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in Blog on March 23, 2022 by Sandy Hsu

Family Travel Gear Guide: Things that Make Trips With Little Ones Easier

One of the biggest challenges of traveling with little ones is that you still need to manage their day-to-day needs — feeding, bathrooming, play, and sleep — without all of the comforts and conveniences of home. 

For being so little, babies and toddlers sure need a lot of stuff! The sheer amount of things I needed to pack when we first started traveling with a little one felt so overwhelming; but over time, I’ve learned that instead of trying to bring all the things, simply having a few of the right things can really make a big difference. 

So, if you’re feeling intimidated about traveling with your baby or toddler, I’ve got you covered with family travel gear recommendations to help make your time away from home easier. The best travel gear strikes that fine balance between serving an essential function while also being portable and easy to use, and these things do just that!

For Getting Around

Cosco Scenera Next Car Seat

The Cosco Scenera Next is pretty basic as far as car seats go, but it checks so many boxes that makes it perfect for traveling with young children: it’s lightweight, easy to install, affordable (only ~$49 and can be used over and over again versus the ~$10 a day to rent a car seat), easy to clean, and approved by the FAA for use on airplanes. 

We use the Cosco Scenera Next as our dedicated travel car seat anytime we fly. We prefer to use a car seat on the plane for our children (ages 4 and under) whenever possible since it provides a safe, familiar, and sanitary place to keep them contained and help them sleep.

Mountain Buggy Nano Stroller

When considering travel strollers, look for one that has a compact fold (there are many now that fold down to carry-on dimensions so it can be stored in the overhead bin on airplanes), the ability to recline, some sort of sun shade, and is relatively easy to maneuver. We love that the Mountain Buggy Nano meets all of these criteria and has a universal car seat adapter system so you can use it with an infant car seat for little babies.

One of my favorite travel-gear hacks is using the Mountain Buggy Nano Stroller with the Cosco Scenera Next Car Seat attached! This trick is so handy for when you are flying with a toddler, stroller, and car seat— our daughter is simply able to sit in her car seat attached to the stroller so there’s no need to bother with any extra contraptions to transport the car seat. Here’s a video demo of this amazing hack. 

Baby Tula Discover Free-to-Grow

A comfortable, easy-to-use baby carrier is a must for traveling with a baby to help you stay hands free while keeping your little one close. Baby-wearing is especially helpful when the journey involves air travel, train, or any other type of public transportation.

We love Tula baby carriers for the easy-to-use, ergonomic design that’s comfortable without adding too much bulk.

For Sleep

Phil & Teds Traveller Travel Crib

We’ve taken the Phil & Teds Travel Crib on multiple international trips with our toddler. It’s lightweight (just 6 lbs!) and breaks down into a compact bag that fits easily into our larger check-in suitcase with plenty of room to spare. Like most travel cribs, the mattress is pretty thin and basic so we usually cushion the area under the crib with additional blankets.

Toddlers will outgrow this travel crib sooner because of its space-saving design; but, if you are flying and want the flexibility of bringing your own crib for your baby, the ease and portability of this travel crib just can’t be beat!

Lotus Travel Crib

The Lotus Travel Crib is another great option for babies and toddlers, especially for road trips or if you are staying at a few different places over the course of the trip. The set-up and break-down of this crib is super fast and easy—it folds up in just a few seconds— and has greater longevity than other travel cribs because the mattress rests on the floor so there isn’t a weight limit. However, it does have a larger footprint than the Phil & Teds Travel crib so if you are flying, it is likely you will need to check it in separately or bring it as a carry-on. 

Portable Window Blackout Curtain

A dark room is key to helping babies sleep more soundly in a new place. This portable blackout curtain folds up into an easy-to-pack size and has worked great for stays at the grandparents and airbnbs. Blackout curtains also work wonders for encouraging toddlers to take that much-needed midday nap.

Portable White Noise Machine

A white noise machine creates a familiar, soothing sleep environment and drowns out random noises to help your child sleep better away from home. If you already have a white noise machine that your little one is accustomed to using at bedtime, definitely prioritize space in your luggage to bring it along; if you are wanting something more compact that can be used on the go, the Yogasleep white noise machine is just 3.5 inches in diameter, charges by USB, and can operate up to 6 hours off a single charge. 

Slumberpod

If you are sharing a room with your baby or toddler while traveling, the Slumberpod is a godsend. The Slumberpod is basically a little pop-up tent that can fit over a Pack ‘n Play, travel crib, or even a toddler mattress to provide your little one with a private, dark place to sleep. It has a steeper price tag, but if you visit family often or stay regularly in a single hotel room as a family, it may be worth it for getting extra sleep and better naps.

For Feeding

Summer Pop ‘N Sit Portable Booster Chair

Meals are so much more enjoyable when your baby has a place to sit that’s not your lap. This foldable high chair sets up in seconds and is perfect for taking on the go! It’s lightweight and packs up neatly in a bag that is easy to carry on it’s own or throw it in your luggage, stroller, or backpack. The detachable tray is on the smaller side, but that’s what makes it compact and perfect for any airbnb or hotel, camping, the beach, restaurants, and the park.

Munchkin Latch Microwave Sterilize Bags

If you need to sterilize bottles, breast pump parts, pacifiers or teethers when you are on the go, this is the perfect solution! These microwavable sterilizing bags can be reused up to 30 times, kills 99.9% of bacteria, and only takes up as much space as a ziploc bag.

For the Bathroom

Summer 3-in-1 Train with Me Potty

A travel potty in the back of the car has been such a lifesaver for us on trips! Being able to opt out of gross gas station bathrooms and the outhouse at national parks is such a relief when traveling with a potty-training toddler or preschooler. 

I love that the Summer 3-in-1 potty can be used as a potty seat, potty topper, and step stool while still remaining compact in size. For hotel or airbnb stays, the potty topper and step stool makes the bathroom kid-friendly so that preschoolers and little kids can use the bathroom independently just as they would at home. When we are out and about, we line the inside of the potty with a disposable, absorbent liner for easy, mess-free cleanup.

Inflatable Bath Tub

If you are staying somewhere without a bathtub, this inflatable tub is a great way to give the baby a bath without trying to maneuver around a sink or risk having your little one fall down in the shower. This tub inflates to provide a padded safe place for baby to bathe and when you are finished, it deflates for easy storage without taking up much space.

Other Gear

Packing Cubes

If you aren’t already using packing cubes in your family’s luggage, trust me— you need these in your life. Packing cubes keep everything compact and organized, especially when you are packing all of those tiny pieces of little kid clothing. I like assigning a different color for each family member so that anyone in the family can easily grab our own belongings out of the giant suitcase without rummaging through a big pile.

iClever Headphones for Kids

A comfortable pair of child-sized headphones is a must for on-the-go screen time (lest you want to listen to cartoon voices and the annoying rings and dings of games for hours on end). The iClever headphones are padded, foldable, has volume control to protect little ears, and allow for audio sharing for multiple kids.

Kids Backpack

Putting an older toddler or preschooler in charge of their own backpack is such a great way to lighten your own load on travel days! 

Whether we are traveling by car or plane, I always pack my daughter her own backpack with a water bottle, change of clothes, snacks, headphones, and a few small toys (crayons, stickers, pop-it, and these cute little animal erasers that she currently loves). Even if she isn’t actually carrying the backpack around much (like on a road trip), it’s still helpful to have the things she will most likely need all in one place.

Bell+Howell Ultrasonic Personal Portable Humidifier

For little ones prone to dry skin, eczema, or bloody noses, a portable humidifier is great to have on trips, especially for travels during the winter months or to places with a dry climate. The Bell+Howell Personal Humidifier turns your standard sized water bottle into the water tank so you don’t have to worry about lugging around a humidifier with a giant tank!

Related

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: babies, products, spring, summer, toddlers, travel

About Sandy Hsu

Sandy is a wife, mother of two, and scientist-turned-writer living in Los Angeles, California. When she’s not reading to her girls, cleaning up mealtime messes, or struggling to keep up with the laundry, Sandy enjoys writing, painting, and planning travel adventures with her family. A lover of good stories and thought-provoking conversations, Sandy strives to find joy and beauty in the midst of the daily grind and hopes to encourage other moms to do the same.

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Comments

  1. Anna says

    March 31, 2022 at 1:41 pm

    this slumberpod tent looks amazing! i must say i’m intrigued and will make some more research. so thanks a lot for new ideas especially about sleep cause this stresses me the most. i’ve even used sleep training step-by-step guide as a preparation before travel! btw it was How to teach a baby to fall asleep alone by Susan Urban and i loved it!

    Reply
    • Sandy says

      April 1, 2022 at 1:49 pm

      That’s awesome! And yes, I totally agree that sleep is probably the number one thing I stress about for trips with little ones— it can really make or break a trip for me 😛

      Reply

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New episode! Performances. Plays. Graduations. Th New episode!

Performances. Plays. Graduations. The lusty month of May is upon us as we ditch our well-oiled, calendar-planning systems and enter our end-of-school-year survival mode. In this episode, Meagan and Sarah share strategies for tackling the extra-ness of this season (like death by a thousand emails), setting intentions for the next few weeks and the many lessons May tries to teach us year after year (maybe someday we will learn?). Enjoy this May madness roundup as you dream of the peaceful, calm days of summer ahead (Ha, wouldn't that be great!).

Find the episode wherever you get your podcasts, or click this image at the link in our bio!

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Happy Monday, friends! Tomorrow’s show is about Happy Monday, friends! Tomorrow’s show is about end-of-school madness and other May malarkey, and in the episode we talk about how there’s just not a lot of margin for anything EXTRA or UNPLANNED in May. But the universe doesn’t always listen to us, or respect our boundaries, so please enjoy this selfie in front of a fallen “tree branch” on my back patio.

(It’s actually like the size of an entire tree. But the tree itself is fine and still standing. It just lost like half its bulk in a windstorm on Friday night. Roof, house, humans, pets are all fine. Glad we don’t have any patio hangs on the May calendar!)

If you like to watch Stories, I’m doing a Day In The Life series all day today, where you can see what else is up in the Powers house. I hope all the branches stay on all the trees in your yard this month. -Sarah
Sarah joined @marnihughestv on @newsnationnow this Sarah joined @marnihughestv on @newsnationnow this weekend to talk about how the formula shortage is affecting moms in our community. You can watch the clip at the link in our bio.
A day at the beach with kids is, um, no day at the A day at the beach with kids is, um, no day at the beach. (Sorry, had to. 😎) There’s gear to pack, sand to remove from unseen regions, and safety and sun protection to be mindful of. Thanks to our team of contributors, we’ve got you covered on the blog this week with the products that will make your beach outing fun, safe, and comfortable at every age and stage.

Click this image at the link in our bio to get beach gear recs for every age and stage from baby through teen! And big thanks to @catieparrish @cafedumartin @stacybronec @kiamhammon @emilyeroark for the great suggestions!

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We're meeting next week to build out podcast and b We're meeting next week to build out podcast and blog content for the next few months. What topics should be on our list to cover?
New episode! As moms, we are our kids' biggest fa New episode!

As moms, we are our kids' biggest fans. But when it comes to deciding when, how and what to share about them with others, the struggle is real. In today’s episode, Meagan and Sarah discuss how talking about our own kids in a public forum gets tricky as they get older (think bigger kids, bigger problems) - and not just for the reasons you might think. Join us for a real conversation about navigating the ever-changing seasons of motherhood and how we think you can be honest and authentic without sharing *everything* going on inside your four walls. We wrap up with some updates on our specific kids (all eight!).

Find the episode wherever you get your podcasts, or click this image at the link in our bio!

#themomhour #motherhood #mompodcast #podcastsformoms #parenting #parentingpodcast #podcastlove #trypod #podcastersofinstagram #shepodcasts
Over the past few weeks, one of my kids - the one Over the past few weeks, one of my kids - the one who, as a baby and toddler, I would once have titled Most Likely To Wail So Long And Hard In The Gym Child Care That I Will Almost Certainly Have To Skip My Shower - has developed a bit of a fitness obsession. 

We've spent hours discussing his lifting program and gym schedule. And today, I scoured the grocery-store shelves for all the ingredients for a smoothie that will, I believe, help him get "jacked" and perhaps "make gains", then stood by as he prepared said smoothie, in case he needed assistance. (He did.)

The path from mothering toddlers to teens is full of surprises, friends. One day, you're trying to squeeze as much self-care as possible into the two-hour child care limit and wondering if the gym folks would catch you if you slipped out the side door for a solo sprint through the grocery store (never had the guts to try, but the temptation was strong.) 

But before you know it, the gym - and the coffee shop, and the inside of the car, and your favorite social media platforms - are no longer primarily your turf, but a shared domain where you try to find common ground even though you feel increasingly old and potentially cringe-inducing (and anyway, you've been told, clearly all the best reels were TikToks first.)

But you keep showing up. 

Because while it’s occasionally uncomfortable to wonder just how out of touch you’ve become since they were little, you also know there are bits of wisdom they rely on you for…wisdom such as how to secure the lid to the blender so you don’t wind up with protein smoothie on the ceiling.

And while they may never again look at you with with unquestioning adoration of a two-year-old, the respect you receive now, while less effusively expressed, is much harder-earned and well-deserved. 

Parenting teens, it seems, is all about striking the proper balance between humility and authority. I’m not sure I’ve figured it out yet and maybe I never will. But I’m still in here punching the bag, and meting out my mothering efforts…one smoothie at a time. 

-M

#parentingteens #grownandflown #bigkidparenting #teens #motherhood
New episode! Moms are savvy consumers, conscienti New episode!

Moms are savvy consumers, conscientious home managers, and discerning decision-makers. So why are we so often the target of hyper-generalized and cringey marketing efforts? In today’s More Than Mom episode - airing on Mother's Day! - Meagan and Sarah keep it light (and a bit snarky 😉) as we vent about the sloppy intent, terrible puns and ridiculous stereotypes advertisers use to market to us moms.

Find the episode wherever you get your podcasts, or click this image at the link in our bio!

#themomhour #motherhood #mompodcast #podcastsformoms #parenting #parentingpodcast #podcastlove #trypod #podcastersofinstagram #shepodcasts
Words by @sarahelimberg, contributor to The Mom Ho Words by @sarahelimberg, contributor to The Mom Hour and new mom of a toddler from San Diego:

--

#MyMomHour usually looks like this. Mid-day Saturday, exhausted from the work week, run down from the morning, heart full because I finally made it to a day with my little girl.

This window of free time is usually during nap with a quick lunch and an episode from the DVR archives that is no doubt a few weeks old. It’s probably the most relaxed and at peace I am all week.

What isn’t pictured is all the work it took to get to this point. All the effort it took to create this time for myself. It took meal planning and dishes after bedtime and house cleaning before breakfast and grocery orders and late night laundry and lunchtime emails and a coordinated vacuum run during our park trip.

I don’t think enough people acknowledge the work it takes for parents and caregivers to take time for themselves. There are endless people and Instagram posts telling you that you need time for yourself. Time to relax. Time to decompress. But I’m not seeing those same people recognize that it isn’t always that simple. I have yet to figure out how to say to my 15 month old, “Mommy needs some time, you good?”

So if you’re reading this during your mom hour, cheers.

If you’re taking two minutes to scroll on your phone in the bathroom, cheers.

Whether you’ve figured out your mom hour or not, I hope your mug is full. 

--

Want a mug like Sarah's? Click this image at the link in our bio.

Want to share what an hour for yourself looks like to you? Tag your post #MyMomHour so we can see it and share!
It's been so fun seeing our mugs out in the world, It's been so fun seeing our mugs out in the world, filled with your coffee and tea, sitting on your kitchen counters or porch steps. Get yours by clicking this image at the link in our bio, and follow the #MyMomHour hashtag to see how moms in our community are taking (or hoping for) an hour to themselves.

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Words by @lisapayne4, contributor to The Mom Hour Words by @lisapayne4, contributor to The Mom Hour and mom of four from Kansas:

--

As a single mom of 4 who works full time out of the home, free time hasn’t always been plentiful. But new arrangements have found me with more free time than I’ve had for about 15 years.

Those first hours of free time included trying to figure out what I *do* with free time. Sitting paralyzed, figuring out which of the hundreds of things should occur in this unfamiliar and uncomfortable space of alone.

As the normalcy of the new schedule begins seeping in, indecisiveness trickles away like granules of sand dissipating in an hourglass. Both indicating the countdown to the old normalcy and the gentle flow of time.

Since I work well with organization, I make a mental list, prioritizing 1-2 items begging to be accomplished in #MyMomHour. Sometimes it’s a date with myself at the gym, or a tv show that my kids don’t need to (or want to) watch with me. Often, I’ll pop in an air pod and it’s a podcast, audiobook, music, or phone call while I take care of putting things back in order around the house. Sometimes I doodle on the writings I’ve started, seeing if any inspiration percolates.

I walk away feeling accomplished, refueled and more relaxed without so much clutter, one less pile on the counter or thing on the stairs. It rejuvenates a spirit in me to get back into something I’ve left behind, a friendship, an old project or hobby, self-care…even if it’s binge-watching a new (to me) series. And it always helps me be more present when the old normalcy returns.

--

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Want to share what an hour for yourself looks like to you? Tag your post #MyMomHour so we can see it and share!
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Hopping on the mic to record today, dealing with o Hopping on the mic to record today, dealing with our own everyday stressors, and pausing in total gratitude for reviews like this one, and communities like this. 💛 -M & S
New episode! Performances. Plays. Graduations. Th New episode!

Performances. Plays. Graduations. The lusty month of May is upon us as we ditch our well-oiled, calendar-planning systems and enter our end-of-school-year survival mode. In this episode, Meagan and Sarah share strategies for tackling the extra-ness of this season (like death by a thousand emails), setting intentions for the next few weeks and the many lessons May tries to teach us year after year (maybe someday we will learn?). Enjoy this May madness roundup as you dream of the peaceful, calm days of summer ahead (Ha, wouldn't that be great!).

Find the episode wherever you get your podcasts, or click this image at the link in our bio!

#themomhour #motherhood #mompodcast #podcastsformoms #parenting #parentingpodcast #podcastlove #trypod #podcastersofinstagram #shepodcasts
Happy Monday, friends! Tomorrow’s show is about Happy Monday, friends! Tomorrow’s show is about end-of-school madness and other May malarkey, and in the episode we talk about how there’s just not a lot of margin for anything EXTRA or UNPLANNED in May. But the universe doesn’t always listen to us, or respect our boundaries, so please enjoy this selfie in front of a fallen “tree branch” on my back patio.

(It’s actually like the size of an entire tree. But the tree itself is fine and still standing. It just lost like half its bulk in a windstorm on Friday night. Roof, house, humans, pets are all fine. Glad we don’t have any patio hangs on the May calendar!)

If you like to watch Stories, I’m doing a Day In The Life series all day today, where you can see what else is up in the Powers house. I hope all the branches stay on all the trees in your yard this month. -Sarah
Sarah joined @marnihughestv on @newsnationnow this Sarah joined @marnihughestv on @newsnationnow this weekend to talk about how the formula shortage is affecting moms in our community. You can watch the clip at the link in our bio.
A day at the beach with kids is, um, no day at the A day at the beach with kids is, um, no day at the beach. (Sorry, had to. 😎) There’s gear to pack, sand to remove from unseen regions, and safety and sun protection to be mindful of. Thanks to our team of contributors, we’ve got you covered on the blog this week with the products that will make your beach outing fun, safe, and comfortable at every age and stage.

Click this image at the link in our bio to get beach gear recs for every age and stage from baby through teen! And big thanks to @catieparrish @cafedumartin @stacybronec @kiamhammon @emilyeroark for the great suggestions!

#beachgear #momsatthebeach #beachwithbabies #beachwithtoddlers #beachwithkids #beachvacationgear #bestbeachgear #beachgearguide #beach #momlife #summermomlife #beachmom #beachfamily
We're meeting next week to build out podcast and b We're meeting next week to build out podcast and blog content for the next few months. What topics should be on our list to cover?
New episode! As moms, we are our kids' biggest fa New episode!

As moms, we are our kids' biggest fans. But when it comes to deciding when, how and what to share about them with others, the struggle is real. In today’s episode, Meagan and Sarah discuss how talking about our own kids in a public forum gets tricky as they get older (think bigger kids, bigger problems) - and not just for the reasons you might think. Join us for a real conversation about navigating the ever-changing seasons of motherhood and how we think you can be honest and authentic without sharing *everything* going on inside your four walls. We wrap up with some updates on our specific kids (all eight!).

Find the episode wherever you get your podcasts, or click this image at the link in our bio!

#themomhour #motherhood #mompodcast #podcastsformoms #parenting #parentingpodcast #podcastlove #trypod #podcastersofinstagram #shepodcasts
Over the past few weeks, one of my kids - the one Over the past few weeks, one of my kids - the one who, as a baby and toddler, I would once have titled Most Likely To Wail So Long And Hard In The Gym Child Care That I Will Almost Certainly Have To Skip My Shower - has developed a bit of a fitness obsession. 

We've spent hours discussing his lifting program and gym schedule. And today, I scoured the grocery-store shelves for all the ingredients for a smoothie that will, I believe, help him get "jacked" and perhaps "make gains", then stood by as he prepared said smoothie, in case he needed assistance. (He did.)

The path from mothering toddlers to teens is full of surprises, friends. One day, you're trying to squeeze as much self-care as possible into the two-hour child care limit and wondering if the gym folks would catch you if you slipped out the side door for a solo sprint through the grocery store (never had the guts to try, but the temptation was strong.) 

But before you know it, the gym - and the coffee shop, and the inside of the car, and your favorite social media platforms - are no longer primarily your turf, but a shared domain where you try to find common ground even though you feel increasingly old and potentially cringe-inducing (and anyway, you've been told, clearly all the best reels were TikToks first.)

But you keep showing up. 

Because while it’s occasionally uncomfortable to wonder just how out of touch you’ve become since they were little, you also know there are bits of wisdom they rely on you for…wisdom such as how to secure the lid to the blender so you don’t wind up with protein smoothie on the ceiling.

And while they may never again look at you with with unquestioning adoration of a two-year-old, the respect you receive now, while less effusively expressed, is much harder-earned and well-deserved. 

Parenting teens, it seems, is all about striking the proper balance between humility and authority. I’m not sure I’ve figured it out yet and maybe I never will. But I’m still in here punching the bag, and meting out my mothering efforts…one smoothie at a time. 

-M

#parentingteens #grownandflown #bigkidparenting #teens #motherhood
New episode! Moms are savvy consumers, conscienti New episode!

Moms are savvy consumers, conscientious home managers, and discerning decision-makers. So why are we so often the target of hyper-generalized and cringey marketing efforts? In today’s More Than Mom episode - airing on Mother's Day! - Meagan and Sarah keep it light (and a bit snarky 😉) as we vent about the sloppy intent, terrible puns and ridiculous stereotypes advertisers use to market to us moms.

Find the episode wherever you get your podcasts, or click this image at the link in our bio!

#themomhour #motherhood #mompodcast #podcastsformoms #parenting #parentingpodcast #podcastlove #trypod #podcastersofinstagram #shepodcasts
Words by @sarahelimberg, contributor to The Mom Ho Words by @sarahelimberg, contributor to The Mom Hour and new mom of a toddler from San Diego:

--

#MyMomHour usually looks like this. Mid-day Saturday, exhausted from the work week, run down from the morning, heart full because I finally made it to a day with my little girl.

This window of free time is usually during nap with a quick lunch and an episode from the DVR archives that is no doubt a few weeks old. It’s probably the most relaxed and at peace I am all week.

What isn’t pictured is all the work it took to get to this point. All the effort it took to create this time for myself. It took meal planning and dishes after bedtime and house cleaning before breakfast and grocery orders and late night laundry and lunchtime emails and a coordinated vacuum run during our park trip.

I don’t think enough people acknowledge the work it takes for parents and caregivers to take time for themselves. There are endless people and Instagram posts telling you that you need time for yourself. Time to relax. Time to decompress. But I’m not seeing those same people recognize that it isn’t always that simple. I have yet to figure out how to say to my 15 month old, “Mommy needs some time, you good?”

So if you’re reading this during your mom hour, cheers.

If you’re taking two minutes to scroll on your phone in the bathroom, cheers.

Whether you’ve figured out your mom hour or not, I hope your mug is full. 

--

Want a mug like Sarah's? Click this image at the link in our bio.

Want to share what an hour for yourself looks like to you? Tag your post #MyMomHour so we can see it and share!

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