Mom Hacks
The Travel Life With Littles
From California Girl to Lady of London and back again, the globetrotting restaurateur, cookbook author and mom of three, Marissa Hermer, has learned a thing or two about traveling en famille. Here, she shares her most valuable tips—and a few things she couldn't make the journey without.
- Written By
- Marissa Hermer
Traveling with children is equal parts joy and adventure and also, well, panic-inducing. But with planning and practice, it can be less painful and more pure joy. From years of living in London (and hopping around Europe with a babe on my back) to packing up all three kids and adventuring across four countries and ten cities in Southeast Asia for three months, which we did a couple of years ago, I realized the secret to success is making sure the kids are well-rested and well-fed. Also, that I’m as organized as possible so that wherever we are, it feels like home.
WELL-RESTED KIDS = WINNING
Plane travel can be any parents’ nightmare – especially on long haul flights when naptimes are missed. Enter the JetKids by Stokke Bedbox which was obviously created by someone who had children who were sleeping ON them on one too many flights. The Bedbox fits in that empty space below a child’s seat and includes a perfectly sized mattress so that their legs don’t dangle (or kick the seat of the passenger in front of them...er...SORRY!). Now they can curl up comfortably for a proper snooze and you can have your space, too.
Next up, naptime on the go, which requires a Cozigo. This is one of those items that every parent needs from day one. For years, I brought along a dark pashmina to hang from the ceiling and attempt to block out the airplane glaring lights so I could get my kids to sleep. Gone are the days of trying to MacGyver an inflight blackout cover. Not only does the Cozigo work on the airplane bassinets but also on most every stroller – so while my boys were splashing in the pool, my daughter, Sadie, could have her midday nap in darkness. It made us SO much more flexible with our activities – as we weren’t tied to the hotel room so our little princess could get her beauty sleep.
For night time, creating a sleep environment that is as close to what your children are familiar with is key. If they have a music maker or sound machine they depend on, bring it with you. (I always pack a bluetooth speaker which works for white noise and impromptu dance parties.)
We loved the Baby Bjorn Travel Crib Light for hotel travel when the kids were little. While most of the hotels we stay in do provide some sort of baby cot, I wasn’t always happy with the mattress or the crib. Having this crib tucked away gave me a sense of security that I could always just pop it up for naptime – and the kids were always more comfortable sleeping in a bed they were familiar with.
AVOID THAT ‘FEEDING TIME AT THE ZOO’ MOMENT:
Master Meal-Times:
A travel high-chair is non-negotiable. Depending on the type of travel you are doing, I suggest either the Peg-Perego Rialto or Inglesina Fast Table Chair. The Peg-Perego Rialto comes with a tray and is a little heavier and sturdier than the table chair, so we leave this chair in our hotel room or if we’ve rented a villa, in the house we are staying in.
I also keep the Inglesina Fast Table Chair. on hand for meals out – it’s lightweight and can be easily clipped onto the table. When we traveled throughout Southeast Asia, safe seats weren’t widely available and we came prepared. When kids are comfortable in their seats, they eat better and meal times are more enjoyable and, hopefully, less like feeding time at the zoo.
Snacks and More Snacks:
At home, my kids are always asking for a ‘snack’ – and traveling is no different. Actually the kids want more snacks ALL. THE. TIME. when we are on the go – so I usually have a specific snack bag amongst my carry-on that is stocked with YoYoBears, Seaweed Snacks, Hippeas, and Happy Baby Yogis and, of course, Mavericks (which if you are reading this in the UK, you can order at www.mavericksnacks.com or if you are in the US, we will be launching January 2020!)
Night Water:
Our kids are forever waking us up in the night to ask for water – at home they always have a cup next to their beds so they can help themselves. On the road, we bring each child a Klean Kanteen – safe, durable, and leak-proof – and labeled with their names for easy identification. They’re great for car journeys and next to their beds so they have one less reason to wake you up in the middle of the night.
GIRL SCOUT’S MOTTO (aka BE PREPARED!)
If there is only one take-away from these travel tips, it is to stock up on these essential Marks & Spencer Clear Bags . They come as a set of three and I use all three sizes for life on the road. I keep the smallest bags for a carry-on first aid kit and the largest one for a proper full medical kit. I also tuck all of my electronic chargers and wires into a bag, all of our sunscreens, repellent, and lotions and potions into another, and so on. When you are unpacking and packing up day after day, you don’t have time to properly ‘move into’ a hotel room. There are things to do, cities to see, and the last thing I want to do when I’m unpacking is organize everything or when packing up, try to find everything that I’ve tucked in drawers. These bags are brilliant as I can line them all up on a shelf – and then I can see which bag I need and go from there!
Marissa Hermer, mother to Max, Jake and Sadie, lives in Los Angeles where she and her husband own and operate The Draycott in Pacific Palisades and Olivetta in West Hollywood, and she looks forward to launching Mavericks Snacks in American in January.
WELL-RESTED KIDS = WINNING
Plane travel can be any parents’ nightmare – especially on long haul flights when naptimes are missed. Enter the JetKids by Stokke Bedbox which was obviously created by someone who had children who were sleeping ON them on one too many flights. The Bedbox fits in that empty space below a child’s seat and includes a perfectly sized mattress so that their legs don’t dangle (or kick the seat of the passenger in front of them...er...SORRY!). Now they can curl up comfortably for a proper snooze and you can have your space, too.
Next up, naptime on the go, which requires a Cozigo. This is one of those items that every parent needs from day one. For years, I brought along a dark pashmina to hang from the ceiling and attempt to block out the airplane glaring lights so I could get my kids to sleep. Gone are the days of trying to MacGyver an inflight blackout cover. Not only does the Cozigo work on the airplane bassinets but also on most every stroller – so while my boys were splashing in the pool, my daughter, Sadie, could have her midday nap in darkness. It made us SO much more flexible with our activities – as we weren’t tied to the hotel room so our little princess could get her beauty sleep.
For night time, creating a sleep environment that is as close to what your children are familiar with is key. If they have a music maker or sound machine they depend on, bring it with you. (I always pack a bluetooth speaker which works for white noise and impromptu dance parties.)
We loved the Baby Bjorn Travel Crib Light for hotel travel when the kids were little. While most of the hotels we stay in do provide some sort of baby cot, I wasn’t always happy with the mattress or the crib. Having this crib tucked away gave me a sense of security that I could always just pop it up for naptime – and the kids were always more comfortable sleeping in a bed they were familiar with.
AVOID THAT ‘FEEDING TIME AT THE ZOO’ MOMENT:
Master Meal-Times:
A travel high-chair is non-negotiable. Depending on the type of travel you are doing, I suggest either the Peg-Perego Rialto or Inglesina Fast Table Chair. The Peg-Perego Rialto comes with a tray and is a little heavier and sturdier than the table chair, so we leave this chair in our hotel room or if we’ve rented a villa, in the house we are staying in.
I also keep the Inglesina Fast Table Chair. on hand for meals out – it’s lightweight and can be easily clipped onto the table. When we traveled throughout Southeast Asia, safe seats weren’t widely available and we came prepared. When kids are comfortable in their seats, they eat better and meal times are more enjoyable and, hopefully, less like feeding time at the zoo.
Snacks and More Snacks:
At home, my kids are always asking for a ‘snack’ – and traveling is no different. Actually the kids want more snacks ALL. THE. TIME. when we are on the go – so I usually have a specific snack bag amongst my carry-on that is stocked with YoYoBears, Seaweed Snacks, Hippeas, and Happy Baby Yogis and, of course, Mavericks (which if you are reading this in the UK, you can order at www.mavericksnacks.com or if you are in the US, we will be launching January 2020!)
Night Water:
Our kids are forever waking us up in the night to ask for water – at home they always have a cup next to their beds so they can help themselves. On the road, we bring each child a Klean Kanteen – safe, durable, and leak-proof – and labeled with their names for easy identification. They’re great for car journeys and next to their beds so they have one less reason to wake you up in the middle of the night.
GIRL SCOUT’S MOTTO (aka BE PREPARED!)
If there is only one take-away from these travel tips, it is to stock up on these essential Marks & Spencer Clear Bags . They come as a set of three and I use all three sizes for life on the road. I keep the smallest bags for a carry-on first aid kit and the largest one for a proper full medical kit. I also tuck all of my electronic chargers and wires into a bag, all of our sunscreens, repellent, and lotions and potions into another, and so on. When you are unpacking and packing up day after day, you don’t have time to properly ‘move into’ a hotel room. There are things to do, cities to see, and the last thing I want to do when I’m unpacking is organize everything or when packing up, try to find everything that I’ve tucked in drawers. These bags are brilliant as I can line them all up on a shelf – and then I can see which bag I need and go from there!
Marissa Hermer, mother to Max, Jake and Sadie, lives in Los Angeles where she and her husband own and operate The Draycott in Pacific Palisades and Olivetta in West Hollywood, and she looks forward to launching Mavericks Snacks in American in January.