Freeeeeedom!!!

This morning the little guy and I took The H to work, which meant we had the car all day! Oh how I love that glorious, sweet, wonderful (too small) car! It shuttled us ever so kindly to Target/Starbucks for my morning coffee--the hotel ran out of non-flavored creamer, do you believe it?--and some good ol' time wasting for me and my little buddy.

I don't care that we got there well before 9am, or that we left close to 11am. We had a darn good time cruising the aisles, playing with toys that make noise (yes, we put everything away), and even letting me try on some clothes. He came out of there with a Matchbox car and some bubbles, and I am three very simple, very-on-clearance wardrobe basics richer. Oh, plus we got some applesauce for lunch, and a carton of half-and-half... just in time to get back to our hotel and see the Sysco food delivery truck hauling in a fresh shipment. ::womp womp::

We spent the rest of the morning running barefoot in the grass, giggling like, well, a three-year-old, and chasing bubbles until the little guy sat down on the grass and said, "Is it not close to bedtime yet?" And away we went, into our room for a quick lunch, stories, and nap. Whew! Based solely on 7am to 1pm, so far I'd call this one of our most successful on-the-road "Mommy and Caleb Days."

Toddler Travel: Entertainment

Once you're on board your flight and the newness of your surroundings wears off ("reading" the emergency procedures card will only last so long...) you'll want to have some goodies ready to entertain your little one. Don't pull them out too soon--if you're still on the runway when the first surprise comes out, you'd better have a BIG stash handy. ;)

We have found that bringing toys that the little guy has never seen works best. They hold his attention the longest. Depending on the length of your flight, this could get expensive--so try looking at the dollar store, Target's $1 Spot, and party supply stores to build up a great stash before your trip.

Some of our favorites have been a travel Magna Doodle, Crayola Color Wonder markers/paper, stickers, and small board books featuring his favorite characters. The clearance section at Barnes & Noble is a good place to find those.

Magna Doodle--no markers, no mess. The stylus is attached with a short string. It's cool for little people to see that their movements make the picture show up. Less frustrating than an Etch-a-Sketch.

Color Wonder--the markers have NO COLOR. They only show up on Color Wonder paper. You can find blank pads, coloring books, and activity books that use these. Some are sold as kits with a mini coloring book and three markers, or you can find full sets at stores like Target.

Stickers --my son adores peeling stickers and decorating things, including his hands and shoes. He calls it his "project." The dollar store, or office supply row at Target, is a good place to find lots of inexpensive stickers. Bring a small notepad/notebook for them, and be sure to check your seat when you exit the airplane to make sure you didn't leave too much decoration behind.

Board books--they aren't as fragile as paper-page books, which you probably already know by now. They are sturdy enough to get tossed into a carryon bag, dropped on the floor, chewed on by teethers, and read by little hands without coming apart as easily as flimsier counterparts. No chance of paper cuts, either! Barnes & Noble often has sets featuring Disney characters on clearance. Cloth books are another option, which you can also find there.

Favorite toys--while you will want to have some new things, never underestimate the power of a favorite friend. The little guy brings his pint-sized Elmo when we travel, as well as one tried-and-true farm animal book. These familiar items help him feel at home in his new place and on the airplane.

Magazines--use the SkyMall catalog (or any magazine you may have brought with you) and go on a virtual scavenger hunt--look for three dogs, blue circles, find an old lady, have him/her point out something you can drink, etc. The airline doesn't care if the SkyMall mag gets ripped, so ease up and let your kiddo go wild(ish). Stickers can go in here, too.

Crayons--sometimes just good old fashioned crayons and a coloring book are awesome. My son *loves* to color. I can't tell you how many times a day I hear "No Mommy, I'm still colo-ling" when it's time to go somewhere. Crayola makes triangular (and washable) crayons that are nice because they don't roll all over the place. You can buy "travel kit" coloring sets at a place like the dollar store, or Husdon News in the airport for a lot more $$, that contain a few crayons and small-scale coloring books/pages that are nicely sized for a carryon or purse. Even if you don't use them on board, they're great to have available for pulling out in a restaurant that might not provide them.

Creativity--some of the oddest things have kept the little guy's attention when we were least expecting it. If The H or I wear shirt with hoodie strings, zippers, buttons, or snaps, it provides something for him to play with when his toys are boring him. His pair of dog-face (no, really) squeaky mittens became finger puppets and put on a show for him, causing gales of giggles. If you don't have mittens, a clean pair of socks (or hey, the ones your little one is wearing) can become hand puppets in a pinch. A piece of Bubblicious tooth-rotting bubblegum I found in my bag became the Mommy Blows Bubbles show for a few minutes. Get creative!

DVD player--there has only been one flight on which the little guy was squirrely enough to warrant pulling out my laptop and firing up a Handy Manny DVD, but if your child is used to watching shows at home (especially to wind down) bring some along. You can buy a pair of kid-safe headphones (look at Target or on Amazon) just for him/her to use, to make it extra special.

Being prepared before you get on board (I like to shop for travel goodies at least a week in advance so I'm not stressing that I have enough for him to do) will help you keep your cool if and when your little passenger acts like, well, a kid. You'll have lots of fun up your sleeve to distract him/her. It's always nice to hear from fellow travelers "Wow, he was so well behaved!"

Once you get to your destination, breathe a sigh of relief, since you will once again have access to the toys you've packed in your checked bags... OR if you need to save space, you can utilize a baby-equipment rental company like Baby's Away or Breezy Baby Travel Co and rent toys from them! More on them in the next Toddler Travel update.

Toddler Travel: The Airport

When you travel with a little guy (or gal) you either need to know how to juggle, grow extra hands, or plan ahead and have a stroller or carrier that suits your needs.

Not all airlines will allow you to "wear" your baby in a sling or Bjorn-like device (call ahead and ask), though you can certainly use one in the airport. You will have to take the baby out when you go through security. The excuse one airline gave us is that they'd have no way to get the baby out in the event that I should become incapacitated. The Bjorn got stashed overhead that time, and I was glad that I had The H there with me to share holding duties. We put the (very) little guy into it when we were in the airport tram on the way to baggage claim.

September 2008

Since then, we have used a travel system, a simple umbrella stroller, a baby jogger, or the little guy's own two feet. Yes, that's right, we didn't bring a stroller on our most recent adventure. I don't recommend that until at least age three. :) Our favorite method is the umbrella stroller, but if your child is not old enough to support his/her head yet, obviously don't go this route.

If you are traveling with a car seat, I recommend purchasing a sturdy bag for it (Babies R Us sells some) and checking it with your other baggage. Most airlines do not charge for this, as it is considered an "assistive device" for your little one. The ticket agent should have plastic bags that fit over the seat if you don't have your own, but given the scratches and stains our traveling bag has sustained, I am glad we had the seat in something other than thin plastic. If you would rather gate-check your seat, or bring it with you in the hopes that there is an empty seat on board for your little one to use *with* his/her seat, that is your prerogative. It is just one more thing to carry and keep track of.

Before you get to the security line, have all of your TSA-approved liquids-and-gels bag easily accessible, and take your jackets and belts off and put them in your carryon.

If you are traveling with another adult, send him/her through security first, with the stroller and infant seat, if this applies to your situation. Then let a few people go ahead of you so the first person has a chance to get his/her things together and get the stroller set up and wait for you at the other end. Then you will only need to slip off your shoes and baby's, put your carryon and liquids bag in a bin, and walk through with your child. You can hand the baby to the person waiting with the stroller, allowing you two free hands to collect the rest of your belongings. You cannot set the baby in his infant seat while the seat is on the conveyor belt. Guess how I know?

Once you're through security, the rest is easy. Purchase milk if your baby will need it during the flight, since most airlines don't offer it during the drink service. Fill your reusable water bottles or buy fresh water so you can stay hydrated or shake up a bottle of formula when you need to. This is much easier than having to wait for a TSA agent to test your pre-made bottles in the security line. Find your gate, and as soon as you see a gate agent there, double-check that you are seated in an appropriate row for travelers with a lap child.

September 2008

If you have time to kill before your flight, let your toddler walk around as much as possible to burn some energy--and maybe work out a poop so you don't have to change one in the postage-stamp-sized airplane lavatory! If your little one isn't old enough to walk, lay out a receiving blanket for him/her to stretch out on with a few favorite toys.

When it's time to board, you can do one of three things:

1. Board early, when they call for travelers needing extra time or assistance. You can get settled in your seats without being in a crush of people, but you will be on board longer.

2. Board with the other passengers, as you would if you were traveling by yourself. If you are traveling with someone else, have him or her hold the baby while you stash things in the overhead bin and beneath your seat.

3. Send your partner on board with *all* your stuff (minus baby) when boarding begins, and let him/her get the bags settled, pull out your water bottles, and maybe even unload a few books or toys to stash in the seat pocket. Then you get to stay behind and board as the VERY last person with your little one in tow. This gives him/her the most leg-stretching, non-confined time possible, and assures that you aren't trying to juggle gate-check items, carryon, baby, and boarding pass(es), as well as trying to sit down without banging either of your heads.

Once you're on board, relax. You're not going anywhere for awhile. :)

Toddler Travel: An Introduction

This is the first in a series of not-necessarily-food-related posts (note the new "Toddler Travel" tag on the right) that is designed to help fellow parents travel with their little ones. Our son has been flying with us since he was 2 months old. Throughout the past (almost) two years, we've amassed some tips and tricks that have made our trips smoother and more enjoyable. If you have any specific questions, please leave them in the comments section and I will address them to the best of my ability.

First flight! September 2008

Since the little guy has always been younger than two when we've flown, he's never yet needed his own seat. That is about to change, as his birthday is at the end of the month! We have not had a problem with him as a lap child, despite him being a wiggly, curious infant/toddler each time we've flown. Don't underestimate your child's ability to sit still (or at least in one general location) in a new environment! There is lots to look at and explore in an airplane.

Do be sure to let the airline know--as far in advance as possible, and again at the gate before boarding--that you have a lap child with you. You will need to be seated in a row that has an extra oxygen mask, so your seat assignment might be different than what is originally printed on your ticket.

Once in awhile you might get lucky and be on a flight that isn't full, freeing up an extra seat that your little one can have to him/herself for awhile. This has worked especially well for The H and me, since we can trade off who is entertaining the little guy and who is resting/reading.

That's all for my intro post--if you're not going to be traveling with small fry anytime soon, feel free to gloss over the "Toddler Travel" posts--I'll include the heading with each new one--but please refer your friends/family in case the info might be helpful to someone else.