A trip to Australia with two toddlers. Yikes.
We took our first trip to Australia in three years over Christmas.
I was so pumped to go home and see my family, and I’d convinced myself it would be easy if we gave the kids an iPad. The outbound trip was a dream because my mum flew my kids solo so I could go to the World Cup Final with Andy. I still can’t quite believe it and I would never agree to do that for anyone else’s offspring. Sadly, the bliss lasted about .5 seconds before things started to go south.
We all got a bad case of the flu in the beginning of our trip and jet lag kicked our asses. James wanted to start his days at 3am and no matter how many times I begged and bribed, he was committed.
Our flight home was pretty manageable, all things considered. The kids were tired and cranky when we boarded but slept a good chunk of the trip, and I never got any angry glances from childless businessmen — my nightmare. They consumed their body weight in snacks, watched way too many shows on their iPad, and climbed every inch of their seats... but I deplaned with my sanity so I call that a win.
Despite the rough moments though, it really was worth it. We spent so much quality time with family, I got to relive my childhood with my kids, and I even confronted a high school bully (that’s a story for another time).
There were some key products that made my life a hell of a lot easier, though. Here's what helped get us through two weeks of travel and a 14-hr plane ride.
The highlights: an iPad, a durable case so the beloved iPad wouldn't break, a wrist link for safety and peace of mind, and a document organizer because I am constantly under the impression that I am giong to lose my passport.
The kids loved these activity books. Lots of things to touch and draw and they were delivered really quickly (only two days with Amazon Prime), which was great because I ordered them five seconds before our flight took off. Elle also loved the building blocks, and James loved the fidget toys and thought they were super fun.
I always think I've lost my passport and spend half of my travels frantically searching my purse to make sure it's there. So this massive document holder gave me the best peace of mind. I also love this portable crib because it's easy to transport. This travel backpack also holds a TON of stuff. Unbelievable how many toys and sweaters and etcetera I was able to stuff in.
My children have inherited my intense hanger aka I always have to make sure there are enough snacks in the diaper bag. This little spinner container is fun and doesn't leak. I loved using this when I knew we would be out for most of the day. I also love that this water bottle has a built-in straw cap because it means the kiddos can stay hydrated without spilling.
James loved the suitcase scooter. I don't blame him. I think it's better than my own suitcase to be honest. But the hero of this section is the wrist links. Wandering toddlers in an airport = an absolute nightmare. This ensured they were safe and by my side at all times. This stroller is also fantastic. Really lightweight and easy to fold up.
Handing the kiddos an iPad that I knew would keep them entertained for hours? Priceless. And a case that guaranteed it wouldn't shatter with every drop? Also priceless. And the headphones are a game-changer because other passengers didn't have to listen to cartoon theme songs the entire 14-hour plane ride.
