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Posts Tagged ‘parenting’

How to Make Flying with Your Infant More Fun

May 17th, 2009 No comments

Many people worry about traveling with an infant, especially first-time parents. However, with a few simple considerations, it is possible to fly with a baby and actually have fun!

What’s the secret to getting the best flight with your infant? Organize, organize, organize. There are many styles of diaper bags which offer multiple compartments – lots of compartments can make it easier to find exactly what your baby needs in the confined space of an airplane seat. Create a checklist of everything you’ll need for the length of your trip before packing. Pack only what you’ll need while traveling. If you are breastfeeding, remember that you may not always have a private place for your baby to eat.

Be sure you’re appropriately plan to feed your baby during flight, which may include an adequate number of prepared bottles or nursing supplies and breastfeeding cover to nurse in public. Don’t forget to pack a few extra diapers in case of delays, and plastic bags for used diapers and dirty clothes. If you can combine this diaper bag and your own carry-on needs, that’s even better. A few days before your flight, make sure that you can carry your bags and your baby comfortably. You’ll also want an easy way to move your baby quickly through a crowded airport, such as a stroller or baby carrier.

A compact, lightweight umbrella stroller is perfect for babies who are sitting up, while smaller babies will be more comfortable being worn in a baby carrier – ring slings, wrap carriers, and other cloth-style carriers not only work well for carrying your infant at your destination but can also be used in-flight to help reduce tiring of your arms while holding your baby on the plane.

Most infants are extremely resilient and won’t be upset by flying. The most common issues parents face when flying with a baby are due to changes in temperature and in-flight pressure changes. Be sure to dress your baby in layers and bring a couple of light-weight blankets so that you can add or remove layers as the temperature fluctuates. Remember, babies are generally comfortable in one layer more than adults. In-flight air pressure changes flight can cause your child to experience ear pain. Giving your baby something to suck on can help reduce the pain. If he’ll breastfeed or take a bottle, that will probably provide the most relief. Otherwise, a pacifier can also help relieve the pressure. The best way to keep your baby comfortable, though, is to take cues from her. Every infant is different, and yours will let you know what he needs.

Most babies will need a bit of playtime while they’re traveling, so you’ll want to pack a few of your child’s favorite toys. Stuffed animals and favorite blankets are great, as they are easy to pack and carry the comforting smell of home. Teething rings are also a great idea, especially if your baby may be teething during your trip. Be careful not to pack too many toys, however. Five or six toys are plenty to keep your baby happy.
While it is important to consider your baby’s needs, don’t forget to take care of yourself, too. Try to get plenty of rest and be sure to stay hydrated, especially if you are breastfeeding. Babies are attentive as to how their parents feel. Staying positive and as stress-free as possible will create a good energy that your baby will pick up on. If you are feeling good, you will be better prepared to take care of your baby and enjoy your trip with her.

Purchasing Disney Theme Park Tickets

February 6th, 2009 No comments

Youve saved all year long to take your family to Disney in order to have the time of your lives. Youve heard all about all of the wonderful things that the Disney theme parks have to offer their visitors and youve been waiting for your chance to get there and experience the worlds most wonderful vacation getaway. The question is – how do you make your trip perfect? There is so much to do and to see at Disney that you want to make sure that you dont miss anything, but you dont want to shell out a bunch of extra money for things that you dont necessarily need.

Here are a few quick tips to help put your mind at ease about your Disney vacation and to ensure that you

Do Your Research

There are almost too many things to do on a Disney vacation. There are tons of parks, water parks, places to eat and events – getting there without at least groundwork for what you and your family would like to see could lead to a lot of confusion. You dont want to spend half of your vacation trying to figure out what to do – so its a good idea to know what types of activities are available, where they are and which ones youd most like to visit so you can put those options into your tickets when you buy them.

Leave Room for Improvement

All Disney tickets are called Magic Your Way for a reason, you can specialize your ticket options for the specific activities which will be the most fun for your family. You can feel free to load up on and pay for all of the options that you think you will use when purchasing your tickets or you have the option of just purchasing the basic tickets when you book your trip and upgrading them with specific options at the ticket window when you arrive at the park.

Getting the basic Magic Your Way tickets is usually the best option, because things may change in one way or another as time gets closer to the actual trip. Changes in weather or things like the current health of certain family members may cause you to have to make a change in plans so saving the money up front and only paying for the upgrades that you will surely use is the best option.

The ability to add options to your tickets is beneficial in many ways – if some sort of problem arises and you need to end your trip just a day or two in after having bought seven day passes, you can upgrade your tickets to have no expiration and use those same passes at a later date.

Shop Around

There are several different places that you can obtain Disney theme parks tickets, so look for authorized discount providers to save money when purchasing your passes. Look through all of the options that the ticket vendor has available; you may find that youll save a great deal of money by changing the number of days that your passes are good for. For example a one or two day pass will cost more per day than a three or four day pass and a three or four day pass will cost more than a seven day pass. If you are going to be in Disney and visiting the parks for five or six days by the appropriate pass to save as much money as possible.

Going on a Disney vacation may be a once in a lifetime opportunity for you and your family, youll want to do your best to make sure that its memorable. There truly is something for everyone at the Disney theme parks, but you need to make wise decisions when purchasing your tickets and managing your time to make sure you can participate in all of the activities that will make it the best possible vacation for everyone that goes.

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7 Steps to Getting the Right Toddler Travel Bed for Your Child

January 19th, 2009 No comments

Do you like to travel with your child – but you are concerned with their comfort and safety when it comes to bed time when you are away from home? Maybe it is a simple overnight trip to the grandparent’s home. They have the old second-hand crib – but how safe is it? Or how about at a hotel – how safe and reliable is the crib that they quickly setup for your son or daughter? Maybe now is the time to consider a toddler travel bed for your child.

Safety and comfort is number 1 at all times when it comes to your child – and even more so when travelling with you son or daughter. Have you ever had that one night when your child cries all night – and you just know it is a result of them sleeping in an uncomfortable bed? How about getting to a hotel room and you see the crib they have set up for your son or daughter – and there is absolutely no way that you will be placing them in there to sleep – not clean – not safe – and so on. You may be ready for a toddler travel bed. There are many good quality beds to choose from – but how do you decide on the one that is the best option for your family. Read our 7 tips to help clarify your decision.

1. Look for a bed that is light to carry. When on the go with your child there is always lots of gear to take along. A lightweight travel bed helps to make it easier when on the go. Stay away from the heavy monsters – get a bed that weighs less than three kg. (that’s under six pounds).

2. Compact in size. Whether you are off on a 2 week trip to Europe or just an overnight to grandma’s all of your gear has to be compact to fit into your trunk, or to check in on a plane. Make sure that the travel bed you select can be easily packed away (in its own travel pack). The bed when collapsed should be smaller than 60 x 20 x 20 (centimeters) or in inches 24 x 8 x 8.

3. No hassle set up and put away process. Speed and simplicity are the keys when setting up or putting away your toddler travel bed. You arrive at your destination – your child is tired – you don’t want to struggle to get the bed set up. You want a bed that one person can handle on their own for set up and for putting it away in its travel pack. The bed you get for your child should be easily set up in less than one minute or so, and it should be put away in a similar amount of time.

4. Simple and quick access to your toddler. If your child needs you in the middle of the night you want to be able to easily reach into the bed to pick them up or to pat their back. The bed you decide on should have a way for you to quickly get to your child – usually with a side panel that can be lowered by a quick zip of a zipper.

5. Mesh panels for good air flow. When travelling the room your child may be sleeping in may be stuffy. Choosing a bed with mesh panels on the side will maximize the amount of air circulating past your child helping to keep your son or daughter comfortable during their sleep-time.

6. Comfortable and light mattress – you want your toddler to be comfortable and you also want to have a lightweight bed. Make sure that the portable bed that you purchase has a comfortable foam mattress.

7. Guarantees and returns. A toddler travel bed is an investment in your child’s comfort, safety, and happiness. You want to make your purchase with confidence. Look for a bed that has a lifetime warranty. And make sure that it can be returned to the retailer with no hassles if it just isn’t right for your family.

A toddler travel bed is an excellent piece of baby gear for families with babies under the age of 3 years old. Keeping these 7 tips in mind when you purchase a toddler travel bed will ensure that the one you decide on will be a good fit for your family.

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