really looking.

4. If in doubt, use all fingers to get your sunglasses in exactly the right place.

Family Picnic Food

Lydia | February 3, 2013

We love to have picnics regularly throughout the year. There’s something magical about eating outdoors enjoying good food with family and friends, differing vistas and fresh air.

We eat picnics in the garden, at the beach, in the forest, in the park and on our balcony in the city of London. When it’s too cold to be sitting outside to eat we have been known to get a rug out and have a picnic on the floor of our apartment, with the company of our cats Louis and Mia who will nibble at any leftover cheese.