Traveling with an Infant

Elijah in Le Top's Fall 2011 "Ready for Takeoff" Footed Coverall

We are getting ready for our first flight with our four and half month old baby. Can I just say, I am more nervous about this flight, than possibly the labor of having the baby! Nothing is worse than being on a plane with a screaming baby, I can attest to that. I am terrified that we are going to be those people! So what can you do to make the flight go smoothly? Well, I asked that same question to google and here are some great tips that were pinged back (ok and some that our friends have shared with us too!)

1. Nurse that baby on the way up and the way down to help his ears pop, as babies do not have the ability to “naturally” clear their ears. Using a bottle or a pacifier is supposed to help as well.
2. Speak with a flight attendant when you first get on the plane to point you in the direction of the best changing area for your infant. Not all planes have changing tables.
3. We use expressed milk, so heating a bottle mid-air can be tricky. It’s best to nurse your baby in the air, or come prepared with a room temperature bottle. Unrefrigerated milk is good for 4-8 hours. (If you are on an overseas flight, you may want to plan ahead and check in prior to departure what options the crew can give you for warming a bottle.)
4. Bring a compact play mat, we have a small thin one, that you can put at your feet, so baby has some where to lay when he gets restless in your arms. Small toys that don’t make too much noise are also good distractions and won’t bother other passengers.
5. If all else fails, apologize to those around you and assure them you are doing the best that you can to calm the baby. Most people have been in your situation and should be at least sympathetic.

I will let you know how goes, and what worked best! If you have suggestions, please feel free to leave them in comments section below….it will be very appreciated!!!

Source: pregnancy.about.com

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Trip to Paradise

It’s been a hectic couple of months, so our family (me, my husband, Lilah and my parents) booked a getaway to Mexico to lounge, sightsee, and spend some time together. Though we have traveled with Lilah on a plane before, she was too small to remember or really be part of the process. This was going to be her first adventure to another country!!!

Most airlines have a rule of one checked bag and one carry-on (no liquids, scissors, etc.) so we really had to plan our packing. I felt that Lilah should be able to carry all of her own bags so we got her a nifty rolling suitcase. She already had a small backpack that converts to a rolling bag so we were set. She loved that she had the same set up as all of the adults and looked adorable going through the airport.

Lilah was the only one short enough to go through the Mayan tunnel at the Coba ruins.

The security check turned into a game as to who could get through and get redressed first. Quick Tip: When flying don’t forget to make sure your child has gum, a sippy cup/bottle to suck on or is cooperative enough to try and repressurize their own ears. I remembered this only once we started the decent, so other than some temporary ear pain on 3 of the 4 flights, she passed the airtime with flying colors and was even given a “pair of wings” from the airline.

As you are probably aware, being away from home in a strange environment for a whole week can be stressful to a child. It didn’t matter how much fun she was having, when she was tired all she would say was “Can we go home and see the kitties?” It broke my heart every time. However, within a few days it changed to “Can we go back to the room?” We did our best to create a daily nap time since routines are so important for the little ones, especially when you’re traipsing through Mayan ruins or visiting unfamiliar places.

Pool time was the best since Lilah loves the water! She is comfortable in it, but cannot yet swim without a life vest. Most resorts have swim areas specifically for kids where the depth is shallow. Ours was set up like a beach where it gradually got deeper (no stairs). This enabled all of the adults to take turns playing in the water with her without her drowning us (by holding on to our necks) because six hours straight in the water is more than I can take. 

Lilah just couldn't get enough of the water. She wore us out while looking stylish in her Le Top Sweetheart Butterfly and Lots o' Fish swimsuits from our Spring 2010 season.

We practiced speaking the native language as much as possible all through our trip and Lilah would regularly skip along a path counting or saying colors she saw in Spanish. Having the grandparents along was a dream since my husband and I were able to get in a couple of excursions on our own. The trip was too short but it was nice to recharge our batteries in a beautiful paradise. I can’t wait to do it again and Lilah is already talking about the next trip. I guess I need to get out the calendar!

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