5 Must-haves for Napa with a 3-month old

"Prior preparation makes good presentation" is a phrase we've all heard, but when the stakes are Napa-level high it takes on a whole new meaning - especially with a baby in tow. 

We had been planning this trip with my siblings and parents for over a year, and the closer it got, the more I felt like I had agreed to more than I should've. Let's take a step back and look at what I was up against; baby's first flight, my first time really drinking in over a year, a whole different time zone to think about for Lewis' schedule, expensive wine that I really did not want my kiddo to accidentally spill, and the overall unpredictability of a three-month old. So many variables!  How were all of the "take your baby to Napa, it'll be fun" blogs so... chill? I kept telling myself that the articles must've been written with a nice glass of red in hand. There was no way I was going to be able to pull this off without at least one broken wine glass.

Spoiler alert: I came prepared and enjoyed every sip through wine country - not one single wine glass broke in the process. Here are five items we could not have done this trip without.

1. A soft toddler blanket 

Everyone was so welcoming of our mini addition to the party. We set up a cozy little spot for him to hang out during each of the tastings right on the table! This blanket is small enough that it's easy for airplane travel and thick enough that it's breathable but cushioned - the perfect balance! 

2. Lots of pacifier clips 

Babies, even when they are only three months old, are notoriously good at throwing their adorable little toys straight onto the ground. Pacifier clips are so easy to loop around just about any infant toy or teether and allow you to securely fasten that toy right onto your kiddo. No need to constantly play pick-up and no need to sanitize toys on repeat because they keep hitting the ground! 

3. Small packing cubes 

This set of three Itzy Ritzy packing cubes is easily the most-used baby item we own. There is not a day that goes by that I don't use these cubes. On our trip to Napa, they were a game changer for keeping our diaper bag organized during the back-to-back wine tastings. We use them for toys, clothes, and even snacks now that Lewis is older.

4. Quick Clean Wipes 

The Medela Quick Clean Wipes are a must-have in my personal bag on every trip I take with Lewis, even if it's just a weekend at Nana and Grandpa's house. But having these little wipes in Napa was an absolute lifesaver! They are so easy to use and you don't need to rinse off the bottle after. I would recommend packing one wipe pack per bottle per day for very easy cleanup when you don't have easy access to a way to clean bottles for your kiddo. 

5. A bottle drying rack 

One of the hardest parts of traveling with a baby, in my opinion, is keeping everything clean. Bottles have so many small parts that need to be constantly scrubbed and dried, it's very difficult to ensure you have a clean spot for them unless you bring one with you! This compact bottle drying rack is something that I wish I had known about before having Lewis because it's so convenient! It's small enough that it easily can be set up right on the bathroom counter in the hotel while you're washing bottles and then you can just pick the whole thing up and move it to dry by the TV in the hotel after washing is done.