Tag: BabyTravel

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Parenting and Childcare Travel

Here’s How You Can Keep Boredom at Bay When Travelling with a Child During a Road Trip

One of the key changes that motherhood brings along is that all the hasty travel plans change to a more organized and scheduled one. If this is your first road trip with kids then it would involve a great amount of planning and preparation.

From their security to entertainment- parents have to think about all the aspects. To have a fun and successful road trip here are some of the tips that you can refer to.

Plan It Perfectly

Appropriate planning is the key. Prepping for the trip beforehand can assist in several ways than one. You get sufficient time to assemble for all that you necessitate for the travel. Try and schedule the time of the travel according to the nap time of the child. You can choose to leave early in the morning hours when the kids were drowsy and the traffic on the road was less. This way you can get some quiet and constant drive time.

Safety Awareness

For smooth sailing, make sure your car is in appropriate working order. Check the condition of the battery, belts, tyres, etc. If the car servicing is due, ensure to get it done before your tour. Carry all the emergency equipment like flashlights, tools to change the tyre, jumper cable, etc. Also, make sure that the child safety locks on the door are well activated.

Stop Regularly

Riding in the car for hours can be strenuous and tedious- both for you and the kids. Ensure you take timely breaks. Study the route of your destination carefully and know about the suggested pit stops. Do not forget to ask for recommendations from friends about all the restaurants and locations that are child friendly.

Arrange for child’s entertainment

You certainly do not want to mess up your drive with a grumpy child. Thus, keep him happy by engaging him in his favourite activity. Be it toys or books or games- keep everything handy. You can also download some audio rhymes and stories that can help to keep your kids entertained. Here are some of the tips that you can do to keep your child happy:

Mix things up with a building block play-set

A practical activity can be a great change of pace after a few hours on the road. Look for a playset that is ideal for little hands and has the perfect amount of pieces to keep kids’ entertained without causing a big mess.

Bring puzzles, word builders or any creative things

To keep boredom at bay, you can ask your kids to solve puzzles and word builders. You can also ask your kids to recite a rhyme which they have learned recently or talk about the things that you can see on the road as you travel.

Snacks on board

Pack lots of drinks and snacks with you. Again keep them as per your child’s liking and taste. You can carry homemade finger food, sandwiches, dry fruits, bananas, etc that can be munched on effortlessly. For younger kids, you can keep powdered cereals handy that can be fed by mixing in some water easily. Also keep some disposable spoons, paper plates, bowls, tissues, etc. Make sure that your child’s sippy cups and bottles are spill-proof.

Road trip with kids may sound a bit challenging but is great fun. A little pre-trip planning can go a long way in making your journey simple and memorable. The thumb rule for any travel is to make sure the comfort of the child. A happy and comfortable child would surely mean a serene and successful road trip.

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Parenting and Childcare Travel

Tips on How to Manage Jet Lag in Kids

Nothing can be compared to the bad jetlag suffered by kids, from not being able to sleep throughout the night to being ill-tempered and losing their hunger. As adults, we adjust and discover a way to beat it, but small children who follow routines find it very difficult to come around.

Typically parents suffer for days trying to get them back into bed at the right hour. Jet lag is a physical condition in which a person’s internal body clock is interrupted because of travelling among time zones. Jet lag influences patterns of eating, waking up and sleeping.

Here are some tips that you can refer to when managing jet lag in kids:

Think about the age of your child

According to doctors, jet lag may not affect kids from all age groups. Infants who are in the age group of 0 to 2 months have not yet started a diurnal cycle, so jet lag would possibly not influence them. For kids in the age group of 2 to 5 years, time-zone varies begin to cause deterioration. Infants who have learned to sleep through the night already may have more night wakening. Older kids will possibly respond likewise to adults physically but maybe less driven than adults to stay wakeful in attempts to adjust to the schedule.

Prepare kids

Teach kids old enough to be aware of time changes and the consequences of jet lag, and what they can expect to witness. In the days before a trip, parents should make it real for the children by saying things like, “Now we are eating lunch, but at this time in that country, they are getting ready for bed.” Besides, make sure that the kids get ample sleep before departure. Moreover, it is important to keep kids hydrated and this can be done by asking them to drink lots of water before, during and after the flight.

Select the flight carefully

Choose on a flight that will assist the parent to manage the kid’s probable time-regulation issues in the best way possible. Few experienced parents say that it is better to take a flight that leaves evening or late afternoon, as it makes it simpler to rest during the air travel. If it is nighttime, you will have an easier time convincing your kid that it is bedtime.

Get Cozy

Bring travel pillows and cozy blankets to make it simple for kids to get some sleep on the plane. At the same time, do not feel frustrated if no one sleeps much. Do not force the kids to sleep on the plane as it is going to be hard. There are too much thrill and adrenaline on the tour, and the lights are on late.

Make your mind up if a Time Change is Worth it

Think whether it is worth changing your crew over to local time. If you are only spending a few days in a diverse time zone, it may just be simple to keep your kids in your home time zone. Any person staying at their destination for less than a week should not force the practice on the children. Remember that it is an extra effort to work hard on eliminating the jet lag when the habit will be changed again in less than a week.

Jet lag is a strong possibility when traveling through time zones with a kid. Expectation, flexibility, and communication among all players are key to managing the trouble of grumpy kids.

Categories
Travel

Secrets of Easy Air Travel with a Baby

Air travel with a baby can be very stressful if you have not planned well for the trip. You probably have a checklist of what kind of clothes and essentials you should carry according to the baby’s age and needs. But here are other secrets that will make air travel with a baby easier for you.

Saving Travel Time

  • To save time, book your flights as follows:
  • Choose direct flights as far as possible.
  • If you need to change flights, try to use the same airline for the connecting flight so that check-in luggage is carried forward automatically.
  • Opt for online flight check-in and print out the boarding passes in advance.

Ensure that there is a layover of at least 3-4 hours so you can go across the airport at a leisurely pace. This will give some time to your delightful toddler to run around and play for a while before boarding. Hopefully, your little one will start feeling tired and sleep through the flight.

Potty Breaks

About 15-20 minutes before boarding, change your baby’s diaper. Your child might not feel comfortable in the tiny airplane lavatory. So, it makes perfect sense to take a short potty break before boarding time.

Elder Kid Arrangements

If you have an elder kid, book a separate seat for him. He will probably be restless and need plenty of space. Airplane travel for toddlers is not easy. Sitting in a cramped space with two kids is a recipe for disaster!

Low Price Alerts

Airfares are expensive, so it is economical to register on www.skyscanner.co.in to get notifications when prices of specific flights drop. With this tool, you can pre-set an alert for low price options to a particular destination. By booking when the prices are low, you can afford to buy a separate seat for the elder kid(s) so that everyone is comfortable.

Gate Checking baby gear

At the time of boarding, gate-check your baby’s stroller and other gear. Attach tags to each item. Leave the air travel accessories for your toddler at the bottom of the jet-way. The airplane staff will ensure that they are on board. Pick them up again once the flight has landed. Although one can rent baby gear at the destination, taking your own set of baby items is always preferable. Your child is familiar with his gear and is usually willing to sit peacefully in his car seat.

The Pacifier Effect

During flights, we often chew gum or sweets once the flight is airborne. At the same time, give your baby his pacifier. Chewing on the soother keeps his ears from popping and he is comfortable during take-off and throughout the flight. Carry a couple of spare soothers in the baby bag (cabin luggage).

Try these tricks and you will see that air travel with a baby is not so horrifying! In fact, it will motivate you to travel often and enjoy frequent breaks. These air travel tips with a baby will surely make your next trip easier and stress-free.