Eight Ways to Make The Flight Go More Smoothly

We know flying an airplane with infants in tow can be a daunting task. However if you’re prepared, you’ll get through the whole process without a sweat. Let us give you the inside knowledge you need for a smooth flight:

1. Find out whether identification is needed to board the plane and whether they provide any disposable diapers or bibs. Check the airline’s Website for more information or speak to an agent.
2. If you have the opportunity, choose your seats wisely when booking. The bulkhead seats are a popular choice with many parents. You get more legroom and airline bassinets can be hooked up to the bulkhead area of the plane. The drawback is that you won’t have any under-seating storage in front of you. If you anticipate needing easy access to the plane’s bathroom for diaper changes and clean-ups, or the need for some stretching and pacing, the rear of the plane is ideal for both.
3. Book your trip around baby’s naptime. Consider whether the flight is a longer or shorter one, and whether your baby will do better napping on the plane or not; then plan accordingly.
4. Book a non-stop flight. It’s a long enough journey between getting through security checkpoints, possible flight delays, and disembarking without worrying about layovers. Plus, if you miss a connecting flight due to a plane delay, you’re in for a long, frustrating haul at the airport – with your baby.
5. Bring along a toy or two for the trip. Something new and fascinating for baby as well as an old tried and true favorite will help alleviate at least some of the boredom your infant might experience.
6. Pack enough supplies for feeding, cleanup, and diaper changes – plus extra. You don’t want to be stuck on an 8-hour flight and have used up your last diaper 2 hours into the flight. Don’t forget an extra change of clothes for baby and an extra shirt for you in case of baby spit-ups. Pack more if you’re going on a long international flight.
7. When you book your child's ticket, reserve the kid’s meal or infant food if the airline has it. If you have a toddler, you’ll be glad to know the kid’s meals get served in advance of regular meals. If you have an infant, certain major airline carriers do provide baby food, but you have to ask when you book.
8. For older infants, many parents swear by the DVD player. It’s considered by some moms and dads to be a necessary evil, but if your child is toddler aged, DVD players with age appropriate movies and shows will keep them entertained for up to half an hour. We also like the laptop with DVD player idea. In addition to showing movies, you can play photo slideshows as well.
   

All Inclusive Vacation For Families With Babies

Have you been dreaming of relaxing on the sandy shores of Ixtapa, Mexico? Or perhaps exploring the terrain around Saint Ambroggio in France is more your style. Sound impossible with an infant? Not quite. With an all inclusive vacation, you can visit exotic locales, take baby with you, and be able to enjoy some much needed couple time.

All-inclusive vacations are self-contained resort areas. The complete package generally includes accommodations, food, beverages, and activities. In the case of family-friendly all inclusive vacations, you get the added bonus of available childcare and programs for babies, children and teens.

According to Staci Blunt, owner of Family Friendly According to Staci Blunt, owner of Family Friendly Vacations, the best all inclusive vacation resorts are those run by Beaches and Club Med simply because they do have programs that cater to families. In fact, Club Med provides pre-screened childcare for infants as young as 4 months old. Beaches has certified nannies for babies of all ages – even newborns. On that note, we’d be pretty surprised to find a mother ready to vacation with her newborn.

Packing It Up – Diaper Bags For On The Go

Diaper bags are indispensable for day trips around town or week-long trips to the Caribbean. In general, we think that most diaper bags suitable for daily use work just fine for on the road or on the plane. But just in case, here’s a little summary of what we think works best for hauling around your baby gear around on travel.

The Dad Diaper Bag – These days, dads are just as involved in a baby’s care as moms. So it’s only natural that there should be a diaper bag suitable for fathers to carry as well. They basically have all the same features and functionality of other diaper bags, but are designed to appeal to the fathers. Diaper Dude ($55-$60) has several messenger bags in their line that’ll appeal to the urban, hip father. They also have a few bags geared specifically for moms as well.

Backpack Diaper Bag – The backpack diaper bags work equally well for walks around town as they do when you’re headed out to the beach or camping. For trips that involve spending a lot of time outdoors, our pick is for the Outside Baby Cooler Backpack ($70). You have separate sections for dry items, cooler items, an outside bottle pocket, and the obligatory diaper changing pad.

Some Helpful Hints For Choosing Infant Car Seats

Figuring out what to look for when shopping for infant car seats could put you in a sea of confusion. There are so many styles, models and features to choose from. To make your shopping process a little easier, check our handy guide to help you pick the right one.

• Kid’s car seats come in three versions – infant car seats, convertible car seats, and booster seats. Knowing the difference in each will help you decide what to buy. Denise and Alan Fields of the Baby Bargains book series recommend you start with the rear-facing infant car seats, which detach from its base and come with a handle. They’re better designed to accommodate a young infant or newborn’s frame. And you’ll be able to detach it from its base so when you have a sleeping infant, you won’ have take your baby out – a process that could very well wake her up. Many infant car seats accommodate up to 22 pounds in weight and 26 inches in height.
• Convertible infant car seats work best for older infants and toddlers. As a rule of thumb, keep them rear facing until your infant is at least 20 pounds and over one year old.
• Don’t assume that the more expensive car seats are necessarily better. What you tend to get with higher priced infant car seats are shock absorbent foam, upgraded fabrics, and user-friendlier seat adjustability. However, all car seats must meet minimum safety standards as mandated by the federal government. If you’re concerned about safety, EPS foam, no-twist straps, a five-point harness, and the use of a tether in a car seat does make riding in the car safer for your infant.
• Check the safety crash test ratings of an infant car seat. One place to check is the Consumer Reports Web site. They perform crash test ratings on infant car seats, which undergo a 35 mph frontal and 38 mph side impact test – more stringent than what the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) tests at.
• Check the weight and height requirements of the seat. Some have weight limits right at 22 pounds while others max out at 20 pounds. Many infant car seats accommodate babies up to 26”, but some accommodate babies up to 30” in height.
• Find out what the weight of the actual seat is. When you’re carrying around an infant car seat that weighs over ten pounds with a ten-pound baby in it, you might just wish you picked a lighter car seat.
  

Bottle Accessories To Make Travel Feeding Easier

Any parent with an infant knows that feeding baby when you’re traveling means schlepping around a lot of equipment. If you’ve looked at the number of bottle accessories out there, you might be wondering what’s necessary and what’s not? You can get by with a bottle and breast milk or formula, but having some bottle accessories certainly will make your life simpler if you’re traveling. Here’s a look at a few choices:

Bottle warmer – It’s certainly not an absolute, but many parents feel better serving Junior a bottle at just the right temperature. And when he graduates to solids, you can use a lot of these bottle warmers as food warmers as well. The First Years Quick Serve Bottle Warmer makes a bottle warmer which is relatively compact and easy to use. Warm formula or breast milk up in five minutes the first time around. You will need to plug it in, however, so it’s best at a hotel or at Grandma’s house.

Bottle Sterilizer – You can wash the bottles by hand or put them in the dishwasher, but if you like a convenient all-in-one package for cleaning your baby bottles, these bottle accessories work well if you’ve got a microwave. Place the bottles in the bottle sterilizer, microwave for a few minutes, and you have sterilized bottles.

Formula Pitcher – For a no-fuss way of mixing 32 oz. of formula, use a formula pitcher. With measurements on the side, you just need to add water and the formula powder. Store it in the fridge and you won’t have to make multiple bottles throughout the day.

Jogging Strollers Aren’t Just For Jogging

Jogging strollers have hit the stroller market by storm. Companies from Cosco to InStep have put out these strollers. However, they’re popular enough with parents that you’ll see them at the mall, at a casual walk around the block, or at a park outing. In fact, some jogging type strollers have been named sport strollers instead. Whether you’re contemplating the purchase of a jogging stroller for actual jogging or you’re just looking for a stylish, maneuverable urban transport around town, there are a few things to consider.

• Though you can use jogging strollers for younger infants at 6 months of age, make sure your little one has sufficient neck muscles to handle the ride.
• The best time to take your little tykes in a jogging stroller ride is during the toddler stage – about 18 months and up. They can handle longer outings if your jogging routine calls for it.
• If you’re looking for an upscale jogging stroller, get one made of an aluminum frame. You won’t have to worry about rust when your stroller is subjected to damp weather.
• If you plan on using your jogging stroller past your child’s preschool years, get one with wider seats. Many jogging strollers have narrow seats best suited for infants and young toddlers.