What would you do in this situation?

mama <3

My daughter will be 11 months tomorrow. She weighs 23 pounds and is 30" long.
She recently has started to hate being in the car. She will scream until she throws up everytime she has to get in. It doesn't stop, she won't calm down, she doesn't sleep, she is not distracted, she will not take a bottle, she won't eat a snack, and she certainly won't stop screaming. It doesn't matter what carseat she is in (she has 4 different ones), which car she is in, who is in the car, if someone is in the backseat or not, or if she has any toys. She has been doing this for about 6 weeks. We live in an extremely small town (we have no mall, one small grocery store, and one target), and the next closest town is about 2 hours away. We travel to this town at least once a week, sometimes a couple times a week. We have a sick family member in the hospital there so the past few weeks we have started traveling there to see her 3 or 4 times a week.My daughter absolutely hates the drive. I was convinced that there was no way she could scream at the top of her lungs, throwing up, turning purple for 2 hours.. but let me tell you I have seen it happen plenty of times lately. I have no idea what to do anymore. I have tried everything I can think of. We have no one that can watch her while we go, and since we often stay over night I would hate to spend my only 2 days a week off from school away from her. As soon as we get out of the car she is fine and happy, but when it is time to get back in it all starts again. Also, her great grandmother (the one who is sick) loves to see her. She lights up as soon as she comes in the door and never wants her to leave. She has come to visit every weekend since she was born and it would break her heart for us to keep her away for the many more months she will be in the hospital.
I am planning to keep her rear facing as long as possible, but sometimes wonder if she would do better on the long drive if she sat forward facing and could watch a movie (we have screens in the back of the front headrests). I have tried getting a mirror and playing a movie but the picture is literally only an inch big on the mirror.
Any suggestions or advice is welcome. I am completely at my wits end about this!
This week we will have to drive up and back Thursday, Saturday and Monday and I can't take another 4 hours of screaming, and god forbid we hit traffic!!
Please help!!
I have tried the dvd player and she just throws it. She throws everything I give her!
It also doesn't seem to matter what time of day it is. She is just SUPER cranky once we get there if she didn't get a nap before we left and then was upset the whole drive.
We live in Arizona, but I am not sure about the carseat laws here.
I want to keep her rearfacing until her seat no longer allows it and still would even if she just rode forward for the trips out of town, but I worry that we will get in an accident when she is forward facing and I would forever wish that I could have put up with the crying instead of putting her forward. But in the moment I just can't take the constant screaming/throwing up ordeal day after day..

Answer
My daughter hates long car rides too (always has, since she was a baby). I learned quickly what worked for us. We went out and bought several (like 8, at least) new toys for the car ONLY.
She loved the new toys and started getting excited to go in the car to play with them (some of them were new and had lights and sound, some from a dollar store, some I bought used). If she likes books, get some of those for the car only too. That kept her happy for quite a while, and then I would pack "emergency snacks" for when she lost interest in the toys. If she would start to get upset I would give her a little cup or bag of snacks I mixed up (Teddy Grahams, pretzel sticks, Fruit Loops cereal, Goldfish crackers, and fruit snacks mixed together). When my daughter was little yet, we would give Gerber puffs, and Cheerios and Gerber Yogurt melts, and Kix cereal mixed together in a cup. My daughter stayed very happy and busy picking out what she wanted from the cup and enjoying it.
We also got some Color Wonder markers and paint (since they didn't make a mess in the car or on clothes) and she was thrilled to "paint". One time, she started screaming and my husband pulled over to a gas station so we could all get some fresh air. As a last thought, my hubby bought some chocolate milk and added it to her sippy cup and she sipped happily for more than half and hour and fell asleep! It was nice and peaceful for over an hour until we got home!
I can't begin to even tell you, how much this planning has helped us! I don't normally use food to entertain my kids, and I don't usually allow junk food, but we had family that lived out of the area and so we were traveling a lot too. Another idea, would be to get a CD of kids songs to listen to for her. My son loved them as a baby and toddler and he would giggle and hum to them before he could talk. Good luck.

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traveling with toddler, tips please?

joy

first, can I take juice boxes on the plane? or bottled milk?

i plan on bringining a portable dvd player and have him carry his little backpack with toys... any tips?

also, he had an ear infection last month, is there anything that we should take with him?
first my toddler normally behaves.... and that's funny that a person thinks they can control a toddler with a flip of a switch...
he's been on plane a number of time.... but this is the first since he's turned the big 2... after 6 weeks he was traveling to visit his grandparents.

Answer
As a seasoned travelling mom with great travelling kiddos, here's my advice...

First of all...you are allowed to bring juice, milk and formula. The 3 ounce rule does not apply to these items for families. They may pull you aside and in extreme cases, test the liquids for explosives. This has not happened to me, but I know that there is a chance that could happen.

A DVD player is a great idea, make sure you have a spare battery, just to be sure. Also, buy him some new toys, and wrap them. If he starts to fuss, pull one of the presents out, and that will keep him happy for at least a while! The Crayola markers that only draw on the special paper are a hit...so are Matchbox Cars and Etch-a-Sketch too. Little snacks are good too--fruit snacks, goldfish, etc. Try not to bring things that might be messy! If he had an ear infection a month ago, he's probably fully recovered, and you have nothing to worry about.

The most important lesson I have learned is...

Even if your child is SCREAMING, It does not matter what other people think. All that really matters is that you and your child enjoy yourselves. If that means that you have to sing silly songs or turn that Barney DVD up nice and loud, it doesn't matter! Don't get stressed. Anyone who has children won't judge you...they've probably been in your shoes, and those who 'get annoyed' with you will regret that they were mean when they become parents!

Best of luck to you. Safe travels! Enjoy yourself!

Oh yeah...don't listen to anyone who suggests that you medicate your child. NOT a good idea.

Any tips for air travel with a toddler?

max's mamm

I am going alone to visit my parents. My 20 month old has flown before, but my husband and in-laws were with. I have packed a number of special toys, a video IPOD and snacks. What I would love are specific things that have worked for you. Especially people who have traveled with new restrictions. He is super busy!! What would not be appreciated are suggestions not to fly (not an option) or use Benedryl (he reacts)

Answer
I've been flying internationally and domestically with my children since they were 2 months (now 8&5 and baby number 3 was born 23 December). 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 have never had any problems with my children on any of the flights. Here are some tips and advice that have always worked for me:

1.) Make sure to pack plenty of things to entertain your child, such as a few books, toys, a portable DVD player (be sure to bring extra batteries) or let him/her use your laptop (make sure it's fully charged) with a few movies, and one or two comfort things such as a favorite blankie or stuffed animal. I always bring a small pillow and blanket from home for my children (even now) because I know 100% that they are clean, and my children are accustomed to them.

My children like to bring along their own coloring books, a Doodle Pad, their Leap Pads (with a few booklets), and scrap paper that they can make their own drawings with and play games such as tic-tac-toe. My daughter used to like to bring along a doodle bear when she was younger so that she could draw on that as well, and my son likes to bring along some action figures to play with. I found that buying a Rose Art kit is great! It has crayons, markers, coloring books, coloring sheets, and stickers that they can color. It definitely keeps them entertained!

You can also play games like pat-a-cake, or I-spy, and tell stories to your child as well. If you tell a story, try to make it an interactive one where your child has a part in it so s/he stays interested.

You might also consider going to the store and letting your child (I let my children start this at the age of one) pick out his/her own carry on bag and a few inexpensive toys that will be used only once you are on the plane. Be sure to pick out a few toys without him/her seeing so that s/he has an extra surprise when s/he opens his/her carry on.


2.) Bring Snacks! just add water packets of food, cheerios, goldfish, animal crackers, dried fruit, etc. are great. 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#10

As long as your child is with you, you are able to take as much formula, breast milk, or regular milk that you will need for you child for the duration of the time you will spend in the airport and on the flight (as long as it is within reason).And no, you will NOT have to taste it - no matter what form you bring it in.

All that you must do is:

1. Separate the milk from the liquids, gels, and aerosols in your quart-size (1 liter) zip-top bag.
2. Declare you have the items to one of the Security Officers at the security checkpoint.
3. Present these items for additional inspection once reaching the X-ray. These items are subject to additional screening
http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/children/formula.shtm

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.

3.) Not all children have a problem with the pressure changes in their ears. If yours does however you'll want to know how to help. For take-offs and landings (the WHOLE way up, and starting from the BEGINNING, or TOP of descent), the best ways to alleviate ear pressure are to:


*Give him/her something to drink (milk, water, juice - it doesn't matter)
*Give him/her a pacifier to suck on
*Place hot damp towels (usually like the ones distributed to first and business class before take-off and landing to freshen up with - just ask a flight attendant for them) or paper towels that have been soaked in hot water and wrung out, at the bottom of two paper or styrofoam cups, then hold the cups over the ears
*Gently but with some pressure, rub his/her neck repeatedly from the chin to the base of the neck. This will cause a swallowing motion that will relieve pressure build-up in the ears.

You can also try using a decongestant. It is always best to check with your doctor before using any type of medications though, to make sure you are using the one best suited to your childs needs. I personally have found pain relief medications don't really help, and at least in my experience, decongestants are a waste of money.

4.) Keep your diaper bag well stocked with plenty of wipes, ointments and other essential things. Just remember the new law regulating liquids, gels, and such and pack accordingly. http://www.tsa.gov/311/index.shtm You can usually find travel size baby products in stores and they are wonderful for plane use. One thing I always like to carry with me is hand sanitizer! I always wipe the trays down with that (followed by a baby wipe) and use it for my kids after taking them to the bathroom (even though they wash their hands). I know that airplane bathrooms are not the cleanest, so that is why I try to be vigilant.

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

Bring any medications that you might need for your child should s/he get sick or that s/he takes regularly. Remember that if they are not prescription medications, the 3oz (100ml) rule applies to them and they must be kept in a clear plastic bag. http://www.tsa.gov/311/index.shtm

Do NOT give your child medicine with the hopes of it making her sleep. This is not only cruel, but dangerous as well. I have also seen where it backfires; a parent gives their child a dose of medicine to make them sleep, but instead it gets the child more hyper and the parents get absolutely no rest on the flight (and neither does anyone else).

Try to change your childs diaper (or have him/her use the restroom) as close to boarding as possible. This will help to make your child feel fresh and more comfortable for take-off (which could also mean less problems).

5.) Don't worry about what the other passengers are going to think or say should your child cry. This will only add stress, which your child can pick up on, and it could make him/her cry longer and harder. Instead, just relax, and handle the situation like you would if you were at home. Most times the other passengers are very understanding anyways and some will even try to help you. Which reminds me, if help is offered to you, TAKE it!


I wrote a small article about flying with children that goes more in-depth, gives airport security rules and regulations for the US, EU, and UK, plus offers tips and tricks for the travel, etc. http://www.angelfire.com/jamiehassen79/flying_children.html

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

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If you were too choose between a cat and a bird, what would you get?

iForgotMyN

Answer
Two VERY different options. Birds have the maintenance of a toddler. They need to be bathed, entertained, played with, fed nutritious snacks, educated, and disciplined. They live for many years, and are a lifelong commitment. They have to be cared for 24/7 and will live for up to 15 to 60 years, depending on the breed. They area extreemly costly. Can be thousands of dollars to purchase, and hundreds of dollars to pay for yearly, with toys, food, bedding, and damaged (birds love to chew apart carpet, furniture, and clothing) Cats on the other hand, are independent, and take little to no time to care for, because you only need to clean their litter box and feed them. They can be free to adopt, if you find a rescue shelter. Both animals are sweet and very rewarding. But cats are the best option for most people who have lives. Your average cat lady can go out and party. Your bird lady like me, cannot vacation, travel, or leave the house for extended periods of time.

baby shopping for third trimester?

nini

I am 7 months pregnant and I am planning to shopping for my first baby. First I already bought basic thing for newborn such as clothes, diaper.

I have a budget around $1000 to buy other thing, but I need an advice what to buy first, a car seat, stroller, baby play yard etc?? and what brand should I buy, cause I want it to last longer. thanks

Answer
First thing first, you need to buy the car seat. You have to have a car seat in order to take the baby home from the hospital and you'll need one to travel by car with the baby once its home from the hospital. I would suggest getting a convertible car seat rather than an infant seat. A convertible car seat will grow with the baby and you won't need to buy another one once the baby gets larger. Convertible car seats are also generally cheaper than an infant car seat. Two goo brands are Graco and Safety 1st. You can get both of these brands at Wal-Mart, Target, and Babies r Us.

You will need a crib and crib mattress next. I would suggest a convertible crib. It will later convert to a toddler bed and then a daybed. This will save you money later in life so you won't have to buy a different bed for the baby. Graco has some nice cribs for a decent price and they even have some deals where the mattress is included.

I would also suggest investing in a baby swing and baby bouncer. Bouncers are pretty cheap and range anywhere from $20 to $50, with most of the bouncers in the $30 range. Bouncers are a great way to soothe babies and also serve as a safe place to put babies when you are cleaning. Baby swings are also a great way to comfort and soothe babies. The baby swing was the only thing that could keep my nephew to stop from crying when he was a baby because he had colic. Swings are a little more expensive and are normally around $130-$140. Fisher Price is a great brand for both bouncers and swings.

If you plan to travel or go out places with your baby, a stroller will be useful. A travel system comes with the stroller and car seat and may be the cheaper option, however the car seats that come with the travel system are infant car seats and I've already told you downs to those. The strollers in a travel system are normally pretty bulky as well. A few ups to a travel system are that the car seat attaches to the stroller so you won't have to wake the baby by moving them from the car seat to the stroller and they are normally cheaper than buying a car seat and stroller. Graco, Evenflo, and Safety 1st are good brands. If you decide to just get the stroller, then you will be paying a lot less. You'll be looking around the $60 to $150 range. These strollers are also a lot smaller and more manageable.

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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.

Travel sleeping solution/travel dilemma?

Liz (Tanne

This is a 2 part question.

1. I will be traveling to Florida in February when my son is 8 months old. In general, I have no trouble tossing the baby on the floor to sleep (this is my first) but by then he will be portable and able to move around as he pleases. When I put him down to bed and leave the room, I want to be sure that he's in the same place (and SAFE) when I return. However, I have a problem with the pack and play (too big, too bulky, and really difficult to open and close, in my opinion not to mention a pain in the butt to transport especially now that airlines are charging per checked item!!). Are there any other sleep solutions out there, something that will keep my son contained without him being able to climb out of it but something that is safe and won't collapse or anything else freaky?

2. We are driving to the beach this weekend and my son really dislikes his car seat. I can imagine him screaming for the entire 2 1/2 hr drive. He's 3 months old so I really don't want to give him a dose of Benadryl to help him sleep (I know, it's awful, but I'd probably do it if he were a bit older) but I also don't want to be stopping every 20 minutes to soothe him and I DON'T want to listen to him scream. Any suggestions from moms who've faced this scenario?

Answer
1. = try the peapod travel tent for infants to sleep in, its great. I used it for my daughter.

2. I hope you are kidding. DO NOT GIVE A BABY BENEDRYL because you dont want to hear him cry. That is truely awful. I take my daughter everywhere and we travel alot and I have never thought about that. If she cries, i giver he a bottle, a binky, a toy. Sometimes I pull over if needed. But I dont resort to drugs for MAKING my baby sleep

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how to keep a baby busy in an airplane?

Johnny

I am going on a flight tommorow morning at 7am, and my 17 month sister is going with us, it is very hard handling her in the flight so do you know any things that will keep her busy, she usually gets bored of looking out the window, and what is really annoying is that she peeks her head over the seat to see who is behind and she tries to pull the hair of the passengers ahead of us, so what do you think that I can do to keep her busy during the flight, it is three hours and I dont think that she will sleep for more than 1 hour
I appreciate your answering, but my sister isnt quite old enough for playing with those doodling toys, infact she will play with anything but toys, when they come to give drinks she likes to play with the cup that they give
I like the idea of the paper and pen, she likes to scribble
a train would take forever, we are flying from minnesota to arizona
we dont have a portable DVD player, I usually give her my game boy to keep her busy, but she also gets bored of that after a while

Answer
my 3yr olds still love those fruit puffs, you could try getting a thing of those and letting her snack during the flight.

try a travel sized doodle pad thing. (you use the pen on the magnetic board thing and it erases by using the little knob)

just bring some toys new or old that she hasnt played with in a while so they arent fresh in her mind.. pull them out 1 at a time let her play with it until she gets bored and then pull another one out and put the one she just had away.

those are just a few things I did when i took my 3 kids on a plane from AR to FL.

any wxperience first airplane travel with 9 months old baby?

blue viole

my family and i will travel abroad for 22 hours with one stop in korea, does anyone has experience travelling their baby in long flight? i still breast feed my baby plus some solid foods. any suggestions, sharing of experience is appreciated.

Answer
I suggest having in your direct possession (carry-on) about twice the number of diapers, etc., you expect to need. At least one full change of clothes for everyone! (Spitup and poop explosions happen, and usually at the most inconvenient times.) A few familiar, favorite toys and books and something new. (Familiar calms, novel energizes.)

If you're concerned about others being disturbed by your baby crying, you might bring along a quantity of earplugs to offer people. (We did that, and while few people accepted them they seemed to appreciate the thought.)

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what are some do's and don't when traveling to Cozumel with a toddler?

Mark

Our daughter is our only child. She is 15 months old.

Answer
Keep a close eye on her! There are lots of lizards about, sometimes dropping out of the trees right next to you. The currents around the island can be quite strong -- be careful in the water. For all of you, take care for sea lice. Wear two piece bathing suits and make sure you shower in warm soapy water, your suit too, immediately after getting out of the water. The nicer hotels (I stayed at the El Presidente) will put bottled water in your room every day -- use it. Make sure you keep her slathered with sun screen. Just use good common sense and keep her hand in yours at all times. (And be sure to eat at the Mission while you're there -- the best food and coconut ice cream on the island -- yum!!) Have a fun and safe trip -- I can't wait to go back myself. :)

Tips: Stay at the El Presidente resort hotel -- fabulous! Eat at the Mission. Eat coconut ice cream whenever you see it on the menu. There's a little bakery on a side street next to the downtown market area, towards the airport -- check it out! Don't park in the red zones!! If you do get sea lice bites, rub and squeeze a fresh lime on them. Buy some real vanilla to take home for baking. Buy your kahlua to take home from the airport duty free shop.

Why do some parents allow their children to still ride the strollers and the pacifiers well over the age of 4?

Java Jive

They are not babies anymore. why do people still baby their chilren when they are toddlers?
Attitudes need to be checked at the door, just asking a question!

Answer
Strollers are fine, they are a means to keep a child in order when you're trying to get stuff done at the mall or whereever, espcially when you have more than one kid to keep an eye on. To me, it's no different from letting a kid ride inside a shopping cart while in the mall.

I have mixed feelings on pacifiers. My 8 month old has been off hers since she was 6 months old but now she sucks her thumb. The pacifier could have been thrown into the garbage any time, but I can't DO that with her thumb, so the doctor says just to wait it out and that she'll most likely outgrow it.

When you're in public though and see an older kid with a soother stuck in their mouth, don't be too quick to judge. I've learned that some autistic children, and kids with other developmental challenges, benefit from the comfort a soother can give when they're in a potentially uncomfortable situation (out at the mall, lots of people around, out of their "comfort" zone at home). HOWEVER, it drives me nuts when I KNOW there is nothing wrong with a kid and their mother lets them travel around with a soother stuck in their mouth, especially when you watch the kid drop it in the dirt then pick it up and pop it back in their mouth. YUCK. They're supposed to be a "soother", used when a child is crying and inconsolable, NOT for a kid to be running around with. They can interfere with speech development as well, from what I've read, if a child has a dependance on one for too long. Think about it, how the heck is a kid supposed to learn to say words if they've got a soother stuck in their mouth?

I think, barring any developmental challenges where a child may NEED to have a soother, they should be got rid of by the time a child is a year old. They are great for infants who need to develop the sucking reflex, but after 6 months or so, there really is no reason for a child to have one.

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What was your experience traveling with your baby/toddler?

Any tips from your personal experience would be great. Can you also say what age your baby was the first time you traveled with him/her & how you prefer to travel? Etc...

Also, what are some items you would recommend (or you think are absolutely necessary) for traveling with a 6 month old baby? & Do you think it would it be better to drive or take a plane or train?

Thanks :)

Answer
We have traveled by plane and car several times with our infants and toddlers. Very often we visit my parents in Toronto during the winter break, and with seven children, we have brought our fair share of small children back and forth at least once every year.

My tips are pretty common-sense and are probably things you have already considered, but here they are:

1. Bring some plastic bags that are easy to reach during the trip. Why? Because children get messy and a garbage container isn't always close by. Dirty undies, half eaten goodies, wipes, wet clothes... all these things are likely to happen with little ones and you don't want to be puzzled and grossed out while trying to put these things away.

2. Make sure you pack medication in an easy to reach place in your bag. Prescriptions meds go without saying. Things like tylenol, cough syrup, aspirin for you, a thermometer and band-aids could be your life savers. I don't always use them, but the few times I forgot to bring them were the time I needed them urgently.

3. Do not stuff your bags or trunks with toys, coloring books and movies for the children. By the end of the trip you are likely to realize that most of the stuff you carried went unnoticed and it only robbed you of space and energy by having to carry them around. Plus, some things might get lost if you bring tons of things. If your child is old enough, involves him or her in choosing which toys will come and which will wait at home. If your baby is too little, bring a blankie or something to help him or her sleep and a small trinket to keep them entertained.

4. If you are flying and/or if it is desirable, divide the family into two groups for the trip. We do this when we need to be very practical. My husband or I leave first with most of the luggage and the older children, and the other one follows a few days later with the little children. It isn't the idealized image of a happy family trip with road-trip songs and fun, but it gets us where we want to go quickly and more relaxed. That way, we only have to focus on a few things instead of having to juggle everything at the same time.

5. Bring fresh, comfort food for the trip. We always bring our own lunches and fruits, regardless of the means of transportation. Something dry and easy to eat for the kids is my best bet.

6. If your child is old enough to understand, explain the logistics of the trip. Even if it seems pointless, it helps a little to run over the new things they will be facing (airport crowd, homeland security, long hours sitting inside the car) and also announce that potty time is going to be trickier than usual.

7. If you are traveling by plane or train, ask the travel agency about family-friendly seats. I prefer them. Sitting with other children keeps the kids happier and also spares us most of the anguish of facing annoyed adult fellow-travelers.

I love to travel by train, but the chances are rare and far-between. Driving is fun for certain occassions. If we have plenty of time to get to our destination and it is reasonably close, we will get the old suburban out of the garage and enjoy a family trip. I love the plane because it is quick, but the overall experience of airport, airport security and the plane itself isn't fun for the kids or for us.

Have fun and good luck with your trip.

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.

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Can anyone recommend some toddler friendly (indoor) activities/locations in Houston?

pumpyla

We are staying in Clear Lake but would be willing to drive a bit.

Answer
You will find that it doesn't take much to entertain a toddler. What about libraries? Maybe you can go to a couple of different libraries. Most of them have weekly story time groups. Find out about local playgroups.
At home you can do arts and crafts, finger painting, scavenger hunts, kiddie food projects (find a toddler cook book or go to Nick Jr.com for ideas), play dress up, build a fort out of couch cushions and blankets. Get some old boxes and let the kid paint or color them and use them to make a club house or car or spaceship or whatever. Toddlers don't always have to travel or spend money for fun, so save your pennies and enjoy the simple ways to have a good time while you can. Your home has the potential to be better than Chuck E. Cheese!

Any tips for air travel with a toddler?

avalonmoon

Taking a 9-hour flight to Hawaii (changing planes 1/2 way through) this April with an 18-month-old, and I'm worried about keeping him occupied, or at least just keeping him from screaming his head off because he can't run around and get into everything!

Answer
Children tend to take flying really well. Bring books, a handheld system, crayons, paper, and other small toys that will occupy your boy. Take him to the store to pick out a couple small things that will be his 'special trip' toys that he can't use until the plane is in the air. Try to get a window seat for him, so he can watch all the little houses and cars below. Have him try to pick out boats, and cows, make it a scavenger hunt for him. I spy is the coolest game for young children. Bring ear plugs and/or a sippy cup for help with the popping in his ears during take-off and landing. Bring chewable meds for motion-sickness, and a change of clothes with wipes. Bring tylenol in case he gets sick. I flew from Maine to Tampa w/ one that age. He took it so well I was shocked. If you can, try to get the night flight, that way he is more likely to be tired, and calmer, or sleeping during the flight.

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Which Ipad Should I buy?

Booooooooo

I'm planning a trip to Mexico in a couple months and I wanted to purchase an IPAD to stay entertained since I'm traveling by bus.
I'm also taking my 3 year old son with me .
I'm looking for an IPAD that has applications that will help my toddler learn.
Of course the IPAD is not going to be HIS only it's just to keep him entertained for the bus ride ..
Soooo which IPAD is kid friendly with apps that will help improve his speaking and learning ?

Answer
i think you should go for apple ipad

can someone help me write my bio on twitter?

derege23

i really don't know what to write on it . im a basketball player (hooper).i want that to be involved in it .
i really appreciate your help thank you .

Answer
Twitter Bio Content Ideas
So then, what should you put in your bio that will attract the right audience?
1. Your interests, obviously. Your interests could include your hobbies and stuff that you have experience in. Examples could be graphic designer, travel content specialist, wine connoisseur, or whatever else interests you.
2. What defines you. If someone asks you what do you do, whatâs your reply? Thatâs the reply that goes here. In condensed form, of course. One of my replies is that Iâm an online entrepreneur. Another one of my replies is that Iâm a proud mom to a toddler. Figure out your priorities and what you want prospective followers to know about you. In my experience, a healthy balance of personal and professional elements in your bio adds interest to the dynamics that make you an individual.
3. Your areas of expertise. What are you truly great at? What do you consider yourself an expert in? Is it CAD, politics, humor, journalism?
4. What you are passionate about. This should go without saying, but often people write really weird stuff like âIâm passionate about making money onlineâ as their Twitter bio. Who wouldnât like to make money online, seriously! Find a real passion and write it here. Your passion could be helping others in a specific way, or buying a Porche, or taking care of cute kittens until they find a good home. Passions are driving factors and people gravitate towards others who follow the same passions.
5. Keywords. If you want to be found on Twitter search or by the numerous Twitter apps that group people by interest, then itâs vital that you have relevant keywords in your profile. If you are marketing locally, you could have your location plus your business type as part of your Twitter bioâe.g. âNYCâs go-to bakery for bagels.â That way search engines are more likely to find your Twitter profile when searching for the keywords âNYC bakery.â
6. Usefulness/USP (especially for companies). Thereâs an example that follows later in this post of a service called BackupYourTweets. They compelled me to follow them on the strength of their Twitter bio. Read below to find out how theyâve artfully combined the unique selling point (USP) of their service into their Twitter bio.
7. Use adjectives. Instead of saying you are a blogger, say youâre a tech blogger, instead of calling yourself a freelancer, say youâre an experienced freelancer. I use the term âpassionate writerâ in my bio to distinguish myself from those who write just for money. I write because itâs a passion. Adjectives add flavor to your bio.
8. A dash of personality. Personally, I feel any Twitter bio is incomplete without this key element. Itâs what makes us human (read: interesting). Donât be afraid to show some personality; done tastefully this can augment your business bio rather than detract from it. I put in âfire-breathing dragonâ in my personality section because I want people to know Iâm a no-nonsense go-getter. See examples below of other great bios that have a smidgen of personality.

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Has anyone ever traveled overseas with a toddler? Any suggestions on how to occupy him on a 12 hour flight?

Temperance

Answer
I did, this summer, but my son was already 3. I think it would be the same with a younger kid. Our strategy: we had plenty of little new toys hidden in our hand luggage. As soon as our son seemed to become nervous and noisy, we would take out a new toy. That would take his attention for a while. A good thing about long flights is that kids usually sleep for the most part of the trip. Another thing you must bring is books to read to him/her, coloring albums and lots of crayons (be prepared to fetch them all over the plane, though! ;-)) Good luck!

Oh, and sure, Oscar! Having a toddler deal with sticky sugar candies is a GREAT idea! having their little hands full of yucky sticky sugar when you can't even properly wash them! what a concept! And cavities to go with that too! If you are afraid of having to much plastic around, UNWRAP the toys before you leave home!!! A DVD player is good only as long as the toddler is mesmerized by cartoons: mine, until recently, could watch a video for no longer then 5 minutes before getting bored with it.

How to travel stress free as much as possible w/2 toddlers?

Ok so im leaving the U.S. and i have 2 toddlers, all together its gonna be 15hours on foot or air...im excited that im moving but i have my 2 kids all alone to deal with during these 15hours. is there any way i can make this trip as stress free as possible? i have a double stroller to put them in at the same time im gonna have to carry their car seats on each shoulder, i have 3 carry-on's that can maybe fit on on the stroller, my 2yr is not potty train but my 3yr is, we leave to another state @ night but get the to other state in the morning, then it will be a 6hr flight out of the U.S. i just want to try to not be SO grumpy @ my husband when i finally arrive and he picks us up at the airport...CAN SOME ONE HELP???
Thank you
ah yes i do have my laptom im gonna bring and their fav. spongebob dvd...lol...i did think about coloring books but the craons they'll just eat and make a big mess on the plane...they are bring a baby doll...ummm i cant bring in drinks for them ill have to buy them once i enter the airport..Thanks everyone =)

Answer
I have two toddlers, so I understand where you're coming from! You're gonna need to buy some new small toys to keep their interest. Here are some ideas to consider: a Story-Reader Book-it reads to you as you turn the page (about $20 at Walmart or Target) buy extra books for it. Some Crayola Color Wonder markers, and coloring books, A 3D view finder (or whatever it's called) extra discs to slip in and look at, the stick and re-stick vinyl stickers that come with a cardboard background to stick them on. They also make hand-held electronic games in toy section for toddlers. Get quiet light-up toys to play with at night when lights are dim on the plane, and encourage "quiet time". Consider the dollar store to pick up some new and exciting small things to occupy them: a toy cell phone, toy cars or dolls, be creative and only bring toys out one at a time when you really need to. Bring real fruit gummy snacks, animal crackers, pretzels, juice-boxes, things not loaded with sugar to make the kids hyper. Play games like "what animal has a long nose and says...", or "I see something you don't that you don't that's big and blue can you guess it?" Don't forget your kid's comfort objects or favorite bed-time books. Good luck!

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