Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Tips for Traveling with an Infant

Our first family trip was to Hollywood Florida this March . . . What a trip! We had a great time and our son had a great first swim in the pool.

Here are some tips for traveling with an infant:
1. Most airlines allow strollers and car seats to be checked for free and many right at the gate.
2. Declare any milk for the baby when going through the security check. Check out the TSA website for more info.
3. A diaper bag is not included as a carry on, it may be a lot so a back pack is a good carry on bag so you have full use of both arms.
4. Feeding the baby by breast or bottle during take off and landing can help with ears popping when adjusting. (If the baby has a cold it is especially annoying for them when adjusting to altitude so try to aspirate their nose before boarding)
5. When packing remember that wipes and diapers can be purchased at most locations so try not to over pack those items. Wipes can also be heavy so try not to pack to many in the checked baggage.
6. Keep your baby in the shade or wearing a wide brim hat when going to a sunny destination, babies can't wear sunscreen until 6 months old.
7. Try an overnight diaper on the flight so you don't have to make too many diaper changes. (An airplane bathroom is tiny and smelly and if there is turbulence it can be dangerous and messy.)
8. Make sure to bring Benadryl and Tylenol with you on the flight in case your baggage is lost.
9. Try to choose a seat in advance near the front so you can get off the plane and not have to wait for all the passengers to get off.
10. Boarding the plane early assures overhead space for carry on baggage and gives extra time to get organized and comfy for the flight.

Please feel free to add anything you have come to learn, we can all use tips and tricks to make parenting a little easier.

Thank you! : )


Thursday, March 11, 2010

First Foods ... Get Ready for a Mess!



My son having his first bite of Squash (I used Earth's Best / First Squash). He seems to not like it much by the face he is making but it is all new to him. He makes the funniest face and then chats with me about his experience.

Make sure to only feed baby one type of food at a time to watch for any food allergies. Over the past weekend we introduced cereal and my son loved it. I think it was because it was mixed with my breast milk. Have fun with it, baby may not seem to like the food but after a few tries he may love it. I have been told to start with vegetables first so he can grow to like them before the sweet fruits although there are many different thoughts on what to feed baby first. A book I read called "Real Food for Mother and Baby" recommends eggs or liver - I'm not sure I'm there yet though. For now I'll stick with organic brown rice and Earth's Best foods for baby.