When I was expecting my first child, I told myself I wasn’t going to let kids stop me from traveling. Four years later I find it laughable. It’s not easy to travel with children, but it’s also really cool to be able to discover new places and cultures through the eyes of my son.
Cooper was born in January 2020. We haven’t traveled much (for obvious reasons). So when my son Charley was born this past year, I was determined that things would be different. I quickly realized that nursing while traveling was a completely different story. After several failed attempts at narrowing down the list of travel items, I finally found a few (okay, six) essentials that made nursing while traveling through Europe, the Caribbean, or even to backwater Japan feasible—I promise a little planning is possible.
A portable breast pump
Look for a device with a rechargeable battery so that you are not tied to a wall socket (especially abroad where you need an adapter). You want one that fits seamlessly into your bra, like the Willow Go portable breast pumpor the Spectra 9 portable and rechargeable double electric breast pumpwhich is super light.
Freeze dried breast milk
Leche takes your own breast milk and turns it into powder form, which lasts for up to three years. It’s completely genius for anyone who wants flexibility and doesn’t want to carry frozen or expressed milk with them. There’s even an option to portion your breast milk into individually sealed bags so you can take them with you on the go.
A dual-use travel bag
Traveling with children involves a lot. And if you are breastfeeding? A ridiculous amount of stuff. Invest in a baby bag that you will use and enjoy using because you will carry it everywhere. I love the Prada Re-Nylon baby bag (fashion and function, check) because you can actually throw it in the wash, and the Lululemon new parent tote bag is also fantastic.
Breast pump cleaning wipes
Trust me, the last thing you want is to have to go to a public restroom while traveling to clean every nook and cranny of your breast pump. I found this one Universal cleaning wipes to remove residue and build-up quickly and safely. Just make sure your pump is dry before wiping it clean.
A reusable storage container
There are ready-made containers specifically designed to store your breast milk or in case of emergency.a travel mug will it work (just make sure it has a good seal, I like that Ceres Chill and the Willow portable breast milk cooler). According to the CDC, breast milk should be refrigerated after four hours, so keep this in mind if you plan to be out and about for a while.
Wet/dry bags for… everything
If you don’t already know, multi-functional items are the way to go here, like wet/dry bags. I like to keep different sizes Mushie And Calpak to store your pump parts, hide dirty children’s clothes or keep things like chargers and passports organised.
