Quiz – Tiny Traveler

What to Keep at Grandma & Grandpa's House

Baby's Second Home There's packing for a quick trip to Grandma's house. And then there's packing for a quick trip to Grandma's house with a baby. Diapers? Check. Bottles? Check. Extra clothes? Check. Pacifier, wipes, toys, sleep sack, stroller, monitor, burp cloths, and the one specific teether your baby suddenly can't live without? At some point, a casual afternoon visit starts to look like you're moving in. If Grandma and Grandpa are going to be regular babysitters, or you simply spend a lot of time at their house, keeping a few baby essentials there can make life easier for everyone. You don't need to build an entire second nursery, either. Here's what might actually be worth keeping at your baby's home away from home. 1. A Safe Place for Baby to Sleep Naptime doesn't stop just because you're visiting Grandma. Having a dedicated sleep space means parents don't need to pack one every time they visit. It also gives baby a familiar place to nap when they're away from home. Depending on how often baby visits, that might be a portable crib, play yard, or another sleep space that follows current safe sleep recommendations. Don't forget the little things that are part of baby's normal sleep routine, like an extra sleep sack or sound machine. The goal isn't to recreate baby's entire nursery. It's simply to make Grandma's house feel a little more familiar when those sleepy eyes start appearing. 2. A Mini Diaper Station No need for a full changing table. A small basket or caddy stocked with the basics can do the trick: Diapers Wipes Diaper cream Portable changing mat A few extra outfits Disposable bags for particularly impressive diaper situations Just remember to update the diaper size and spare clothing every so often. Babies have an inconvenient habit of growing. 3. Feeding Essentials What stays at Grandma's house will depend on baby's age and how they're being fed. For younger babies, keeping a few extra bottles, burp cloths, bibs, and bottle cleaning supplies there can save parents from packing the same things over and over. Once baby starts solids, consider adding a high chair or portable booster, baby utensils, cups, bibs, and a few baby-friendly plates or bowls. If Grandma regularly watches baby, parents can also leave instructions about baby's current feeding routine somewhere easy to find. Because "She usually eats around noon" becomes surprisingly easy to forget when a hungry baby has other plans. 4. A Few Toys That Stay at Grandma's Here's one area where more isn't necessarily better. Instead of bringing a bag of toys every visit, keep a small collection at Grandma's house. Books, stacking cups, teethers, sensory toys, and a play mat can be plenty for younger babies. There's also something fun about having Grandma's toys, the things baby only sees when they visit. As baby gets older, swap them out for toys that match their current stage. 5. A Baby Monitor That Can Move With You If baby's going to nap at Grandma's house, a monitor is another item parents may find themselves packing. Choosing baby gear that can move between places can help cut down on how much you need to duplicate. Tiny Traveler, for example, can move from home to the car to Grandma's house without relying on Wi-Fi for monitoring. Set up the camera where you're using it, keep the monitor nearby, and you have the same familiar way to check in on baby whether they're sleeping at home or spending the afternoon with Grandma and Grandpa. One monitor. A lot of places baby might end up napping. 6. An Everyday Stroller If Grandma and Grandpa will be watching baby regularly, a second stroller may eventually be worth considering. It doesn't necessarily need all the features of your everyday stroller. A lightweight or compact option can be easier for grandparents to lift, store, and keep in their vehicle, especially if it's mostly being used for neighborhood walks or quick outings. And parents get one pretty significant benefit: One less giant thing to fit in the trunk every visit. 7. The "We Didn't Think We'd Need That" Basket Every parent eventually discovers the tiny items they wish they'd packed. So create a backup basket. Think: Extra pacifiers Baby sunscreen when age appropriate Sun hat Baby brush Thermometer Bottle brush Extra burp cloths A spare outfit An extra sleep sack You probably won't use everything every visit. But the first time there's a blowout five minutes after arriving at Grandma's, you'll be very happy that backup outfit exists. 8. Don't Forget Grandma and Grandpa's Car If grandparents will regularly be taking baby places, talk through transportation before the first outing. Make sure everyone knows how baby's specific car seat works. Check the manufacturer's instructions for installation, harness placement, height and weight limits, and other guidance. If grandparents will drive baby frequently, families may decide that having a properly installed car seat in their vehicle makes sense rather than moving one back and forth. It's also a good opportunity to give Grandma and Grandpa's backseat a little attention. Clear out anything that doesn't need to be there, check the baby gear you use regularly, and make sure everyone is comfortable with the family's car routine. Not sure where to start? Read our 10-Minute Backseat Reset Every Parent Should Do This September for a simple checklist you can use for your car and Grandma and Grandpa's, too. You Don't Need Two of Everything Before Grandma starts adding every baby product she sees to her cart, remember: The best setup depends on how often baby will actually be there. If Grandma babysits three days a week, having duplicates of frequently used items might make a lot of sense. If baby visits once a month, focus on the essentials and choose gear that's easy to bring back and forth. Start small. You'll figure out very quickly what you keep saying: "We really need to leave one of these at Grandma's." That's probably the thing worth buying next. The Best Part of Grandma's House Isn't the Gear Eventually, baby's visits to Grandma and Grandpa's house won't require bottles, diapers, portable cribs, and half the contents of your nursery. The gear will disappear. But the visits won't. Grandma's house will become the place with the special snacks. The familiar toys. The stories they've heard a hundred times. The traditions that only happen there. For now, though? Leaving an extra pack of diapers there certainly doesn't hurt. Keep Reading Getting Grandma's house ready is just one way to make your family's changing routine a little easier. If your little one will be spending more time on the road with parents, grandparents, or other caregivers, take a few minutes to give the car some attention, too. Next up: The 10-Minute Backseat Reset Every Parent Should Do This September

The 10-Minute Backseat Reset

Every Parent Should Do This Backseat Reset This September If you have a baby or toddler, there's a good chance your backseat has slowly become a second diaper bag. A stray sock. Two pacifiers. Three toys. An empty snack container. A burp cloth you forgot existed. Sound familiar? September is Baby Safety Month, making it a great reminder to take a few minutes to look at the spaces and products your baby uses every day — including your car. You don't need an elaborate checklist or an afternoon of reorganizing. Start with a simple 10-minute backseat reset. 1. Give the Car Seat a Quick Check Babies grow quickly, which means the setup that worked a few months ago may need adjusting. Check your car seat manufacturer's instructions for your child's current height and weight, harness positioning, headrest placement, rear-facing limits, and other recommendations. If you're unsure whether your seat is installed correctly, consider having it checked by a certified Child Passenger Safety Technician. A few minutes spent reviewing the manufacturer's instructions can help make sure you're continuing to use the seat as intended. 2. Clear Out the Backseat Remove the things that have accumulated around baby's seat and take a look at what you're keeping within reach. Loose toys, bottles, bags and everyday clutter have a habit of building up quickly. Use your reset as an opportunity to decide what actually needs to stay in the car. A small essentials bag with diapers, wipes and an extra outfit? Useful. Seven toys your toddler hasn't touched in three months? Probably ready to head back inside. 3. Check the Gear You've Been Using Baby gear changes as quickly as babies do. Take a few minutes to check whether the products you're using are still appropriate for your child's age, size and developmental stage. It's also a good time to check manufacturer websites or Recalls.gov for current product recalls. 4. Reset Your Everyday Car Routine Some of the simplest habits are worth revisiting. Keep vehicle keys where children can't access them. Keep the car locked when it isn't being used. And never leave a child unattended inside a vehicle. If grandparents, babysitters or other caregivers regularly drive your child, make sure they understand your family's car routine, too. 5. Make Everyday Drives Feel a Little Less Chaotic Driving with a baby comes with its own set of distractions. Was that a cry? Did they drop their pacifier? Did they fall asleep? Being able to clearly see what's happening in the backseat can take some of the guesswork out of the drive. That's where Tiny Traveler can become part of your everyday routine. It gives you a clear, real-time view of your little one without relying on Wi-Fi, whether you're heading across town or starting another school drop-off. It's not about replacing good driving habits or proper car-seat use. It's simply another way to stay connected to what's happening in the backseat. Make It a Seasonal Habit Babies change constantly. Your routines should be allowed to change with them. Consider doing another quick backseat reset every few months. Check the car seat, clear the clutter, restock the diaper bag and make sure everything you're using still makes sense for your child's current stage. Ten minutes today can make the next few months of family drives feel a whole lot more organized. Is Grandma or Grandpa Part of Your Routine? If grandparents regularly help with childcare, Baby Safety Month is also a great opportunity to make sure everyone is on the same page. Head to Baby Has Changed Since You Raised Yours: A Grandparent's Guide to Today's Baby Basics for an easy refresher you can share with Grandma and Grandpa.

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