Wisdom for Spain travel with 14 month old?

I've not traveled to Europe with a toddler before, but I recall thinking I needed all these gadgets whenever we did travel with our firstborn.

To address some of your questions:

1. Car seat-- it's a good idea to keep your baby safe especially in planes & taxis.
2. Stroller-- a regular sturdy stroller should do the trick.
3. Highchair-- I would not lug around a highchair when traveling overseas. You can take turns holding baby/sitting her on your lap, etc... and there will be other family members there to help you out. :-)
4. Travel Crib-- many hotels have cribs, so you don't need to lug this either.
5. Since your baby will be 14 months old, you may consider weaning her off the breast (milk) as she may be able to be switched to cow's milk at 12 months of age-- discuss with your pediatrician.

Have a wonderful trip!

Regarding the Medela Pump in Style Advanced pump you will likely have some electrical issues. It is important that you read the Input plate on the pump or transformer because I have just read the FAQs on that model which state that the transformer is only 120v 60Hz. European (Spanish) electricity is provided at 220-240v 50Hz.

Under Specs, it reads

General
Color-Bag: Black
UL Listed
120 VAC; 60 Hz transformer

and that will be a big problem. You won't want to see $300 worth of critical equipment for your beloved baby go up in smoke the first time you plug it in in Spain.

In their FAQs there is a section where they talk about travel outside the US. They specifically warn against using a universal adapter and say that you should use the vehicle adapter or 8 AA batteries in a battery pack.

http://www.medelabreastfeedingus.com/products/573/pump-in-style-advanced/faqs

Whilst the 8 AA batteries will be heavy they are very easy to get throughout Europe. Good luck with the preparations.

Do you have plan to use the battery pack on the plane?

A car seat is required by European law in private cars including rental cars but not in taxis or trains. Taxis should still have the fixing points. Of course I am sure that you will be doing your best to keep baby safe.

I'm sure you will have a memorable and fun trip.

I've traveled with toddlers fairly recently (my youngest is 6, so I suppose 4 years ago...is that recent?)

1. Car seat - essential if you rent a car, obviously. Many car rental companies rent carseats, I've done this for boosters for older kids but didn't trust it for baby seats. Personally, I found the car seat the most annoying part of traveling with toddlers, so if you can avoid renting a car...do so! For the plane, an older toddler can sit with a seat belt, and there is a thing called the CARES harness that serves as an airplane seatbelt, so you won't need to lug a real carseat. A lifesaver for trips where my kids needed a way to sit more safely on the plane but we weren't renting a car so didn't need a car seat.

2. Stroller - good idea. I'd go for fairly light but sturdy. A huge jogger would be a hassle and maybe not even fit in some smaller European elevators or stores but a $20 umbrella stroller might be tough on cobblestones and not comfy. I had a baby jogger city mini, which was perfect.

3. I didn't use these - too much to lug. Easier to hold the baby or use the stroller at restaurants (if it's an outdoor cafe, won't fit inside many places!) Carrying a high chair around for a day of sightseeing is impractical. Might be helpful if you go back to the room before the meal and then eat in places close to the hotel. As far as cribs...my kids coslept at that age, which made it so much easier. On a trip when the oldest was a baby (6 months?) we stayed at hotels that had cribs. By 1, they were OK sleeping with us. Once I moved a mattress in a Paris apartment to the floor to make a kid bed. Yes, I put it back!

4. I didn't need a pump so can't help too much. As far as plugs, make sure it's dual voltage and have a outlet converter and you should be fine. A manual for back-up is a good idea, and in an emergency you could probably buy or rent a pump there, if you are in a bigger city at least.

Re: keeping milk cold - an insulated bag, cooler pack, etc. You can also bring a strong ziplock bag and fill it up with ice from..somewhere. Finding ice can be tough. McDonalds, maybe. Or a store that sells ice. In an emergency you can find a market and buy frozen food to use as an expensive ice pack. I've done this in the US with $1 frozen peas, but have not looked for cheap frozen peas in Europe!

My biggest advice here is to try to stay in aparthotels or apartments, not regular hotels! A kitchen, a fridge, and more space are so, so helpful with kids. Also not as expensive as you may think.

You will have a wonderful time! It's tough with kids under 2-3, but it's worth it. You will learn some great travel skills to help in the future, see some wonderful things through the eyes of your child, and have great memories!

So glad to hear you are getting such positive advice, traveling with little ones is different but wonderful!

My kiddos are six and eight now and have travelled extensively with us. The first thing to remember is that Spaniards love children and many babies/moms actually LIVE there;) No need to lug any version of a highchair around, just be creative and think "What would a Spanish mom do when she goes out to a restaurant?"

Sadly, one piece of equipment you will have to lug around is a car seat. We have successfully used two contraptions to help with this: one is a car seat carrier backpack, the other was Go Go Babyz. I think the backpack carrier would be easiest for your trip, and you can stuff extra stuff in it, too.

I would definitely take a stroller. A small lightweight one will probably do the trick if you are taking an Ergo. Right before a trip to Italy last fall my youngest (then 5) broke his leg and days before we departed my oldest ended up on crutches. I was traveling alone with them for the first two weeks of the trip and had no choice but to take a BOB jogging stroller. It was handy while out and about, and I even managed to cram it in a Fiat 500 with the three of us! Point of the story, is be flexible and take what works best for your current situation!

Lastly, I cannot recommend an apartment enough! Separate sleeping areas, a clothes washer (but not usually dryers), and a refrigerator are so essential when traveling with little ones. Many will often arrange for a pack n play, too. Check Homeaway or booking.com

Happy Travels!

For those 3 cities, you should not need a car. Trains are much faster and much more comfortable. The less you have to cart around with you, the easier it will be. The stroller seems like an excellent idea - at 14 months, she'll be heavier than now and probably more mobile. She may not be so happy being "worn" at that age. Multiple kinds of terrain? You will be in modern cities with well-paved streets and sidewalks. A lightweight stroller will be easiest to carry around.

Yes, another thing to remember is that your trip is 4-5 months away (guessing, since you said Spring). That means HUGE changes in the meantime for a baby. Things like cribs, high chairs, and food will be different. For example - it's possible you won't be giving as much breast milk as you do now. She will likely be eating more solids and drinking water/milk as well as the pumped milk. It's possible you won't need to carry around bottles as much. If your hotel has a fridge, timing might work so that you can leave the bottles there for outings, give your child fruit and veggies at lunch, then return to the hotel for a break in which she drinks the milk. Diet stuff depends on your philosophy and whatever medical advice you are following, of course!

Holding her in a restaurant will be easier. Or harder if she wants to run and play with the pigeons on the square ;)

I am a huge proponent of baby wearing, but she will be heavier. Keep wearing her frequently in the meantime - so she stays comfortable with it and so you keep up your strength to wear a growing kid! My husband frequently wore our 4 year old in an ergo on his back on trips, so it can be done way past 14 months, but I couldn't. I wasn't strong enough for longer stretches past 18 months or so.

Be aware that a lot of sights like museums prohibit back carriers. She will have to be carried on your front, walk, or be in the stroller in these places.

Obviously will depend on your child, your timing, and your philosophy. My point is just...things will change a lot between now and then. Especially if your child isn't walking now but is by your trip!

nc mama

are you still there? How do you feel about the answers you've had?

Thanks ever so much for these responses (and apologies for my delay--am on a multi-state road trip right now with the now-9-month-old for the holidays :) ). What an extraordinarily helpful virtual community this is. You've given me some solid advice.

Priscilla, thanks. Great point about "other family members"--the baby's father, 2 grandparents, and uncle will indeed be along and are all very helpful. I need to remind myself of that whenever I get a mental block about this trip... I'll be traveling with more of a village than I have on an average outing here at home :)

Nigel, I'm especially appreciative of your effort to check on my pump. Yes, it sounds like the battery pack is the way to go. It's what I was planning on for the plane.

Mira, I really like what you said about learning travel skills to help with the future. I think your words will help me frame this journey as a learning/research experience for myself as a parent :) I know that our daughter will not remember any of what we see. Yet I very much want to raise her as a confident traveler and so do anticipate more trips with her in the future... you can bet I'll be thinking ahead ("what would I need to think of if she was three? five?") as we encounter different scenarios. great advice about high chair / stroller. I will check out the the city mini jogger and similar models that are lightweight, compact. Btw, this may seem like a paranoid question, but when you left your stroller outside places where it wouldn't fit (I am guessing there will be many!), did you lock it up (as one might lock a bike)? Also, YES.... she will be changing a lot between now and then (as will her dietary/movement needs and her weight) and it'll behoove me to keep that in mind. We babywear daily (and she seems to be staying on the smaller side of the growth curve) so I think that either I or my husband will likely still be able to wear her by then. I had no clue that some museums had different policies re: front carriers/back carriers so that is good to keep in mind.

Kate, I had to grin at your gentle reminder that many mamas and babies do indeed LIVE in Spain. Excellent point :) And thank you for the practical advice re: car seat contraptions. My in-laws are making our accommodations arrangements and I am going to pass along the strong recommendation for apartment stays for the very reasons you shared.

Chani, good points- we won't need a car in (or even between) those cities, now that I think about it. Just for some day trips (if not accessible via train). And there may be a relatively small number of occasions when we're not on paved surfaces (like easy hikes in parks, etc.) so that may be where the babywearing comes in (if, as you point out, she'll even abide wearing at that point!).

THANKS, Y'ALL. I am getting so excited about this trip and your advice is helping me feel more prepared.

Since you have some time before the trip -- maybe a short plane flight for practice ?? In case she has ears highly sensitive to air pressure, learning this on a 1-hour commuter flight would be better than on a trans-Atlantic. (Went to Hawaii with friends and a pair of 2-year-olds; ours was delightful and slept most of the flight, theirs screamed from Honolulu to San Francisco because his ears hurt and he was tired ... Everyone survived, and both kids are now productive members of society.)
If you don't get apartments, at least make arrangements with hotels IN ADVANCE for freezer space or in-room refrigerators.

And check with your airline about the best way to bring milk/bottles/freezer pack on board without TSA screeners going crazy. Evidently the breast pump is a "medical device" so not counted as a carry-on but the cooler WILL be a carry-on.
Happy travels !!

Laura's point about flying is important. It would seem that there is nothing to do but hope your child is not in great pain during the flight, but to prepare yourselves psychologically for dealing with it including potential negativity from other passengers. Also think about how to cope with the child's jetlag. It may throw off your schedule if hers is out of whack, both for sleeping and eating.

(~12 days, 3 locations - Madrid, Barcelona, Granada - with some day trips) ????

You're not going to see much, are you?... take out the travelling days between cities plus the settling upon arrival, then what, 3-3.5 days in each city?, minus "day trips"??? and on top of everything carrying a child? Sorry to say this sounds to me far too thin. In Barcelona or in Madrid you'd need nearly a month in each to really 'see' everything the city has to offer since there's plenty of places/things to see and do. Accepting you don't have that kind of time and accepting too you wish to make the most out of your transatlantic trip, still I'd seriously consider to focus and leave at least one of those cities out for this visit. But again, that's me.

Anyhow, for your leg to Barcelona...

http://www.kidsinbarcelona.com and for renting say a prom or any other stuff you might need: http://www.easytravelkids.com and http://www.babytravelling.com. Also... should an emergency arise, these may come handy: Hospital de Sant Joan de Déu and Hospital de Nens, both are the best childrens' hospitals in the city. Some detail info on how health assistance works in Catalonia (capital: Barcelona) noting that, like in most countries in Europe, a lot is covered by the Public Health System, especially serious 'emergencies' --meaning you don't have to pay up front. And for your peace of mind, ours has constantly been ranked one of the best in the world by the WHO itself.

Appreciate those links, Enric!

I am convinced you are correct about the length of the trip. I would love to spend at least a month in each of those cities! :) Unfortunately, a more extended trip is not in the cards for us right now, so I am thinking of this as an opportunity to get a taste of Spain (and of traveling with a little one), motivating us to return for more exploration in the future. But I will talk with my family about the pacing of the trip, so we don't feel so rushed. Thanks for your honest feedback!

Thanks too to those who suggested a trial flight--and mental preparation for negative reactions from other passengers. This will definitely be an adventure!

I have never minded when a little one was tired or fussy on a plane because I understand. I have minded the behavior of the parents more than once! I am confident this will not be an issue with the original poster because she has already demonstrated a great deal of responsibility in her thoughtful planning.

Most of us have traveled with small children at some point in our life and will have nothing but goodwill and compassion. One strategy is to try to pick a time for your flight that matches your child's usual nap or sleep schedule to make it easier for him or her to settle in for the "sleep" portion of a trans-Atlantic flight.

The less "gear" you have to haul on this trip the better. A car seat is a must. I would go to my local thrift store and buy a used umbrella stroller clean it up and use it for the two weeks. Donate it back when you are done. Don't forget you are going to warm locations that may make "baby wearing" a little more uncomfortable for your child than usual. You need to be able to carry what you are bringing on and off trains. Pack light!

@nc mama... if/when you have your itinerary for Barcelona -should you decide to keep it in your trip- as well as your hotel address, do come back (if you want!) and I'll gladly make suggestions that you and your little one might enjoy (nearby park, shops for kids...). Have a great vacation!

One of my best friends took her 14 month old to Spain recently and had a really successful trip. She said the Spainards all came over to talk about her sons curls! You had some great advice here. Only other things I can suggest from here are try to get bulkhead seating if you can so your little one can sit at your feet and play part of the trip. Have small little surprises wrapped to open every couple hours on the plane that are "new" and entertaining. Cars, stuffed animals, board books, stickers - quiet toys that will distract and entertain her (don't forget the plane ride home too!). You can also then use them in restaurants on your trip. As others have said - apartments are the way to go! We never stay in hotels when traveling especially with our kids. Having that kitchen is a must. Also for 6 people it will probably be much more economical. VRBO/Homeaway is the one I prefer for finding the perfect place. Most will also indicate in their listing if they have a crib (lots do in my experience). Since a lot of property owners live nearby it may be worth asking if they have a stroller they can lend you too - never hurts to ask! My experience has been most people who rent apartments do anything they can to make you feel at home. I also found this site for baby gear rentals: http://www.travelswithbaby.com/planning/baby-gear-rentals-europe-france-spain-italy-UK.htm#.VonbgnA76rU

I don't know anything about it, but may be worth looking at! You are going to have a great trip! I applaud you, so many people stop traveling after the baby arrives. My stepsons have been traveling on long haul flights since they were born and as we grow our family we will continue to keep the tradition alive. Don't worry about how much you do or don't see - just enjoy the memories as s family of 3! :)

I agree with everything said above. I'll just offer a few recommendations from my own semi recent international travels with a 13 month old not offered so far. If you use a car seat, Peg Perrigo makes an extremely lightweight one. Turn it rear facing in the airplane seat so the baby can't kick the seat in front of him/her. Love, love, love my Uppababy umbrella stroller. It handles cobblestones and curbs like a champ.
When we took our daughter, she was a completely different little person than the one we were prepared for when we were planning our trip 6 weeks earlier. She was completely off all baby food and formula and had an appetite for grilled fish and whole milk. We did find she would eat some French baby food, but after tasting it, I see why. Good stuff!