Bringing Baby On Tour- What You Need! Travel With Baby- As Told By Haley

We brought Ava on tour with the Husband’s band at 3 months old, I needed H and was overwhelmed. The tour was already planned worldwide and we had to work around it. Thankfully half of the time we had a private plane and mostly used tour busses and hotels so we had enough luxury space and time as we needed. 

I had the luxury of going home or going to my parents when needed and take the baby with me and that was great. 

We spent the majority of the time backstage, or in a hotel. Sightseeing and exploring was tons of fun but we didn't always have that option, either for security reasons we were stuck in the hotel or bus or we just couldn't get out.

The backstage crew is like family to us, they're our second family, its nice to have friends that are willing to watch Ava for an hour or even a day or even change a diaper, we know we can trust them and are really understanding. They all love their Tour Baby and most of the time were having a blast. 

Ava’s first concert was at 3 months old in non other than Verona, Italy, a fancy place for a baby’s first show. So we spent another 2 weeks in Europe and a week off back home and started touring in the US. 

When we get to the US most of the traveling is on a tour bus, we knew we can make some sort of a home for ourselves with a 5 month old. Since we had 7 tour busses and 60 crew, we agreed that the 3 of us and Sav (hair and makeup) and 2 year old daughter and our lovely vocal coach would share a bus.

Now the bus has a kitchen, a tv area in front, beds in the middle, and a little private area in the back with two beds. We stayed in the back, we set up Ava’s travel crib and it was great. 

So packing for a 5 month old who ended the tour at 8 months and crawling we needed lots of stuff, I was breastfeeding, so I brought a pump, a boppy, bottles and storage. Then we stopped at 7 months so transitioned to bottle feeding and bought bottles on tour, I was not sacrificing room or money on having to be on tour and making sure my baby was growing and developing normally, we have a hook on high chair, a travel crib we had so many different things.

Ava is now 16 months and we need a little less stuff but really different. She’s walking and sort of talking and we can forget some stuff but some things I found that I needed and didn't realize until we were one week in this tour and I ended up at a target in Santa Clara. 

So I’m writing a couple of lists for Baby on Tour for you:

0-6 Months old Full size list:

no budget, no limit of space

- Stroller- this is a necessity, we wanted something easy to fold, lots of room and a carseat attachment

Orbit Baby G3  Stroller- this is a necessity, we wanted something easy to fold, lots of room and a carseat attachment

Orbit Baby G3 Infant Car Seat

Orbit Baby G3 Bassinet

Storksak Tote- 

 when spending lots of time out of the bus or backstage you'll want everything with you and not having to go back and forth to bus to grab something. 

Aden and Anais Bamboo Muslin Swaddle Blankets

                            Withings Smart Baby Monitor- this one is easy to prop anywhere and no need to carry around an extra device- just download the app on your iPad or other device. Unexpected thing to bring but it was so convenient having it when baby was sleeping in the other room and over loud noises and laughter we couldn't hear her if she woke up.

Ems4bubs Baby Earmuffs 0-6 months

Baby Banz Hearing Protection- 

a must! I have about 3 pairs of these, we use them frequently. To clarify that are not soundproof. They just control the loud music and noise by tons till it sounds like a hum of people. 

Evenflo ExerSaucer Door Jumper- babies need movement and activity- we got this one which just needs to be hung over a rail or anything and its just fabric so its easy to stash.

List for 6 months- 1yr+

-Stroller we are using the same one this time with the stroller seat

- convertible carseat- were using the car seat that can also go on to the stroller which is really convent while going through airports. 

Orbit Baby G3 Toddler Car Seat

- Travel crib- this one is tiny and easy to fold. I like that baby has an established bed so when she sees the crib she knows she's going to sleep. Its comforting to her. 

Nuna Sena Mini

- extra crib sheets

- A Portable High Chair

Phil&Teds Lobster

- Baby monitor

- Baby Carrier (Ergo)

Ergobaby Original

Gerber Bunch a Bowls- Need!! So easy to transport food to a from wherever

Parent Units Sippin Spout- They turn anything into a sippy.

Gro Anywhere Blind- Brilliant! Planes, cars, vans busses wherever she sleeps this is perfect!

- TOYS TOYS TOYS: She's getting big and wants to play, we have so much plastic colorful things at home, I brought whatever I can fit in a full suitcase. 

I made sure not to bring something that will be bad if it got lost because things get lost, or something with too much noise. 

Here some toys were loving at the moment

Odd Ducks 4-Pack

Fat Brain Toy pipSquigz

Janod 50 Geometrix Blocks

Neo Tobbles Stacking Toy

Melissa & Doug® Picnic Basket Fill & Spill 

Fisher-Price® Laugh & Learn™ Smart Stages Tea Set

For The Rock N Roll Parents

Being on the road is hard. Travelling with a little one the road is even harder. Wether you're in a tour bus or going from hotel to hotel the gear you need and want should be easy to use, compact and useful. Whether its having a teething baby or a baby prone to allergies or even an active baby who loves movement you will have to consider a few things like how much room you will have, how often would you need something, where are you going? Lets start with a stroller: I would go with the Orbit Baby G3.

It is wonderful for travel, if baby has his own seat the carseat on board is a great option, super easy to buckle into a car or airplane seat without a base. The stroller frame is easy to fold anyone can do it. If you only needed the seat for backstage use or concert watching baby can sleep soundlessly in a fully reclined seat. Another thing you need to consider is sleeping beds for baby. If you're travelling with a newborn forget what I said about the stroller seat. Take the Orbit Bassinet with the stroller and carseat and use the bassinet as baby's bed as well. If baby is older and can sit up take the wonderful Nuna Sena. It folds up so easily and unfolds so the most sleep deprived band member can do it. They also come in two different sizes, get the mini Sena. Once a baby cant fit in it or a toddler for that matter it will be time for a bed anyway.

Baby activities: bring a jumparoo. Baby will want to move around and jump and it can fit on any doorway backstage or anywhere. This one folds up, there is no tray to add if babby needs extra entertainment while in the jumperoo give him a french fry or something.

This one is Evenflo A bouncer is not necessary! The bus is movement, there will always be someone backstage who wants to help out or just hold baby. Not a necessity but good to have if you have room; a baby bath! Your not always going to want to bathe with the baby, I know I dont always like to get wet so bring this foldable baby bath; Puj

Bring a baby carrier! BRING IT BRING IT BRING IT! I recommend using an Ergo or a Beco 4G because they give the best back support for you and are super comfy.

Rock and Roll families need strong ear protection for sensitive ears! Ear defenders are a must! Baby looks cool and his hearing isn't being compromised: Check out the Kidz Banz or Ems4kids.

A high chair a great thing to have, not a necessity either but if you have room or you're a germophobe there are such great options for hook on chairs. The Phil N Teds Lobster folds so compact and is easy to install.

You need a baby monitor. People don't realize that when traveling and you have a sleeping baby in a hotel room and you want to hang out with friends or do something else and make noise. I suggest getting an extra room if you can and have the money put sleeping baby in one room, put the camera on baby and even if you're hanging out with friends in the other room, you will still be able to keep an eye on baby. Look for one that has WIFI connection so you can watch baby on your phone. This one is Samsung's Smartcam.

Must Have 2015!

UppaBaby Vista VS Orbit Baby

My two favortite strollers are in battle with me. I started lookinf right into the pricing of these two and turns out theyre not too far from each other pricing wise.

Now both are wonderful strollers, we know that. But I got to thinking when I have a baby which would I seriously choose.
Would I want to stay loyal to my fav brand which is Orbit, but does Uppababy offfer a much better deal?

Lets find out:
Ability to accommodate more children as time goes on:
Orbit:Yes
Uppababy:Yes
Stylish:
Orbit: Yes
Uppababy: Yes
Easy to use:
Orbit: Yes
Uppababy:Yes
Storage:
Orbit: Yes.. ehh
Uppababy: YES
Easy fold:
Orbit: YES
Uppababy: no
Maneuverability:
Orbit: No
Uppababy : YEs


Soo if you purchase the Orbit on their website you can snag a deal
The Infant carseat plus the stroller seat comes out to 1260$

But the Uppababy Vista is sold with the bassinet and stroller seat and that comes out to 859$

Uppa baby is cheaper right?
WRONG
you will need to purchase an additional infant carseat plus adapters for the vista where as the Orbit COMES with carseat.
So add another 200$ it comes out to basically the same.
So they are basically the same thing.


It all comes down to style, functionality and which ever one you pick.

2015 Newborn Baby Must Haves

Wahooooo Newborn Must Haves for 2014

1. Is my fav Stroller System which is the Orbit Baby G3. Obviously you are going to need a good sturdy easy stroller. Most of my clients want a stroller that will be used for their next children as well. This one is wonderful as you can buy the stroller boards which look like skateboards and are awesome and have all of 3 kids on one stroller frame. Or buy the Helix extension kit.

2. Marc Jacobs Eliz-A diaper bag is adorable, chic and stylish. You're going to need a big diaper bag for all the extra stuff you'll need with a newborn and this one is great. They offer it in so many colors that even dad won't mind carrying it.

3.Nuna Leaf baby swing is INCREDIBLE. Nothing compares to the simplicity of this seat. No batteries, no motor it just sways. It will sway for an hour on its own and it handles so much weight that the older kids can hop in.

4. Orbit Baby bassinet is a must have if you have the Orbit system. You're not going to want to keep your baby in swing or a car seat with all that sleeping. its really bad for a newborns' back. The bassinet is wonderful, easy to use and so convenient for those first few months. You can buy the stand separately or use the stroller frame for a stand or use the floor either way its all good.

5. Aden and Anais swaddle blankets are the popular swaddle blankets everyone is raving about. Make sure you have a pack or two of these. Baby needs to be swaddled and these are so comfy you'll want to use one.

6. NoseFrieda is probably the most useful and grossest things ever. It sucks out the snot from the baby's nose. This is a lifesaver. Bless the Norwegian for inventing this.

7. Safety 1st first aid kit includes everything from a baby hair brush to nail clippers.

8.Aden and Anais easy swaddle blanket is for the times where you just can't get that swaddle perfect or late at night and you can't nail it. We all need these.

9. Bloom bath is the softest bath tub I'd be comfortable putting my tiny newborn in. Its soft and looks adorable and is convenient It can be used for the next children as well.

10. Orbit Baby Panniers are just extra storage for your stroller. For me there is never enough storage on a stroller. whether you're going shopping or want to put your dog in the basket its very handy.

11. Avent Soothie Pacifiers are great for newborns.

12. Boon Bottle warmer is a quick way to warm up the bottle. Really easy to use and very cute.

13. Gumdrop Pacis are for trying out. They've proven to be useful for lots of families. But a lot of times you don't know which pacifiers if and will your baby prefer.

14. Comotomo bottles for the bottle fed baby.

15.Summer Infant Baby Video Monitor is great for new moms who need to make sure their tiny baby is still breathing and is sleeping well. This one gets really close up so you can see the baby's chest and make sure its moving.

16. Moby Wrap is great for the new tiny babies who love to snuggle. They secure just like in the womb

17. Itzy Ritzy Nursing Scarf which is so cute and a must have for nursing mothers.

18. The Mommy Hook is the worlds greatest invention, it makes it possible to stuff as many bags as you want onto one hook on your stroller.

19. Ergo Baby Original Carrier is in my opinion the best carrier ever. Its ergonomic for your body it works well and it wont dig into your back or shoulders like some other ones on the market. Note that Newborns need to infant insert till about 6 months.

20. Bobby Nursing Pillow. Even if you're not nursing you'll want this just because its so much easier feeding a baby propped up on you with a pillow then your sore stomach.

21. 4Moms Mamaroo Rocker is so freakin cool. Its the iPhone 6 of baby gear. It has a plug in for music. The swinging options on it are like no other: you've got car ride, kangaroo, tree top and a few others which mimic all those movements which means you wont need to drive around the block at 2am to put baby back to sleep. Put him in the Mamaroo and watch TV as he falls asleep.

That's it folks!
2015 is going to be a great year!

Orbit Baby G3- Review

Orbit Baby will always be my favorite brand. So when I found out there was a new stroller even more cooler than the last I had to check it out ASAP.
It only happend when I spent 6 weeks in the US over the summer so naturally I had to get to work and check all my favorite gear when I arrived.

Now we all know Orbit is amazing and the G2 is great. I honestly didn't think they'd make any improvements because to me that G2 was great. But the G3 is even better and I'll show you why.

Foam handles are possibly my favorite thing ever so obviously Orbit knew that and incorporated yummy foam handles in this new design.

They still adjust really high for tall parents and are still easily adjustable.

The new G3 has a bigger basket which, yeah sure, that cargo pod was cool but lets get real, big baskets in a stroller is really important.

Plus you can access it from front which is sort of brilliant.

G3 is offered in the gray and now a really sleek sexy black frame which is usually offered as a limited edition in like bugaboo or Uppa Baby but here you get it for the same price.

Obviously its still has the 360 rotation which is awesome.

That paparazzi shield is still in tact so even YOU  can pretend to be a celeb strolling through the airport and shielding your baby from the camera flashes.

The fold is still wonderful,  just twist and it flips down.

Unclip safety lock then unfold stroller. grandma, dog Pluto, fish Fluffy and baby Ava can do it too.

It fold up really small...

For the G3 they added another cup holder because they know how much we need our Starbucks (just kidding)

Last of the features is possibly the best which is the fool-proof brake system which is toenail friendly, green which means go and red is stop. Push down with your foot and it engages, really great.

Bugaboo Bee Review

I love love LOVE the Bugaboo Bee!

First off its absoulty gorgeous! I mean look at this special edition Andy Warhol! its super sexy and fun. I love the colors I love the butterflies I love everything!

I always like a good compact feature full stroller and the Bee fits just that description.