In Travels with Baby, I recommend playdough as a great help when traveling with highly active children who need a physical outlet for their energy while trapped in transit. But playdough can also be a great “travel toy” for many toddlers and preschoolers, regardless of their temperaments. Just keep one small ball of playdough in a Ziploc sandwich bag handy in your diaper bag or day pack, and it’s ready to entertain at restaurants while waiting for a meal, as well as in hotel rooms and cruise ship cabins. While strapped into car seats or safety boosters, a travel tray may provide the perfect surface for working with playdough (especially one with a wipe clean surface like the Taby Tray
Recipe for Playdough
Combine and bring to a boil:
2 Cups Water
1/2 Cup Salt
Add to hot, salty water and mix well:
2 1/2 Cups Flour
1 Tbsp. Oil
2 Tbsp. Alum
Divide and color with food coloring as you wish.
As far as traveling with playdough through the airport security is concerned, your results may vary. Playdough is not presently listed in the TSA’s allowed or not allowed list for carry-on items, and it’s not exactly a liquid or a gel, though it can be argued that it resembles a plastic explosive (yikes). You might prefer not to chance it.
Safe journey,
Shelly Rivoli, author of Travels with Baby
The Ultimate Guide for Planning Trips with Babies, Toddlers, and Preschool-Age Children
Of the many unexpected tips I included in Travels with Baby, some of my favorite reactions have been in response to my suggestion to pack garden training wire. If you’re scratching your head, I’ll explain: It’s a fine, flexible wire that’s coated with plastic (usually green). Sure, training wire is great for supporting tender vines in the garden, but it also comes in very handy when you can’t be sure of the furniture at your destination. While there are adjustable and temporary childproofing cabinet locks, you can’t always be sure they’ll work on Grandma’s china cabinet, Uncle Bo’s liquor cabinet, Cousin Fred’s filing cabinet–or any other cabinet, drawer, or cupboard your child might become obsessed with during your vacation. Garden training wire, however, can help with just about any configuration of cabinet latches, drawer pulls, and closet knobs, if need be. The plastic coating keeps it from scratching surfaces, and you can cut it to the desired length with baby toenail clippers (in case you don’t have scissors along). It’s inexpensive and takes up very little space in the suitcase, so you can loop the loop for maximum protection. Here’s a link to a picture of the stuff and a 50 foot roll of garden training wire
Safe journey,
Shelly Rivoli, author of Travels with Baby
The Ultimate Guide for Planning Trips with Babies, Toddlers, and Preschool-Age Children
One of the nice things about arriving at New York’s JFK airport is knowing that your taxi ride into Manhattan will cost you a well-regulated flat fare of $45 (plus tolls + tax), regardless of the route your driver may choose. But as your family grows, and your numbers of people and suitcases and strollers multiply, and your tolerance for standing in lines diminishes — especially at the end of your journey, especially during peak travel, especially in unpleasant weather, especially with a baby or with very young children, you will be happy to discover there is a better way: The Carmel Way (“car Mel”). For $40 (5 a.m. to 8 p.m.) or $45 (8 p.m. to 5 a.m.) plus toll + tax, you can bypass the taxi line and have your own private car and driver greet you at the curb outside of JFK and drive you to your Manhattan destination ($5 more for stops above 125th St.).
Need more seats and storage than a full-size sedan affords? No problem. For $60 (+$9 toll + tip) a Carmel driver will greet you in a minivan and take you to your Manhattan destination. Carmel Car and Limousine Service also offers transportation to and from La Guardia and Newark airports, Queens, Brooklyn, the Bronx, Staten Island, New York state, Long Island, New Jersey state, Pennsylvania, and Connecticut (call or see website for rates).
Carmel does not provide car seats for the journey (see this post for services that do), but in my experience, they are very kind and patient in waiting as you install your own–even offering to help or do it for me. You can find Carmel Car and Limousine Service and their best rates online at www.carmellimo.com, or call toll-free 1-800-9-carmel. For local/live agent calls: 1-212-666-6666. (I should add that this tip is given freely and quite happily, and no kick-backs, discounts, or other chachkis were exchanged for this recommendation.)
Safe journey,
Shelly Rivoli, author of Travels with Baby
The Ultimate Guide for Planning Trips with Babies, Toddlers, and Preschool-Age Children
Bronze Award Winner in Travel Blogs from the North American Travel Journalists Association
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