When traveling with your baby you need to keep in mind that your travels will be different now. More low-keyed so don't over schedule your days. Baby will need to eat and nap on schedule so plan accordingly. A great trip to take with babies and toddlers and even older kids, is a beach vacation. There is still plenty of beach time left in the year so plan your trip now.
A beach vacation can be a pleasure for every family member. It's a perfect mix of relaxation and enjoyment. The ocean is calming, the air invigorating, and everyone on the trip will be guaranteed a good night's sleep after a day at the beach.
When traveling to the beach make sure you have lounge chairs, a nice sturdy chair if you are nursing your baby and need to sit up, blankets or a Neat Sheet, plenty of towels, sunscreen (remember to reapply throughout the day), wide brimmed hats and sunglasses, sand pails, shovels, sieves, a pail with a cover for catching interesting beach wildlife (but make sure you return all creatures back to their natural habitat at the end of the day), swimming suits, plus a sweatshirt in case the weather turns, life jackets, and plenty of food and fresh water to keep well hydrated in the sun. Make sure you have enough baby supplies such as diapers, wipes, food, and formula, to last for your day at the beach. Also, bring along something to dispose of the used diapers - never leave a dirty diaper on the beach or in or near the water! If baby will be napping there, make sure you bring along a covered pack 'n play or portable tent so baby can sleep out of the sun.
There are many great beaches in the U.S.
California: If you are planning a trip to California, San Diego has some of the state's most pristine sandy beaches, with wide open shores. Try Coronado or Mission Bay for the best bets with families. Plus San Diego has lots of other family activities to engage in. Further North is Dana Point located in Orange County near San Juan has a Festival of Whales every March and is worth the trip. Mother's Beach is close to Venice Beach but is a tranquil and peaceful beach even on busy days. Monterey, 40 miles south of San Francisco is a family fun beach town. There are trails, a beautiful rocky shoreline, and views of the mountains. Families can rent kayaks, watch the seals, or visit the aquarium. Stinson Beach, near the Golden Gate bridge is 3 1/2 miles of sand for great swimming, surfing, and sunbathing.
Texas: South Padre Island is the best know Texas beach with 30 miles of beautiful beaches. This is a great family destination but make sure you time your trip around college spring break times.
Florida: With the entire state surrounded by ocean, there is sure to be plenty of great beaches. Two of the best beaches, Fort Myers Beach and the beach at Naples have been voted best family beaches and are known for their recreational opportunities and powdery sands. Vero Beach has miles of beach plus woodland pathways, turtle quests, surfing, kayaking and unique shopping. Crescent Beach offers miles of uncrowded beaches, dolphins swimming along the coast and other surprises. If you are planning a beach vacation to Florida with your children you must check out this website for the best information: Family Travel Files. When you get to their website click on Beaches and Florida. This site has very detailed information and is a great resource.
Showing posts with label travel tips. Show all posts
Showing posts with label travel tips. Show all posts
Sunday, August 3, 2008
Friday, July 25, 2008
Baby proofing your hotel room
Baby proofing your hotel room does not need to be as extensive as your home, buy by taking a few simple steps can help your baby stay safe when on vacation.
Start by calling the hotel you are staying at and asking them what steps they can take ahead of time to baby proof your room. Some hotels will provide things like outlet plugs, toilet latches, drawer locks and other items.
Bring along a roll of blue painters tape, outlet plugs (if not provided by the hotel), a toilet latch and some twist ties. These few simple household items can baby proof in no time.
Upon arriving to your hotel, begin by removing anything dangerous that is in your child's reach. Also, check the television and stand and make sure its sturdy enough should baby pull himself/herself up on it. You can tape down electrical cords with the blue tape.
Look for small items that baby could put in his or her mouth - check under the bed, in drawers, and under all furniture.
Move drapery cords up out of baby's reach or tie them up using a twist tie.
Keep the bathroom door closed at all times, or else drape a towel over the top so the door doesn't slam shut on baby's fingers.
You can use the tape to tape shut any drawers you don't want baby to be able to open.
Close and lock all windows and doors, especially patio doors.
Use the blue tape to pad any sharp corners.
If the hotel has provided you with a crib, check it carefully for safety. Make sure the mattress fits tight. Never use a mattress in a pack 'n play as the stretchy sides allow for baby's head to get caught between the sides and the mattress. Check all the railings and bars and make sure everything is tight and in proper working order.
Finally, move any trash cans to the top of dressers or tables or in closets. It's easy to forget and throw something in the trash that your child can dig out and put in their mouth.
Start by calling the hotel you are staying at and asking them what steps they can take ahead of time to baby proof your room. Some hotels will provide things like outlet plugs, toilet latches, drawer locks and other items.
Bring along a roll of blue painters tape, outlet plugs (if not provided by the hotel), a toilet latch and some twist ties. These few simple household items can baby proof in no time.
Upon arriving to your hotel, begin by removing anything dangerous that is in your child's reach. Also, check the television and stand and make sure its sturdy enough should baby pull himself/herself up on it. You can tape down electrical cords with the blue tape.
Look for small items that baby could put in his or her mouth - check under the bed, in drawers, and under all furniture.
Move drapery cords up out of baby's reach or tie them up using a twist tie.
Keep the bathroom door closed at all times, or else drape a towel over the top so the door doesn't slam shut on baby's fingers.
You can use the tape to tape shut any drawers you don't want baby to be able to open.
Close and lock all windows and doors, especially patio doors.
Use the blue tape to pad any sharp corners.
If the hotel has provided you with a crib, check it carefully for safety. Make sure the mattress fits tight. Never use a mattress in a pack 'n play as the stretchy sides allow for baby's head to get caught between the sides and the mattress. Check all the railings and bars and make sure everything is tight and in proper working order.
Finally, move any trash cans to the top of dressers or tables or in closets. It's easy to forget and throw something in the trash that your child can dig out and put in their mouth.
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
New product - perfect for travel with baby
We recently had a customer special request this item and after doing a little bit of research - we decided to add it to our growing inventory of great travel products. It's called the Medela Quick Clean Micro Steam Bags and comes in a box containing 5 bags. You use the to clean breast pump parts and nipples or pacifiers by just adding a little bit of water and steaming in the microwave. Each bag can be reused up to 20 times. How convenient for traveling with your little ones - even for cleaning pacifiers that get dropped all over town. (When we traveled to New York City I wanted to Steam Clean my kids!)
I read reviews on other websites that sell this product and they were all glowing, so we've decided to add them. You can find them at JetSetBabies in the bottle section of our site.
I read reviews on other websites that sell this product and they were all glowing, so we've decided to add them. You can find them at JetSetBabies in the bottle section of our site.
Sunday, June 29, 2008
Travel tip - family pre-boarding on the airplane
To pre-board or not pre-board? There are many stories on the web about the benefits of pre-boarding the plane when traveling with a baby or small child. The option of pre-boarding is a personal preference, but personally, I have never pre-boarded and try to be the one of the last people on the plane when I traveled with my young children.
I traveled quite frequently with both my children when they were between the ages of 6 months and two years old. Both my children were very active and curious, even as small babies. Being confined in a car seat or even on mom's lap never was the most exciting part of their day. They loved to move and explore. So whenever we traveled, we would walk all around the airport exploring and boarded the plane at the very last moment to avoid having to be seated in a confined space for too long. Even the slow walk up the aisle to our seats, has provided entertainment for the baby who enjoys people watching. By the time we find our seats and get situated the plane is usually ready for take off and we are on our way.
I alway brought along small toys and snacks for the plane ride. Whenever I traveled with my son, who was by far the more active of the two kids, I used to bring a empty wipes container filled with ordinary objects from around the house that would be new to him to explore. Things like cotton balls, popsicle sticks, rubber ducks, stacking cups or a ring of measuring spoons, helped keep his attention away from standing up and grabbing the hair of the person sitting in front of him! Most of the items we brought were inexpensive so if we lost them on the plane or anywhere on our trip, it was not an issue. My son once dropped his bottle on the plane during ascending, and the bottle rolled back about five rows before being stopped by someone's bag under the seat! We didn't get it back until after we were getting off the plane.
My choice of not pre-boarding would be different if we were traveling on an airline that didn't issue seating assignments, but I have been lucky to never have been in that situation.
Patty, owner JetSetBabies
I traveled quite frequently with both my children when they were between the ages of 6 months and two years old. Both my children were very active and curious, even as small babies. Being confined in a car seat or even on mom's lap never was the most exciting part of their day. They loved to move and explore. So whenever we traveled, we would walk all around the airport exploring and boarded the plane at the very last moment to avoid having to be seated in a confined space for too long. Even the slow walk up the aisle to our seats, has provided entertainment for the baby who enjoys people watching. By the time we find our seats and get situated the plane is usually ready for take off and we are on our way.
I alway brought along small toys and snacks for the plane ride. Whenever I traveled with my son, who was by far the more active of the two kids, I used to bring a empty wipes container filled with ordinary objects from around the house that would be new to him to explore. Things like cotton balls, popsicle sticks, rubber ducks, stacking cups or a ring of measuring spoons, helped keep his attention away from standing up and grabbing the hair of the person sitting in front of him! Most of the items we brought were inexpensive so if we lost them on the plane or anywhere on our trip, it was not an issue. My son once dropped his bottle on the plane during ascending, and the bottle rolled back about five rows before being stopped by someone's bag under the seat! We didn't get it back until after we were getting off the plane.
My choice of not pre-boarding would be different if we were traveling on an airline that didn't issue seating assignments, but I have been lucky to never have been in that situation.
Patty, owner JetSetBabies
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