These Baby Essentials Will Turn Your Family Trip Into A Dream Vacation

06.08.2023 - 23:49 / forbes.com

Although vacation home sales are down since their pandemic surge, they’re still a great way to get away with the family. In many ways, for parents of babies, they offer the easiest travel option because once you’ve stocked the house, you can travel so much lighter and will be more apt to actually go.

Find a place near the beach, the mountains, wherever your happy place is. Then settle in for regular staycations that are good for the soul, for rejuvenating and for creating new memories for the entire family.

Since my husband and I became grandparents this year, our house has become a kind of vacation home for our son, daughter in law and new grandson. Because we want them to come often, we’ve tried to make it as comfortable and easy for them as possible.

A crib and stroller are the basic necessities and I highly recommend the Babyletto Maki Full-Size Portable Folding Crib with Toddler Bed Conversion Kit and Graco Modes Nest Travel System (both of which I wrote about here). You can find more great travel gear for babies, including the Doona Car Seat & Stroller that my kids swear by for flying, here.

I’ve put together a comprehensive list of items that will make your vacation house feel like a home. These are the products my son and daughter in law love. Having them handy will help you relax and really enjoy your time away. You may find them so indispensable, you’ll want to keep a duplicate set at home.

Graco Teddi Changing Table with Bonus Water-Resistant Changing Pad

Storkcraft has some great changing tables but what I like best about this one is its simplicity and the fact that it fits quietly into any space, serving its purpose without taking over. It’s easy to assemble and features lots of storage space you can use for baskets of diapers, wipes and other baby necessities. Available in four sophisticated neutrals, it comes with a water-resistant changing pad that can just be wiped down – trust me on this – and it will work as a pretty bookcase once your baby’s outgrown it. Price: $109.99

Baby Brezza Bottle Washer Pro

My son and daughter-in-law can’t stop talking about this amazing new machine that automatically washes, sterilizes and dries bottles and pump parts, killing 99.9% of germs with steam, then drying everything with HEPA-filtered hot air. It cleans better than a bottle brush ever could and even uses 50% less water than hand washing. It features six cleaning modes and can hold up to four bottles, pump parts and accessories. You just plug it in and it does the rest. No wonder it sold out 10 minutes after it was launched. Pre-order now for the next batch shipping in November. Price: $299.99

Ubbi Diaper Pail

I admit I didn’t see a need for this diaper pail at first but it has made