(This post was published 1.5 years ago, lost but found…)

My little one turns to 18 months. Yipee! Sometimes I felt time flew really fast, especially when you look at your kid(s), you still remember the day she/he was born – such a huge difference! Sometimes I still feel time goes by quite slow, when they were being naughty, sick or you just lack of ideas of what to do with them.

As we have been travelling or say moving around quite often than normal families – Zoey has been living in three continents already within past 18 months. Needless to say, flights and hotel stays are part of our life. I can’t say I am a super organized mum, quite the opposite if you ask her dad. 🙂  However I can share a few things you need to make sure to take with you to save your own life. Phew!

Must-have No.1

Things to keep them busy – toys, your phone/tablet – although screen time before age 2 is not recommended, but on the plane when everybody else is sleeping but her/him screaming, you would totally surrender.

Must-have No.2

Ear Thermometer – when the little ones got sick in a strange city, you are stuck. So before getting all panic or even teary, find out the real temperature of your baby/toddler is a wise thing to do. Our thermometer wasn’t so accurate, this time Zoey got fever in the middle of the night, we drove to the supermarket at 2am and bought a new one. Such a drama.

Must-have No. 3

Fever Medicine – the most common 1st symptom of kids getting sick is showing rising temperature. So if unfortunately the temperature become too high (over 39C/ 104F), like Zoey this time, you really need to feed her some medicine as soon as you can (especially when fever normally happens at night – the emergency isn’t’ quite showing signs of urgency).

Must-have No. 4

Pacifier (a lot of them) or their favorite blanket or toys. These are to calm them down when they become fussy.

Must-have No. 5

Extra everything you may think you have taken enough. Never assume  you have prepared enough — my daughter can pee her clothes three times a day – I pulled my hair trying to figure out how she did that. So pack less of your clothes but more of hers/his.

Travel with kids can be a hassle, but also full of fun! The most important thing is: it’s beneficial to the little ones’ development – seeing them smiling and listening to their laughter are the best cure for my travel fatigue. Oh yeah!