Tag Archives: Toddler

Traveling with a toddler.

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I don’t know what big mouth thought it was a good idea to write this post (hint: it was me), but my most recent family trip to Cancun started off anything but calm.

I thought I was so prepared for the flight. I pre-packed my 17-month-old’s favorite snacks. I surveyed other Apple Vacationers for their favorite iPad apps for toddlers and had them downloaded and ready to go. I even had two in-case-of-emergency bottles of milk on hand, just in case.

What I didn’t anticipate was that an approaching thunderstorm would keep us stuck on the tarmac at O’Hare for an hour and a half. All of the passengers aboard were antsy. We were tired of sitting and anxious to get to the beach.

My daughter felt the same way times 10. She was sick of being strapped in her car seat (because we had pushed back from the gate, everyone needed to be in their seat belts). She was tired of me pushing snacks on her, and because we weren’t at the gate anymore, the iPad had to stay off, so no Elmo allowed. The few books and non-electronic toys we had kept her occupied for a few minutes at a time, but all she really wanted was up, up, up.

While there wasn’t much crying, there certainly was lots of whining. The guy in front of me turned around and said “that’s exactly how I feel”.

So, Juice readers, what’s your secret to handling unexpected travel delays with a toddler?  Please leave your hints in the comments below, and I’ll compile them for an upcoming post.

Traveling with Baby

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img_2929Sr. Marketing Manager Ali Gerakaris is a new mom and dragged her family with her on her first post-baby business trip.  Here are her thoughts:

I am lucky enough to travel for business to some amazing destinations.  My first post-baby work trip was 9 months after the birth of my daughter, and I was reluctant to leave her at home.  My husband had some available vacation days, and we decided to make a family vacation of it.  Now that the trip is behind me, and hindsight being 20/20, here are a few tips for traveling with an infant on an airplane:

  1. Buy her a seat on the airplane and bring her FAA-approved car seat (it will say so on the side).  Yes, she’ll end up on your lap eventually, but when you both need your space, it’s there.  Plus, the car seat gave her enough of a boost that she could look out the window or around the aircraft and keep herself entertained.  She even fell asleep, and I was able to relax myself.  For our family, this was the best money we spent the whole trip!
  2. When they call for families and people traveling with children for pre-boarding, take advantage of it.  It was so nice to be able to install the car seat and make sure our bags were stowed without feeling like we were inconveniencing everyone else trying to board.  There was no stress at all, and the baby got to watch everyone else walk past our row.  This is a very fun activity for a 9-month-old!
  3. Bring a bottle for the flight’s ascent and descent.  She was so busy eating, she didn’t notice that her ears were adjusting for altitude.
  4. Don’t forget the snacks!  My favorite travel snacks are pouches of pureed fruit from Ella’s Kitchen (www.ellaskitchen.com).  The pouches are easy to pack, you don’t need a spoon and you can’t break them like a normal jar of baby food.  (*DISCLAIMER: when we traveled, the pouches were allowed by the TSA.  Your mileage may vary.).
  5. Pack a few new toys or toys you haven’t played with in a while.  When I brought out a book she hadn’t seen before, it bought us a half hour of time.

I had a pretty good idea of how the baby was going to behave on the airplane.  She’s generally laid back, exceptionally observant and gets antsy if I don’t anticipate her schedule.  By laying out a plan of action for the airplane, I was able to make sure her vacation got off to a good start.  Most importantly, our fellow passengers weren’t bothered either.  We did not want to be THAT family on the plane!

Traveling with a Toddler

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My son in the cockpit with the USA3000 Airlines captain.

My son in the cockpit with the USA3000 Airlines captain.

Since I work so much, and have that “mommy guilt” complex, when I go away I always take my son. Honestly, since so many of the resorts have great kids clubs that he loves, it is truly a vacation for all of us.  Here are my top travel tips for traveling with a little one.

  1. The airplane ride. If you plan to bring a car seat on the plane ensure it is FAA approved. It says it on the seat. Otherwise they will take it from you as you get on the plane and / or put it in the overhead bin.
  2. Entertainment. I am amazed when I look around the plane and see unruly children who have nothing to entertain them. My son, since he pays for a seat, is entitled to a carry on. We always bring a backpack of items to amuse him on a flight and the ride to the hotel. I invested in a small DVD player. We also bring an assortment of small books, crayons, coloring books, small trucks or action figures travel well.
  3. We bring small juice boxes (keep an eye on the ounces to get thru security) but we bring the small “Juicy Juice” boxes and if they are for a toddler (4 and under) they get through security just fine. Also some small snacks that the child is familiar with.
  4. I also always bring lollypops. The sucking motion helps their ears while landing. I usually bring ring pops because they are also entertaining. I give it to my son about a half an hour before we land. Now he knows when he gets ring pop, we are almost there. Continue reading →

How to pack the essential travel bag

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As I sit here packing to go away, I thought I would share my tips on packing my in-flight bag. We are all allowed 1 carry on and mine is strategically packed like a true professional! As a mommy, who also does not really enjoy flying, the bag must be stacked and packed specifically so there is no searching or anything missing during the flight.

First, you need to select a good bag with accessible pockets. It should be big enough to fit all your items, but small enough to fit under the seat in front of you (where your feet also go). If you board a plane late or the guy next to you takes up the entire over head bin with luggage and souvenirs, you don’t want the bag rows away from you. Choose an affordable bag. The wear and tear of travel can quickly destroy a designer bag and will then put a damper on your vacation. Continue reading →

Preparing Your Toddler for An International Trip

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090722_tipsIf you don’t have a small child, this blog may bore you or perhaps make you think I’m crazy; but those who know the challenge of traveling with a toddler, I hope you enjoy!

Although you know you are going to a foreign country, where the people look different and speak in a different language, don’t assume your toddler understands. Here are a few things you should prepare them for.

Start with the airport. Continue reading →