toddler travel lap tray image
chicwitpur
My husbands company is taking a trip to hawaii next year..my daughter will be 1 year old by then. Im just curious if anyone has any experience going on a week long trip somewhere with a baby that young. Even if i dont go, my husband is going to go without me and bring a friend or someone else so i really want to try to go but im afraid that i'll regret being over there with our 1 year old. I am not going to leave her and go by myself with my husband, either she goes with me or i dont go. Anyone have any advice about going or not going?
Answer
We took a 9 month old to Italy. Granted there are big differences between a 9 month old and a 12 month old but the big question is: Is she walking yet? If no, then your experience could be as wonderful as ours was. If yes, it can still be good but the flight will be challenging.
First, you didn't say where you were flying from so I do hope it's the West Coast. Our trip to Italy was 6 hours from Boston, therefore about the same from WC to Hawaii- give or take. We entertained her primarily with our laptop- a rechargable battery and all of the Baby Einstein DVDs we could pack. She did sleep a lot and when she was fussy, we just put on a movie. All in all flights weren't bad but I do recommend getting her her own seat if you can. Sitting on lap is tempting for toddlers to get down and crawl on the disgusting floor or want to walk the aisles. In her own carseat, she will know she can't get out and it's another familiar thing.
Once there- the best thing we could do was resist wanting to bring the small travel stroller and instead brought our larger, Perego Pliko. It was handed to us upon arrival and was a lifesaver. That stroller was her vehicle, her highchair, her bed and her changing table, and allowed us to do everything we would have normally done without a baby. When she needed a diaper change- just pulled her to a shady spot, pulled off the front bar and got to work. If she was hungry, I santized the tray and gave her food off my plate in the restaurants. If she was tired, we reclined the seat and just kept walking. We even enjoyed late romantic dinners outside in the piazzas with her snoozing along side us!
Nothing wrong with traveling with a baby as long as you do a little planning and know that the flight will be a little tough but manageable. Jet lag might be tough, so don't have high expectations. At least you're on vacation and can nap whenever you want. Last- if she's really terrible on the flight- you'll never see those people again anyway!
Have a great trip!
We took a 9 month old to Italy. Granted there are big differences between a 9 month old and a 12 month old but the big question is: Is she walking yet? If no, then your experience could be as wonderful as ours was. If yes, it can still be good but the flight will be challenging.
First, you didn't say where you were flying from so I do hope it's the West Coast. Our trip to Italy was 6 hours from Boston, therefore about the same from WC to Hawaii- give or take. We entertained her primarily with our laptop- a rechargable battery and all of the Baby Einstein DVDs we could pack. She did sleep a lot and when she was fussy, we just put on a movie. All in all flights weren't bad but I do recommend getting her her own seat if you can. Sitting on lap is tempting for toddlers to get down and crawl on the disgusting floor or want to walk the aisles. In her own carseat, she will know she can't get out and it's another familiar thing.
Once there- the best thing we could do was resist wanting to bring the small travel stroller and instead brought our larger, Perego Pliko. It was handed to us upon arrival and was a lifesaver. That stroller was her vehicle, her highchair, her bed and her changing table, and allowed us to do everything we would have normally done without a baby. When she needed a diaper change- just pulled her to a shady spot, pulled off the front bar and got to work. If she was hungry, I santized the tray and gave her food off my plate in the restaurants. If she was tired, we reclined the seat and just kept walking. We even enjoyed late romantic dinners outside in the piazzas with her snoozing along side us!
Nothing wrong with traveling with a baby as long as you do a little planning and know that the flight will be a little tough but manageable. Jet lag might be tough, so don't have high expectations. At least you're on vacation and can nap whenever you want. Last- if she's really terrible on the flight- you'll never see those people again anyway!
Have a great trip!
should we get a cat dog or rabbit first as our new pet and why?
antboy2000
Answer
What you should get depends on a lot of factors. How often will you be home? Does a lot of fur (shedding) bother you? Do you want to clean a litter box, a cage tray, or piles of feces with a plastic baggy? Do you have enough money to cover regular vaccinations and maintanence care? What do you want out of a pet?
Dogs are very loyal companions but require training. Training requires TIME and MONEY. Dogs also require regular vaccinations and medical maintanence (licensing and so on)---this can add up. Dogs require constant supervision, daily excercise consisting of a long walk or plenty of play time in the backyard. Dogs need continuous social interaction---they are VERY dependent---but they can and will go with you anywhere you want, and will be happy to do so. Dogs are the equivalent to having a toddler for 15+ years. Dogs dig, bark, bite, scratch, whine, get in the trash, pull on the leash, jump on people, steal food, shed, and so on. Are you ready for that kind of commitment and responsibility (financially and emotionally)?
Cats are independent but affectionate. They too need regular vaccinations and medical maintanence, which can be expensive. They can be kept entirely indoors (which is recommended--don't listen to people who tell you to let your cat outside---it can be ran over, killed by dogs, ect.). Cats are very content when kept indoors---they don't need a lot of space and are excercise is easy with just a few toys and your participation. Downside? Cats can claw, bite, meow, shed profusely, be unaffectionate, jump on things they're not supposed to, and be over affectionate to the point where they are a nuisance. Most don't travel well either---so you can't take them anywhere. They require a litterbox (which, if you live in an apartment, stink up the ENTIRE place) that requires daily scoopings and thorough cleanings at LEAST once a week. Are you ready for all of that?
Rabbits..well, rabbits certainly aren't for everyone. Rabbits don't need regular vaccinations...just a yearly check-up. Unfortunately, rabbits are also considered 'exotics' so any medical treatment you may need will probably be far more expensive than it would be for a cat or dog (neutering and spaying, especially). Rabbits can be kept indoors just like any dog or cat. Instead of having free-roam of the house, they get a cage (one of sufficient size, of course). This means you can put them away when you don't want to supervise anymore. You can litterbox train a rabbit, as well as harness train them (to take them on walks). They can be very affectionate and will gladly sit on your lap while you watch TV. They can play with toys as well, and be taught to respond to their name. The downside? Rabbits can be very unaffectionate too. Most dislike being picked up. A rabbit needs a large cage and daily 'out-of-the-cage' time for excercise. Rabbits shed, and can be messy UNLESS you house them in a cage with a wire bottom floor---in which case cleaning is much easier. A rabbits' cage smells about as bad as a cats' litterbox---with regular cleaning it should smell less, given that cat urine is far more potent than a rabbits'---male rabbits especially can smell if they're unneutered though---but that applies to ANY unaltered animal... unaltered animals just smell more. The cost of owning a rabbit, otherwise, is far less than that of a dog or cat, and they offer about the same companionship as a cat.
So keep all that in mind when making your decision. Perhaps you should consider a rat? A well-bred rat (from a reputable breeder) is very affectionate, clean, trainable (litterbox trained too), and entertaining. They're very cheap to obtain and care for compared to the other 3 types of animals you've mentioned. Just a suggestion to look into.
Hope that helps!
What you should get depends on a lot of factors. How often will you be home? Does a lot of fur (shedding) bother you? Do you want to clean a litter box, a cage tray, or piles of feces with a plastic baggy? Do you have enough money to cover regular vaccinations and maintanence care? What do you want out of a pet?
Dogs are very loyal companions but require training. Training requires TIME and MONEY. Dogs also require regular vaccinations and medical maintanence (licensing and so on)---this can add up. Dogs require constant supervision, daily excercise consisting of a long walk or plenty of play time in the backyard. Dogs need continuous social interaction---they are VERY dependent---but they can and will go with you anywhere you want, and will be happy to do so. Dogs are the equivalent to having a toddler for 15+ years. Dogs dig, bark, bite, scratch, whine, get in the trash, pull on the leash, jump on people, steal food, shed, and so on. Are you ready for that kind of commitment and responsibility (financially and emotionally)?
Cats are independent but affectionate. They too need regular vaccinations and medical maintanence, which can be expensive. They can be kept entirely indoors (which is recommended--don't listen to people who tell you to let your cat outside---it can be ran over, killed by dogs, ect.). Cats are very content when kept indoors---they don't need a lot of space and are excercise is easy with just a few toys and your participation. Downside? Cats can claw, bite, meow, shed profusely, be unaffectionate, jump on things they're not supposed to, and be over affectionate to the point where they are a nuisance. Most don't travel well either---so you can't take them anywhere. They require a litterbox (which, if you live in an apartment, stink up the ENTIRE place) that requires daily scoopings and thorough cleanings at LEAST once a week. Are you ready for all of that?
Rabbits..well, rabbits certainly aren't for everyone. Rabbits don't need regular vaccinations...just a yearly check-up. Unfortunately, rabbits are also considered 'exotics' so any medical treatment you may need will probably be far more expensive than it would be for a cat or dog (neutering and spaying, especially). Rabbits can be kept indoors just like any dog or cat. Instead of having free-roam of the house, they get a cage (one of sufficient size, of course). This means you can put them away when you don't want to supervise anymore. You can litterbox train a rabbit, as well as harness train them (to take them on walks). They can be very affectionate and will gladly sit on your lap while you watch TV. They can play with toys as well, and be taught to respond to their name. The downside? Rabbits can be very unaffectionate too. Most dislike being picked up. A rabbit needs a large cage and daily 'out-of-the-cage' time for excercise. Rabbits shed, and can be messy UNLESS you house them in a cage with a wire bottom floor---in which case cleaning is much easier. A rabbits' cage smells about as bad as a cats' litterbox---with regular cleaning it should smell less, given that cat urine is far more potent than a rabbits'---male rabbits especially can smell if they're unneutered though---but that applies to ANY unaltered animal... unaltered animals just smell more. The cost of owning a rabbit, otherwise, is far less than that of a dog or cat, and they offer about the same companionship as a cat.
So keep all that in mind when making your decision. Perhaps you should consider a rat? A well-bred rat (from a reputable breeder) is very affectionate, clean, trainable (litterbox trained too), and entertaining. They're very cheap to obtain and care for compared to the other 3 types of animals you've mentioned. Just a suggestion to look into.
Hope that helps!
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