apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

We just finished a month of international travel with our 4-year old that involved a roundtrip flight from US to Asia, a roundtrip flight from US to Europe and flights in Europe. We figured out that our little guy has logged over 90,000 miles in his life ;-)

TRAVEL PORTION
As far as plane travel goes, snacks and surprises are the 2 more important items to pack.

Travel has always made my son hungrier than usual and airplanes/airports are unreliable in that area. I bring bread, individual cups of peanut butter, applesauce, string cheese, horizon boxed milks (shelf stable so the lack of refrigeration is ok), crackers, invidual boxes of cereal (cheerios plus one "treat" sweetened cereal) and other treats such as a couple of juice boxes and some cookies. I can't emphasize enough how having a huge snack pack has saved our travels many times.

For the 6 mos old, he may be a bit young but one good travel tip for slightly older babies is to get a cheerios dispenser at Toys R Us. They require you/baby to push a button on a fake phone or other holding device to get a few cheerios at a time. Good transportation for the cheerios and good entertainment for the baby. If you are still BFing, just pack lots of diapers, wipes and extra clothes.

Consider an extra shirt/outfit for yourself and your huband as well.

Before the trip, I buy small toys from the Dollar Store/Target/wherever and wrap them. Matchbox cars, simple games, new crayons/coloring books, etc. I pull one out whenever my son needs a distraction. My mom did this and called them "travel presents" and we continue the tradition.

Overall, I try to make travel fun and special (special treats, presents, etc) without going overboard to counteract the often stressful aspects.

TIME IN JAPAN
You will be able to find plenty of toiletries and child items. Don't worry if you forget something, you can just buy it. Pack as light as you are reasonably able and plan on doing laundry here and there. Otherwise, lugging 2 kids plus luggage through the train system will kill you. Alternatively, if you have enough lead time, you can ship a bag packed with clean items to the mid-point of your trip and then ship the bag of dirty items back to the US. Sort of expenisve and requires coordination, but can be less stressful than dealing with laundry on the fly in a foreign country.

Leave space in your luggage to pick up fun things for the children. Japan has great little toys, clothes and other kids items that you can't find in the states. Enjoy!

Consider the suitability of your stroller. If you have, for example, a huge Graco travel set - good luck. It's heavy, hard to fold, and miserable on stairs. Japanese strollers rock (particularly Apricas) but they are pricey. If your stroller won't serve you well, consider getting another for the trip. Give consideration to a one-handed fold mechanism and light weight/small footprint.

Throw in a light jacket for everyone in case it gets cool at night/rains/etc. Don't forget sun hats. Consider bringing a portable DVD player - many automatically switch voltage so all you need is a plug converter (not a voltage converter).

You'll be fine! You can't possible carry everything you will need w/o doing laundry and/or buying stuff, so don't try. Just get the absolute basics and let the rest go.

Have a great trip!

Electronics in Japan have only two prongs. If you have something that has three prongs, bring a converter. The voltage is close enough, so you won't need an adapter for that (so if your device has only two prongs anyway, you don't need any converters).

If you bring a stroller, get a light one with a small foot print, that is easy to fold up. You will hate yourself if you bring a "fully outfitted" one.

Bring half or less of the clothes you will need to wear while you're there and do laundry. Most Japanese don't use dryers, so be prepared to hang dry.

If you can, try to limit your baggage to carry ons only. If that's not possible, bring the carry ons and only one suitcase (and make sure it has wheels!). You don't want to have to carry a lot of things once you're there.

I recommend putting a packed suitcase inside an empty suitcase. Not that much heavier to push around, and then you'll have a whole other suitcase to fill up with things you want to take home from Japan. And believe me, there will be lots of things you'll want to take home.

Bring very comfortable walking shoes. You will walk a lot. It's better if they can be slipped on rather than laced up because you'll take your shoes on and off a lot. Same goes for the kids. But it's better to have lace ups that are comfortable than slip ons that are not. Your feet will get a lot of use, so make sure your shoes don't abuse them.

Pack as many double-duty items as you can, like mix-and-match clothes to make multiple outfits. Do this for any stuff you need to take, too, although I can't think of anything specific off of my head just now. Avoid packing anything than can only be used in one way, or you'll only need once, or don't really need at all.

Minimal to no make up (you can buy it there at a ¥100 store if you must have it), no hair dryers and the like, only one extra pair of shoes (if you have a dressy occasion that your everyday shoes won't work for), etc. Anything else you can live without, leave at home.

Sorry I don't have more advice on handling kids in Japan. I've lived in Japan for years, but not with any children. :/

Btw, I said "If you bring a stroller..." because most mothers there seem to carry their children on their backs or make them walk. If your 3 year old can handle a decent day's worth of walking, you might be better off taking frequent sit-down breaks (and using some kind of sling for your baby) than packing a stroller. But only you'd know whether that'll work.

Thank you Carson's Mom! couldn't have asked for a great comment and your time for it. I did travel internationally many times with my older one, but most of it I was luck to be near my parents/relatives so I could not worry about laundry and so on.
I will look for another stroller, mine is huge... - thanks again!

The japanese have a service that ships luggage everywhere in Japan and most hotels are used to recieve the luggage for you and store it until your arrival; Like that you can bring more clothes divided on 2 luggages; send one from the airport to the hotel where you staying on the middle of your trip; when you get there send the used clothes to the last hotel of your stay, and you always will have only one luggage with you;

Hi there- lived in Japan 3 times already- and my son was born there! We're back in the States now, but a few more ideas-
I completely agree with "Don't bring the big Graco stroller". Japan does not have an equivalent of the ADA- there are very few (or NO) elevators in train stations, and local stations usually don't even have an escalator- I had a small Combi that tri-folded and had a sling over the shoulder. The Maclaren Volo is another good, reasonably priced choice for a lightweight stroller. Personally, if your 3 year old is a pretty good walker, just don't take one. Take a good carrier for the baby- that's what the Japanese use.
Japan is VERY expensive. So while I highly recommend being judicious in your parking, take what you think you'll need (non-disposable of course). Disposable items like diapers, wipes, etc, just buy there- it's first world country, you'll be able to get whatever you need and it's not worth the bulk packing it.
Food- unless your little one is already acquainted with sushi, maybe not the best time to introduce it. Rice is great, they have chicken, pork, and plenty of other great things that he should eat without any problems.
Grocery stores are usually more expensive than local shops- the Japanese still primary buy the fruits and veggies at the produce stand, their fish at the fish stand, bread at the bakery, etc. Speaking of bakery- best place in Japan to grab a quick meal. Everything from bread to pastry to hot dog type things in bread (again, winner for small children).
I totally agree with the sturdy good walking shoes. Unless you're from Manhattan, you're probably not used to just how much walking you will do- make sure they're comfortable! Including your 3 year old- cheap Target shoes may not make all the walking :)
And remember, the Japanese are incredibly polite, many speak English (especially in the Tokyo area), and love children. Terrible generalization here, but for those of us living there, it was pretty much commonly accepted that if you stood in the middle of the train station looking utterly lost someone (or many someones) would try to help you. And if you drop your wallet, your biggest danger is being tackled by someone trying to return it.
So enjoy your trip, and get out and sightsee- I loved living there!

Btw, more Japanese people tend to read English better than they can speak it. So if you're going out and don't have a map, have a piece of paper you've written important names on (restaurants, train stops, etc.), even in English letters, and point to the name if someone is trying to help you and you can't understand each other.

Oh, and Japan is a cash based society. Be prepared for that (get your currency exchanged, have a wallet that'll hold coins, etc.). People frequently will walk around with several hundred dollars in cash in their wallets.

And yes, the Japanese are very polite and most will return your dropped wallet, but you still need to be aware of your belongings. Theft happens even there.

We lived in Japan with our 18 month old (now almost 4). The best thing I can say is that Japanese love kids and are very mellow about them screaming, etc. Just don't stress too much if they misbehave.

I've been travelling internationally with 3 kids (several times a year, on my own) for many years. At the beginning (when I maybe only had one) I was like "Carson's Mom" - bringing all that stuff on the plane, buying little presents to wrap and take... but you know what? You are adding a crapload of stuff for yourself to carry (amoung other problems) and I have found it is better to take a LOT LESS - ie as little as possible - and your kids are just as happy (if not happier).

My last trip was with a 6 year old, a 3 year old and a baby.

First of all - YOU CAN'T TAKE DRINKS in your carry ons. (Carson's mom was saying you should take milk boxes/juice boxes). They will just make you throw them away at security. This is good anyway because that stuff is heavy, who wants to carry all that around? This is not really a problem because EVERY airport I've been in around the world sells drinks, and the plane gives you drinks, just take empty sippy's (or whatever the kids drink from) in your bag.

I have really not had a big problem finding food and snacks at any airports I have been to anywhere in the world. I do always take a few things just in case, but I usually arrive at my destination with most things uneaten. If there are some things you know your kid will want when you reach your destination just pack them in your checked case.

I do not bring a lot of toys anymore - wrapped or otherwise. These things do not keep kids attention long on a plane or in an airport. Seriously. Big waste of space. You need stuff they can just sit quietly with. Bring some drawing stuff (or a small magnetic drawing board), a few books, and something for the older one to watch movies on. I used to take a small DVD player and would take a car charger to charge it at the other end (because regular cords are different in every country, but car charging cords are almost always the same). Now we take the kids MP3's (free podcasts like Storynory ROCK for 3 and up), my older son's nintendo ds and we know that the airline we fly with has individual screens for all passengers with hundreds of shows and movies (including kids ones) that they can watch. If I didn't know that they had that I would still bring the dvd player. It is a Looooooong time for a kid to sit in one place, you need some stuff that they can just sit and be entertained by. Toys really don't keep their attention for long enough to cart around. And wrapping paper is just a mess - not to mention you may be asked to UNWRAP the stuff at security.

Kids find planes and airports interesting. They find stuff to keep them occupied.

Also, I have found buying a small toy in airport shops etc is much more exciting and takes up some time during a layover.

I use a small diaper case like this while travelling: http://www.target.com/Skip-Hop-Changing-Wallet-Blue/dp/B001TZO1ZA/sr=1-6/qid=1252661403/ref=sr_1_6/181-2100816-5620339?ie=UTF8&search-alias=tgt-baby&frombrowse=0&index=target&field-browse=1038590&rh=k%3Aspark&page=1 It makes it easy to get just the changing stuff out of my bag. I pack a few other diapers in the bottom of the carry on too, and then just refill it it as needed. In the beginning I always packed like 2x as many diapers as I needed though. When I realised that I never used half of them I started logically thinking how many daipers we usually used in the time we would be travelling and then only packed a COUPLE extra. Airports sell single diapers in their shops anyway if you ever got stuck - and the plane carries them for emergencies.

I only pack one set of clothes for each kid. They only get changed on the way if they get totally filthy, or are wet and uncomfortable. Just a little messy? They can wait until we get there. Also, now that I have a 3 year old and a 6 year old I just pack a couple things that would fit on either of them! ie, t-shirts that are on the small side (but still fit) the 6 year old, and that are a little big (but wearable) by the 3 year old.

If you have a baby and a three year old I would suggest that you put the baby in a carrier (either invest in a comfy wrap/pouch sling you can wear on front and your back too, or buy a comfy backpack carrier.) and put the three year old in a SMALL foldable stroller which they will gate check for you. This means when you get to the other end you have the option of using the stroller for the baby and having the 3 year old walk, or still carrying the baby and using the stoller for the three year old. You also have lots of options while travelling - like if the baby wants to take a nap put THEM in the stroller (make sure it reclines) and have the bigger one walk for a bit.

Not wanting to dis Carson's mom here - the rest of her info about once you get there etc. is very good! Just had to chip in as experience has made me pack super light! Lugging a bunch of stuff around is not fun.

Thanks for this illuminating discussion! I'm 7 months pregnant and it's my great hope that we can return to Tokyo and Kyoto when the little one is maybe 3 months or so. Aside from the fact that these are my favorite cities, when we were there pre-baby we felt like it would be such an easy place to go. (We already live in a big city and just got a nice, narrow MacLaren stroller and, in general, pack lightly for big trips, so it's not such a big change for us.)

Japan is clean and modern, the people are insanely nice and helpful, everyone loves babies, and in our experience there were plenty of escalators and elevators. Our favorite things to do in Tokyo are shopping and eating--hopefully pretty easy with a sleeping baby! And from the comments here, sounds like we should bring a sling, too.

Elaine, hope you make it to the big famous toy store on Omotesando in Tokyo!

Just chiming in to say I agree on ditching the stroller and going with a sling/baby carrier. We travelled a lot with our daughter when she was a baby and always found that we were far more mobile and less overwhelmed in small spaces and with stairs when we carried her on us instead of in a stroller -- and far happier dealing with less stuff!

Lollipops! Best. travel. trick. EVER. Keeps em quiet, keeps their hands occupied, not too messy, and easy to schlep a dozen. Great for planes, trains, long walks, layovers, etc.

Also shoelaces. Play cat's cradle, practice tying a bow, wrap up mommy's arm, pretend its pasta, etc. Discovered this one when flying with a toddler from London during the few days when NOTHING was allowed to be carried on the plane. Was desperate, got creative, and now travel with extras to give away to other kids in the airport.

@elaine h - glad the tips were helpful :-) and I totally agree about the sling and no stroller if you can swing it. BUT if your 3-year old isn't used to intensive walking PLUS the time difference, it can be really tough to leave the stroller behind. AND ITA re the lollipop tip - bring a couple for emergencies.

@wallaby - fwiw, airlines often run out of milk AND the milk you purchase in the airports isn't shelf stable so it's useless on a long flight. I've always politely explained to the security people that I have packed the drinks for my son and they are totally fine with it in every airport I've been through. We *could* get by without it but it doesn't take up much space and makes my son happy on a long flight.

I guess the goal is to figure out what makes your little ones comfortable/happy/relaxed and accommodate that as far as is reasonable. Travel is hard for grownups and I imagine it's even tougher for little ones.

Thank you all for your tips, very helpful.
I'll bring my ergo for sure!
my little guy is a good walker, but I doubt he will walk as much as we would like him to, so I'll probably rely on an umbrella stroller..

We were there a few years ago with our 11mo. old and found a wonderful place that was 5 stories tall and all devoted to children. and FREE! I think it was called the Tokyo Children's Palace or something. It was wonderful. It had classes, inside playgrounds (different ones for different ages) and entire floor for toddlers including songs and games. Lunch and snacks. If I can find the info on it, I'll come back with a link or more information for you.

I live about an hour out of Tokyo and have a 4 year old.
Stroller-ditch it if you can but at 3 a full day maybe too much so get one of those easy fold up light weight ones. Many stations don't have lifts and many streets are narrow and not really stroller friendly. We never owned a stroller, my son went in the carrier or walked.
you can buy all the baby things you need, the hotel will be able to direct you to the closest drug store BUT not all city drug stores carry baby goods, so take enough to last a few day until you get your bearings.
Food- The Japanese are great with kids and are quite happy for kids to be in restaurants, many have a kids menu and child seats BUT they don't come with a harness, I used to keep one in my bag to strap little one in, when you are carting around all day, sitting down for some lunch is a break time for mama and baby.
Jars of baby food, the supermarkets usually stock it but don't expect the range you get back home and you will be lucky if you drop on a shop that sells organic. For babies most places are happy to give you a small dish of rice for the baby and are totally fine with you cracking open a banana or something for the baby.
The metropoitian kids hall in shibuya is great, 5 floor of things to do and all free
http://www.fukushihoken.metro.tokyo.jp/jidou/English/index.html
I also highly recommend the toy museum
http://goodtoy.org/ttm/
link is all Japanese but here is my review
http://jojoebi.blogspot.com/2008/10/tokyo-toy-museum.html
There is some info about prices etc at the end of the post.
Kiddyland is the big toy store in Harajuku and near harajuku station there is the big meiji shrine and park - good for a run around.
Hotel - book a ryokan style room, where you sleep on futons on a tatami floor - the kids CAN'T fall out of bed and you don't have to worry about a travel cot. The futons are folded up when you are not sleeping in them so there is more room for the kids to run around.
ahh yes, often when you go to somewhere like the kids hall you have to take dirty nappies away with you, so pack plenty of bags to put stinky nappies in!
I can't think of anything else right now, but if you have any more questions, feel free to drop me a line.

thank you little green, and thank you jojoebi. Great information, I guess I will have to hold on to my boy, he will love all these places...