[Mid] [sca-yi]: Traveling with little ones

Forwarded from the SCA Youth Issues list.
                    Thegn Ian
---------------------- Forwarded by John Timmons/IN/AICI/US on
06/21/99 08:34 AM ---------------------------

From: kathe1@juno.com AT smtp on 06/16/99 08:26 AM

To: Multiple recipients of list SCA-Youthissues
      <SCA-Youthissues@wyvernhall.com> AT smtp@ANTHEMCC
cc: (bcc: John Timmons/IN/AICI/US)
Subject: [sca-yi]: Traveling with little ones

This was sent to me on another list, but I thought I'd pass it
along for those of you who will be traveling with little ones
this summer tourney season.

Julleran

BabyCenter ( http://www.babycenter.com/ ) is the most complete
web resource for new and expectant parents. You can see an
expanded version of this article online at ( http:
//www.babycenter.com/refcap/6991.html).

SEVEN SECRETS TO SUCCESSFUL TRAVEL WITH A YOUNG CHILD
==================================================

If you're a new parent, we suggest you think of your young
traveling companion as someone who'll add a whole new dimension
to your travel experiences. Be sure you dial down your
expectations, set realistic goals, and take it nice 'n' easy.
Here are some parent-tested suggestions for traveling with a
young child:

1. Be flexible
   Traveling with children can be a wonderful experience -- if
you go with the flow. Too many new sights and sounds at once
can overstimulate your baby, and toddlers get bored having to
sit still or sightsee for long periods of time instead of being
able to run around and explore at their own energetic pace.
Keep your itinerary simple -- limit it to one activity a day --
and you'll find it much easier to make last-minute adjustments
if your child gets tired or just wants to spend the afternoon
playing in the hotel's wading pool.

2. Pick a family-friendly destination
   Choose a relaxing destination that's used to young visitors
so you don't have to sweat the details. We recommend a lazy
beach retreat, family camp, nature resort, Club Med, or similar
kid-friendly place. But skip the crowded, overstimulating
tourist destinations, places without shade, and other
unsuitable spots (see our list of places to skip). Use a travel
guide such as Rand McNally TripMaker Deluxe ( http:
//www.randmcnally.com/parentsCorner/p_trip.htm ) to find hotels
designated as KidStops, places with children's facilities. Look
for hotels that let kids stay for free in their parents' rooms
and provide free meals to children or buffet-style breakfasts
included in the price of the room.

3. Bring water and plenty of snacks
   A bag of snacks and a water bottle are critical components
of any trip. Children can get dehydrated during a flight, and
toddlers can't always wait for food service. (Make sure you
pre-order your child's meal -- see our chart on kid-friendly
airlines.) Best bets include treats such as raisins, bananas,
animal crackers, granola bars, small juice cartons, Fig
Newtons, and small boxes of Cheerios or other dry cereal. Bring
along moist towelettes for cleaning up. Give your children
something to look forward to by dispensing snacks at
pre-announced intervals.

4. Plan frequent rest stops
If you're driving, break up your trip so your kids can stretch
and run around to blow off some pent-up energy. Pack a rubber
or foam ball for a game of catch and some simple board books
for quiet time. Pick out picnic areas, parks, or playgrounds on
your route by using an online mapping service such as MapQuest
( http://www.mapquest.com ) or Zip2
( http://www.zip2.com ), or city guides such as Sidewalk
( http://www.sidewalk.com ) and CitySearch
( http://www.citysearch.com ). End your driving day early so
all of you have time to unwind after a long day on the road.

5. Think safety
Bring along a basic childproofing kit
( http://www.babycenter.com/expert/7287.html ) to use at your
destination. If you are taking a road trip, make sure your
baby's car seat is properly secured ( http:
//www.babycenter.com/refcap/399.html ); up to 70 percent of all
car seats aren't installed correctly. Use removable window
shades to keep the sun off your baby. You may want to dress
your toddler in a brightly colored outfit so he's easy to spot
in a crowd, and put a small card with identification
information on it in one of his pockets in case you get
separated. Print out our packing
checklists for traveling with a baby
( http://www.babycenter.com/general/6986.html ) or toddler
( http://www.babycenter.com/general/6987.html ) for more ideas.

6. Pack a goodie bag
A good way to keep kids content on a trip is to take along a
goodie bag with more toys and doodads than you think you'll
need. Include favorite toys, games, books, and some surprises.
Wrap each individually and present your child with a surprise
every once in a while. For toddlers, you might consider
puzzles, dolls, action figures, puppets, brightly colored
paper, non-toxic crayons, stickers for the car windows, story
tapes, and the like. For infants, possibilities include shiny
new objects, baby-proof mirrors, rattles, musical toys, soft
animals, pop-up toys, plastic keys, or teething rings. Start
building your toy cache a few weeks before the trip.

7.Take practice trips
Make sure your child is ready for a long traveling experience.
Lead up to the big trip with short day trips or weekend
getaways to see how your child adjusts, then work your way up
to a longer trip. Show your toddler pictures of your
destination and talk about whom you'll see and what you'll be
doing there. Your child will take his cue from you: If you
convey excitement and positive feelings about your upcoming
adventure, chances are your little one will approach the trip
the same way.

Back to the main Family Travel ( http:
//www.babycenter.com/travel ) section.

RELATED TOPICS:
Tips for Helping Your Child Adjust to Travel (
http://www.babycenter.com/refcap/6992.html )
Tips to Help You Adjust ( http:
//www.babycenter.com/refcap/6993.html )
Airline Travel With Small Children (
http://www.babycenter.com/general/7156.html )
Emergency Checklist for Traveling With a Small Child (
http://www.babycenter.com/general/7188.html )
BBS - Destinations You Loved -- or Loathed (
http://www.babycenter.com/bbs/7206 )
BBS - Survival Strategies for the Road (
http://www.babycenter.com/bbs/7205 )

---------------------------------------------------------------
---------

If you'd like more information or features on any pregnancy- or
infancy- related topics, visit BabyCenter ( http:
//www.babycenter.com ).

Popular features include:
  * Personal Page--a custom update for each week of pregnancy
and infancy.
  * Chat area--connect with others who understand your ideas,
    suggestions and stories.
  * Ask The Expert--ask our panel of health professionals about
    specific questions that you have about pregnancy or baby

If you are pregnant or have a baby under one year of age, click
here ( http://www.babycenter.com/live/personalize.html ) to
sign up for a free email newsletter with development updates
and other information exactly for your stage.
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From: John_Timmons@aici.com (John Timmons)
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Received on Mon Jun 21 09:36:27 1999