'As a toddler mum, here are the 12 things I'd tell any parent to spend and save on.'

My introduction to parenthood is probably a bit different from that of other parents. My son, Archer, was born in June 2022 but as an Olympic athlete gearing up for Paris 2024, there was no "baby bubble" or time to settle into parenthood. 

Pretty much from the moment Archer was born, he’s been in tow with me for everything I’ve done. He’s only just turned two, but he’s taken more than 65 flights, been to six countries and has a passport he’s filling up! 

I’m the kind of mum who feels more relaxed and comfortable when he’s with me, so we made the decision early on that whatever my sport requires and wherever I need to be, we’ll do it as a family.

Image: Instagram/@gengen_lacaze.

Archer is such a happy-go-lucky baby that travelling so much with him has been a dream, but there are still a few things I really rely on to make our life go smoothly. With the benefit of experience, I’m keen to share my best recommendations for products which are worth their weight in gold.

When Archer was born, I read every article and every blog about the types of things I might need for a baby, especially one who would be travelling a lot. I spent a lot of money on things I was convinced would make my life easier, only to realise that I should have just been trusting my instincts. 

I love sharing with other mums the products that aren’t worth the hefty price tag so that they can avoid falling into the same traps I did.

Save: Baby cocoons and fancy swaddles.

In my experience, spending money on special cocoons and swaddles is a total waste. For me, it was easier just to do things the old-school way.

Spend: Anything that helps a fussy eater. 

Bellamy's Organic Toddler Milk Drink has been such a big part of our life while travelling because Archer can be a fussy eater. His diet is pretty good but of course, as an athlete, I stress about it. Toddler milk is different in different countries, so sometimes he will actually refuse to drink it while we’re travelling. 

It really makes a difference to us to carry Bellamy's Organic Toddler Milk Drink when we travel because we know he can get his calcium that way. 

Bellamy’s Organic also has an amazing range of cereals, fruit snacks, pouches for on-the-go and pasta which I’ll often give Archer when we arrive late to a travel destination and there’s nowhere for him to eat. I know there are no artificial preservatives, colours or flavours, plus it’s all certified organic, which makes it really easy to trust Bellamy's Organic. 

Image: Supplied. 

Save: Wipes.

I’ve never seen the point of expensive wipes — we use the pink Johnson's wipes because when you pull one out, you don’t actually get six at once and they do the job!

Spend: A high-tech baby monitor. 

Our CuboAi baby monitor has been really good because, if I need to train during naptime, it gives me peace of mind and freedom. 

It’s fully controlled from my phone and I can talk to Archer, play him lullabies and white noise and even take pictures while he’s in his room and I’m keeping up with my training. It even alerts me when his room gets too cold! I love knowing I have an eye on him, even when I’m not next to him.

Save: Baby bath.

I really thought I would need a dedicated little baby bath but since we travel so much, I end up bathing Archer in a sink or a shower with me.

Spend: Everyday pram.

Prams are a must to splurge on. We have a Cybex pram for everyday use with a baby capsule seat that clicks straight into the pram. For the first six months of his life, Archer came everywhere with us, going straight from the car into the pram without waking up.

Save: Toys.

My mum and I are always laughing because Archer’s favourite toys are always the cheapest, worst-quality things. I remember being on a plane, and all he wanted to do was stack plastic cups on top of each other. 

Early on, I would spend way too much money on toys and he’d be bored after a day. Now I grab cheap toys and if he breaks or loses one, it’s not the end of the world.

Image: Supplied. 

Spend: Travel pram.

I’ve recommended spending on an everyday pram, but for our family, investing in a good travel pram has been even more important. Our travel pram can come on the plane in our cabin luggage, which means I can keep Archer in the pram the whole time we’re at the airport — a total game-changer.

Save: Expensive travel cot.

Knowing we’d be travelling so much for my job, I originally invested in an expensive travel cot with all the bells and whistles. In the end, it was way too heavy — we couldn’t really take it anywhere given we had our pram and all our baggage too, and we ended up selling it on Facebook Marketplace. 

It was an absolute waste, and we ended up with a much cheaper travel cot that folds down to the size of a briefcase, so we can take it everywhere with us.

Spend: Whatever nappies work for your baby.

If you find a nappy brand that works for your kid’s size and shape, it’s really worth sticking to that brand. We actually bring our preferred nappy brand overseas with us. I travel with as many as I can fit in my bag because I find that nappies from other countries just don’t compare.

Save: Fancy kids' shoes.

I’ve never seen the point of super fancy kids’ shoes. Kids grow so fast, and you’d be too worried about getting them dirty — it’s such a waste.

Spend: A good pair of practical shoes.

My advice is to get one pair of good-quality shoes that your kid can be super active in, in any setting. Archer has a pair of Lightning McQueen Crocs that he’s had since Christmas. They’re outdoor shoes, they’re indoor shoes, you can wear them in water or with socks — we could (and do!) travel anywhere in the world with those Crocs!

Shop Bellamy's Organic for easy and nutritious food solutions for your toddler.  

Suitable for children 12 months and older. Always read the label and follow directions for use. 

Feature Image: Supplied.