By: Zosia

Ah the carry on bag. Its so necessary yet produces the biggest dilemma when traveling by air. And when you are traveling with small children the decision as to what to include and what to omit is even more pressing. What items are so absolutely necessary that you can’t be without them for a few hours? A change of clothes for each family member? Snacks? In-flight entertainment to keep kids of all ages occupied during those inevitable delays? And more importantly, how do you fit it all in what seems like a microscopic space? I’ve always strived to be more of a minimalist than a packrat but even I’ve struggled with this issue.
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Tie Chair. What?? Okay, so let me admit that I was skeptical about this one. With my older daughter, I never even had to buckle her high chair, but my super squirmy 14-month old is seriously trying to go pro in high chair surfing. There was NO way he would stay TIED in a chair. And is that even comfortable?! But let me tell you: it actually worked! Seriously, tell me how many times you have had to sit baby on your lap during a family event or in a vacation rental because there wasn't a high chair available. What if you had one of these in your bag? You could just pop your kiddo right into a regular seat. 
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Our Holiday Travel Essentials list continues with Day 5, theMy Brest Friend Travel Nursing Pillow. Why do we see this one as essential during the holidays?  Is it for the plane ride, or to save room on your road trip? No. ​It is because nothing gives you a better excuse to escape from your family like needing to go nurse your baby. ​

Sure, we are all about supporting breastfeeding mother's rights to nurse wherever and whenever they need, whether that is on a crowded airplane or at a Christmas party (just check out our pages of travel advice for breastfeeding and pumping mothers). But in the midst of the noise and the chaos, there is no sweeter feeling than escaping to a nice quiet room and putting your feet up while you feed your baby. In the early days, at least for me, that always meant bringing along a nursing pillow, and the inflatable travel nursing pillow from My Brest Friend is incredibly convenient. You can check out my review here. 
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All giveaways run until Wednesday, 11/25, at 11:59pm CST (so you can still enter to win the Toddler Travel Bed, the Kids Travel Mat/Bag, and the Airplane Activity Box. Today's giveaway is INTERNATIONAL, so feel free to enter even if you are abroad. You may enter by logging in (so we can notify you if you win!) and doing only one of the below things, or you can do extra for bonus entries! Or just go to our Facebook page and like, comment, and share today's post. 

This post contains affiliate links to Amazon. Use them to support Wanderlittles. Or not. It's all good. :)

We are on Day 4 of our "To Grandmother's House We Go" Holiday Travel Essentials Product Highlight and Giveaways Week! We have added a few items so all giveaways now end Wed, November 25 at 11:59pm CST. You can enter for each product by going to that day's blog post, or by heading to our Facebook page!
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Today we are going to highlight a product we wish we had known about when our daughter was a bit smaller, although we will definitely take this with us if we are ever putting her in a room with hardwood floors (she actually fell out of a bed onto hardwood floors on vacation this past summer-- argh!).

Soooo, what are you supposed to do when your little one is sleeping in a toddler bed at home, but you are headed to Grandma's where she will be in a big bed?? Well, we highlighted The Shrunks inflatable toddler bed the other day, and now we are showing you something that will take a little less room in your luggage (and by a little, we mean a lot): the inflatable bed rail. 

 The Shrunks has seriously answered your wiggly sleeper woes with this fantastic idea. Sure, we have used pillows in guest beds and hotels before, but they aren't much good because they always flatten out and move around, and your kiddo can just head over the top of them (like I said before, it has happened with us, and it was NOT awesome). 

So we decided to give this rail a try and I have to say it was quick to inflate with the included pedal pump, although you could definitely blow it up yourself if you have a good set of lungs. It fit perfectly under the fitted sheet on this queen bed, and didn't move around despite tons of wiggling when I let my daughter test it out. Impressive! You will want to think ahead to whether the bed is against a wall or not when deciding to order one rail or two (reasonably priced at $19 each). 
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I honestly would think this could be for so much more than just travel-- maybe even for transitioning a kiddo to a toddler bed. I actually almost grabbed it the other night when baby brother was sick and I wanted to just pull him into the guest bed with me to sleep, but luckily his meds kicked in and we were both able to get some rest. But I'm definitely keeping it on hand for the next time. 

Final thoughts: 
The inflatable bed rail takes up an incredibly small amount of space in your suitcase, but gives you a huge amount of peace of mind. 

And where is my model now? Well, I guess it made her feel nice and cozy, because she is in bed reading while I write this post. Another win for The Shrunks!!!

Today we are highlighting the Shrunks Inflatable bed rail but giving you ANOTHER chance to win the Shrunks Toddler Travel bed!! The secret word is "security"! 

Head to our Day 1 post to enter. If you already have, go back and do it again with the secret word this time!

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Thank you to The Shrunks for providing the rail for us to review, as well as the giveaway bed! This text contains affiliate links. Use them to support Wanderlittles! Or not. It's all good. :

Day 3 of our Kids' Holiday Travel Essentials list is here, and today we are featuring one product that helps us with the (absolutely essential) task of keeping our kiddos' entertained on those long plane rides: The Idea Box Kids "Airplane Activity Box" (recommended ages 3-10). 

What is this box we speak of? The Idea Box Kids company was created by a mom of three boys (shocker! she needed something to entertain them on an airplane?!) and offers these incredible little boxes full of wood coins with educational and fun activities that will keep your kiddos entertained for hours (seriously, hours). Here are some examples: 

• Have a staring contest
  
• Have someone hide an object. Can you find it?
  
• Look out the window for 10 seconds. Explain in detail everything you saw. 

Sure, these ideas are simple. Therein lies their beauty (no need to pack a huge back o' tricks). Congratulations, Mama or Daddy, you don't need to come up with activities on your own! Or maybe siblings could even play with each other? Awesome.

Sure, you could just hand your older kids an iPad. Or, you could embrace the adventure and take the time to engage with and enjoy your children on the journey . . . believe me, Mama, that in-flight magazine is nowhere near as important as laughing and learning with your kiddos. At least on the way to wherever you are going. On the way home, you have my full permission to order yourself a little plastic bottle of Chardonnay and open that SkyMall. Because you survived a trip with your children. Go you!

@Stocking stuffer alert!!* The Idea Box Kids also makes nearly SIXTY different types of boxes for all occasions: 

• Date Night (for kids!)
  
• Big Brother/ Sister (what a cute way to let them know they are going to have a sibling, or a great baby shower gift for the older sibling!)
• Chores
• Caring (acts of kindness)
• Party favor mini boxes (Pirate, Princess, Science, Backyard)
• Tons more!

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All giveaways run until Wed, 11/25 at 11:59pm. You can like, share, and comment on our Facebook post, or enter below. Good luck! (US only, but if you are abroad you can always enter and have it sent to your parents' house!). 

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This post contains affiliate links to Etsy. Thank you to The Idea Box Kids for providing the giveaway!! 

Day 2 of our "To Grandmother's House We Go" Holiday Giveaways is here! (Did you enter to win Day 1 Shrunks Toddler Travel bed yet?). All giveaways run until Wednesday night!
 

By: Steph

Ahhh, Paris; the city of light and the setting of every girls' Audrey Hepburn fantasy. At first thought, it's the last place on Earth you would think of taking a vacation with the kiddos, but let me explain why I think it is EXACTLY the place you should take them.

Call me crazy but I packed up my kids, all three of them, and flew to Paris for a once-in-a-lifetime 10 day trip. We had more than a few bumps along the way (more on that in another post so stay tuned in) but the trip was so amazing I'm trying to convince my husband we need to buy property there. I'm serious, I loved it that much! So here's the run down of what we did and why it worked so well for us. 
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Wanderlust: n., a strong, innate desire to rove or travel about. 

If you have been following Wanderlittles, you know that we have a thing for travel. But what happens when we simply cannot get away? This Wanderlittles series, which you will find pop up every once in a while on a Wednesday when we are dreaming of faraway places, introduces you to (or reminds you about) some of our favorite books, tv shows, and movies that help whet our appetites for our next adventure. 

I have always been a reader. Growing up I dreamt of far away places, people I’d never met, and food I’d yet to discover. But I lived in rural Upper Michigan, and while my family took regular vacations in the US, I longed to get away. You could say it was a bit of an obsession. Until I could leave physically, I regularly took adventures through reading. I still love reading and love to hide between the pages of a good book but instead, it’s more realistic to getaway through TV. My life is very busy but when I simply must relax I turn on something to take me away.

Some of my favorites are the numerous programs by Anthony Bourdain. He and I lead a similar life (though let’s face it: he’s at a completely different level than I am!) and I love his passion for food and people. His candor and honesty. Most of all that, he loves food, good food, no matter where he’s eating. Bourdain has hosted several different shows; No Reservations and The Layover are two of his most recent series. For nearly an hour, viewers travel to a location somewhere in the world, whether it’s Atlanta, GA or Moscow, Russia. You meet locals, see some of the highlights of that place and most of all discover the food! Besides being taken away for a period of time, I appreciate that there’s no shock value. It feels real. It feels exactly how I travel. 

So now as I sit at my desk plotting my next adventure to Istanbul, I’m fueled by the voice of Mr. Bourdain and drooling as I not so patiently wait to sink my teeth into a flaky baklava or savory guvec. I’m searching for restaurants that offer traditional Turkish specialties, the strongest coffee, and perhaps what might be the most romantic dinner spot overlooking the Bosporus. Rick Steve’s might show you what to go and see but Tony shows you how to explore the culture – one bite at a time.

Check out Amanda's blog and incredible Morocco resource at MarocMama.com or follow their daily life on Instagram. ​

What films or books inspire YOUR dreams of travel??

1. Before: I used to spend time to look "nice" so when the plane landed, I was ready to go.  I would actually do my hair, put on make-up, and even wore high heels. (Yes I was that girl!)
Now: High heels are a thing of the past.  These days, I make sure to wear my Nike runners so that I can track how many miles I walk through the airport pushing baby in her stroller so she can sleep.  Last trip we had a 4 hour layover and my fitness app tracked 5 MILES between the BWI terminals.  

2. Before: Brag alert! I used to have the occasional complimentary drink provided by the stereo-typical business traveller.  It was of course very flattering! 
Now: Other moms offer to buy me drinks (did I really look that stressed out? I thought I was doing fine, especially after that invigorating 5 mile walk!). And those business travelers avoid me like the plague on those Southwest Flights when they forgot to check in early and are now stuck with the C boarding group.  They would rather sit between two 6-foot-5 football players than next to a potentially fussy baby!

3. Before: Showed up no more than 50 minutes prior to take-off (hey, Cleveland airport is pretty small!).
Now: At LEAST an hour and a half, if not two hours, before take off trying to get baby and me through security!

4. Before: Totally avoided early flights (I needed my beauty sleep)
Now: Earlier the better for us... At least she'll be in a good mood-  Baby gets fussier as the day goes on! 

5. Before: I could travel with only a carry-on bag 
Now: Can't even keep track of how many pieces of luggage we checked... And carried on!  We're like a walking circus.

6. Before:  Ahhh... time to relax, maybe catch up with that good book, or Justin Timberlake's new album? (Gotta love JT!!!)
Now:  The poor SkyMall magazine is ripped to shreds all over the floor of the plane.  My baby loves paper!  And it is a good distraction so she doesn't bother the businessman sitting next to us and spill his $10 gin and tonic :)