Adventure at the Park

It's Tuesday and I got travel on my mind with my tot... travel to far away places where it feels like fall. But reality sinks in when I consider that in the next three months we already have major travel and events planned: My brother's wedding in early Nov, my godparent's 50th wedding anniversary in Monterry, MX; two friends' weddings; three birthdays; a few bridal and baby showers. That's not even considering the Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday travel! So how can we fulfill our travel urge without further stressing our already packed calendar, or wallets?

How about the park? Yes the PARK. Any park you and your kids like as long as it's an actual park and not just a playground Look for picnic tables, trees, and an open area to run and play. Here are some tips to make your everyday trip to the park feel like you're on holiday.

• Make sure to pack the essentials: change of clothing for all kids (and maybe for the adults also), sunblock, bug spray, first aid kit, camera, snacks, and plenty of water. Music is also nice so bring a radio, iPod, etc. if you can.
• Prepare your age appropriate activities: scavenger hunts, nature walks, bike ridding, races, crafts, Frisbees, catch or football, etc. Some great memories of travel as kids for my brother and I include visits to parks where we met up with family for food, fun, games, and community. Try to make it a daylong affair (at least 5 hours) or if you have small children half day (3 or 4 hours max)
• Plan a picnic or cook-out. Yes you can run to a fast food place and pick-up something but that is much more ordinary than "special" food packed in a basket or waiting for the burgers and hotdogs to be done while mom or dad stand at the grill.
• If you have a small or medium tent bring one with you and set it up. It works great for young kids as a place to nap or older kids as a fort. It can be a changing room, a shelter from sun or unexpected rain, etc.

The key to a great day is to approach it as an adventure. From collecting rocks, leaves, and insects; to playing tag- your day at the park with the kids can be as much fun as any other trip sans the airfare, bags, and hotel.
Reality: there's nothing like your own bed after a long fun day especially for your tots.

Tips to Make Travel with Kids Easier

In my last blog I talked about how children travel through life stages and change us in the process. Vacations and trips also afford us the opportunity for experiences that help shape our character and that of our kids. With the long holiday weekend ahead of us I’d like to offer you our proven tricks to make the process of traveling with kids less stressful and more enjoyable.

• Pack only enough supplies for your first day of travel. Of course make sure to bring extras in case you encounter delays but either use a service or buy the items when you arrive at your destination so that you don’t have to lug all the diapers, food, formula, bath items etc. You can shop online and ship your package to your travel destination so that your baby supplies are waiting for you when you arrive.
• Use a CARES harness instead of a car seat on a place. Juggling the luggage, stroller, child, diaper bag, etc. is already hard enough why make it harder with a car seat added to the mix. Yes you want your kids to be safe on the plane but if they are 1 to 4 yrs old (or for special needs kids) you can check your car seat with your luggage and use a CARES harness on the flight. Even better, you can add the GoGo Kids Travelmate to your convertible car seat and use it as a stroller in the airport and then gate check it right before boarding and use the CARES on the plane. It is super easy to use, weighs about 1 lb and keeps your kids safe and secure during flight.
• Consider renting your major baby items. Whether you’re flying or driving not having to bring the stroller, car seat, crib, playpen, etc. will save lots of room, hassle, and/or extra baggage fees. Most major cities have companies that specialize in baby equipment rentals which are reasonably priced and very clean. In San Antonio, you can visit us at www.mytotstravel.com.
• Stops are a great tool. If you’re driving with a child or children older than one but younger than four make sure you factor in several stops… about 1 every 2 hours… and that you take into account their routines. Are they most active in the morning or afternoon? Do they like books, music, movies/cartoons? If your child starts to get really fussy it is always best to stop and let them regain their composure out of the seat. Of course if they are napping don’t stop.
• Use music to set the mood and silence when appropriate. My child LOVES music. Since birth we noticed that she is emotionally engaged and gets energized if the song is upbeat and slows down when the beat is slower. With this in mind I have made compilation CD’s for all our trips (compilations on your iPod will work also). Trying to be prepared I have a “favorites” mix, a “fast & fun” mix, and a “winding down” mix. They are in our changer and we use them as necessary. If she is awake and would normally be running around we play the fast &fun mix and dance and goof-off along with her. To get her to wind down we try her sleep music and obviously when she is acting up or getting cranky we try the favorites since we know these always get her attention. Sometimes we also just turn it off or rely on mom’s bad signing since she likes it so much. Of course if your children are older let them make their own mixes and if they don’t have portable music devices take turns listening to their CDs.
• Toys and games and props, oh my! For the little ones, bring their comforting friends (stuffed animals, blankies, books, etc.) and for the older ones allow one small bag for their fun (video games, books, etc.). Little ones love new things so you might save one or two small toys for the trip. Interactive games are a lot of fun for older kids so bring a list of ones you can try in the car like “I Spy” or “the alphabet game”. You can also ask your school aged children to help you compile a record of the trip and assign the a task such as take a picture of every town we go by or list the cities, states, etc we cross during the trip. The more you interact or keep them busy the shorter the trip will be for all of you.
• Make the drive a journey worth remembering for your children. Some of my most treasured memories and biggest bonding moments with my family came during a car trip. We talked about school, family, movies, songs, books and life decisions. My parents always engaged us in conversations that made us feel grown up and important while allowing us to share with them our views and concerns. It always seemed so much easier to talk in the car. So ask the questions and let them talk. Find lessons and teachable moments in your conversations but mostly just let them feel like their views are important to you.
• Don’t underestimate the types of things you can do with kids. Just because you have kids doesn’t mean that every trip you take has to be Disney powered or that you can only visit theme parks and water parks. Go off the beaten path. Take your kids on hikes or to remote towns. Help them learn to appreciate nature, or art, or food or other cultures as much as you do. Let them learn with you that there is more to the world than the way we live. The key here is just to be prepared. Do a little research before you go. Shop and wash along the way to carry a lighter load. Don’t hesitate… your kids might like the dude ranch more than Six Flags.
• Get organized once you arrive. Create areas in your hotel room (or guest room) designated as kitchen, changing table, and play so that you can easily access all your needs.

Accept that travel with children is different from your days of traveling alone. You have to consider them, their needs, their safety and their enjoyment even more than your own.Remember that it is as much about the journey as the destination. You can’t control all factors just be prepared and enjoy the detours thrown your way. In John Steinbeck’s wise words, “A journey is like marriage. The certain way to be wrong is to think you control it.”

Getting the hang of it...

Could I actually be getting the hang of this? Every once in a while when I manage to make it through a day where my daughter didn't cry because I left for work; when she's taking both naps, eating, and generally in a good mood; when I get a few chores done and a little work and she hasn't had a melt down I start to think that maybe I know what I'm doing. Then as if expecting to be struck by lighting because I dared to think it I quickly rummage through my day to find the part that wasn't good. I try to find the area where I "messed-up". How odd. I really should just focus on all the progress and savor these days since they don't usually occur consecutively. But I must be doing something right. Recently I find myself as the advice giver. My other mom and dad friends have started asking me about doctors, shots, daycare, trips, toys, etc. Really? You want my opinion? I was baffled until I came across an interesting article in Parenting Magazine. This article talked about the 6 friends every mom needs. At the top of that list was the "mom in the same boat" friend. So finally the light came on! It's about having been there and done that and my friends with children a few months to a year younger than my little one figure I can speak from very recent experience. So on that note... we are due for our 18 month follow up. Once again we will be faced with 3 or 4 vaccines and now a very active toddler that hates holding still. I realize that although we hate seeing her upset we do seem to have the hang of the ordeal and was happy to offer a friend, who talked about crying when her baby got her first shots, a little advice. Or course if you have other tips or tricks you'd care to share we'd love to hear what's worked for you. When you take a little one to the doctor for shots consider:

•Having the shots at the end of the visit. (ask if not standard practice)
•Dressing them prior to the shots and doing so in clothes that won't hurt or irritate the shot area. If they're older than one but younger than three consider clothes that covers the area or they will pick at the band aids.
•Giving them a pain reliever right before appointment.
•Being ready with distractions... sing songs, play with toys, make silly faces... anything to get them to focus on you and not the needle.
•Asking that the more painful of the shots be given at the end. The order of vaccine injections should be the DPTaP-Hib vaccine followed by the PCV.
•"Cycling" with their little legs and rub the injection site if the nurse didn't.
•Having a bottle ready. Sucking helps pain so if you weren't already holding your child pick them up (being held also helps the pain perception) and give them a bottle or breastfeed them.

For us these tricks have made the process very smooth. We split her shots into two visits each time so we have had quite a few times to try these out. Our daughter usually doesn't even cry until the 2nd or 3rd shot and then the crying only lasts as long as it takes for me to pick her up and put a bottle in her mouth. Yes, I know that according to the Mom BIBLE I should have weaned her off the bottle by now but hey, that's a whole different blog!

Stress-Free Vacation Tips

We're parents who happen to love travel so we know what it's like to take a trip with a baby and or toddler. Having packed our bags and made it to our destination we've faced a few bumps along the road that have made us want to pack our bags and head back home but we stuck it out and learned from our experiences. With vacation season upon us we thought sharing a few of these insights might be helpful. Happy travels!

Get organized…

Every parent knows that organization is the key to de-stressing just about anything so vacations or trips are really no exception. Once you are at your destination create designated spaces for key tasks.

     Set-up a changing station. We like the desks in most hotel rooms for this. Place a plush towel with your changing mat on top of it and stack your diapers wipes and other essentials on this same table. Move the lamp if necessary or use it.

     Designate a "kitchen" even if you are just in a standard room. This may mean you use another of the tables or side tables. You just have to keep all related items together so your bottles, baby food, snacks, formula, etc. are all in one spot. If you are not in a suite with a kitchen our favorite spot is the bathroom counter where we also place a towel next to the sink and dry our bottles upside down once we have washed them.

     Select a play space. Hopefully you remembered to bring toys, books, etc to keep baby entertained so find a spot in the room… a drawer, a lower shelf or a nice corner of the room so that baby knows where to find things and you can corral the clutter.

Accept the new reality of schedules

Most babies and toddlers thrive on schedules but that seems like an oxymoron when paired with a vacation. Not so. If you factor in naps and meal times it actually helps you plan your activities and get more bang for your vacation buck.

     Consider how your baby naps… if he or she can do so in a stroller or car plan a walk (to view the sights) or drive (to get to your next destination or to enjoy the scenery) during nap time.

     Stay Close. If you know your child only naps in his or her crib splurge for a hotel that is close to the action (beach or downtown) so you can come back and allow them to nap. You can take that time to rest yourselves… after all it is a vacation.

     Baby on my back. Another option is to wear your baby. A front carrier or a backpack carrier might be an option but some babies don't enjoy this so test it out at home well before vacation time.

     Food for thought. Remember that although young babies can be fed on-the-go and toddlers like to graze you have to plan for meals. Lots of healthy snacks are good for toddlers but keeping items cold can be challenging. Invest in a good soft cooler that you can use with Ice Packs and consider using powder so you only have to make what they'll consume. Don't forget that if you will not have access to distilled or other "safe" water you should bring your own and you will have to keep that at least cool if not cold.

     Early dinner. Although we might enjoy a more adult and romantic 7:30 dinner eating at 5:30 is more "kid-friendly". You will not interfere with sleep time, you have more room in a less full restaurant, and a much shorter wait for your food.

Generally the idea is that you should work with your child's schedule and try to use it in your favor when planning your activities.

Make peace with modified plans

Having kids means being comfortable with change and the happiest parents are those that can go with the flow when things don't go according to plan. If that means leaving something early or changing your "preferred" sites to visit parenting means you have to roll with the punches.

     You'll regret it. Sure it would have been great if you could have stayed at the theme part until closing but unless your child can really sleep in a stroller you would have regretted it. It makes for a much more enjoyable experience to work with your child rather than against them. Most importantly you can have as much fun in two half days as you could in one long day and you and your family may be much better off for it.

Remember that it's about the journey

Regardless of any specific activity or location you get to visit remember to enjoy they journey. Embrace the craziness that is traveling with kids and realize that soon they'll be adults and these precious moments will be the stuff of great memories and fun family stories that you'll long for once they're grown.

Start Traveling... bring the kids!

If you are a new parent or if you are new to traveling with kids the mere thought or taking a trip with a little one (or little ones) seems overwhelming.  It can make the simplest weekend trip feel like a voyage and it can turn lots of us off to the whole idea... but it really doesn't have to be that way if you are prepared and use all the tools available to you.
My husband and I were avid travelers who loved to take a trip simply for the sake of taking a trip and then we decided that it was time to start a family and we welcomed our first child.  We both sincerely thought that she would only change that which we allowed her to change in our lives... how naive... she changed it ALL… mostly for the better but she changed it without our "permission".  
When we decided that we were ready to take our first trip as a family we were overwhelmed with all the extra stuff we needed to bring and all the extra stuff we needed to PLAN for.  As we struggled with how to make our trip fun and relaxing for everyone we realized we were not alone and this gave "birth" to our next child… www.MyTotsTravel.com
Through this site we hope to provide parents, grandparents, or anyone traveling with kids an easier way to travel. We also hope to be able to bring relevant tips and links that will help you plan and enjoy all your trips without having to leave the kids behind.
Check back frequently to find not only useful ideas and links but also cool products for travel.
Happy travels!