The Best Travel Toys For Toddlers: 2014-02-02

Saturday, February 8, 2014

Gift suggestions...?

comic book

My cousins's twins are turning 5. I wanted to get them an educational and entertaining toy, but i'm having a hard time finding a good one. They seem to be attracted to technology and like taking apart many of the toys they already have. any suggestions?

Answer
There are oodles and oodles of educational games and toys out there for kids age 5. When my grandson was 5 I bought him three educational computer games. One was space travel and taught the solar system and planets. Another was Dinosaurs (which he was into at the time). This game taught about the various dino's, how the bones are found and excavated, and about the history of the planet in relation to the dino's. The last game was Amazon and taught the famous river and its animals, inhabitants, and history. All 3 were filled with puzzles and games for them to play and solve. He played with all three, which is rare because normally he checks a game out then moves on.

what is a good gift for children ages 4-10?

educational toys or fruits or others in celebration of eid al fitr

Answer
The peace for you dear questioner,

a trip to the nature, somewhere that is really really pretty. Somewhere in the wild, or in another land/region/state/town...

let them know about quran 29:30 and 3:137

translations:
[29:20] Say: Travel in the earth and see how He originated the creation, then God creates the latter creation; surely God has power over all things.

[3:137] Many ways of life have passed away before your time. Go, then, about the earth and behold what happened in the end to those who gave the lie to the truth.

http://www.misconceptions-about-islam.com/religion-science-reason-compatible.htm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LWVNesAm94Q - that's good for under 2 year olds.

You could always offer them toys and candies, but when you do give them the offer, let them know they can either have these toys/sweets on this earth, or wait to get something better in the hereafter in heaven. -- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ZEAFQCXnL4

air travel with child?

laurenkell

Since I got some answers before that were nothing short of harrassment, i will ask my question in a new way. I have a 12 hour flight to do with my 19 month old, and I would like some advice on keeping him ( he is EXTREMELY active and hyper) calm/ quiet/ sleeping on the plane. Any advice?

Answer
Hi! Have you asked your pediatrician about giving him Benadryl? Some docs will approve it. I'd test the med on your son prior, though, since it can make some kids hyper. I'd bring his regular 5-point harness seat to buckle in the airline seat so he can be seated without you having to hold him down. Then you can give him chances to sit on your lap and walk around the cabin. Bring a LOT of snacks and bring new toys that he's never seen before. Bring a portable DVD player w/ headphones w/ new DVDs he's never watched. Is anyone else traveling with you who could help you? I hope you have a good flight!

Any advice on traveling with a 16 month old on a plane????

Sonja K

Answer
We have traveled with our son, who is now 26-months-old, frequently since he was born both internationally and domestically. So we have had some long flights together. And let me say it is very possible to do and have a positive experience.

My first recommendation is to try to have as few layovers as possible. The more stops you make, the longer the trip and the more up and down which can be tough on baby's ears. I know long flights sound daunting, but the quicker you get to your destination the better.

Although it is possible to carry any child under 2 in your lap on a plane, we have always purchased a seat for him as we believe this is the safest way to fly. I know it can be costly but I highly recommend it!! Try keeping a squirmy child in your arms for 6 hours and you'll see that it is neither comfortable nor practical. Turbulance on a flight can cause harm to your child and it's best to have a seat to strap him or her into. Also in the event of an incident, you may not be able to physically hold on to your child. We've found that being in his own seat puts our son to sleep, much like going on a car ride, which is bliss for a long flight.

If your child is still in a backward facing car seat they are easy enough to carry onboard (even better if yours clips into a stoller, that way you'll have it up to the door of the airplane, where they will check it and bring it to you as you deplane). Be sure though that you have one approved for airplanes. See the FAA link below. If your child is no longer in a backward facing seat, you can either bring your child's bulky car seat (tough to carry) or invest in a seat that turns into a stroller. We have one that we love and it makes it so easy to go from plane seat to the airport and move around. See the link below for Hammach Schlemmer for a great stroller/seat.

Now for how to handle your child onboard:

1. Be sure to bring favorite snacks (we always have cheerios on hand) as many airlines don't serve food anymore and those that do either serve things kids won't eat, can't eat (peanuts) or serve junk food. (We order a kid's meal on one flight and it consisted of potato chips, candy bars and a sugery drink -- things we don't give our kid anyway, but a disaster to pump them full of sugar on a plane). If the flight is short enough to avoid having a full meal on board all the better -- feed your child right before you get on the plane, they will be more likely to sleep. If not, bottled water is plentiful on board so you can always bring dried cereals that can be rehydrated and heated by flight attendants, who in my experience have always been willing to help. Remember that there are limits on liquids that you can bring on through security these days -- including baby foods -- but whatever you buy after security is okay. Look for easy to carry, easy to eat foods in the airport. I know not always easy but even applesauce is a good choice.

Here is a recipe for a meal I always carry on board and flight attendants have been more than happy to heat up for me: cook some small pasta (I use something call acini de pepe, but any small pasta will do) and just as it is finished cooking, drain excess water, add butter or olive oil and then crack an egg and stir till it is fully cooked. Then add a little parmesan cheese. I let it cool and put it in a small ziplock bag and then put that bag in a larger one filled with ice. That keeps it cool until you are ready to have it heated. It's a meal in one and my son loves it. Be sure to bring a plastic bowl with you as they don't always have extra plates onboard.

2. Before the flight, go to a dollar store and pick up some cheap toys. I usually get one thing for every hour of flight. A new toy is a novelty and will keep your child entertained longer. Also pack in a few favorites from home, especially some good books your child loves to read or have read to him. If your child has an irreplaceable toy (a favorite teddy bear he has to sleep with for example) either don't bring it or don't bring it out during flight in case it gets lost. Your child will be desperate! (Don't pack it in your checked luggage either -- if this gets lost, same problem).

3. To deal with pressure on the ears for your child, be sure they have something to suck on. This can either be a bottle or a pacifier, if your child uses one, or a sippy cup. This is the best way to relieve the pain of the pressure that they are too young to deal with on their own. Be sure your little one drinks plenty of fluids to stay hydrated as well (you too!).

4. When booking your seat, ask for seats in the bulkhead. That is the area right in the front of the plane. It has more room and will allow you to easily change your child or let him/her play when it is safe to do so. One note though: Because there are no seats in from of you, you'll have to stow all your carry-on luggage in the overhead compartments during take-off and landing and that could impede access for necessary items like baby food or drink.

5. I don't think you have to drug your child to fly with them.

Hope this is all helpful and that you have a great flight and vacation! Buon viaggio!!

Travelling domestically with toddler - what were your RECENT experiences with TSA?

Valerie H

Taking our first plane trip in 2 1/2 weeks. I HAVE CHECKED THE TSA WEBSITE and its written vaguely on purpose.

My baby is 16 months old and drinks whole milk/juice/water from a sippy cup - so Im not really worried (at this point) about beverages. Im prepared to bring snacks or jarred baby food and toys... but what do the TSA do about diaper rash cream, wipes, baby tylenol, and benadryl?

Are there any other 'liquid' things in a regular diaper bag that Im not remembering that TSA might get upset over?

Answer
I travel very frequently with my toddler, who is 14 months old now.

You can carry anything you need for your child. The important thing is to keep all of the liquids you need in a separate bag. (A clear bag is best, so they can see it.) There is no limit to how large this bag can be, as long as it is not larger than carry-on size. (The previous poster said that your stuff will have to fit with regular liquid/baggie rules, and this is not true.) I usually bring a huge, clear shopping bag. You need to put this separately through the screening machine, and let the TSA person know this is a bag of stuff for the child. I have travelled 10 times and have never had a problem doing this.

One additional thing - I'm not sure how long your flight is, but flight delays are way up, so make sure you have a lot of food/drink for your toddler. Airplanes won't have provisions for your child. On a cross country trip recently, we were delayed for 5 hours, and I was sure glad I had a ton of food! If TSA asks you why you have so much stuff, just say you are making sure you are OK in case of a delay, they will for sure understand.

Air travel with small children

I am taking my kids on their first trip to Disney next month. I have never taken them on a plane. My kids are 5 and 2.
Do I need to bring any sort of ID for them (birth certificate) for boarding the plane?
Do I need booster seats for them on the plane? I was planning on bringing one for the two year old, but not sure about the five year old.
I was going to bring iPods with videos downloaded on them to entertain them but I heard somewhere that security may confiscate them. Is this true?
Any other advice would be great.
Thanks in advance!

Thanks

Answer
I'm a former Flight Attendant and I fly a lot with my kids, who are about the same age.

1. I.D. If you are flying within the U.S. and your children are U.S. citizens, then no, they don't need ID. Bring certified copies of the birth certificates just to be sure but they're usually only needed if you need to prove that a big toddler is not yet 2.

I brought all of our passports on a flight between California and Texas (since they weren't born in the U.S.). The security guy joked "I'm not looking at all that!" Still, it didn't hurt to bring them...

2. Booster seats are never allowed on airplanes because airplane seat backs collapse for emergencies (unlike those in cars) and boosters are only to position the shoulder belt, which airplanes don't have. Your five year old needs a booster in the car but the 2 year old should still be in a 5 point harness. Since your two year old will have his own seat, you can bring a FAA approved 5 point harness car seat on board. This is recommended by both the AAP and the FAA, but not required.

http://www.faa.gov/passengers/fly_children/crs/
http://www.aap.org/patiented/flyingbaby.htm

To find out more why your child should be in a 5 point harness and not a booster, please visit this site;
http://www.kyledavidmiller.org/pages/4211/Car_Seat_Safety:_5-point_Harness_is_Safest.htm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azgBhZfcqaQ

Since you're going to Disneyland, you may not need car seats at your destination. There is an alternate device, called a CARES harness that was mentioned in the FAA link above. Here is their website;

http://www.kidsflysafe.com/

These are also rented on Ebay and Craigslist so google "CARES harness Craigslist" or Ebay to see who is offering them.

3. Electronical gizmos are allowed but not during take-off and landing. Please explain this to your children before getting onboard. Please also fully charge all products because it's usually not possible to do so inflight. Be especially careful of not losing the small parts, like the game chips, etc. and make sure to have them before disembarking.

The only items that are confiscated at security are liquids and anything that could be used as a weapon so no realistic looking gun toys or drinks. If you're far away from the airport, bring small water bottles that can be thrown away before you get in the security line. Look out for special "family lanes" they now have in some airports.

Bring empty sippy cups to use during the flight. These are allowed and the F/A's can fill those up instead of open cups, which can spill so easily, especially if you have electronical toys.

Security can be the most intimidating part of the flight. Even for children who fly a lot, they easily forget and each time is different. Please explain that they may have to remove their shoes and have to put all their things on the belt. I found that most TSA officers were very nice and seemed to be trained to handle children.

http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/children/index.shtm

When we went to Disneyland, I found this site to be very helpful and saved us a bunch of money. It is not a Disney sponcered site;

http://www.disboards.com/

Make sure you have a very good stroller for the 2 year old, even if he's not a big stroller rider. Do NOT rent the ones they have. They're dire and get taken (easily replaced but who needs that headache?) Definitely bring your own and don't make our mistake!

About 8 years ago, I wrote an article on flying with children for an expat newsletter. Over the years many parents have contributed. I later put it on a blog so that parents had access to non-commercial information from someone with both practical and professional experience on the web. There is a section on electronical items and lots of details about car seats. My contact information is at the end if you have further questions.

http://flyingwithchildren.blogspot.com

Have a great time in the Magic Kingdom and have a good flight!

Does anyone have advice on traveling with a one year old?

Marla C

Answer
If you think you may need it, take it! I've traveled with all 3 of my boys, and the best thing for me was to "over pack", especially the diaper bag! You never know what you are going to need, or how much. If it's something you can get at a store, like diapers or wipes, make sure you have enough for at least the trip to your destination. Always pack bottled water for your baby to drink, and have milk/formula properly stored. If you are taking a plane, you may only need 2 or 3 bottles/cups of milk, since you can purchase milk at the airport. But, if your baby requires formula, you should have more than enough ready for your little one.
Whether it's a road trip or a plane, you should have some toys for the baby to play with, and be prepared for the baby to cry due to discomfort. Also, dry cereal can be a babies best friend when they get hungry in the middle of nowhere! Cheerios, Golden Grahams, and plain old Graham crackers will make just about any hungry baby happy.
If you are of the road, you need to stop often, even if it's only for a few minutes for all of you to stretch. You probably don't need to have a great deal of milk with you in the car, maybe 3 or 4 bottles, since you can buy it at any convenience store. But be sure to place any milk you do have in a cooler.
Most importantly, DO NOT FREAK OUT! It's overwhelming traveling with a baby, but the more relaxed you are, the more relaxed they will be. Use your commomn sense, and listen to your instincts. You know what your baby needs, and most people will help you if you need it. I've lent out many a bottle to mommies in need, and have been helped by others myself. Heck, when I travel alone by plane I carry 2 bottles of water, 2 baby bottles, and enough formula for both...just in case! You will be fine, and your baby will have a wonderful trip.

Best car toys for long trip for almost 2 year old boy?

fuzzlenose

We are driving 21+ hours in the car over 3 days one way and then back again about 2 weeks later.
My son will be 2 in early April. He likes cars, trains, blocks and anything that will keep his interest. My van does have a movie player, but I don't want that to be on all the time. Also snacks here and there will help pass the time.

So far I will be bringing some favorite books, some 'new' ones from the thrift store, a few new matchbox cars, and a cheap $1 electric racing game because he loves pushing buttons. Any other ideas? His sister (4 1/2) will have coloring books and a few crayons, books, 1 barbie, letter workbooks and maybe a color wonder or something. I really want what they do to be clean and easy to pick up. Any extra ideas for her? Oooh, maybe a yarn sewing thing or something...

Answer
You can make your own sewing cards. Get a long pretty shoelace that still has its plastic tip or get some yarn and put glue or tape on the end to make a tip. Punch holes in old greeting cards or glue magazine pictures to cardboard and punch holes in that. If you draw, you can draw your own pictures and let the kids color them before "sewing" them.

Something like a kids' abacus is fun for young ones to play with. They like lining things up and moving them around. Many stores sell things like that.

If you can get a smallish "beads on wires" toy, your son might enjoy it very much. Basically, the toy is self-contained and the child moves colorful beads around on oddly-shaped wires. Even though it is beads, boys like playing with those.

Magnetic doodle boards (Magna-Doodle is the name brand, but smaller ones are often sold in dollar stores) are also good for trips.

Ooops, I almost forgot my parents' best trick for traveling with kids. We generally got a hot dinner at a restaurant, but always did a picnic lunch at a park. The parents relaxed while the kids ran around.

Be sure to save at least one toy as "new" for the ride home.

Friday, February 7, 2014

traveling with babies?

virgowicca

im traveling to ca from ak with a 2 yr old and 8month old. any helplful advice would be great. dont say not to travel with children. thank you
btw im flying

Answer
Here's an article I found on travelling with toddlers.

What does a major trip with toddler in tow entail?

1) Pack a bag for just the trip. Pack enough diapers so you're not caught midflight (or midconnection) without any. You ever notice those cute shops in the airport? Ever see any diapers sold in them, let alone the Huggies LeakProof uber-absorbant ones (in size 4)? Same goes for food - you can scavenge only so many bar pretzels.

2) Don't fall for the early check-in scam. Those airlines are so nice. They allow early check-in for people with kids. Here's what happens - you end up getting on the plane first, heading back to your cramped seat (where the three of you fit into two seats), and wait. Wait. Wait. Wait. Wait while every other seat in the plane fills up. Wait until .....

Click here to read the whole thing. http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/127/Traveling-with-toddlers/?highlight=travelling+toddler

Snacks! Most airlines have cut back to a limited amount of food service on flights under three hours. Bring along your childâs favorite snacks. Grapes, for example, help rehydrate during flight and are a non-messy alternative to juice boxes that can spill.

Games! Even the littlest member of your family will have fun playing Go-Fish or an abbreviated form of Memory. Remember not to bring games with a lot of complicated parts. Otherwise, you may spend your entire flight chasing the dice down the aisle.

Gifts! When my daughter was seventeen months old, I took four airplanes and managed sixteen hours of travel by using this trick. Go to a drugstore and purchase inexpensive items (a small figurine, crayons, etc.) For every hour in the air, pull out a wrapped âgiftâ that the child can open. It will keep him busy for a while and will give him something to which he could look forward.

Books! Bring along your childâs favorite books and have a story hour. Neighboring children might join in the fun!

DVDs! Some airlines have only one feature film that may not interest your child. Check out if your airline offers in-flight portable DVD rentals. The cost is roughly $20 and may be very well spent.

For more on this one... visit here http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/130/How-to-Fly-with-Children-Without-Losing-Your-Breath/

Air travel with toddler?

m smartie

We will be traveling from Phoenix to Hawaii in May with our almost 3 year old daughter. Im looking for some good tips or pointers to make things easier during our travels. Can you please give me your thoughts as to whether or not we should take our childs carseat onto the airplane with us? We have assigned seating in the middle aisle of the airplane for a total of three seats (myself, husband and daughter.) Any other tips would be great as well. Thanks!! Also the two smallest carseats we have are a Britax Advocate, or a Cheaper Evenflo (lighter), which should be take for our overal trip? We are going for 10 total days

Answer
I know a bunch of folks hell bent on carseats on planes...but frankly...1) if you have plane trouble...the carseat isn't going to do you a bit of good. 2) I have never had any luck keeping my child in it. 3) they barely fit in the seats and they are obnoxious to manage.

Bring whatever carseat is safest, regardless of size. Once you get to HI, you install it in the rental car and it's there for two weeks...so it really doesn't matter which one's lighter ...you're ony going to have to deal with it from landing to car pick up anyway.

As far as actual travel....bring a portable DVD, Iphone with videos, small quiet toys, a favorite story and snacks. That's a long flight, so just be prepared to keep them entertained for the entire flight...so my first impulse was to bring brand new videos that they'd never seen, and a few brand new toys and it always took them longer to get bored with the new stuff than the old favorites.

Get there early and board first. They usually let families with small children jump the crowd and get situated before the cattle call of passengers.

Pack a few changes of easy clothes for baby, diaper changes and clothing changes in an airplane bathroom can't be any more impossible and painful than they are now. I used use quart sized zip lock bags to store complete outfits...so all I had to do was grab a ziplock and they had a onsie, pants and socks ready to go. I still do that with wipes and diapers...so I don't have to take a 15 pound diaper bag into a stall with me.

I WOULD gate check a small umbrella stroller if you're bringing one...that way baby can be contained and comfy in the airport and the airline folks will have your stroller waiting for you at the gate when you deboard the plane so that you don't have to run to baggage claim carrying a 30 pound cranky baby.

That's about all I can think of at the moment... If I remember anything else I'll pop back in.

Good Luck and have a great trip.

Ooooh Bring a spare Tshirt for yourself. Had an airsick baby once, with nothing to change into afterward. Have packed myself a fresh shirt, just in case, ever since.

Flying with a toddler -- is it possible?! Crazy new airline rules.?

Jeff R

I am flying in February for the first time since 9/11. Everyone has been telling me horror stories about how all the FAA rules and airline security rules now make traveling with a baby very difficult. Which of the items below are true, and which are false?

1. You cannot bring any liquids or gels with you through security unless they're in 3 oz. sealed containers. (If so, how am I supposed to bring my son's formula and some water to make it with?)

2. Any prescription medication you want to take with you on the plane must be in its original bottle and "claimed" at the security gate.

3. Your baby cannot be sitting between two adults. He must be in a window seat.

4. If your child is not yet two, you must restrain him using a car seat, unless you wish to hold him on your lap. (We don't -- we bought him his own seat.)

5. If your child throws a tantrum, they can throw the whole family off the flight.

Anybody flown recently with a child? We're flying JetBlue.

Answer
1. Baby formula is fine to take (powdered or liquid), and you are not limited to the amount you can bring aboard (as long as your child is with you and it is a reasonable amount to last the duration of your travel time), do not worry. http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/children/formula.shtm
You must however keep the formula separate from your other items, inform the TSA officer that you have formula, and place it in a separate bin to be screened by itself. You will NOT have to taste any of it.

New regulations also allow you to take beverages (including water) from home as long as they are less than 3oz (100ml), -OR- beverages (including water) of any size that you have purchased from inside the security area onto planes. You can also bring a limited amount of baby food,yogurt, cheese, puddings, etc. with you also as long as they are in containers less than 3oz (100ml).
http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/prohibited/permitted-prohibited-items.shtm#9

Save your money when it comes to buying water though because the Flight Attendants will provide you with hot or cold water (or any other drink) free at any time that you request, no matter how many times you request it.

2. This is true. My son has liquid medication and inhalers and I have to keep them separate and in their original packages. Like the formula, you must inform the TSA officers and place them in a separate bin to be screened by themselves. It is also a good idea to bring a doctors note written on official letterhead that lists the name of the medication, the name of the patient, and how many times a day the medication is to be used. I have never been asked to produce the doctors note, but carry on at all times during my travels in case there are any problems.

3. This is false. Children can sit in any seat they wish on a plane. They do try to keep them from sitting in an exit row (for security reasons) though if at all possible.

4. If your child is under two and you did not buy a seat for him, then yes, you would have to hold him in your lap the entire trip. If you buy him his own seat, it is highly advisable that you use a car seat for him because it is safer for the child.

5. They are not supposed to do this, but it has been happening with some airlines lately. For the most part they try to get the children all settled down before the flight so that there are no problems.

I've been flying internationally and domestically with my children since they were 2 months (now 8&5). At least three trips a year are the children and I traveling internationally (14+ hours each way) alone. In addition to that, we do another 8-10 international and domestic flights a year as a family. I wrote a small article about traveling with children if you would like to reference it. It gives more in-depth information, rules for airport security in the US, EU, and UK, plus other tips and tricks for travel. http://www.angelfire.com/jamiehassen79/flying_children.html

If I can be of any more help or assistance, please feel free to contact me.

toddler friendly holidays/vacations?

BAMitsABII

just want a list of a few places and what attractions they have, i don't want a 10 page travel guide please :l
live in the UK, preferably wanting to go abroad

Answer
well if you want to stay in the UK, try glynn barton cottages in cornwall by newquay. there cottages designed for toddlers, which have a cot, high chair, bed guards, monitors, toddler beds, child friendly crockery etc. the site also has things to do such as a indoor swimming pool, indoor soft play barn, play room full of toys, tennis court, childrens play area and climbing frames, animals to feed and eggs to collect etc
and theres loads of things around like a beach in a 30 min drive, riding stables 8 miles away, and within 15 miles theres dairlyland farm world, crealy adventure park and within 20 miles theres a newquay blue reef aqaurium, newquay zoo and water world
http://www.glynnbarton.co.uk/fun_the_toddlers.htm

lapland - only a 3 hour flight and loads to do, such as see santa, snowmobile rides (children can ride in the things that trail behind tho i dont know what there called) reindeer rides, husky rides, tobogganing etc and im sure if you wrap your toddler up warm he/she will love it and love the snow
loads of websites for holidays in lapland although i recommend http://bookings.firstchoice.co.uk/lapland/

paris - i think its only a 2 hour flight and loads of stuff to do too, a main one is disneyland, theres another theme park like parc asterix (all designed for kids), sight seeing such as going up the eiffel tower although i hope your toddler isn't afraid of heights! go for a cruise on the river seine, kids science museum called citÃ© des sciences et de l'industrie or maybe a zoo called parc zoologique de paris

or again just stay in the uk and go to butlins which has swiming pools, free fun fair, golf, go karts, shows and entertainment on all the time etc

hope i help and have a nice holidayy x

traveling with a 20 month old toddler?

joolsnbump

I am taking my 20 month old daughter on holiday to USA next month and it will be a 7 hour flight from London Heathrow to Boston Logan Airport. Obviously since she is under 2 she will be sitting on my knee the whole time. Does anybody have any ideas on things to keep her occupied for the flight as it is a long time for her to be sat still. Also, we have to be at the airport at 4.30 am so what is the best thing to do? Put her in bed in light clothing and try keep her alseep for the journey to airport or still put her pjs on and get her up as normal?

Answer
Traveling will exhausting enough even w/o baby, so by all means let her sleep through as much of it as possible.

I'm not psychic, but I'll bet I can speak collectively for all passengers on board that they'd prefer sleeping child in comfy P.J.'s to a well dressed crying & fussy child.

When ever she wakes up, you can keep her BZ by pointing out new things around her at airport & while on jet. Show her the light, the air flow nozzle, the window. Describe how you are up in the sky where the birds fly. Lots of new & learning conversation.

Meal service will be another distraction and time to keep her BZ.
Bring favorite books & a new brightly colored book. Read with expression & animation. This may be a bit intrusive to other's ears, but again, much better than crying. After mel & stories, take her for a walk to bathroom. Hold her hand & let this be a slow process. She should be interested in every person she passes. Let her be. It's more exciting for her & walk gives her some activity. If aisle is crowded, pick her up & step back into seat area to let others pass. Do not shorten walk. the purpose is for her activity. Go to bathroom. Show her all the features. Be amazed that water comes from faucet. Let her see toilet flush. Give her a tissue to hold. Proceed back to seat just as slowly. (If you're close to bathroom, make trip to other end of jet & then back to bathroom and seat.)

When returned to seat. Can play, "Where's Mommy's nose? Where's your nose? Touch my ear, touch your ear. Touch something pink. Show me a bunny (if on her PJ's)..." Then feign tired with some yawns. Ask her to help put you to sleep. (Rub Mommy's face. Pat my neck...) Maybe you can get her into one more nap B4 landing. If she fidgets, talk about each person she saw on her "walk." Inform how everyone was quiet. (He was reading his book very quiet. She was playing on her computer very quiet. No one was mad at the lady who was knitting very quietly. You are being very quiet & everybody likes your good behavior...)

Have a doll that she can dress & undress, tie shoe, put barrette in hair. Help her get dolly ready for deplaning.

Other toys without noise as back up.
Keep talking to her while awake. If she fusses to do something not appropriate, explain why it's not a good idea now and quickly distract with what she CAN do. ("No we can not take another walk b/c it's somebody else's turn, but you can help dolly get her new dress on for when we get off of the plane. Where did mommy put her dress?" -- Let her look through travel bag.)

If awake for landing, get her excited to watch & feel things as plane comes down from sky like a bird does, "Let's see how it's different on a plane!" Talk her through it. Talk about things you will get to do when off of the plane. ("We will have to find our luggage. There is a big circle that moves. Will you help mommy find our bags on the moving circle?") Again, step by step. All details. Keeps her expectations up. She'll know what to expect. She may have her own questions that will add to keeping her entertained.
Ask her questions to keep her mind working on solution instead of her restricted movement. ("What was the color of our bags? How many did we bring? Do you think it will be cold when we get off of the plane? What else does dolly need to be ready to go?") Note: She does not need to know answer to the questions. It's all about keeping her mind BZ. Wears you out, but worth it to keep child happy & other passengers comfortable for such a long trip.

I did this ONCE with 10 month old. Even though she could not speak, she could understand words & they seemed to keep her mind BZ. But that was one, mentally exhausting trip for me.

Has anyone got any advice on travelling with a baby(4 mths) and a toddler(2 yrs)?

rae

I am due to fly from Australia to the U.k soon. Does anyone know of any websites or have any hints how to make this flight as painless as possible, Very worried about flying too.

Answer
Toddler:
-get her in a good hype about the journey. make sure that she is informed of all the things which will happen on the way, so that she is not frightened by anyhting unexpected.
-let her take her own little bag with her favorite toy, her pacifiers, her books, her crayons etc
-do not change her sleep schedule to fit around the journey. it is mor elikely to backfire and leave you with a cranky, irritable child.
-take - separately -
*a sippy cup for water. juice may give her a sugar high and causes terribly sticky spills
*spare pacifiers
*2 security blankets or whatever she uses, if any
*little notebook for scribbling
*spare clothes
*wipes for hands and faces
* sugar and stick free snacks - carrot sticks, pretzels, cucumbers. make sure you take some of the favorites for comfort and some new ones to relieve boredom
*diapers (if she is toilet trained, you might want to put herin diapaers for the journey)
-let her run around the terminal as much as possible so that she is not fed up of sitting. board the plane last, even thought the stewards will encourage you to board first.
-use a stroller to get around and for luggage etc

baby
-keep to her sleep schedule
-request and confrim a basinet and dont let them make you board the plane if you dont have one. we once were told that they could not give us one even though we confirmed it and we refused to board. believe me, they found us one fast
-take a blanket for the bassinet. the ones they give are rough and too large. it will come in handy for the cold airport terminal
-take bottles of sterile water (if bottle feeding) and small bags with pre-measured formula. take at least 2 more than you reckon you will need
-take a sling or baby pouch for the airport so you can keep your hands free. it is also useful for the plane if the baby wont settle in the bassinet
-you can always ask for hot water on the plane to heat the bottle. just pour it into the bottle before you add formula, shake and test, and then add formula
-remember to take diapers and wipes

general
-pack hand luggage in a bag with a lot of pockets so you can keep it all neat and handy. if you find the time every so often, neaten the bag so that it is all handy for those times when both kids need something fast
-take your money and passports in a small fanny pack for ease of use and to avoid you needing to take all the luggage into the toilets...
-take a bottle of water for yourself so that you dont need to go find drinks. make sure that you are well rested and hydrated before the flight
-ignore other passengers when they stare at you when you kids is crying or whatever - you will never see them again :)

good luck!

I'd like to travel with my 2 daugters( 2 &5) so do you have an assissant to help me during the flight?

Mikalo R

Answer
you will have assistant with many airlines, the flight attendants are very helpful and friendly.i also found that many passengers also help, they are so bored and will do anything to pass the time.
i am also including a few points that came to mind with regards to helping you on the flight

i prefer to book myself on an overnight flight as apposed to a day flight.To avoid accentuating tiredness, try and fly at reasonable day time hours, so that their daily schedule isnât disrupted too much. Though tests show that young children are least affected by jet lag in a comparison study to adults.
i have always booked my kids , kids meals, its no only more delicious for them, they also get it way before the normal meals, so i can help feed them and they dont wait long to eat.Bring plenty of snacks for children, in case they do not like the in-flight meals.
A window seat is great for kids because it provides a wall for them to doze against and also affords great views of take-off and landing. The earlier you book your tickets, the more choice you will have in making special seat requests. Requesting a bulkhead non-emergency-exit row, along the sides of the plane (with a window and an aisle seat), provides you and your toddler more floor space (if you don't mind your child unrestrained and playing on the floor). This worked really well for me on several flights.
In most cases, on international flights and sometimes domestic too, families with young children will be permitted to board first. But, it's never a sure thing. On that British Airways London to Delhi flight a few years back, not only couldn't we take our strollers to the plane's door, the gatekeepers didn't permit families to board early, citing there being too many children on the flight. Bah humbug.t won't be pretty, but consider yourself a pack mule when preparing for a long flight with young children. And remember, your needs don't matter (well, except when/if the kids nod off and the wine trolley rolls your way).Allow plenty of time to do everything, allocate sufficient time to navigate the airport with children.

Bring the obvious basics -- change of clothes, diapers, favorite blanket or stuffed toys, snacks in case they don't like what's being served and lots of wipes. I always like to give my boys snacks (granola bars, crackers etc) or a drink while the plane is taking off and landing to keep them swallowing and keep painful ear pressure at bay. Touch wood, after easily more than 25 flights with them so far, they've never suffered from pressure-related ear problems on planes.

Consider bringing a bottle of Benadryl, or the equivalent, if you don't mind "helping" baby sleep on those long flights. I used the stuff (just one regular dose at the beginning of the flight) until my boys were about two, and it seemed to work (though who knows, maybe they would have slept anyway). Just remember, for most children Benadryl makes them drowsy, but for a few, it makes them wired. Definitely experiment at home first.

New (and cheap) toys like books, matchbox cars and little plastic animals, keep kids entertained and excited to be opening a "present." Lots of stickers are also a good idea (they're not loud and can't hurt anyone!) Crayons and paper always entertain. And books, it's amazing how long my kids can sit still if read too.

Portable DVD players are another idea. Though so far I've self righteously held back from getting one of these (I'm sure my resolve will wear thin any minute now), many parents swear by these to keep kids 2+ happily zoned out on long flights. In lieu of bringing your own, more and more planes, including those of Singapore Airlines, British Airways and Quantas, for example, have personal video screens attached to each seat. Often there's a cartoon channel(s), which may or may not be appropriate for children under about age 10.

hope u have a good flight!!!

What do you think of my story and poem?

Amrizzer

The Life-Exchanger Machine
One day Penny was swimming in the river when she saw a life-exchanger machine in the river. It looked like a calculator, but it has no numbers, it has letters, a screen, and a go button. She was surprised when she saw it. She suddenly went home and did not tell anyone about it. She typed in the machine the word dog. Penny did turn into a dog, her favourite animal. Penny experienced eating dog food. âThis is deliciousâ Penny said. Penny experienced working with police officers, training by dog owners, and being given commands like sit, stay, or fetch. âI never thought being a dog could be this fun and excitingâ Penny said. âI want to experience being another animal nowâ penny said. She typed the word cat and she became a cat. All Penny did was to sleep and eat all day, when she crosses the street, she was almost hit by cars and she ate some rats. âBeing a cat is boring, all I did was to sleep and eat all day, I was almost hit by cars and rats have an unpleasant and awful tasteâ Penny said. âI guess I wanted to be a boy nowâ Penny thought. âShe typed boy and she became a boy. Penny experienced playing with cars, robots, video games, and airplanes. âPlaying with cars, airplanes and robots is very interestingâ Penny said.âI wanted to be an actress nowâ Penny said. She became an actress and was seen in magazines, movies and commercials. âThe great things about being an actress is that Iâm very rich and popular, and many people admire me but the downside to it is that having obsessed fans, false rumors, and lack of privacy and it gives me a lot of stress when I rehearse for a movie especially when the director is not satisfied with my performanceâ Penny said. She experienced having false rumors about her, having many obsessed fans following her. âHaving false rumors about me is very annoying and the fans especially when they are addicted to meâ Penny said. âI want to be an old woman nowâ Penny thought. She became an old woman and she experienced being forgetful, wearing eyeglasses, being weak, and riding in a wheelchair. âBeing old is very difficult because Iâm starting to get sickly and weak, and I have more proximity to deathâ Penny thought. Penny also experienced being a baby and she wore diapers, she cried and she crawled on the floor. âBeing a baby is fun because all you did was to play with toys and you donât have to go to schoolâ Penny said. Penny experienced being a pig. She ate a lot of food and kept escaping from the butchers. âBeing a pig is great because the food is free and plentiful but I always have to run from the butcherâ Penny said. She experienced being a pigeon. She was flying around the town and would return to her owner at night. âBeing a pigeon is wonderful, you can fly high to see the view of the city and I can be free and travel around the skies at daytimeâ Penny said. Penny experienced being a goat. She ate some grasses and the farmers collected her milk. âBeing a goat is awful because all I did was to eat grass which tasted terrible and itâs boring to stay in the farm all dayâ Penny said. She experienced being a fish. She lived in an aquarium and she was always swimming. âLiving in an aquarium is wonderful, the corals and the shells here are attractive and I enjoy swimming but it gets boring if I stay here for such a long timeâ Penny said. She experienced being a snake. She crawls on the ground and many people and animals fear her. âI donât like being a snake, crawling is dirty and I donât want everyone to avoid me and dread meâ Penny said. She experienced being a horse. âBeing a horse is tiring, because I feel very exhausted whenever I give people a rideâ she said. She experienced being a rabbit. She hopped, played with children and ate carrots. âBeing a rabbit is wonderful, people think Iâm adorable and cute so they always cuddle and play with me but carrots and vegetables are always awfulâ Penny said. She continued to switch lives with other people and animals and still kept it to herself.

Four Seasons

Pure white snow
Pours down from the heavens
Freezing winds and temperatures
Everyone puts on a sweater
Ice skating and hockey are common sports
Christmas is just around the corner
Building a snowman or a bonfire
Winter has began

A yellow butterfly
Sits on a Flower
Flowers bloom
Orchids and Roses are abundant
Birds sing a lovely tune
And fly in search of a mate
Spring has began

Children enjoy their vacation
A sunny day at the beach
Popsicles and ice cream are popular snacks
People swim or ride on boats
Sunbathing and Surfing are other activities
Summer has began

Trees go bald
Leaves wither and change color
Brown, Orange, Yellow, and Red Leaves
Are Scattered in the streets and gardens
Picturesque scenery in the forest
Autumn has began

Answer
I loved them both. I wasn't sure if the Penny story ended, I guess it did. I wonder if it would have ended with Penny enjoying her experiences, but loving being herself most of all. I like how you put the good and bad things about the different animals or people, the good and the bad made it more interesting. Very nice poem.

Thursday, February 6, 2014

Are there any toddler travel systems?

Jasper's M

My 6 month old is about to out grow his infant car seat and I'm not sure what we're going to do. We live in Singapore w no car and take taxis a lot so the infant seat snapping into the stroller is really convenient for us. I'm quite sad that he is outgrowing his infant car seat already! :( Anyway, I've found these two solutions:
http://www.parents.com/baby/gear/strollers/toddler-travel-system/
this one costs something ridiculous like $900 though :/
and this...
http://www.lillygold.com/
which I think we are going to get unless there are any other options out there that anyone knows of... any one?

Answer
there is this, its more for airport use, but you could still use it for what you want to.http://www.onestepahead.com/catalog/product.jsp?productId=533888&cmSource=CrossSell&relatedProductId=534458

this is actually so you can carry the carseat on your back like a backpack: http://www.onestepahead.com/catalog/product.jsp?productId=363756&cmSource=CrossSell&relatedProductId=533888

this is bulky but its worth looking at http://www.onestepahead.com/catalog/product.jsp?productId=534069&cmSource=CrossSell&relatedProductId=363756

Best Car seat out there for a big boy?

gia27

I am trying to find the best car seat for my 20 month old son, who has always been in the 100% for his age. Price don't really matter, I just need the best car seat for him. He is currently at 31 pounds, and most car seats go for up to 40, so that don't work with me. I want something bigger that can be used for a longer time. I don't have much time for a research, but the little I did, Britax Boulevard is the only that grabs my attention. Does anyone experienced that being a worthy purchase ? Or any other suggestions! And do you think it will fit right in a Honda Accord '04? Please help! Thank You

Answer
hi ok first let me say im really NOT saying your childs over weight but this is where i found a list for carseats with higher weight limits 65-105 pounds with the harness so i hope you dont take offense...
http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/babies-kids/baby-toddler/travel-gear/car-seats/which-car-seat-for-an-obese-child-406/overview/
good luck and happy carseat hunting!!!

Airline regulations when traveling with Toddlers?

California

We are travelling on an airplane next month with my 2 year old and 4 year old. From the FAA website, I know that I can bring a carseat for my 2 year old (but not my 4 year old who is over 40 lbs), and juice (in a bag) for both. Are there any other limitiations concerning food? We'd normally bring snacks (crackers and fruit), but I can't find if this is even allowed to carry on any longer. Anyone with recent experience?

Thanks!

Answer
When I went to Hawaii with my son (almost 2) and daughter 4 I brought tons of snacks. Crackers, chips, gum, Ruby's cheeseburger and french fries, etc. They even allowed me to bring baby applesauce on with me. I also brought some strawberries and raspberries but had to eat them all before we got off the plane. (Rules of Hawaii) One thing that helped was I brought empty sippy cups and as soon as we got on requested cans of apple juice. Then you don't have to worry about them spilling the flimsy plastic cups.

Some toys that my kids liked were those magnadoodle and aquadoodle. Just fill up the pens with water on the airplane. You are allowed 3 ounce of liquid but why bother. I would rather not be held up with security with two kids.

If you bring baby food make sure to tell them about it at the checkpoint.

I ended up checking a bag with snacks, water, and juice boxes so we would have some ready when we got off the plane.

Also about carseats. I checked my carseats. My son was under two and didn't have his own seat. And airplanes do not let you use booster seats. It was nice not to have to lug those up to the gate too. If you think it will help your 2 year old sit still then I would suggest it. Get a carseat carrying backpack. It is so nice!! I fit a carseat, booster seat, and huge pack of diapers into it. I got mine on www.babycenter.com

You can take your stroller all the way up to the gate. This was nice because we used it to carry our bags too. At the gate they put it underneath and then when you get off the plane it is waiting for you at the door of the airplane.

Oh...one more thing. Have you and your children wear shoes that are easy to take on and off.

Has anyone ever traveled on an airplane with a toddler?

AMBER M

I am going to visit my friend in VA, I live in Ohio, which is 10 hour drive or 1.5 hour flight. I really want to opt for the flight but what do you do with an ancy 19 month old for that long? And what if he cries and people get mad at me?

Answer
19 month old. I would suggest getting him his old chair. You can do alot of things.

1) talk to your Dr. about ears popping on left and landing.
2) snacks and drinks
3) dvd portable player
4) plan around nap time and or bed time

if you can pull that off. have an easy carry on and when its time to fly get there early get the little one to sleep. extra blanket and let him sleep/nap during the take off and most of the flight.

5) special new bag of toys

color books, crayolas, books that have flip opens, and waht ever your child loves!

6) a new baby doll or for boy a new what ever he likes

7) its not a long flight at all. Could be 12 hours or move if you were going to a diff. country. It will be over before you knwo it. Have the child look out the window. When seat belts are off let him stand up and strech his legs.

have fun..its ok if he cries a little. things will be ok. people will understand. just sooth him the best you can. Its a part of traveling.

Travel w/ infant? any advices?

bvm006

Im planning to travel w my daughter when shes 4 months old but I was wondering would it be easier to travel when shes 8 months old? I just heard that the older they get is harder because they cant sit in one place while the younger they are they just sleep and eat..
Just want to hear some experiences from parents that travelled w their infants before. Thank you..
BTW its a 13 hr flight..

Answer
4 month is more easier because all they do is eat and sleep. I travelled w my son at 4 months and it was a breeze. I also travelled w him when he was 9 months and he couldnt sit still but it was still manageable.
Make sure to bring finger food, milk/juice and some toys for them to play with. Also it is better to travel at night so they sleep. It doesnt matter how old they are. They always sleep at night unless they dont have a good sleepping pattern.. Goodluck

infant travel on flight?

haritha

Hi there,

I am planning a travel with my 10 months kid to USA. It is about 24 hrs journey and I am afraid, i may run into troubles during travel. Also my child have often complaints of cold & fever. Also she has indigestion problem. Now I have some questions for you for help.
1. What all precautions should I take for a safe travel?
2. What is the checklist to consider mandatorily while travelling with infant?
3. Can I carry medicines during my flight?
4. Which airways would be a good choice to travel from India to US?

Please help me. Thanks for your help in advance.

Answer
First and foremost try to fly when your child is not sick with a fever. Even coughs from an infant spread germs that will be circulated throughout the cabin. No matter what advice you get, it's going to be an extremely long journey for the little one because they are not going to be able to stay awake the whole time and you will be calming a screaming baby down at some point. But here are some tips that I frequently give mothers when they are flying with their infants.

1.) Keep the baby awake at all times in the terminal so that you it can sleep for most if not all of the flight.

2.) If you have a stroller that has a car seat attachment, ask the counter agents if you can have a row with an empty seat next to it. If so, bring the car seat on the plane so you can put the baby in his own seat strapped in. This helps out a lot because the baby won't be in your lap for the entire flight! It's best if you book a flight on a Wednesday during a non-peak travel season because the chances of the flight being relatively empty are better! Also try to book yourself on an aisle seat so if you can't get that spare seat next to you empty, at least you'll have an easy way to get to the LAV to change the baby when needed.

3.) You can bring formulas, and other medications on the flight if it's for an infant. Be sure to pack a separate carry on bag with just diapers, food, spare outfits, and some toys.

4.) Unless you're flying first or business class, it doesn't matter which airline you fly. If you're in coach, they all cram as many people as they can in the back of the plane. I would stay away from US Air, Delta, or American. Most of their fleet doesn't have any sort of inflight entertainment systems for you to use while you're not taking care of the baby.

What do you think of our educational toy?

Emi

Hey all!

I work at PenPal Notes: Educational Lunch Notes (http://penpalnotes.com/), and I was hoping to get your feedback about our product. Created by parents looking to inspire reading, PenPal Notes follow the young panda Tej as he travels on his magic carpet across time and the globe. Write a personal note on the back, and accompany Tej as he embarks on his adventure of learning! Each series contains 20-40 illustrated lunch notes and a set of fun stamp stickers.

After 4+ years of development, we have finally started to sell PenPal Notes, and we were wondering how parents responded to it. Do you think that lunchtime/lunch notes should be a time for relaxation and not education? Would you be willing to set aside 15 minutes every day to go over these notes with your kids?

Any feedback would be so helpful, thanks!

-Emi

Answer
I think they are really cute. I visited the website and looked at the taste buds box of cards.

The website is great. I love how I could click on the taste buds circle and have the box come up. Seeing what was in the box really helped me to see what you are selling. Without the box of cards opening up, I thought of it as being a mat on the tray at McDonalds. but clearly it is much more than that.

The drawing of the panda is cute, and the colors are great. Personally, I wouldn't make too much of the magic carpet. You have enough going on without that. Just mentioning it is enough.

I am an adult college student. Last semester at college we had to read books for my Children's Literature class. One book I read was called "The Tequila Worm". Despite the name, it was a great book. The book was for an older age group than you are trying to reach, I think. Anyway, it was about a girl in Mexico. She had a great family, and they always celebrated with food. As I read it, I thought of the many ways you could celebrate with a classroom of students as they read the book over a period of time. There were pinatas, special foods, etc. There was also some celebration around Easter time about preparing eggs in a certain way. Would you want to connect your product to Children's Books as another way of extending their use and appeal? Another book to look at would be Lois Ehlert's alphabet vegetable book.

I'm thinking this is a great product, but it could be expanded beyond the mom putting the note in the lunch bag. As a teacher, I'd like to send these notes home with my students, so their parents can read them and talk about what we did in school that day. Have you talked to Scholastic Publishing? This seems like a Scholastic product.

Also, this is a good way to promote interest in healthy eating. I wanted to go and try new cheeses just by reading the note about French cheese. As a Mom, this would give me some ideas for supper menus at home that are healthy. I see the notes as inspiration to the family home cook. I could tell my boys "Your lunch note is a clue to supper tonight".

Here is one thing that would keep me from buying the product. I have two kids, and I have to send a lunch with each of them. In order to buy your notes, I have to spend $20 on lunch notes in order for them both to have the same thing. Could you put two or three copies of the same note in the pack? Or for teachers, can you give them a classroom supply using 4 or 5 key notes to send home to parents? You could call it "The Classroom Pack". Make it be 30 copies of 4 notes, for a total of 120 notes. That would last a teacher about a month, if she did one a week. What a wonderful boost to a unit on food!

You asked if lunchtime should be a time of relaxation and not education. These notes are cute and the educational part of them is "light" enough that it shouldn't tax anyone's down time. It gives parents and children an opportunity to connect and have something to talk about. It is a conversation starter.

One more idea- how about targeting families who homeschool their kids? I would think this would really appeal to them.

Good Luck. My husband and I have tried a few times to start a business, with no success. I hope this works for you.

I have a 2 year old and a 1 year old what would the appropriate amount of toys be a day if alternated?

penny

they have ALOT of toys i mean alternating a certain amount a day so they dont get bored

Answer
Try choosing the day's toys by either category, or theme.

You could have one toy per kid per category : one art toy each, one musical instrument each, one dump truck each...

Or you could have "art day" and have ALL art supplies that day, etc. then have "travel day" and play with train sets, toy cars, etc... you could even make it educational and ask "Which toys go with our theme today?"

Help! Traveling alone with 4 year old and 1 year old?

two.sweetk

I'm going to be traveling with my 4 year old daughter and 1 year old son in three weeks. My husband cannot come. We are flying across the country to visit my brother and his wife and kids. I'm freaking out! I've been really busy up until now with other things, and now that I have time to focus on this trip I realize that this is going to be extremely difficult. =(

I'm not going to bring a carseat for my 4 year old because my brother's son just moved up to a booster and so they have a carseat in good condition that has not expired or anything. They are installing that for us, and their car is the only one we will drive around in, so we are all set. Unfortunately they do not have a seat for my baby, so I'm going to have to bring his. He is 18 months old and forward facing in a Britax Marathon. I'm planning on bringing our cheap umbrella stroller for my son to sit it. My daughter will walk. I will only have a large backback with all of our carry-on things in it, and I'll check
Our one suitcase with our clothes, shoes, etc in it. My questions (sorry that this is so long!) are: How am I supposed to get the carseat thru the airport?? What are good ways to entertain my kids on the flight? I'm so nervous. I have always had my husband to help me before this trip, and I don't know what I'm going to do!! I wish he could come! Please help!! Any advice would be great. :)

Answer
I'm a former Flight Attendant and I fly a lot with my three children. We usually fly between Europe and California about twice a year, plus other shorter flights. My husband can *never* come. Even when he does, he flies in later and leaves earlier.

We also always have a car seat with us.

There are several solutions.

One is to skip the umbrella stroller and see if you can wedge your Marathon into your more solid car seat. There is not advantage to taking an umbrella stroller since you have to gate check it anyway (never bring any stroller on board an aircraft, no place to stow and dangerous in overhead bins). Use a bungee cord to anchor it together. At the gate, bring the car seat on board and gate check the stroller.

You can also try bungee cording your Marathon to the back of the stroller, depending on the model. Works for some parents.

Another option is to either check or leave the stroller and strap your car seat either on to a GogoKidz (a product specific to getting car seats through air ports);

http://www.gogobabyz.com/products/gogo_kids.html

OR save $90 and do what I do with my Radian and strap it to a small all-metal luggage cart. I use an extra bungee cord. I skip the stroller and my child can actually ride in it.

There are some other products sold. These are just examples;

http://www.amazon.com/Traveling-Toddler-Attach-Rolling-Carry/dp/B000JHN3AS
http://www.onestepahead.com/product/osa/363756.html

Just go to a travel website or look on Amazon and check out all the travel options they have.

If you think you can't handle the Marathon, you can get a cheaper, lighter seat for travel. I used to use an old version of this seat;

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=4083774

Sometimes it's on sale for as little as $40. It gets good reviews from car seat techs and you can then use it as a second seat.

For your 4 year old, this is a good product, although expensive;

http://kidsflysafe.com/

They are being rented on Ebay and Craigslist, as well as having good resale potiential.

Try to use the car seat on board. The marginal inconvenience of taking it to the gate is well offset but making life easier on board. Children are quieter and calmer in their familiar seats and technically, lap children are not safe in an emergency. It's so nice to have mine sleeping safely in their seats and I could get some rest too.

Car seats should never be checked in with luggage. They can easily be lost and/or broken en route. If you can't use it on board, it will then be gate-checked which is gentlier than checking it in at the desk. If you have booked a seat for your son, it's your legal right to use the Marathon on board.

If you haven't booked a seat for him, find out if there are any empty seats and ask if you can "block" a seat next to you. They often do this for families and only use the seat if absolutely necessary. Keep your seat till you get to the gate to find out if you can manage this.

Try to sit in the "bulkhead" seats. These are the ones with a wall in front, located in different places depending on the aircraft. With no one in front, it's easier with children.

I also recommend a really good baby carrier. No way can he go in one of those awful Bjorns but a sling, Becco, Ergo or wrap is fine for him. This really made transatlantic travel with three small closely spaced children much, much easier. I'm not sure how I would have managed without my sling. Magic for calming babies on board and saved my back!

For more information and tips, I wrote an entirely non-commercial article based on both my practical and personal experience. I go more into details on packing, security, etc.

http://flyingwithchildren.blogspot.com...

My contact details are at the end if you have further questions.

Good luck and have a great flight!

Have you traveled by plane with a baby before?

Riyen's

Just wondering your expierences, I will be taking my son to Morocco next week and he'll be sitting on my lap. It will be a 9 hour flight and i want to make him as comfortable as possible, any advice would be great. Also, do you know if I can bring snakcs on the plane for him?

Answer
I'm a former Flight Attendant and I fly a lot with my three children. In fact, two years ago we took them to Morocco and had a great time (I wish I could go back!)

You can bring snacks on the plane. It's not a problem with security. Usually, there are exemptions for children with liquids (and if worse, they'll simply take it away). As far as regulations entering Morocco, I would not bring any pork products into a Moslem country. You'll be informed if you can't take anything into Morocco. Anything not allowed can simply be left on board the aircraft when you leave.

Find out if your airline provides *wall mounted* bassinets. These are useful if you don't have a seat for your son. Not all airlines have them, or they have bassinets which simply are placed on the floor. These aren't nearly as useful!

I do really recommend bringing a car seat and using it onboard. This is safer than having the baby in your lap. Even with a bassinet, it has to be stowed for landing and take-off. Having the car seat is also more comfortable than the bassinet since it's familiar to the child and protects him from turbulence at all times (some airlines make you remove children from bassinets if you are going through rough air).

Make sure your car seat is approved for use on your airline. Search with the name of your airline, followed by "children" or "car seat" to get to the right page.

Wednesday, February 5, 2014

Anyone have recent experience traveling with a toddler?

We are taking our 2-year-old daughter to visit my family for Thanksgiving. I'm pretty anxious about the trip. We went down two years ago, when she was just a 4-month-old infant, and it was not terribly difficult, but this was before the new travel restrictions - and before she became mobile, willful, and inclined to fuss and scream when her immediate needs aren't being met.

We're taking a car seat to use on the plane (she is a ticketed passenger), and an umbrella stroller. Any problems getting these items through security (MDW and FLL)? How much extra time should we allow, and does anyone have tips for keeping her entertained and relatively happy during the 3-hour flight?

Answer
You'll be fine. It's no big deal if you plan ahead.

I have travelled quite a bit with both my kids. I've even done it solo. It can be daunting but I have learned a few tricks.

1. It sounds like you already have your trip booked, but just in case, try to book a flight that coincides with your little one's natural sleep pattern so she is more likely to sleep on the flight. Her natural cycle combined with the white noise of the airplane will likely have her nodding off before take off. Even if it isn't her normal sleep time, the white noise makes a lot of kids very groggy.

2. You're smart to take a stroller. If it's a small, umbrella type, you'll breeze through security. You'll have to take her out and collapse it so they can run it through the machine. If it's a bit bigger, it takes a few minutes extra for them to examine it by hand. It's still pretty easy. I actually took a double jogging stroller this last trip. It was no more difficult and actually made my life easier.

3. If she has a little backpack, let her carry it on. If she doesn't have one, find a small bag that can be her personal carry on bag. My oldest loves having his own bag. Stuff it with small toys with a few that she has never seen before. These don't need to be fancy. Just little things. I sometimes wrap a couple like gifts to open to add to the distraction factor. I alway take crayola wonder coloring books and markers. The markers only write on the special paper and they are non toxic if they go in the mouth. If your daughter is a thrower, be wary of things that serve as projectiles with other passengers as the targets. My son loves little animal figures and action figures. Two of those and his imagination keep him happy for ages. If she has a favorite blanket or stuffed animal, let her take them on the plane. Don't worry about trying to fit the blanket in a carry on. Just hang it over the stroller or stuff it through a loop on one of the carry on bags. If she's a DVD watcher, bring one of those little DVD players and a couple of her favorite movies. Be aware that she'll need to use headphones and you will want to test the volume to make sure her ears aren't damaged.

4. Bring a sippy cup and her favorite snacks. Most flight attendants will happily pour some juice or water into the sippy cup for you. ( You can't bring liquids through security). A variety of snacks will keep her happy at intervals. Drinking the juice while taking off and landing will help her ears immensely.

5. Leave at least 20-30 minutes extra time. You may not need the extra time, but there are usually those unexpected moments with young children. If you need the extra time, you'll be glad you planned for it.

6. Get a bag for your carseat. They are a nightmare to carry without a bag. Dex makes one with a single strap that lets you carry the car seat like a backpack.

http://www.babyant.com/bv550165.html

It will fit any carseat made. Just put it in the bag before you leave, when you have more space and less pressure in your home than you would outside the airport. Don't worry about taking it out of the bag to lock it in. YOu can just unzip the bag and slide it down the sides of the car seat leaving the base in the bottom of the bag. You will need to plan for a few minutes for this to get through security. Some carseats are too big to go through the machine, so they check it out by hand. You can also stuff any blankets or toys in the bag with the seat to carry.

7. At security be prepared for the following. Everyone, including your daughter, will need to remove their shoes and jackets to run them through. You will need to take her out of the stroller and run that through security. This gets a bit hectic if you have a lot of carry on gear, and travelling with kids usually means you do have a lot of carry on gear. You cannot take liquids through, so any sippy cups will need to be empty.

8. When you get to the gate, inform them that you have a stroller to gate check. If you have a connection, let them know you want the stroller brought up at the connecting airport. They will give you a pink tag to put on the stroller with all of your flight info. You will wheel this down the area way and take your daughter out and collapse the stroller just outside the plane. Just leave it there, and they come get it to stow it underneath and bring it up when you arrive at our connection and final destination. It sometimes take a few minutes for them to bring it up, so no need to rush off the plane.

9. When it comes to boarding, most airlines allow people with young children to board first or early. Even if they don't mention it, push your way through. Getting that carseat buckled in with a line of people behind you is stressful. Give yourself as much latitude as you can to make your trip less stressful.

10. As you're seating yourself, make sure your daughter's bag and your bag with any goodies for her are easily accessi

Can you recommend me a stroller for a toddler?

Diamond

I was thinking about a bumbleride. Not too sure tho. I will be using it in Florida. So I need something that has a bigger shade.
Preferably a lighter stroller

Answer
heres a start
http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/babies-kids/baby-toddler/travel-gear/strollers/reports/how-to-choose/index.htm

I need some Pack N Play advice . . .?

Lilouwyn

My husband and I travel very frequently and will be moving to a 3rd world country in about a year and a half. We are expecting our first child (a girl) in about 3 months and I am trying to find the perfect pack n play to use as her crib. I would like something that has hanging storage on the side, a flip our changing station and is in neutral colors. I also want one with excellent safety reviews and that is easy to set up and take down. Any advice on a particular style or somewhere to look? I have looked at the Target and Babies R Us websites numerous times and just can't seem to find exactly the right thing. Our budget tops out at about $200.

Answer
My daughter is 17 months and she's still sleeping in her pack n play. We never bought a crib, and yes she's outgrowing the packnplay already...so if your baby will be around this age once you move, I wouldn't even bother buying one....would save the money and take it to get her a bed. I have the graco whinnie the pooh one that has the changing table...the storage on the side for diapers and wipes and it's sooo easy to take it apart and put it back together and it would work perfectly with your budget. So think about it, it might be more convenient to take that money in dollars to whatever country you're going to to get her a toddler bed.

What kind of Car Seats are allowed to be used on the Plane?

Phenomenal

I have a forward facing Car Seat for a toddler, does anyone know if I can use it on the plane and where do I have to sit order to use it. Also does anyone know if they sell straps or something to wear the car seat on my back like a book bag or anything to make it convenient to carry it around.

Answer
Car seats are a very good thing to use for air travel! They help to ensure the safety of your child and make the trip easier for both of you. You can use the car seat in any portion of the plane, except for an exit row (for safety reasons).

In order to be certified for use on an airplane, the car seat has to met the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards. Check the labels on the side of your car restraint for a sticker (words will be printed in red) for verification that your seat is safe for airplane use.

Booster seats are not allowed or approved for air travel.

Many airlines offer half-price tickets so parents can be guaranteed that their child can travel in a CRS device. You should call your airline to ask for a discount and/or ask what the airline's policy is for using empty seats.

Target, Babies R US, and other retailers sell many varieties of things to hold car seats in to make transportation of them easier on the parents. Prices range from $20 on up to almost $100. Make sure that you get one you are comfortable with and that will last.

I've been flying internationally and domestically with my children since they were 2 months (now 7&5). Here are some tips and advice that have always worked for me and I hope will help you:

1.) You will need to have all your child's documents in order. It is a good idea to keep a copy of his/her notarized birth certificate with you. Verify what travel documents you will need in advance to make sure you have everything.

2.) For take-offs and landings, the best thing you can do to help with the ear popping, is give your child a something to drink (milk, water, juice- it doesn't matter) or a pacifier.

New regulations allow you to take beverages (including water) from home as long as they are less than 3oz, -OR- beverages (including water) of any size that you have purchased from inside the security area onto planes. You can also bring a limited amount of baby food and non-perishable items such as cheerios, dried fruit, goldfish, just add water packets, etc, onto the plane with you. http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/prohibited/permitted-prohibited-items.shtm#10

Save your money when it comes to buying water though because the Flight Attendants will provide you with hot or cold water (or any other drink) free at any time that you request, no matter how many times you request it.

Another trick is that if your child is not taking to the pacifier or wanting to drink, gently rub his/her neck from the chin down to the chest several times - this will cause a swallowing motion which will help with the ears popping.

3.) Make sure to pack plenty of things to entertain your child, such as a few books or toys, a portable DVD player with at least one movie, and one or two comfort things such as a favorite blankie or stuffed animal.

You might also consider going to the store and letting your child pick out his/her own carry on bag and a few inexpensive toys that will be used only once on the plane. Be sure to pick out a few toys without your child seeing so that he/she has an extra surprise when he/she opens his/her carry on.

4.) Be sure to pack 2-3 changes of clothes for your child. You will need this in case he/she gets sick, spills something on him/herself, or in case your luggage gets lost.

5.) Keep your diaper bag well stocked with plenty of diapers, wipes, ointments and other essential things. Baby nail clippers and scissors are not allowed though. Just remember the new regulating liquids, gels, and such and pack accordingly. You can usually find travel size baby products in stores and they are wonderful for plane use.

If your child is still in diapers, you should be respectful of other passengers and always change your child's diaper in the restroom. They do have diaper bed changers in there, although they can be a little small.

6.) Keep your doctors name and number with you. Also get the name and number of a doctor where you are visiting in case an emergency should come up.

It is a good idea to have a check-up with your doctor before leaving to make sure your child is healthy enough to fly. If he/she has even a slight cold, the pressure in his/her ears during take-off and landing (even if you do the precaution methods) could leave his/her ears aching for days after the flight.

Most doctors recommend that if anyone is sick (such as being stuffed up or already having an earache), not to take the flight because of the potential damage to the ears. I know my husband and other pilots do not work if they are sick because of this danger.

7.) Bring any medications that you might need for your child should he/she get sick or that he takes regularly. Remember that if they are not prescription medications, the 3oz rule applies to them and they must be kept in a clear plastic bag.

Do NOT give your child medicine with the hopes of it making him/her sleep. This is not only cruel, but dangerous as well.

8.) Last but not least, if help is offered to you, take it.

If I can be of any more help or assistance, please feel free to contact me.

Does anyone have (or have had) a really neat family vacation that they care to share?

Jax's Momm

Something toddler (3) friendly, please.
Thanks :)
We have a Great Wolf Lodge fairly close to us! It's one of the places I've been looking into!

Answer
We live in NE KY and we traveled 3 hours to Cincy OH to go to Great Wolfe Lodge....but they have them in different places. It is an indoor waterpark and they have an entire area dedicated to toddlers and some things for preschoolers - depending on how brave your son is : ). Anyways my girls had a blast - when they got tired we could go to the room and rest. Our room had a fridge and microwave so we bought most of our food at the grocery store and only ate out for supper. The rooms are expensive, but they include the waterpark so you have to weigh that in. They have a storytime too every evening for the kiddos. We shared a large room with my parents and my brother and his wife so it was economical and we had plenty of helping hands.

And our hotel room was nice and very clean - we stayed in a suite with a seperate bedroom, a seperate couch/TV area and then 2 beds in the main room. But I have never stayed in a 5 star hotel so I wouldn't know any better : )

Oh come on K! They did want you to spend $ on some kind of game you can play throughout the hotel, but my girls were to young for that. The only hotel activity we got into was the story time and it was great.

We go camping a lot too - but we have a nice camper....no tents for us. Of course that is tons of fun for the girls and very relaxing for me.
The girls were 1.5 and 2.5 when we went and I am sure we will go again this winter.

Tuesday, February 4, 2014

Traveling with a toddler?

cece

So in about two months I will be flying with my 18 month old from Massachusetts to Texas. The flight is a little over three hours. My toddler is very wriggly and hasn't even been in a car for longer than two hours (in which she got fussy towards the end). Im traveling by myself with her and I'm just a little nervous that she's gonna freak out on the plane. I have pretty bad anxiety and claustrophobia so the thought of being inclosed on a plane with my screaming child all by myself sounds incredibly overwhelming. anyone flown with their toddler and have any good tips? Did your toddlers cry?

Answer
Traveling with a toddler can be stressful but in my experience it goes better than you might think. Try and make sure your toddler has a nap before the flight if possible. During the flight, make sure you change things up so your toddler doesn't get bored. Play for 20 minutes, then walk him down the aisle to the bathroom and back. Have a snack. Then go for another short walk. My toddler could stand in front of the chairs so she doesn't have to sit all the time - as long as the seatbelt sign isn't on.

Here are some items to bring on the plane: stickers, small toys that aren't choking hazards, notepad and crayons, lots and lots of NEW snacks that you can bring out one at a time, your iPhone or Ipad if you have one, or other electronic device. You can also use the plane TV if your plane has individual screens. Just alternate things and if he cries, walk her up and down the plane. To help with ear pain, bring chewy snacks to help pop the ears.

It is tough but they are all strangers that you'll never see again. Do your best and you'll be ok.

Help with toddler and traveling?

Amber j

My daughter and I are going to be staying with family for a few weeks or months, and we will most likely be taking a charter bus there. I live in fort wood Missouri., and they live near Austin Texas. The trip would be 17 hours. My daughter is 18 months old, I know I will not be able to hold her the entire trip, are there any tips any one could give to make this trip easier and safer for her? Please don't just say" don't go" I would fly but don't have enough money.

Answer
I would pack up as many new toys as you can. Just dollar store ones. Candy and chocolate come in handy in real tantrum emergencies. Toddlers need to run and move. I would talk to the driver too, he might have some ides he got from other parents, like racing to the bathroom or something. He will also help for safety, and comfort issues. Planes are very understanding of babies, and im sure buses shouldnt be any different. Good Luck!

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