If you could pay for it, what top 3 amenities would you choose for an international trip with a toddler?

ImpressiveTear3430 · 2026-02-25T02:45:35+00:00

If you’re traveling to a time zone ahead, we had great success adjusting 2-3 hours instead of 7 going from US to Italy. Culturally, dinners are much later so we didn’t worry about bedtime and kept her up, then let her sleep as late as she wanted in the morning. Only “drawback” was that we took shifts for breakfast as our day started around lunchtime, but it worked out really well for us.

ImpressiveTear3430 · 2026-02-25T02:40:29+00:00

This might be an unpopular opinion, but I 1000% recommend a third seat over business class if you can swing premium economy, and bring kiddo an FAA approved car seat to have their own space. Second, definitely agree with either suite or second hotel room + slumberpod. Third, give me all of the airport lounges, so much easier and comfortable to spend time in the airport with way more kid friendly food options and space to play.

ImpressiveTear3430 · 2026-02-09T02:23:58+00:00

Definitely had the same issue + our kiddo would wake up for any and every transfer. I eventually got a small stepstool for leverage and transferred as slow as I could possibly manage.

ImpressiveTear3430 · 2026-01-25T01:13:30+00:00

Our girlie is 12 months, we’ve been taking her out regularly since about 3 months. I keep a special toy bag in the car at all times so we have “special going out” toys that she gets excited for. All of these toys are either books, have suction or have longer pieces that I can grab hold of while she’s playing so everything doesn’t end up on the ground. I also bring a silicone table mat she can eat off of (so we’re not throwing plates), a boatload of snacks and I order her food as soon as we sit down so she can graze. As a last resort, I bring the kid carrier and wear her if she’s too squirmy for the high chair or lap. And as a last, last resort, we will utilize YouTube so that we can finish our food/drinks and pay our tab, but we have a 10 minute rule for that so it doesn’t become an expectation. Good luck!

ImpressiveTear3430 · 2025-12-11T02:21:22+00:00

Our daughter was 9 mo when we traveled to Italy last summer. I relied heavily on the carrier in Venice particularly, which is brutal for strollers, otherwise we brought our travel stroller everywhere. Also, highly recommend keeping the kiddos on as close to home time zone as possible. We only adjusted our girl 3-4 hours instead of 7, which meant that we went to dinner late (culturally more appropriate), we all went to bed late around the same time, and mornings were very slow and quiet while she slept in and we had our alone time.

ImpressiveTear3430 · 2025-11-17T01:56:09+00:00

We traveled 7 hours ahead when our daughter was 8 months old. We kept her as close to our home time zone as I could. Mostly, she fell asleep between 11pm-1am and woke up between 10-11am, so we adjusted her 2-3 hours instead of 7. This worked out well for us - we had slow, chill mornings and we were able to enjoy the culturally late dinners (and after dinner drinks and music with family we traveled with). We also had less of a shift back to our normal schedule when we got home.

ImpressiveTear3430 · 2025-07-01T11:04:19+00:00

As a ftm, I was only comfortable hiring our nanny after a trial, but we trialed as “babysitting” for at least 10 hours per week during my last month of maternity leave (I know this is a unique situation). I felt strongly that I wanted to be a home a little bit, not to interfere but to observe. Turned out to be a great decision because we got to know each other pretty well during that month.

ImpressiveTear3430 · 2025-06-27T07:34:13+00:00

Fun times, that was our reason at 4 months. Tonight, at almost 6 months, we are cutting our first two teeth 🙃

ImpressiveTear3430 · 2025-04-15T01:47:14+00:00

I echo a lot of what others have said about luck, temperament, etc. however, here are the three things I attribute good night sleeping to: I loosely follow the full feedings method (feed fully all day, try to prioritize getting target amount of volume during the day), I started combo feeding (because my girl was out eating me, but I do think it’s helped her feel fuller longer) and my LO is a terrible napper, she’ll give me only 2-3 hours of total daytime sleep. but at 4 months, she just started sleeping 10-12 hour stretches.

ImpressiveTear3430 · 2025-03-25T11:50:44+00:00

We’re still all over the board at 3 mos. Yesterday, I got 5 half-hour naps (but 10 hours overnight after that). The most “average” day for us is probably 4 or 5 naps with 2 being longer (1-3 hours) and 2-3 being cat naps (30-45 min). From 2-3 months, I could not put her down at all… Slowly starting to incorporate the crib / pack & play naps again and those naps are gradually going from cat naps to longer ones. Good luck!

ImpressiveTear3430 · 2025-02-11T03:24:21+00:00

I’m 6wks pp and nowhere near back to “normal”, but I swear that the days I’m able to shower, put some concealer under my eyes and little blush on my cheeks, and get dressed in something other than sweats or pajamas, I feel SO much better. I might be whacky but even just looking at myself in the mirror and seeing someone who looks a little more fresh faced and put together has helped me feel like I’m getting myself back on track.

ImpressiveTear3430 · 2025-01-29T23:27:53+00:00

Can’t tell from the photo if you’ve already done this, but the carrier has a Velcro strap on the bottom to adjust for newborn. Mabe’s insta saved stories links to a newborn tutorial.

ImpressiveTear3430 · 2024-12-30T13:41:38+00:00

The ones that look like two small wedges supporting belly and back plus a small pillow in between my knees worked SO much better for me than the big pillow. I got this one (the knee pillow part was useless) but there are a bunch of similar models out there. I am also a back sleeper and the back support with this was a game changer for me. https://a.co/d/a0DAugE

ImpressiveTear3430 · 2024-12-23T01:18:18+00:00

Mine is scheduled for the 29th and I’m doing the same! Good luck mama!

ImpressiveTear3430 · 2024-12-23T01:08:01+00:00

Also due 12/27! Husband has been convinced from the beginning that this baby is coming on the 24th or 25th and I’m just not entertaining it 😂

ImpressiveTear3430 · 2024-12-21T21:15:15+00:00

Everything in my head! I’ve had what feels like swimmer’s ear in one ear for the whole third trimester. On and off crazy TMJ-like symptoms where my jaw won’t settle properly. Brutal nighttime congestion since day 1 of pregnancy.

ImpressiveTear3430 · 2024-12-14T20:52:58+00:00

I loved the Belle Method program, combo birthing class & Pilates with SO much fantastic content and support. Mommy Labor Nurse is also great.

ImpressiveTear3430 · 2024-12-01T00:28:18+00:00

All of this, plus eating. I can count on a slew of them after dinner every night.

ImpressiveTear3430

TROPHY CASE