Stress Free Travel Tips

Guest post from our friends at Born Modern Baby

Between arranging flight schedules, booking car rental services, and developing the perfect budget for an upcoming trip, traveling can prove to be a stressful activity. Add a few kids into the mix and the vacation may feel close to impossible! The best way to avoid any additional stress that comes with keeping the whole family organized, on time, and happy is the preparation that goes into your travel plans before you even leave the house. Since younger children need the most attention in terms of packing and planning where everyone?s going to sleep, it?s best to seek out information regarding your accommodations beforehand. For instance, check to see the type of baby furniture that will be available to you at your accommodations. Most hotels are able to provide a reliable crib that can be transported and properly set up upon your arrival but it?s best to check in with the front desk ahead of time.

Once your accommodations and travel arrangements are in place, it?s time to develop a packing list for each member of your family, including yourself. Check weather conditions to get an idea of what to expect on the trip however, packing a little bit of everything for your children can certainly help out in the long run. Despite what the weather prediction may be it?s always a good idea to bring along a set or two of cool weather clothes in addition to rainy and windy weather gear to keep your kids as comfortable as possible. When traveling with children, the days of stuffed suitcases filled with your own clothing are long gone. Now?s the time to put all of your focus on the kids because when they?re happy, you?ll be happy! In addition, pack an extra set of walking shoes or sandals that have been worn a handful of times so as not to make your vacation the time for your children to break in new sneakers.

While we?re on the topic of keeping our children happy, now?s the perfect time to mention the essential toys and games that will keep the kids entertained in case you encounter long travel schedules or layovers. In addition to the clothing and diaper essentials, be sure to pack plenty of pacifiers, baby bottles, and your children?s favorite stuffed animals and family fun games that will cheer up any bumps you may have during your vacation. Depending on how far you are traveling, it?s always a great idea to stay mobile with children and bring along a compact stroller that is perfect for exploring around your destination. Many models offer a sleek, collapsible construction that makes it easy for parents to quickly pack up the stroller and use with the kids for an entertaining family adventure.

Always Take The Diaper

You’d think I would have learned this lesson by now.? If you are a new parent listen up.? No matter how fast you think a trip will take, no matter how unlikely it is you think you’ll need it, always, always take a diaper with you.

I learned this lesson recently, again, the hard way.? I took Thing 3 to an appointment at the allergy doctor.? It was just a quick follow up visit, where he would get an allergy skin test done.? Run in, run out.? I did not take a diaper.

Well, you can guess what happens next.? We get into the room, doctor sees him, nurse then comes in to administer the test, which is a series of skin pricks to his back.? He then keeps his shirt off for 15 minutes, and the doctor checks for reactions.

About 30 seconds into the 15 minute waiting period, I can smell the dirty diaper.? It doesn’t help that we are in a 10 foot by 10 foot room.

I decided to venture out to the waiting area because there were toys there for him to play with.? Also, because I needed to get some air.? There were other people in the waiting room, who surely knew about the poop in the diaper.? You’d have to be severly olfactory impaired not to.? I’m sure they were thinking – who is this incompetent, unprepared dad?

If there is one lesson I can pass on it is this:? Always take the diaper!

Is Halloween Candy Safe To Eat?

Kit KatI probably sound like a typical (old) parent, but way back when I was a kid, Halloween was different.? More innocent.? We got homemade candy like popcorn balls and fresh baked brownies, wrapped in a napkin.? We actually stepped inside the house instead of standing on the doorstep.? Yes, it was a kinder, simpler time.

All that changed in 1982 with the Tylenol poisonings near Chicago.? Remember that one?? That was the event that prompted safety seals on medicines, and ended the era of homemade Halloween treats.? I remember that year my parents examined every piece of candy in my bag,? looking for an open wrapper or an exposed razor blade.

Or maybe they were just confiscating the ones they wanted to eat themselves, like I do now.

After this year, I have a different perspective on the safety of Halloween candy.? I always assumed if the wrapper was intact, the candy was safe.? Well, now I’m not so sure.? There is another danger to watch out for.

Take a peek at this video of Thing 1 and Thing 2 handing out Halloween candy.? Sure, there is some cute banter back and forth.? But keep a close eye on where Thing 2’s hands go.

Still feel like eating that Kit Kat your kids brought home?

Using Reverse Psychology On A Toddler

Toddlers are notoriously headstrong and their favorite word is “no”. Time to get dressed. No! Time to go to bed. No! Stop standing on the couch. No! Take those peas out of your nose. No! No! No!

So, what’s a parent to do? Just use reverse psychology. Reverse psychology has a complex definition. I call it simply a foolproof way to get a toddler to do anything. I find myself using it often. It really does work like a charm.

About 93.4% of the time, when I pick up the Things at daycare, Thing 2 refuses to sit in his car seat. It used to be that he fought over the brown seat, but since his older brother got a booster, now he just wants to sit in the back of the minivan.

Enter reverse psychology. After buckling the others into their seats, I tell Thing 2 to please get in his seat. Of course, the answer is No! OK I say, I’m going to leave with him out of his seat, so he’ll fall and get a boo boo when we’re driving.

At first, this was enough to get him to sit. Then he was on to me, so I began closing the doors and pretending to leave. Works every time. A couple of times I even started the engine, which sends him into hysterics, and he quickly gets into his seat. The other parents at daycare, who witness this, are probably reporting me to the authorities for driving without a car seat.

Another classic example…Most of the time, 93.4% to be exact, Thing 2 refuses to brush his teeth before bed. Instead, he likes to run and “hide” in his room. Not a problem. I just tell him I am going to brush his teeth without him, and proceed to the bathroom and turn on the faucet. He comes running every time.

Never mind that brushing his teeth without him makes no sense. To a toddler, it’s excruciating to think something, anything, will be done without him.

The possibilities are endless. To work effectively, you have to make sure to “sell it”. Start the car if they won’t sit down. Start putting on their pants when they refuse to get dressed. Put the pants on your head if necessary.

The key is letting a toddler think they are in control, which, obviously, is not the case. I’m the daddy. I’m in control. Wait a minute, I’m wearing toddler pants on my head and brushing my teeth with a Dora The Explorer toothbrush. So, who is in control?

You Can’t Beat An Original

It’s always the case that originals are the best. In movies, the original always beats the sequels (see Star Wars, Rocky, Godfather, Shreck). After all, if the original weren’t so good, there wouldn’t be any sequels in the first place. I find this logic holds true with the Baby Einstein videos.

The early videos were low budget. Like something I could make in my basement (why didn’t I think of it?). You can see someone’s hand in the videos moving the toys, and the kids are the daughters and friends of the creator, Julie Aigner Clark. But somehow they work better than the higher budget, animated, effect ridden ones after Disney bought the company.

Two of the best originals are Baby Mozart and Baby Van Gogh. I never quite bought into the Mozart Effect on kids. You know, the one that says listening to Mozart music makes babies smarter. But if you are looking for something that will capture the interest of your baby, for say, 30 minutes, so you can do something, like eat, or shower, or brush your teeth. Then Baby Einstein is for you.

If you are a new parent, or plan to be one, or know someone who will be, go for the original gift pack.

The Disgusting Part Of Being A Parent

When new parents hear what to expect from parenthood, they know about the lack of sleep, added expenses, and time constraints. But what new parents don’t fully appreciate is just how disgusting parenting can be.

I’m not just talking of the dirty diapers and burping and spit ups a newborn goes through. That’s nothing compared with the joys of potty training once they get older. Oh, and I can easily deal with some pee on the carpet or poop that misses the bowl. What you are about to hear goes far beyond these on the disgusting scale.

Thing 1 has struggled with potty training to say the least (see this and this for some history). Recently, we stumbled upon what is possibly the source of his troubles. Who knew a four year old could become constipated? After reading up on the causes and symptoms – low fiber diet, drinks lots of milk, holds in and avoids going to point of accident – it now seems so obvious. How could we have missed it? Terrible parents.

Getting back to the disgusting part. On several occasions, when he did manage to make it to the toilet in time, the, uh, specimens, were extremely large and dried. To the point where we asked how something that big could come out of a little kid. So big, in fact, that they actually stopped up the toilet. I’ve never heard of such a thing from anyone, let alone a 4 year old. I guess it’s information you wouldn’t readily volunteer.

One time, the specimen was too big to fit through the opening at the bottom of the toilet. Even after several flushes. So I was forced to break it into pieces. Again, not information I would readily volunteer. I used a plastic knife to break it up in case you are wondering.

Another time, Thing 1 wasn’t able to make it to the bathroom in time and he had an accident. It was just a #1 accident so I promptly put his wet clothes in the washing machine. That is, I thought it was just a #1 accident. Let’s just say there were a few “pebbles” in his pants, too.

They were so dried out, they remained in pebble form throughout an entire wash cycle. And dry cycle. Yes, I put the clothes in the dryer, too. It isn’t exactly something you look for before putting wet clothes in the dryer. It was only after a day of “what is that strange smell” when I realized what had happened. Then I had to decontaminate our washer, dryer, and try to eliminate all traces of “pebbles”. Fun.

So, when I hear new parents talk about “disgusting” spit up and icky diapers, I smile and think to myself Just wait a few more years. Then you’ll know the meaning of disgusting.

Who Said Variety Is A Good Thing?

Whoever said variety is the spice of life, wasn’t around a toddler very often. While Thing 2’s bedtime routine is endearing, many of the other routines are quite maddening. Case in point: the daily battle over the brown car seat.

We have two identical car seats for Thing 1 and Thing 2. More accurately, they are what you and I would call identical. Not a toddler. The seats in question are both Britax Roundabouts, identical in every way except one is gray and one is brown.

seat2.gif seat1.gif

Part of our morning and afternoon routines is the fight over who gets to sit in the brown car seat. Usually, we make it part of an incentive program to get them out the door faster. Some examples

“Whoever is dressed first gets to sit in the brown seat”

“The one who whines the most sits in the gray seat”

“Whoever sits in the gray seat gets out first”. (Getting out of the car first is another daily fight routine)

We have one gray and one brown seat in both cars. That way, both Suburban Mommy and Suburban Daddy get to experience this daily ritual.

The minute you try to make rational sense out of why the brown seat is worth fighting over, don’t bother. If there is only one kid in the car, they could care less which seat they sit in. In fact, they’ll usually sit in the gray seat by choice. It’s only when their brother is there that they actually care about the color.

I know what you are thinking. Just switch the seats so one car has two grays and other has two browns. Oh, if it were only that simple. When the battle isn’t over color, it is over who sits in the back row of the minivan, or who gets to sit behind the driver, or gets in the car first. I stopped trying to apply logic a long time ago.

The lesson here is to have no variety. In anything. If I were doing it again, I would get two identical cars, with identical car seats. And as we’ve learned, identical also means the exact same color.