Backpacks and Baby?!?!

Brain overload! What on earth do you take with you for a backpacking trip with a 7 month old?!?

After years of backpacking to obscure locations I had the packing lark cracked. One bag, minimal fuss, and well under my weight allowance. Enter into the equation a 7 month old with no luggage allowance on an extended trip with a backpack and we have a problem! Some serious thinking was required.

My backpack and I have been travelling the world together since my Dad bought it for me when I was 18. From that first coast to coast trip across the USA, to mountains in Peru, to tuk tuks in South East Asia we have a bond. Leaving it behind on this trip feels like a betrayal of an old friend. But stay behind it must as enter my new improved larger, front loading backpack! After a lot of thought about the benefits of suitcases versus backpacks versus holdalls, we have opted for a combination. I have a slightly larger and front loading backpack which will leave me with my hands free. Ian (my husband) has a new hold all type bag on wheels, which as well as being slightly larger than his previous backpack, will leave him with his back free to potentially carry Thomas on his back in his baby carrier. Hopefully this will be a sensible solution and will allow us to fit Thomas's things into our backpacks between us.

On the recommendation of a friend (thank you Emily Bailey of www.travelcounsellors.co.uk/emily.bailey ) I have purchased a Tula baby carrier which packs up pretty small and can be used to carry Thomas either on our front or back.

Most airlines, and certainly all the ones we are travelling with, will take a pushchair and a car seat for an infant at no charge. Knowing how careful baggage handlers are with your luggage (ha ha ha ha ha!) we have opted not to take Thomas's usual pushchair with us and have bought an umbrella type buggy off ebay. The Silvercross Pop was cheap and if it gets broken along the way, it cost us under £20 so I won't be so worried about having to replace it. It will fit into the boot of a car easily and is very light. We are however, taking Thomas's car seat with us in a protective car seat bag. Whilst we could have hired one along the way, taking our own will have the advantage that we can get lifts in cars from friends, travel by taxi in safety and also Thomas will be more comfortable. Hired car seats are notoriously poor quality in some countries and when we are travelling thousands of miles we've decided that the added hassle of lugging the seat along will be worth it.

I bought Thomas some summer clothes in the next size up during this summer so we have a couple of weeks worth (with scheduled regular occasions where I can wash them!). I've also purchased a few toys that he hasn't seen before to create some interest on long journeys. All of them pack well and weren't expensive so I can always swap them in at points along the way. Of course we'll take a few versatile trusted favourites too, such as his stacking cups which have multi use.

Food wise, we'll take a few Ella's kitchen pouches for emergencies but intend to buy more on the way. Luckily Thomas is weaning well so will be able to eat a lot of what we have just mushed up and he is still breastfed so we don't need to bother with bottles or sterilisers. We're self catering for much of the trip which means we're never more than a couple of days away from a kitchen/kitchenette so this will also be a help.

What remains to be seen is whether all these theories will work out and whether I can get everything into the bags! I shall be interested to re-read this on my return and see if my thoughts have changed.

Packing awaits. Wish me luck!