My Three Best Travel Shoes

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Since the last couple of years, I have been looking to pare my travel baggage as much as possible to the bare minimum. I’ve been on the lookout for clothes that require least maintenance and space as well as multipurpose beauty options. One item that I’ve always struggled with is shoes.

See, before marriage, I could go backpacking to a whole country in just one pair of sneakers. But age and being married to an Army officer means I have to cater to the ‘lady’ occasions and having a baby results in an altogether different ballgame wherein I have to not only find something decent looking but which also check  the boxes of comfort (gotta run behind the toddler ALL the time), ease of wear (no time for complicated buckles and laces!) and low maintenance (you never know when the baby will puke/pee/poop on it) and requiring less space (because now baby items occupy more space in your bag).

I think I have finally figured out a solution to this complex mom problem and the following are the three shoes I am travelling with currently and super-duper happy with. I think this I what I am going to stick to for a while:

Reebok Sneakers: My husband bought these as the exercise/walking shoes for me when I got pregnant two years ago. They are extremely comfortable, comparatively lightweight and of course, quality shoes, so last long. The mesh outer layer makes it breathable and hence, comfortable even in the summer months. I always wear these when I undertake travel that requires long-distance walking with a baby (esp. airports) and now that I am in a hilly area, I wear them when we go for walks/hikes. (Linked similar one).

Vans Palisades SF Sneakers: Ah, Vans! My forever favourite!  I have loved Vans shoes since even before they had launched in India a few years ago. I had bought my first classic Vans about 4 years ago when I was recovering from a fractured foot and needed something sturdy yet stylish for everyday wear. I knew I had made the right choice when I overcame the tiny limp I had in my walk which the doctor said I would never recover from. I have been a Vans loyal every since. But here’ the thing - Vans are pricey. So

, always, always be on the lookout for sale. These particular model are the perfect mom shoes – slip on, washable, good rubber sole and so so sturdy and still so chic!. I literally wear them like all the time – on jeans, on trousers, dresses and kurti-leggings – everything. These are my wardrobe staple and a must buy. If you are not too much into black, they also come in some cute pastels.

Bata Ballerina: I bought these shoes while transiting from Delhi and boy, I’m glad! These are ballet flat with a suede outer body and tiny studded stones in same black colour meaning a perfect balance of bling but not too obvious, making it the ideal understated party wear for a busy mom. Easy to maintain and how we all know black goes with everything! In fact, all 3 of my above shoes are black!

Just these three shoes get me through a lot of walking, running behind a toddler (all the time!), hiking, parties, sightseeing, date evenings and everything in between! In all, these shoes have been one of my best travel finds so far and unless I am going on an occasion-specific trip (like weddings) I am pretty much going to stick to them.

What are your favourite travel shoes?

3 Things To Blindly Buy If Your Baby Is 6 Months Or Older

Reaching the age of 6 months is a major milestone in a baby’s life. That is when they (usually) start eating solid food and drinking water. Here are the top three must-have baby items that changed the solids game for my son and I and have made our lives so much simpler. I had bought these three items after much consideration, deliberation and research, so you don’t need to put in any further thought or time and can just buy the exact following things once your child is about age:

1. Munchkin Miracle 360 Trainer Cup (for liquids): I just cannot stop raving about this item to any new mom I meet and it's surprising how so few of them know about it! MM is basically a spoutless sippy cup which imitates the action of drinking water from a tumbler, hence, safe for dental development of babies unlike bottles and sippers. It is absolutely spill-proof (we've been using it since several months), break-proof (not a single scratch after all this time) and easy to use and clean. It comes in different sizes and variants (with or without handle). Well, for small babies, a small cup (7 oz) with handle is the best choice as it is light and easy to hold for them. This also makes for a perfect gift for another mom you know!
   
   
   
2. Booster seat (for meals): A life saviour. esp if you have a hyper-active child like mine who ust wont sit at one place!. I decided to go for a booster seat instead of a high chair because it can be just put on the floor and safe for smaller babies (no danger of falling or slipping) and because booster seat is portable, hence, can be carried on travels or to restaurants (as a lot of Indian food joints still do not provide high chairs). The booster seat that we have is foldable (easy to carry), has 3 point harness belt for babies, 2 different adjustable belt for fitting it on chair and also has adjustable height so can be used for good number of years. A booster seat also encourages a child to explore different foods and eat on her/his own and is easy to clean too! Best used when baby starts to sit with support.
3. Potty Training Seat (for bathroom habits): My son has been potty trained since he was 8 months old, thanks to a tiny bit of effort and this training pot!  After much research, I bought this pot as it comes from a quality brand, is sturdy, travel friendly and multi-purpose (convertible potty seat cum chair and stool, hence no need to buy 3 different things for the bathroom!). Initially, when he couldn't sit properly on his own, I'd hold the bub on it. Now that he is independent, every morning when we wake up, I plop him on the pot while I go about my morning routine. When I have to travel, I just pop the seat cover in my suitcase and we’re good to go! For our current Kashmir vacation, as it more than a month long, I’ve carried the whole pot with me. The bub, even at just one year of age knows that he has to poop in the pot and won't do it anywhere else, in fact, even holding it when we're outside!

These are the exact three items that I use daily for my son and have been like a blessing in my life. they have also made my the bub more independent, self-reliant and helped him develop a healthy relationship with food and his body. if you have any doubts about any of these items, please let me know in the comments below.

What are your must-have baby items?