As a general rule, I don’t like to travel, so I haven’t been through an airport in several years. And while I have flown with an infant before, this was different. When I flew with my son, he was only three months old, and he slept the whole way in this cool little bassinet they had attached to the bulkhead in front of me, my husband was with me, and it was a direct flight. This time, I was with a 14-month old, by myself with a layover in Atlanta. Talk about trial by fire. I looked up all the rules and made several phone calls. But there were several things I learned just by doing it. So if you are facing a plane flight with an infant anytime soon, here are some tips I wish I had known:

1. You can use a stroller in the airport, and leave it at the gate.

I knew ahead of time that I could check a stroller at the gate free of charge. But I didn’t do it, thinking that I wouldn’t see it again until I reached my final destination–and where I really wanted it was in the airport when I switched planes. Turns out, you do get it during the layover. As you go through the gate, there are crew members who whisk away things like strollers and wheelchairs while you are in the hallway leading from the gate to the plane. And they were right there waiting for the people in the corridor when we deboarded the plane. A word of caution though: if you will be going through a big airport on a tight schedule, it would be less convenient to hassle with the stroller, since you have to find an elevator, etc.

2. You can bring a bottle/cup with more than 4 ounces.

Security measures restrict the amount of fluids you can bring on a plane, but infant stuff is different. You can bring food and bottles or cups for your baby through security. Larger airports have a separate screening line for families. You just take it out of your bag and “declare” it. On the way there, I was worried about what I would do for my daughter as far as eating on the plane. On the way home, it was much easier!

3. You can bring a carry-on plus a diaper bag.

But on an airplane, less is more! I read that I could bring a diaper bag in addition to my carry on. It sounded great in theory. So on my way out to Ohio, I loaded the diaper bag up. But then I had to lug around a carry-on, a diaper bag backpack, plus a baby through the airport. And I didn’t use much of anything I brought with me. On the way home, I pared down. I chucked everything but the bare essentials:

• my wallet

• phone

• change of clothes for her

• socks for me

• three diapers

• some toys

• and dinner

–all in the backpack. It was so much easier!

4. Reserve your seats as soon as you book your flight.

For the way out, I booked my seats right away. But I was back by the bathroom and I wasn’t pleased about the location, so I decided to wait on booking seats for the return flight. I hoped maybe the gate agents could help me get closer to the front. BAD plan. I discovered on the way out that having a little elbow room (even if you’re over the wing or by the bathroom) was much more important than being close to the front. It’s not like you’re going to enjoy the view or the movie, anyway. On the way back, I got stuck in the middle of a row of three people, with a squirming, restless, napless 14-month old on my lap, for three hours. I couldn’t even get to the things in my carry-on. The people next to me were gracious, but it was still miserable, and there was nowhere to go.

5. Short layovers are good.

If I were flying with my husband, I would consider two or three hours perfect–not too short to be nervous about missing a connection if the first leg were delayed, but not so long that you start to get on each others’ nerves. But alone with a baby, I found my one-hour layover on the return flight ideal. I had enough time to comfortably get where I needed to go (even in huge Atlanta), and got to the gate as they were allowing the first people to board–and people with a baby get priority boarding. I didn’t have to worry about how to keep my daughter off the filthy airport floor for two hours. It was great!

If you plan a air travel with a baby anytime soon, I hope these discoveries are helpful!

Now that our daughter has passed the two year mark, things have gotten much easier. Sure, she still tests us every chance she gets to see just how far she can stretch her limits, but that’s typical toddler behavior. She eats better and is more willing to try new things, and she absorbs language and other skills like a sponge.

One thing that hasn’t gotten easier, however, is traveling with her. She doesn’t like to sit still for very long, so leaving the house is a challenge. She’ll willingly get into the car seat when we leave the house, but getting her in and out multiple times (such as when we’re running errands) can be difficult.

Here are some of the ways we’ve found to keep her happy while we’re traveling.

• Keep snacks handy. There’s nothing worse than a cranky, hungry toddler. We travel with finger foods. Snacks that are portable and easy to eat in the car, such as baggies or snack cups half filled with Cheerios or other snacks.

• Keep them hydrated. A sippy cup of juice or milk helps to keep her hydrated and happy for car rides.

• Keep them entertained. We keep a few toys around that are only played with in the car, and rotate them. This way, she always has something somewhat “new” to play with while she’s in the car seat.

• Keep it short. If you can, try to limit the amount of time they’re in the car. For longer trips, take breaks every hour or two to stretch out. We like to park the car at a park or other large, grassy area so our daughter can wander and play safely for a little while before getting back in the car.

• Keep them shaded. Use sunscreen, even when the sun isn’t out, to prevent sunburn. In addition, use a window shade or other screen on the window to keep the sunshine from being so bright and hot. We tuck a receiving blanket up into the window crack to form a curtain that blocks out most of the harsh sunlight.

• Expect the unexpected (and try to plan for it). The last time we traveled, our toddler caught a cold, which drastically changed our plans. While you can’t plan for everything, sick kids are a common reality. Be sure to pack the children’s medicines and any loveys or other items he or she finds comforting.

Traveling with small children can be a challenge. Not only do you have to pack your own luggage, but also every item you think your child might possibly need while you’re away – and you’ll still inevitably forget something.

After traveling with each of our babies when they were infants, my husband and I came up with a system that helped us not only to not forget anything, but to make the entire experience a little less stressful.

• Make a list (and check it often!). I like to make a master list on the computer of all the baby essentials I will need for the road; I can then print out a copy each time I need it, and cross each item out with a pen when it is packed. The list should include diaper bag essentials, plus any extras you might need for a longer trip, such as additional bottles or toys.

• Plan ahead with bigger items. If traveling by plane, check with the airline on their baggage requirements; for example, can you check the car seat or stroller at the gate instead of when you check in, so that you can use it in the airport terminal?

• Check with your destination before packing large items. If you will be visiting family, do you need to pack the pack and play, or do they have a spare crib or travel crib that you can use? Is a stroller available? Having the items at your destination can save much needed space in your luggage.

• Will you be breast feeding during the trip? You might also want to pack a pump in case baby sleeps through a feeding or if his or her schedule is off. Bring an extra couple of sterilized bottles as well.

• When it doubt, pack it anyway. Sure, those extra outfits will take up more room, but if baby has a diaper blowout or if the weather is different from what is predicted, you’ll be glad to have the extra clothes for him or her.

• Stay organized. It is difficult to stay organized while traveling – especially with kids – but by keeping track of where things are, you can avoid extra stress and frustration.

Traveling with an infant can be difficult, but by planning ahead, you can make the trip a little easier on everyone.

]]> http://blogs.babiesonline.com/baby/traveling-with-an-infant/feed/ 1 http://blogs.babiesonline.com/travel/my-disneyland-mistakes/ http://blogs.babiesonline.com/travel/my-disneyland-mistakes/#comments Fri, 03 Apr 2009 21:13:40 +0000 Tamsen Butler http://blogs.babiesonline.com/?p=10600

As warmer weather approaches, plenty of families are thinking about vacations and contemplating heading to a theme park with their kids for the first time. Disneyland and Disneyworld seem particularly popular options lately with the promotions being offered for birthdays and military personnel.

I’ve been to Disneyland twice with my kids. I have family who live just a couple of hours from the Magic Kingdom, so it’s hard to resist the urge to head down for a day, especially when there is the potential for my daughter meeting one of the princesses and my son can meet Woody. Since I’ve been there twice – and made mistakes both times – I’m hoping my experiences can help you if you’re planning to include this popular attraction into your vacation this year.

Get a room.
Even though we were staying only a couple hours away from Disneyland, we still rented a hotel room directly across from the front gates of Disneyland for a day. This allowed us to get there the night before and get a good night’s sleep. It was also great to know that if the kids needed a break, we could take a quick walk across the street and grab a quick nap or simply some time to relax while also being able to return to the park. How did we know to do this? The year before I had taken the kids without my husband and without a hotel room, and it was pretty close to a nightmare.Start slow.
The first year I braved Disneyland my husband was away on military deployment, so I went with the kids and my brother. His kids had been to Disneyland about a million times since he worked at the Disney studios and could get in for free, so when he saw that the Pirates of the Caribbean ride didn’t have a long line he urged us all onto the ride. It wasn’t until we were all loaded into our boat that I realized that this could be a really scary experience for my poor kids. It was their first theme park ride ever, and it included bombs going off and skeletons screaming. I felt like the worst mom in the world while my poor kids sat trembling in my lap. Of course, their cousins who are of the same age were cheering because they had been on the ride so many times in the past, but I was sure my kids would be scarred for life.

It’s worth it.
My daughter waited in line for an hour and a half to meet Cinderella, Belle and Ariel. At first I was going to say forget it, this isn’t worth it, but if you have never seen a toddler girl get her first glance of Cinderella in all her splendor then you haven’t lived. Was it worth it to stand in line for so long? Absolutely.

Don’t talk up one thing in particular.
On our second trip to Disneyland I kept telling the kids how much fun it would be to go on the ride It’s a Small World. We talked about how much we loved it last time and how great it would be to do it again. Guess what? The ride was closed for repairs the day we were there. My kids cried, I was angry, and my husband could do nothing but offer everyone some ice cream (at $8 each) to get our minds off the ride I had built up so much in their minds. Next time, I’ll just stick to talking about how great the park will be, but not one particular ride.

Two final tips:

1. Bring or rent a stroller. Even if your kid is usually able to keep up with walking around town or in the mall, there is just something about Disneyland and other theme parks that is downright exhausting for little kids.
2. Take A LOT of pictures! You never know when that priceless shot of your little one is going to present itself. Be ready! There are so many fun things you can do with photos these days like imprinting the shot of my daughter with Cinderella on to a pillow for her bed, or creating a scrapbook of the entire vacation to share with family.

Depending on where you live, this might be a no-brainer and you ride the bus all the time. Or, you may have never even considered taking the bus, maybe because the last time you did was to school, and because cars are so much more convenient. Yes, you, and I and most moms drive a mobile diaper bag. If you are the second type, you should reconsider taking the bus with your baby.

I live in a small city where it works to drive my car to many places, but we like riding the bus too. I lived in London for several years and never got out of the habit of using buses and trains. It’s greener, often cheaper than the price of gas, there’s no hassle with parking. The negatives are waiting for the bus, limited capacity for lugging baby gear around and all the weirdos that seem to ride buses.  I also lived in California, where people will sell everything before they let their car go, and I’ve seen some of the weirdest weirdos. My local Minnesota weirdos seem pretty tame in comparison to California and London’s finest.

Riding the bus is a great experience for babies and toddlers. My son has loved buses since he turned one. Before he could walk, I’d put him in his sling, and take him out on the bus. He loved to travel without being strapped into a carseat, he loved going forward and to look out of the windows. There are all those weirdos, I mean interesting people, to look at. Then as he got a bit older, he got really, really excited to discover that if you stick your arm out at a bus stop, the bus stops.  He loves going up and down the stairs on the bus. And pulling the cord to stop the bus. He thinks he’s so smart that he can spot bus stops. (I do too.) Now he’s learning numbers, he loves to read the numbers on the buses coming up the road and trying to spot our bus.

Now I’m taking him, and Daycare Baby out on the bus together. He walks, I hold his hand, and Daycare Baby rides in the sling and just loves to look at all the interesting people.

The ideal transportation plan for us to combine riding the bus with driving the car when the bus isn’t convenient or it’s -20. As well as cost and environmental reasons, taking public transit is a good example to set. I don’t suppose that everyone will be able to drive a car everywhere they want once our kids reach driving age, so if they think riding the bus is normal then they’ll be one of the ones better able to cope.  And your kids will likely think it’s a whole lot of fun too.

Before I had children, I worked as a therapist in a nursing home which was about a 45 minute drive from my house.  I drove in it all:  snow, sleet, and freezing rain!

Then I had children.

I remember the first time I ever skidded on ice with my children in the van.  I was driving on our country road and slid on “black ice“.  I had skidded and slid around before, but my children were in the car and that was terrifying to me because I realized exactly how much was at stake.

Now, we’ve moved south, and we rarely get even a snow shower.  We occasionally get ice, but most everything closes down when that happens.

If you have to drive in the wintry weather with your baby, be safe and don’t take chances.  If you can delay your drive, do so.  Perhaps you can go into work late once the roads are better cleared.  Perhaps you can work at home that day.

If you have to go out, make sure to carry extra blankets and a shovel.  Leave earlier than usual so you can take extra time to get safely to your destination.  If you are able to do so, you can alter your route to avoid the less traveled roads which may not be so well cleared from snow and ice.

If you get stuck, many times, you can dig yourself out of the snow.  The extra blankets can help to keep your children warm while you are digging.  Kitty litter can be used for extra traction and can help you if you get stuck in the snow or ice.  Studded tires, if they are legal in your area, are a big help when you have to drive in winter weather.

Hopefully, you won’t ever need to use any of these tips!  I wish everyone a safe winter driving season!

Last year, on New Year’s Eve, my family resolved to never travel at Christmas again. That lasted almost a year.

OK. Maybe I should be more specific. We drove 1700 miles one-way. Halfway there, we encountered icy roads and had to cancel a hotel reservation. Annoyed, we dealt with our online reservation system (who can withdraw funds immediately but take two weeks to refund them), and found a new place. Then, on the way back, the same thing happened again. But it was New Year’s Eve and we swore off holiday travel, knowing that flying would have been just as big a problem since the airports were canceling all their flights.

It was an easy resolution to keep since the holidays roll around only once a year. We almost made it all year without breaking the vow. But then Christmas came again. We justified the break by the fact that we were traveling west instead of east, and only 500 miles one way. And instead of being pregnant, we were dragging along an almost-nine month old baby.

That was the first mistake. A couple weeks prior, I tried to “train” her to sleep in other places by using a pack & play. Well, it was a nice sentiment, but she wasn’t buying it. So, for three nights, she barely slept at all, and I’m not exaggerating. Naps were a *little* better. I intended to catch up on a little shut-eye, but with family around that I don’t see often, I really just wanted to be with people. That was, after all, the reason we broke our old resolution. (And it didn’t help my ego that my husband’s cousin has a baby that is only 6 months old who sleeps 12 hours straight through every night! I know it’s an individual thing, but it still made me jealous.)

And then on the way home, we were going to caravan home with my in-laws who live in town with us. But my husband felt compelled to do some last-minute car maintenance, so they took off an hour ahead of us. Lucky for us, since they got turned around on the highway, 150 miles out of town… It wasn’t ice this time, but a rockslide caused by melted snow from the previous week’s winter storm. And in the mountains, there aren’t alternate routes. So they came back while we scoped out the options in town. The short story is that FOUR hours into the trip, we finally were able to leave town! And we still faced another 8 hours with a baby in the car.

All that to say, I REALLY mean it this time when I resolve never to travel again at Christmas. For that matter, maybe I’ll never travel again with a baby.

I read an interesting article today about multi-tasking when driving. The bottom line: it’s a bad idea. I’m sure you know that already though!

The study centered on how the brain is able to perform when a person is doing tasks such as driving and talking on the cell phone. Driving, it turns out, requires an incredible amount of brain power. I remember when I was first learning to drive and I couldn’t stand to have the radio on because it distracted me so. Now I drive past very young looking, possibly new drivers, texting and talking on their cell phones. I find it amazing, if not scary.

According to data, in over 80% of crashes, driver inattention was the root cause of the event. That’s pretty amazing. I rarely talk on my cell phone when driving. If it’s a difficult or intense conversation, I do pull over to the side of the road or I stop in a parking lot. However, I am not so good about reducing my other distractions.

Ask any parent and it is common to be multi-tasking dealing with kid issues. Things like stopping an argument between siblings or dealing with a crying infant are stressful and can affect the quality of your driving. The reality of the situation is that as a parent, you will need to multi-task at times. Just remember to be safe.

If the older children are arguing about the radio station, turn it off. If your infant is crying inconsolably and the tension is affecting your driving, pull over to a safe place and do what needs to be done to soothe him. This may mean changing that diaper or nursing him so you can make the rest of the journey safely. Never try to drive and say, pick up the dropped security blanket or pacifier!

I keep an activity bag in the back of the car for my older children to keep them busy during drives. I find that if they are busy, they are less likely to argue amongst themselves. I also keep some toys for our son in the car so that if he gets fussy, the older children can pacify him until either I can get to a safe spot to figure out what is wrong or we make it to our destination.

To my knowledge, no studies have ever been done on the amount of accidents caused when dad or mom takes their eyes off the road to give their toddler a cookie because he is hungry and screaming. It would be interesting though!

Do you have any tips for dealing with family distractions when you are driving? Do you feel that it’s important to limit your distractions or do you think you do a pretty good job of handling things as they happen?

I try to limit the amount of television my kids watch, although they do indeed watch some almost every day. In a perfect world we wouldn’t watch any television, but since my world is far from perfect there are times when the kids win in their quest to get the TV turned on.

Although my kids get to watch some commercial-free TV at home, I draw the line at getting a TV screen installed into the car. I see far too many families driving around our city with the kids glued to the TV that’s going on in the back of the minivan. The parent who is driving isn’t engaging the kids in talking, the kids aren’t glancing outside of the car or looking through books, and all in all I’m sure it’s a quiet ride…but a potentially mind-numbing one.

My kids were allowed to watch TV in the car for one trip, and that was an eight hour drive. They didn’t watch the TV for the entire time and I was actually pretty happy on the return trip when the portable DVD player stopped working and we were all forced to talk about the things we saw outside. I have nothing against watching movies on long rides, but really…do we need to turn the TV on for the ride home from the grocery store? How are parents finding out about their kids’ days if they flip on the TV the second they pick them up from school or daycare?

Don’t families talk in the car anymore?

I try to take advantage of somewhat long drives by playing different types of music and having the kids compare them. Even when my kids were very young babies I tried to talk to them about the things that were out the car window and enjoy music while in the car. I don’t want my kids plugged in all the time. I want them to be able to enjoy their surroundings and use their imaginations.

Something that preys on many pregnant moms’ minds… what if I go into labor somewhere remote? Or in a traffic jam? Or on an airplane?

Going into labor on a plane is unusual, mostly because airlines restrict when pregnant women can fly.

Airlines generally don’t let women fly in their third trimester without a doctors letter, and don’t allow pregnant women to fly in their last month or two. And before the last month, airline check-in staff can refuse to let you board the plane for medical reasons, so if you are visibly pregnant and flying, it’s best to check to have a letter from your doctor just in case you encounter an over-zealous check-in agent.

Several premature babies have been born on airplanes, including little Pawan Deep Kaur, born six weeks early on a flight from Hong Kong to Adelaide, last week. Luckily for mom, who was traveling by herself to meet her husband in Australia, there was not just one, but three doctors on board to assist with the birth. Pawan Deep means “ocean air”.

Last year, a British mom gave birth at just 25 weeks in the skies over Germany on a plane bound for Greece. Baby Alfie weighed just over 1 lb and after an emergency landing in London, and several months in the NICU, he’s doing well.

Which leads to an interesting question. A baby born in German airspace, to British parents on a flight to Greece – what nationality does he have?

Actually, there’s a UN ruling that babies born on international flights, and on ships sailing in international waters, the baby receives the nationality of the country in which the airplane was registered in. So Alfie is a British citizen. But if he was born on a Greek plane, he’d have dual British/Greek citizenship.

There was excitement for Pawan Deep Kaur in Australia after his birth – have you heard the rumor that babies born on airplanes receive free travel for the rest of their lives? Turns out that’s just a rumor. You can imagine that some people might be booking flights near their due dates just in case they can score junior a lifetime of free tickets….

A Snopes.com article has two actual incidences of babies born on airplanes being given free rides, and a little more down to earth – a baby born on a BART subway train in San Francisco also reviced a lifetime pass for free rides on BART trains.

Just released from the American Academy of Pediatrics: travel tips for little kids. All I can say is: THANK YOU!!!!!!!

I suppose if my family bopped in and out of airports every other month, I might figure out some of these on my own. But we don’t travel very much so I’m not a seasoned pro. That makes the trips we DO take so much more meaningful, and in some ways, it raises the stakes. When we take one trip every other year we want it to be good.

The following ideas were compiled by the AAP from their own literature as well as the Transportation Security Administration, Federal Aviation Administration and the Centers for Disease Control.

A few of my favorites are summarized below. Happy Trails to You!

Driving

- Of course, follow all car seat laws. Better yet, follow all of the suggestions (which are more stringent). That means:

• facing year until one year AND 20 pounds.
• in a belt-positioning booster until 4′9′ in height.
• in the back seat until age 13.
• Plan to stop every two hours (This one is difficult for me. I get so impatient?)
• Bring lots of toys and CDs and snacks for the trip.

Flying

• It takes longer to go through security with children. Leave early, and make sure the kids know someone will be handling their things.
• Let older kids know that it’s not a funny joke to say, ‘My dad has a bomb in his bag.’
• Buy your child under 2 his own ticket and strap him into his carseat. You’ll both be happier.
• For once, you can let the kids blow bubbles through the straw-it helps pop their ears.

Going overseas

• Make sure everyone’s vaccines are up-to-date.
• Start adjusting for jet lag a few days before you leave.

Anyone who has spent any time in the car with a toddler knows what a challenge it can be. Time it wrong and you can be faced with any number of melt downs – from the needs-a-nap tantrum to the hungry-and-yet-refuses-food fit. Fortunately, there are some ways that you can prevent – or at least cope – with these difficult times and make a car ride more enjoyable for everyone.

Following are five ways to keep a toddler entertained and happy during a trip in the car.

Time it right. If you’re planning a long trip, try to time it around (or during) nap time or times when you know your child is more active. We discovered that, with our daughter, if we leave before the crack of dawn in the morning for a five-hour trip, she will usually only wake up once or twice during the drive, and will wake up happier once we reach our destination.

Bring food. Be sure to bring snacks and juice or water along for your little one, including a bottle or other car-friendly fare. Don’t forget to bring a bottle or two of water – both for your toddler and for you.

Be silly. Don’t be afraid to get goofy. Sing along to the music with your kids, or even make up silly lyrics to go along with a favorite song (such as re-writing the words to a favorite lullaby or nursery rhyme). If you’re in the passenger seat, turn around and make silly faces at your child.

Bring along a surprise. Be sure to tuck away a special toy in the car that your toddler either hasn’t seen in a while or that is new to him or her – he or she will be much more likely to play with it and be amused longer if it’s something that’s not old and tiresome.

Roll with it. No matter what happens, be flexible. If your child needs to stop yet again for a potty break or a diaper change, go with it. Both your toddler and you will be happier that way, and the trip will be much more pleasant.

I somewhat remember being a DINK – Double Income No Kids – and getting slightly annoyed whenever a kid would act up in public, but nowadays when another kid acts up in public all I do is feel bad for the parents and say a little prayer of thanks in my head that it isn’t my kid acting up.

I think that sometimes we forget how kids can be distracting to people who don’t have to deal with them on a daily basis. I was reminded of this over and over again on the vacation I just took with my kids. We spent quite a bit of time in airports and airplanes, where the mere site of a young child worries some people because they immediately envision the potential fits that may happen during the flight.

Case in point: We had a layover in Denver on our way to California. We found our gate and I allowed the kids to look out the window while I busied myself preparing a snack for them. My son grabbed one of his toys and started banging it on the windowsill. I didn’t think much of it – other than to be grateful that he hadn’t made so much noise on the plane – but pretty soon I heard a woman say, “Excuse me!” I looked up and she was glaring at my son and actually had her fingers in her ears. It wasn’t until I saw this scene that I realized my son was disturbing everyone in the terminal and I had completely tuned it out.

I apologized profusely and for the rest of the trip I tried my best to have more consideration for all the other travelers. I guess I just sometimes forget what it’s like to not be used to loud kids and babies all the time. For the record, though, my son never tried to bang his toys while we were on the airplane. He is relatively well-behaved, after all.

When I heard about tattoos for toddlers, I thought Oh. My. Gosh.

Is this the teenager-ifying of our toddlers going completely off the hook? Are manicures for infants and high heels for newborns not enough? (Tamsen, my Babies Online blogger colleague recently wrote about manicures for preschoolers and I totally agree with her. One manicure at age 4 is cute. Regular manicures at 7 months is bizarre and troubling.)

Turns out, there was no need for me to get in a tizz about these tattoos. Safety Tats are a temporary, washable tattoo, customized with the parent’s cell phone number. If a toddler wanders off, as they are prone to do, then anyone who finds the child and sees the tattoo can call their mom or dad.

More expensive than writing your cell number on your child’s arm with a marker pen, which is what a mom I know does with her toddler, but probably better for their skin.

Safety Tats suggest using them in airports, malls and other busy public places.

I know where these could really come in handy: at the State Fair that’s coming up in my town in a few months. If you loose a child in an airport, then there’s the option of calling mom or dad over the PA system. At the fair, or another busy outdoor event, there’s nothing like that. So these would be a much better way of re-uniting parent and child.

Safety Tats also make designs with health information warnings, such as for autistic, diabetic and allergic children.

I think these are such a brilliant idea, and I’m scratching my head as to why no-one else did it sooner! I think these would be so useful over the summer, with so many family fairs, festivals and warm-weather outings happening.

The only drawback is you need a cell phone, and my cell is barely clinging to life at the moment. So once I get it either resuscitated, or replaced, I’ll be ordering some Safety Tats for my son.

My children are growing up without any family around. Of course they have their mommy and daddy, but as far as any extended family whatsoever there is nobody. My husband’s family lives about eight hours away and my family is scattered throughout the West Coast. We’re in the Midwest.

Sometimes it pains me that they don’t have a grandpa or grandma to turn to and they don’t get to play with their cousins unless we first spend several hours on a plane. As our vacation nears I’m excited to have everyone together again, but it’s torture to leave.

My daughter speaks constantly of her cousin Ava who is a couple months younger than her. They talk on the phone once in a while (as much as four year olds will, anyhow) and they send artwork pack and forth through the mail occasionally, but as far as having a really solid relationship it’s pretty impossible.

This isn’t how I imagined my kids growing up. I always pictured my kids frolicking with family on a regular basis. Instead we’re lucky if we get to see the family once a year. There has to be a great advantage for kids who have a loving extended family available. I sometimes wonder what my kids are missing out on by not living near their family…let alone all the free babysitting I could get if family was around. I do have a hard time feeling bad for people who complain that their families are so annoying and all that jazz because honestly, sometimes I would give just about anything to have my family around to annoy me.

I’ve tried to create an extended family for my kids through social groups and our church, and luckily we have a lot of very caring people in our lives. I just dream of a day when my family will be a short car drive away instead of halfway across the country.

Anyone who has traveled by air since 9-11, knows about the increased security measures before entering the boarding area for flight travel.

Going through the security lanes can be difficult, even for the seasoned traveler, traveling alone. From needing to place all toiletries and cosmetics in sizes no greater than 3 ounces. in carry-ons in quart-sized zip-lock bags (the 3-1-1 rule), to having to remove your shoes, to needing to “declare” any snacks and beverages (including expressed breast milk) for babies and children, and needing to remove electronics such as laptops and camcorders from the bags is a hassle. Add to that needing the stroller and carseat when traveling with children, and there’s a whole new dimension to a potentially unpleasant travel experience. Families become a nuisance to business travelers, and those same families, often feel the sting of stares as you inevitably hold up the line with collapsing the stroller and dealing with all of the gear.

Finally getting it right!

In an effort to streamline the process of flight travel, the TSA announced that it is creating different lanes for the different travel skill-levels and needs of passengers. In March, the TSA started the Diamond Self-Select program, where passengers who are familiar with security check-in protocol (such as removing outer garments like coats, removing shoes and belts, placing toiletries and electronics in the bins, and removing change and metal items from pockets), to have a veritable fast lane. Designed after expertise trails at ski slopes, the Diamond Self Select (sometimes called Back-Diamond Select) programs premiered at Salt Lake City International and Denver International Airports. The Self-Select program includes:

“Expert, for the business traveler who flies several times a month; Casual, for passengers that travel less frequently, but are familiar with the security process; and Family/Special Assistance, for passengers traveling with small children or strollers, elderly passengers and passengers who may need special assistance.”

According to MSN’s the Middle Seat, in an article originally published in the Wall Street Journal:

“Putting families and people with special needs like wheelchairs into separate lanes allows them to relax a bit without road warriors pushing them to move faster. As a result, they set off fewer ‘nuisance alarms’ because they prepare better and get metal, shoes and liquids properly into X-ray bins. The family lanes move slower than lanes moved before the change, on average, but many families seem to like the pace.”

Since March, when the program was initiated at Salt Lake City International and Denver International Airports, other airports around the country have added the program including Chicago’s Midway, Boston’s Logan Airport, Orlando, Florida and Spokane, Washington. Most recent additions include Pittsburgh International Airport, Dallas Love Field, and there are rumors of the program starting later in June at Detroit Metro Airport. Maybe your city will be next. Security changes such as the Diamond Self-Select program, may get some family travelers to return to the skies this summer.

If you’re like me, you’re getting ready to pack up the kids and head off on a summer vacation. We’re going to hop on an airplane and travel to California to visit family for a couple of weeks. The kids love going to the beach, but if you ask what my daughter’s very favorite thing about California is she’ll emphatically tell you that it’s meeting the Princesses at Disneyland.

I’ve traveled back and forth with the kids to California a few times, sometimes alone and sometimes with my husband. All in all I generally dread the process because I don’t like to think about all the potential issues that can happen when you take two young children and stick them in a chair for a few hours.

The biggest piece of advice I can bring for travelers with babies and young children is this: Bring some Tylenol. No, not for the headache you’ll inevitably get, but just in case your baby or child suddenly gets a fever on the plane. This happened to my daughter once when she was around two years old. We were about an hour away from landing and all of a sudden she got a really high fever and became incredibly lethargic. We had packed Tylenol, but it was in the checked baggage.

The pilot offered an emergency landing but warned us we would be financially liable for the extra costs associated with landing a plane in a different airport. We cooled her down with wet towels and kepy giving her cold water to drink. After the plane hit the ground her fever subsided and by that evening she was fine. I don’t know if there is such a thing as air-sickness with regards to fever, but if there is then I guess this is what she had.

Before you hop on the plane be sure to grab a small bottle of infant or children’s Tylenol or some other fever reducer and put it in your bag. You never know when you might need it.

Someday, if Jadan Brown were to be asked his birthplace, his answer would probably be “66? north, 100? west – about 850 nautical miles north of the city of Edmonton, Canada, and 450 miles northeast of Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada – at an altitude of 37,000 feet.” This was according to Korean Airline pilot manning the cockpit at the time of his birth – May 28, 2008, 4:57 p.m. EDT.

Jadan certainly knew how to make his entrance into the world in style. He was born 2 months early when his Mom went into labor on the flight back to the US after his parents’ vacation in the Philippines. He is lucky that his Dad is up to the task of helping his mom during the delivery. He was an Emergency Medical Technician while serving in the U.S. Coast Guard.

Jadan weighed under 3 lbs but he survived the 3.5 hours remaining flight time without oxygen or incubator. Upon landing in NewYork, mother and child were immediately whisked to the hospital. Jadan has to stay a little longer in the hospital till the doctors give him a clean bill of health.

Meanwhile, Jadan’s citizenship needs to be sorted out. Apart from being American like his parents, it could be that he is entitled to a Canadian as well as Korean citizenship

The issue of flying while pregnant has always been controversial. According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), women carrying singleton are allowed to fly until the end of the 36th week and those carrying multiples until the end of the 32nd week as long as no complications are expected. “A letter from a doctor or midwife confirming good health and expected date of delivery should be carried beyond the 28th week of pregnancy. Medical clearance is required for pregnant women if delivery is expected less than 4 weeks after the departure date or if any complications in delivery may be expected.”

However, in the end, it’s the airline’s decision whether to let a pregnant woman fly. Jadan’s mom certainly had clearance from her doctor and Korean Airlines let her fly. But a pregnancy is always full of surprises (both good and bad) that no doctor or any airline guideline can all cover. Let’s hope that all airborne deliveries will have a happy ending (and landing) like Jadan and his family.

Source: MSNBC 4 June 2008

Just when you think life is going to get easier because the kids are out of their nappies, comes the next challenge – finding a bathroom every time the little one needs to go – which is about every 10 meters or every 5 minutes. And there’s no use telling him/her to wait. At this age, bladder control is not yet fully developed.

In my case, it was two little almost 3-year old twin boys asking to go all the time. There were times when I was really tempted to put their nappies back on – except that they refused point blank. “We’re big boys now, Mommy. You said so.”

This problem, of course, can put a damper on travelling plans even if only to the supermarket. But don’t worry, this phase is transitory and will be over before you know it. Here are some survival tips:

Have a bathroom directory in your head. Like having a built-in GPS, a mom or dad should know exactly where the closest bathroom is, and how fast one can go from point to point, with or without a push chair.

Make kids go even if they don’t have/want to. As soon as you see a bathroom in sight, you shout “let’s do it!” despite the little one’s protest. I suppose psyschologists will have a lot of things to say about forcing kids to go. I had the problem of having 2 boys who never seemed to want to go at the same time. And one is always complaining about being dragged to the bathroom without wanting to go – only to ask to go 5 minutes later. I say, be opportunistic and make use what is within your reach. It’s a matter of survival.

Be flexible – and be creative. What happens when there is no bathroom in sight? Sometimes we have to resort to drastic measures that may not necessarily be hygienic. I say, the bushes should do in times of emergency. Or anything, just to keep the kids from wetting themselves and making a mess. My sister-in-law’s girl needed to go urgently and there were 10 ladies lined up in front of them. Nobody offered to let the little girl go first so her mom placed her over the bathroom sink. Of course, she cleaned up the place afterwards. Once in an airport, I was pushing a cart laden with luggage plus 2 boys and there was just no way we could find a bathroom in time. The rubbish bin had to do that time.

Teach the kids the road signs. The big letter “P” sign on the motorway means parking. For my boys, it means “pee” literally. They were trained to ask themselves when they see this sign “do I need to go?”

Have some spare clothes all the time. And a plastic bag for anything that gets wet. Even with their newly found independence – “I need to go but I can wait” – accidents still happeneded to my 4-year olds.

But then it’s over before you know it. My boys are now 5 and feel old enough to go to the bathroom without Mommy. “I know where it is and I can go alone.”

And then they’d be scornful about little ones still in nappies and laugh their heads off about their Mommy’s bathroom tales. And then you’d be asking yourself “what was all that stress for anyway?”

Summer vacation season – Memorial Day to Labor Day – is officially here. Yippee!!! Taking your baby on vacation is a whole new experience for baby and parents. It’s a lot of fun for baby, seeing all the new sites, and it’s fun – and often a little stressful – for mom and dad. Hotels can be dangerous places for babies, so here’s a few tips for staying in a hotel safely with your baby.

Cribs. Most hotels can supply a crib. The crib may not be what you expect. In a recent study of cribs in hotels, a shocking 80% of hotel cribs did not meet current safety standards. More had been recalled, but the hotel was still using them. You might also be offered a filthy mattress and ill-fitting sheets to go on it. I got the chance to stay a night in a four-star hotel with my son, and was offered a crib that looked like it came from a Romanian orphanage.

Call the hotel in advance, and inquire about the state of their cribs. If they can’t give you peace of mind that your baby will be sleeping in something safe, bring your own.

A pack-n-play or portable crib might be a pain to tote along, but it’s better to know your baby will be sleeping in something safe. Or, have baby sleep in bed with you, if you are comfortable doing that.

Room Safety. If your baby is on the move, check out the hotel room for dangers. Some parents bring outlet covers with them. Watch for TVs on the edge of shelves, and furniture that might topple over.

Balcony Safety. Babies can fall through the rails on most hotel balconies. I won’t stay in a balcony room with my son, but I’m paranoid. Whatever you do, never leave a child unattended on a balcony. And the same goes for a room with open windows.

The first vacation with your baby is something you’ll always remember. Keep safety in the back of your mind, and you should have a wonderful vacation.