What are your best tips for traveling with a toddler?

travel toys for a toddler image

all_my_arm

We are going to Cedar point this Friday, Saturday and Sunday, and to the Toledo Zoo on Monday. The drive down to CP is about 5 hours from home. We will have two toddlers at Cedar Point along with four adults and two teenagers.

Answer
When we travel with my brother (Hes 3) and its on long trips we always bring lots of back up plans. Here are some of the basics..

Coloring Books
Favorite Toys
Portable Dvd player
Children Cds
Snacks, Bottles, etc.


My brother hates long trips but as long as we keep him well entertained he normally doesnt give us a problem. The dvd player is always last resort, if everything else fails. Sometimes if we are lucky he'll take a nap and relief us of the annoying songs we have to listen to.. Thank god for Ipods ;)

Any advices for traveling on an international flight with a baby and a preschooler?

Mod W

I am wondering if anyone could give me an advice for traveling on an international flight with a baby and a preschooler? I am planning a trip to visit my family in Thailand at the beginning of next year. My children will be 3 years old, and 4 months old. It is scaring to think about being alone with 2 little ones on a 20 hours flight from US to Thailand. Please let me know. I need an advance suggestions to prepare. Which airline is the best for traveling with the children?

Answer
bring some toys (noiseless ones would be very much appreciated by fellow flyers). Try to time your babies feeding so that it is happening during take off. Helps stop ears from popping and therefore no crying.

Bring books to read for them, snacks are good too. you may want to bring a comfy pillow for your toddler as the ones on the plane aren't comfy.

20 hour is an insanely long flight for them. wow! good luck. But just try to bring as many comforts of home and as many things to keep them amused as possible.

Good luck!

Powered by Yahoo! Answers

Any advices for traveling on an international flight with a baby and a preschooler?

travel toys for a toddler image

Mod W

I am wondering if anyone could give me an advice for traveling on an international flight with a baby and a preschooler? I am planning a trip to visit my family in Thailand at the beginning of next year. My children will be 3 years old, and 4 months old. It is scaring to think about being alone with 2 little ones on a 20 hours flight from US to Thailand. Please let me know. I need an advance suggestions to prepare. Which airline is the best for traveling with the children?

Answer
bring some toys (noiseless ones would be very much appreciated by fellow flyers). Try to time your babies feeding so that it is happening during take off. Helps stop ears from popping and therefore no crying.

Bring books to read for them, snacks are good too. you may want to bring a comfy pillow for your toddler as the ones on the plane aren't comfy.

20 hour is an insanely long flight for them. wow! good luck. But just try to bring as many comforts of home and as many things to keep them amused as possible.

Good luck!

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.

Powered by Yahoo! Answers

How do you protect a toddler during a tornado?

travel toys for a toddler image

Bethanie

With all of the recent tornados that have occurred it has been making me think about how I should protect myself and my toddler in a tornado. We live in an apt. complex and are on the 2nd floor. I believe the safest place in my apt. is the bathroom or the closet. I am just wondering that if you are in the bathtub with a mattress pulled over the two of you, how should you be positioned in the tub? Should I be on top of my toddler, I am just wondering. If so, how would I hold my mattress and him at the same time. I have also read that the safest place for little kids is in a car seat. I am just trying to clear up what's factual and what is not. I also live about 8 minutes for a hospital. Would it be safer for me to drive to a hospital and get into the ground floor. I know it's a lot of questions but I am just wondering what's the best thing to do if you dont' have a shelter

Answer
If you are in a multi-level apartment complex, get to the lowest floor and into an interior area or room. This could be a hallway, bathroom, closet, or any other interior room. Take plenty of water, blankets, pillows, any special items your toddler needs such as diapers, medicine, something like a toy bear or stuffed animal to help keep him/her calm. Get as low as possible. Sit and hold your child in a manner where you have a good hold and where your arms/hands can protect their body.

If you can not get to a sturdier shelter, The National Weather Service states to find a low ditch or culvert and lay flat as can be face down if no other shelter can be found. This would be a last resort action. Do not try to outrun a tornado in a vehicle. Some tornadoes have been known to travel up to 70MPH. If caught in a vehicle, do not seek shelter under a highway overpass. Wind speeds are actually sped up through the overpasses.

You can keep alert by watching or listening to local news. Can also listen to NOAA weather radio. These radios alert you of any watches or warnings issued for your area. They can be purchased at almost any department store.

What is the longest distance you would travel by car with a 19 month old?

Mrs. Doe

We are not huge travelers. We drive to my dad's once or twice every few months and its a 3 hour drive one way, but we stay the night, so its broken up, time wise. My husband wants to go somewhere on vacation and he asked me how long our son could ride in the car without getting too fussy, and honestly I don't know, because 3 hours has been the max.
How far have you driven with your toddler, and how well did they do?

Answer
I am keeping an eye on this question. Our son will be 19 months this month, and we are planning a trip over Memorial day. 6-7 hours in the car. He has done it before, but he was only 9 months when we took the last trip.

i am planning on books, toys, children's cds, and snacks to keep him occupied. I am also hoping to travel when he usually takes his nap!

Edit: I looked on Amazon.com and saw this travel tray you can put on your child's lap that attaches around the carseat. I am thinking of buying one so I can put my son's snacks on it and then he can play with toys and books without them falling. it is only $20, and I think it might be worth it.

Powered by Yahoo! Answers