Aug 17, 2014

Traveling with kids

Traveling with your little ones can't be hassle free, but with these tips it can certainly be easier:

- Travels with Baby: a complete website with tips about destinations, travel planing, and gear rental directory worldwide! Love it!

- Babies Travel Lite: they deliver formula, baby food, diapers, gear, etc worldwide!

- Diapers.com delivers in 1-2 days everything you can possibly need (US only)

- Baby's Away: gear rental (US only)

- Rent Baby Equipment: gear rental (US only)

- Travel Babees: gear rental (US only)

- Baby Travel Company: gear rental in Miami (Marcela Simões Dias has recently used their services and highly recommends it!)

- Baby Goes 2: website that helps you plan your trip, from destination to packing, it's really helpful!

- Traveling With Kids: a Swedish mom-of-2 gives great tips.

- Taking the kids: useful to help you pick destinations

This blog has a list of other travel blogs (I didn't have a chance to look at all of them yet, but certainly will...): RedTri

My tips:

- Have the diaper bag carefully stocked. Bottles, diapers, wipes, disposable changing pads, snacks, some quiet toys, a change of clothes. Pack enough formula and diapers to last a day or two (in case your checked bag gets lost or the flight is delayed). I usually don't take my purse onboard. I pack my wallet, documents, etc in one large baby backpack (love this one from Dad Gear that has an easy access wipes pocket), this way I have 2 free hands. Please, make yourself a favor... travel light! Take as few clothes as possible for you, and have them dry-cleaned at the hotel or hand washed with this detergent. Just remember your last trips... how many pieces of clothes returned home without being used?

- Dress your baby for quick and easy diaper changes. And always have spare clothes (the worst poops are done in airplanes, trust me... With the altitude the air trapped in our intestines expand, so imagine...). I also keep a small toy with the diapers to distract my daughter. Bathrooms in airplanes are too tight and noisy, so they can get scared.

- Have your iPad fully charged and download previously some games, apps, movies, cartoons (my favorite app is VideoTouch- )... The kids are allowed to play with them only during the flight, so the novelty keeps them busy for a long time...

- Specially for young babies, have brand new toys (books, teething toys and toys that won't fall into pieces under the seats...).

- Try to travel during regular nap times or bedtime; or, if this is not possible, try keep the child awake until after take-off.

- Be the last one to board if you have a partner (he/ she can board first and guarantee luggage storage close to your seat). If you are traveling alone, board ASAP to guarantee that.

- Never, ever, try for the first time a new medicine or sedative (even the natural ones, like Camilia) during a flight. Always try it some days in advance at your home. Trust me, sometimes they have side effects like agitation...

- Have a bottle ready during ascent and descent to alleviate air pressure in the ears. (Remember to buy a bottle of water, room temperature, after the security, if you are taking powder formula). I always take onboard pain killers (Tylenol or Advil) in case the pressure hurts her ears.

- Take one large pashmina that serves for warming you and the baby during the flight, as well as to cover the stroller when the baby is sleeping (I use it a lot specially when dining out and my daughter is sleeping in the stroller).

- I love this snack container!!! (I recommend buying the starter kit and the 2x 150cc)

- I love this Cocoon inflatable pillow during the flight, to cover the armrest so the baby can sleep comfortably. It is really easy to inflate / deflate and is very small.

- I also love my Yoyo Baby zen stroller and Mountain buggy Nano (fit in the aircraft's cabinets) and the Immi Go car seat (not approved for in-flight use, only in cars).

- The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) strongly urges you to secure your child in a CRS or device for the duration of your flight. the car seat must be FAA approved. For childs 22-44 lb the easiest method is the CARES. (also sold at Amazon.com)

Please let me know if you recommend any other website!

Have a safe trip!


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