Great Tips For Traveling Tots
************* Parent's Night Out ****************
Do the terms "Family Vacation" and "Parent's Night Out" seem mutualy exclusive to you? Don't skip out on some quality alone time in paridise with your spouse. If your accomodation doesn't provide an on-site sitting service, simply call the concierge. They are sure to have the recommendation of a licensed and reputable Sitter Service. A quality service has well-trained sitters with extensive schooling in Early Childhood Education (some with BA's or Masters!) and go through extensive security and background checks.
***************** Tub Troubles ******************
Worried about your little one slipping in the hotel bathtub? Just lay an extra hand towel on the tub floor. The water will keep it in place and even babies as young as six months can sit on it without sliding!
**************** Passport Planning ****************
Children of ALL ages require a passport for International travel, so don't forget about the newest little one! Since passports take 4-6 weeks to process (unless you pay for expedited service) it is always good to apply for your newborn as soon as you receive the birth certificate. Even if you don't have a trip in your immediate future, you will be glad you have it if something last minute comes up.
****************** Travel light! ******************
Most service-oriented hotels have high chairs available for use during your stay. This is also true at your time-share/vacation ownership destinations. Just call ahead to be sure that your accommodation is equipped.
**************** More space please! ***************
Even the nicest accommodations often do not have enough drawer or closet space for our own things, let alone our traveling tot's. A handy solution to this problem... Get an inexpensive closet shoe organizer (the kind with lots of pockets that hangs on a door). The shoe pouches can be filled with all of your little one's things including bath products, extra diapers, outfits, etc. Hang it on any swinging door for easy access.
***** Plane Problems- Take away the Take-Off Tears! *****
Ok,Ok... you may have heard this before, but it is worth repeating if there is but ONE parent out there that isn't aware of this tip. The pressure change when taking off and landing in the plane is tough on the eardrums to say the least. Since little one's cannot equalize the pressure themselves this can lead to a very rough start to your flight. To prevent a major meltdown (and keep your traveling tot out of pain) save their bottle or pacifier for just as you lift off the ground (for older kids chewing gum does the trick nicely). The swallowing motion will help naturally alleviate the pressure- and if your lucky, the bottle will put baby to sleep!
******* Check this before buying airline tickets! *******
In this technologically advanced era we do everything online (you are, after all, reading this online tip!). Before clicking away to book a ticket for your traveling tot, be sure to check this out first. Many airlines ofter a significantly lower Infant Rate for children under 2 years of age. They DO NOT, however, display this on their online reservation systems. Always call the reservation line for your airline of choice to see if this offer is available before you book. And, of course, your little one usually can ride on your lap for free!
*********** "Lap children" need space, too! ***********
If you do chose to register your little one as a lap child (you must let the airline know in advance) and are traveling with another ticketed passenger try this for more space. Book the window and aisle seats in your row of choice (even if you have to pay extra to choose). It is infinitely less likely that another person will choose a single seat in the middle. If all goes well, you will end up with an empty seat between the two of you for your little one. If the plane is booked and someone does end up sitting there- no problem! No one wants to be stuck in the middle, especially between family members. They will be more than happy to switch seats so that you can all sit together.
Do the terms "Family Vacation" and "Parent's Night Out" seem mutualy exclusive to you? Don't skip out on some quality alone time in paridise with your spouse. If your accomodation doesn't provide an on-site sitting service, simply call the concierge. They are sure to have the recommendation of a licensed and reputable Sitter Service. A quality service has well-trained sitters with extensive schooling in Early Childhood Education (some with BA's or Masters!) and go through extensive security and background checks.
***************** Tub Troubles ******************
Worried about your little one slipping in the hotel bathtub? Just lay an extra hand towel on the tub floor. The water will keep it in place and even babies as young as six months can sit on it without sliding!
**************** Passport Planning ****************
Children of ALL ages require a passport for International travel, so don't forget about the newest little one! Since passports take 4-6 weeks to process (unless you pay for expedited service) it is always good to apply for your newborn as soon as you receive the birth certificate. Even if you don't have a trip in your immediate future, you will be glad you have it if something last minute comes up.
****************** Travel light! ******************
Most service-oriented hotels have high chairs available for use during your stay. This is also true at your time-share/vacation ownership destinations. Just call ahead to be sure that your accommodation is equipped.
**************** More space please! ***************
Even the nicest accommodations often do not have enough drawer or closet space for our own things, let alone our traveling tot's. A handy solution to this problem... Get an inexpensive closet shoe organizer (the kind with lots of pockets that hangs on a door). The shoe pouches can be filled with all of your little one's things including bath products, extra diapers, outfits, etc. Hang it on any swinging door for easy access.
***** Plane Problems- Take away the Take-Off Tears! *****
Ok,Ok... you may have heard this before, but it is worth repeating if there is but ONE parent out there that isn't aware of this tip. The pressure change when taking off and landing in the plane is tough on the eardrums to say the least. Since little one's cannot equalize the pressure themselves this can lead to a very rough start to your flight. To prevent a major meltdown (and keep your traveling tot out of pain) save their bottle or pacifier for just as you lift off the ground (for older kids chewing gum does the trick nicely). The swallowing motion will help naturally alleviate the pressure- and if your lucky, the bottle will put baby to sleep!
******* Check this before buying airline tickets! *******
In this technologically advanced era we do everything online (you are, after all, reading this online tip!). Before clicking away to book a ticket for your traveling tot, be sure to check this out first. Many airlines ofter a significantly lower Infant Rate for children under 2 years of age. They DO NOT, however, display this on their online reservation systems. Always call the reservation line for your airline of choice to see if this offer is available before you book. And, of course, your little one usually can ride on your lap for free!
*********** "Lap children" need space, too! ***********
If you do chose to register your little one as a lap child (you must let the airline know in advance) and are traveling with another ticketed passenger try this for more space. Book the window and aisle seats in your row of choice (even if you have to pay extra to choose). It is infinitely less likely that another person will choose a single seat in the middle. If all goes well, you will end up with an empty seat between the two of you for your little one. If the plane is booked and someone does end up sitting there- no problem! No one wants to be stuck in the middle, especially between family members. They will be more than happy to switch seats so that you can all sit together.
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