First off, I want to say thanks to those of you who support this blog by subscribing and sharing your comments. Statistics are one thing, but it’s always nice to hear from the actual people reading these posts, and I sincerely value your feedback. (I know most of us are swamped these days!) And hey, thanks to the 500th fan on facebook!
Blog in review
“Ask Shelly” and practical tips: I addressed questions about travel to Southeast Asia with a baby and a toddler, offered tips on flying with a newborn, and on the heels of the FAA discussion on requiring parents to buy seats for infants, looked at ways to help keep your lap child safe in flight. We packed an inflatable bed rail that makes regular beds and berths toddler-friendly, and while we’re on the topic of what to pack: don’t miss these cost-saving tips for packing your family’s checked suitcases. As if all of that weren’t enough, we visited the Natural History Museum in London, the Nerja Caves of southern Spain, and discussed a surprising car seat law in Costa Rica. There were also some fun Photo Faves along the way, including riding an elephant in Thailand and Nerja at Nightfall (click here to catch them all) .
Website in review
TravelswithBaby.com welcomed a new “5 Best with Kids Under 5” feature for Costa Rica, contributed by Dahlia Nahome of www.CostaRicanVacation.com. The page features the best of things to do and see with small kids on the Nicoya Peninsula, and includes some helpful links and practical tips. We also have “Share This” icons on every page of the website now, to make it easier to email those Costa Rica tips to your partner, or share the RideSafer travel vest review with a friend, or share a link to the mind-blowing collection of travel tips and advice on the FAQ/popular topics page or new destinations page (thank you!). Did I mention the new Destinations page? We’ve organized the “best of” advice for travel with a baby, toddler, or preschooler ready to browse by region. Check it out!
Guidebooks in review
Take-Along Travels with Baby became available for the Barnes and Noble NOOK, and I was notified that Take-Along Travels with Baby was chosen as a finalist in the ForeWord Magazine Book of the Year Awards. The current issue of ForeWord Reviews also features some nice praise for the book (yay!), which concluded with, “Many parents will find this guide indispensable on their trips, and may even benefit from keeping it in the diaper bag to have handy next time they find themselves in backed up traffic or waiting to pick up the older kids from school.”
And hey, if you happen to be hanging out in your pediatrician’s office sometime soon, look for my tips in the current issue of Parenting magazine.
Safe journeys,
Shelly Rivoli
Author of Travels with Baby and the new Take-Along Travels with Baby
http://www.travelswithbaby.com/ Travels with Baby on Facebook
All content of this blog (c) Shelly Rivoli
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| Above: To give an idea of the scale here, that’s a staircase at the very center of this photo, and to the bottom right are some of the seats in the balcony of the theater, which overlook the performance “stage” you can just glimpse a portion of at the far left of the photo. This is just one chamber in the network of the Nerja Caves. |
It was interesting explaining this to our girls, who for a moment were concerned we would be stepping over “dead people” farther into the caves, but they quickly became as fascinated as we were with the idea that people made this their home so long ago—and without flashlights.Eventually, the caves were vacated, probably in favor of more comfortable and better-lit accommodations, if not improved sanitation. Modern man had no idea they existed until 1959 when a group of boys dared each other to drop down into a sink hole at the edge of town. As you might imagine, they came home with some stories to tell that day. I was told that one of the boys grew up to open this restaurant on Burriana Beach (look for the “AYO” on the roof).
You will notice some cave paintings on nearly all the marketing materials representing the Nerja Caves, and we were particularly excited to see these before our visit. After an hour of working our way up and down several staircases and along the pathways in awe of the caves themselves (you may move more quickly without small kids on foot), we realized we still had not seen—or at least noticed—any cave paintings. We stopped short of the exit, turned on our heels, and retraced our steps, checking the signs along the way. Nothing clearly led to a cave painting. But just before our final exit, we realized that what might, at first glance, be rusty stains on the natural rock wall, was some sort of an antelope! Well, there it was. A little anticlimactic after the world’s largest column, but we had indeed seen a cave painting.Practical tips for your own visit follow.
- Plan for at least 45 minutes of exploring on foot, longer if you have young kids walking with you.
- There are several steps throughout the cave, so if you’ll be visiting with a young child who will need to be carried all or at least part of the way, do yourself a favor and bring a child carrier, backpack, or sling.
- Use the restrooms before you enter the caves for your tour.
- It’s not terribly cold inside the caves, so don’t overbundle or you may end up carrying extra jackets.
- Like most businesses in Spain, the Nerja Caves observe an afternoon siesta beginning at 2 p.m., so get there well in advance or don’t bother arriving until after 4 p.m.
- There is a full-service restaurant with a sea view, and during our visit they were promoting a buffet where kids under 3 could eat free and kids 4-7 were half price between noon and 4 p.m.
- Snacks and ice cream are also available to eat outdoors.
- Parking is 1 Euro, paid by coin as you exit through the automated gate.
Related posts and pages:
Review of Carabeo 2000 apartment in Nerja
Photo fave: Nightfall at Nerja
Thanksgiving in Andalusia
Safe journeys,
Shelly Rivoli
Author of Travels with Baby and the new Take-Along Travels with Baby http://www.travelswithbaby.com/ Travels with Baby on Facebook
All content of this blog (c) Shelly Rivoli
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| Flying with my 5-week-old. Oh, I had a lot to learn! |
This question popped up on the facebook page and I thought, “Well, I’m sure there are lots of readers out there who would be interested in this topic, and I ought to be able to answer that in a jiffy.” Then an hour later I found myself chewing on a pencil overwhelmed at how many tips I might include in such a post, and even still I’d be leaving out many important things I would want to tell parents preparing for their first-ever flight with a newborn.
To some extent, you can of course–and will have to–just wing it. But if there’s any way I can help you avoid learning lessons many parents come by the hard way (myself included in some cases!), and boost your own confidence as you look toward this new chapter, that’s what I would wish for you.
So I boiled it down to 5 points here I think are certainly worth addressing (since the first thing everyone will tell you is to feed during take-off and landing to help your infant’s ears adjust, I left it off here–also plenty more tips to help with that in Take-Along Travels with Baby). And to make sure you’ve got every advantage possible going into this new adventure, I’m sending you a copy of BOTH my guidebooks if you don’t have them already, as I think they’ll help you start planning ahead and also help ease your way once you finally take that first trip!
Here are five tips to get you started flying with your newborn:
1. Always have your cabin-friendly Child’s Travel Kit (modified for air travel) in your carry-on, and ready to go at a moment’s notice at home in case of unexpected travel. You will be ready to soothe teething pain or rule-out possible gas bubbles, help manage a fever, soothe an unexpected rash, or clear a stuffed up nose anywhere including up in the air.(More here and in Chapter 3 of Travels with Baby.)
2. Breastfeed if possible. If you can breastfeed your infant, you will have many advantages on your side while traveling, including the ability to feed on demand in spite of any unexpected delays and cancellations, and your child will get extra immunity benefits from your milk to help protect against any colds or flu viruses you might be exposed to along the way (more on that in Chapter 7). And then there are the more obvious issues of reducing “stuff to pack along and sterilize” as you travel.
3. Protect your infant from turbulence. Whether you choose to purchase a seat for your infant (always ask the airline about infant discounts or see the comparison chart in Part 5 of Travels with Baby) or fly with your baby on your lap, you should do what you can to guard against turbulence, which has caused injuries and even proven fatal to lap-held children. Any time you hold your infant on your lap in flight, even if its during a feeding while sitting next to his car seat, it’s a good idea to have him in a Baby B’Air flight safety vest and secured to your own lap belt. More tips for lap child safety here and in Chapter 14 of Travels with Baby.
4. Invest in a good infant car seat / travel system. Remember that not all “travel systems” are actually built for your kind of travel. However, one you create with the Combi Shuttle 33 will give you the benefit of an infant car seat that travels easily without its base–and still has a built in anti-rebound bar, and you can use it up to 33 lbs. so it will likely serve you well past the first year. What’s more, you can snap it in and out of a lightweight, but fully functional stroller that weighs under 12 lbs. (either the Combi Flare or Cosmo) and has a shoulder carrying strap to help keep your hands free for other items—including your baby. When you reach your destinations, you’ll still have gear that you are glad to use on the ground. (More recommendations in Best Car Seats for Travel and Travel Strollers.)
5. Bring a change of clothes for yourself. When traveling with an infant, it goes without saying that you’ll need an extra change of clothes or two for your baby. But as the one feeding, soothing, and diapering your newborn in airports and on airplanes, and probably holding and wearing her even more often than during days at home, the chances of your being on the receiving end of some serious spit-up or a diaper blowout are quite good. Not a problem, however, if you have an extra change of clothes (top and bottom) to slip into en route. I go for small-packing, wrinkle-free back-up togs, and find fleece for a warm outer layer is helpful since it can be easily scrubbed clean and dries very quickly.
Enjoy your last months of this pregnancy, and best of luck with your travel baby!
How about you?
What sage piece of advice would you give this mom and other parents preparing to fly with a newborn? Post your comment below or share on the facebook page.
Related posts and pages:
See more Tips for flying with infants, toddlers, and young children
Safe journeys,
Shelly Rivoli
Author of Travels with Baby and the new Take-Along Travels with Baby
http://www.travelswithbaby.com/ Travels with Baby on Facebook
All content of this blog (c) Shelly Rivoli
Most travelers would agree there is an art to packing, but when you find yourself juggling extra diapers, teddy bears, children’s books, baby-friendly sunblock and insect repellent, a car seat and two extra toddler-size outfits for each day of your vacation–all while a helpful little elf manages to unpack as quickly as you can work, art goes out the window. If you’re like many parents, you may find yourself struggling in the final hours to get everything into the suitcase and fast–before your child wakes up and it’s time to head to the airport. Whether you’ve got the luxury of time on your side, or you’re racing the clock, here are three important–and potentially cost-saving tips you’ll be glad you put to work.
1. Weigh it.
If you’re packing baby wipes, baby food, formula, DEET-free insect repellent, or baby-friendly sun block—or all of the above, remember these things can all add a lot of weight in just a little space. Weighing your suitcases before you leave home will help you know that you’re on track, and will allow you to shuffle items between bags to help distribute the weight all without an airport audience or holding up the queue (been there, not going back). Remember, virtually all airlines place a 50 lbs. limit on checked suitcases, and they are not obligated to average the weight across the number of bags checked for your family.
Helpful hint: If you’re worried you won’t be able to purchase baby or toddler essentials at your destination, you might consider shipping your favorites ahead with a baby supply delivery service such as Babies Travel Lite.
2. Measure up.
With young children, we waved goodbye to the days of packing it all into one self-contained carry-on or backpack for each of us to manage. Getting one enormous suitcase or duffle that we could stuff copious amounts of light and fluffy blankets, toys, buntings, and awkward-shaped gear sometimes made the most sense—after all, the fewer items to juggle at the airport or to load and unload from the car on road trips the better. That is until someone decides to play the “linear inches” card on you as you check in for your flight. In addition to the 50 lbs. weight limit, virtually all airlines have a 62 linear inch maximum for checked suitcases (length + width + depth). If you’re packing a large suitcase or duffle bag for air travel, don’t wait for airline personnel to present a tape measure to find out if you’re within limits. Fees for exceeding 62 linear inches can be around $75 per bag, and if your bag is overweight – you can actually get fined on both accounts.
Helpful hint: If you’re in the market for a big bag for air travel as I was again recently, shop and compare online at eBags.com, where most large suitcases and duffels show their weights and total linear inches at a glance and make it easy to compare your faves side by side (customer comments and ratings can help, too).
3. Know your limits—as a family.
Most airlines still allow families to check a car seat and/or stroller for free as “essential” items, whether the travelers want to check the items at the front of the airport or at the gate (you may be expected to sign a damage waiver for these items). Travel beds, Pack ‘n Plays, or other various playpens are not considered essential by most airlines and may usually count as one paid passenger’s checked “bag” at the going rate, or if oversized it may be subject to related fees (you may find help in recommended travel beds or the Worldwide Directory of Baby Gear Rental Agencies).
Helpful hint: If you’re checking a car seat or stroller in a travel bag, take advantage of any extra space for your jackets or other loose items you might want on arrival, or those few extra favorite stuffed animals someone keeps insisting deserve a vacation too.
For a quick look at the most family-friendly airlines, including available infant and child discounts and lap child luggage allowances, see the New Parents’ Guide to Airlines table in Travels with Baby.
Safe journeys,
Shelly Rivoli
Author of Travels with Baby and the new Take-Along Travels with Baby
http://www.travelswithbaby.com/ Travels with Baby on Facebook
All content of this blog (c) Shelly Rivoli
This post is part of Photo Friday at DeliciousBaby.com. Happy, safe, weekend to all!
Safe journeys,
Shelly Rivoli
Author of Travels with Baby and the new Take-Along Travels with Baby
www.travelswithbaby.com Travels with Baby on Facebook
All content of this blog © Shelly Rivoli
Shelly Rivoli
Author of Travels with Baby and the new Take-Along Travels with Baby
www.travelswithbaby.com Travels with Baby on Facebook
All content of this blog (c) Shelly Rivoli 2007 – 2011
Dinosaurs.
That may be all you need to know—or mention to your young children before you set out for London’s Natural History Museum. And if there’s an interest, there will not be disappointment.
Sure, you may go other places where dino-skeletal displays are present and even pleasing, but strolling a cat walk at eye-level with some of these magnificent beasts—both bony and fleshed-out—in dusky lighting with sound effects is one very memorable way to enter into the realm of terrible lizards. I admit, it could be a little daunting to some, but our kids at 1 year, 4 years, and 6 years soldiered on through the displays in delighted wonderment (I suggest showing this photo as a test if your not sure how your child will react). Whether they had the patience to learn about the baby hatchlings or backward knee functions of prehistoric beasts (my eldest), or stand slack-jawed marveling at the claws and teeth of tyrannic terrors (middle kid), or just shout and point at the funny looking “toddlerasauruses” and explore the interactive displays (the tot), they all seemed to enjoy the dinosaur exhibit—for well over an hour.
The one scary part my two younger children were happy to move through quickly was naturally the delight of my eldest child: The life-size animatronic T-Rex. Roaring, snorting, looking about the onlookers in a dark and steamy jungle-scene, he was impressive. After moving on and seeing my husband engaged with the younger kids at other displays, my big girl and I had to go back to watch more of the T-Rex show (she was enthralled).
Of course, there is a lot more than just dinosaurs to see at London’s Museum of Natural History. The building itself is beautiful and made an impression on the kids as well (we’re from the West Coast, you know). And I have to say the Creepy Crawlies exhibit is another kid favorite you might want to budget an hour for. This life-size model kitchen featuring interactive displays with all manner of household insects to discover and learn about was a lot of fun for the kids… though it left me scratching and yearning for my next shower, if not a bug bomb or two. In this photo, we were learning about the life cycle of fleas.
More words to the wise:
Strollers or pushchairs: Use the Exhibition Road entrance for stroller-friendly access to the museum. When entering the dinosaur exhibit, look for the small glass elevator to gain access to the catwalk above. There is no step-free access to the Earth Lab, but otherwise you will have elevators / lifts at your disposal even if you do need to ask for help finding them.
The baby care room (or nursery) near the Central Hall Café is a true inspiration. Multiple (I’m thinking 5?) diaper changing stations are arranged with plentiful counter space and room for stroller parking, plus a curtained nursing / feeding area with three cushioned chairs and footrest is off to the side—all pleasantly heated and toasty even on a blustery London day. A family-size restroom is also available within this area, and regular toilets are also available just outside.
Visitors under 7 years can take advantage of a FREE Explorer Backpack when their parents check one out near the entrance of the Central Hall (must have valid I.D.). Included are kid-size binoculars and explorer’s hat, an activity booklet, magnifying glass, drawing kit, recording sheets and clipboard, plus clues to help complete a challenge.
School-age children ages 5 to 11 years can purchase self-led discovery guides with challenges and discussion topics for £1 each, also at the visitor’s information desk in the Central Hall.
More information http://www.nhm.ac.uk/index.html.
Related posts and pages:
One very good reason to fly British Airways with your baby (or lap-held toddler)
How to take a London taxi cab with your stroller – and your child still in it
Ask Shelly : Best twin stroller for travel to Europe?
Photo fave: The London phone booth
Safe journeys,
Shelly Rivoli
Author of Travels with Baby and the new Take-Along Travels with Baby
http://www.travelswithbaby.com/ Travels with Baby on Facebook
All content of this blog (c) Shelly Rivoli 2007 – 2011
Ahhh. Yes.
This is the metaphorical heart of the Rick Steves-recommended gem on the Costa del Sol: the small city of Nerja, Spain (thanks, Rick!). Straight ahead is the church whose bell tower we watched glowing at night from our apartment and whose bells we listened to from our balcony when service was called. Just out of view to the left begins the promenade that juts out to the “Balcony of Europe” (more on that later). Just out of view to the right is a shop serving up what are arguably the best ice cream cones in Nerja. And behind us, just past the tiled Lion fountain, begin the steps down to Calahonda Beach–the most photographed beach at Nerja.
As the gravitational center of tourism in the town, you might marvel at the quiet glow we were enjoying at dusk on this particular evening (I’ll remind you that people eat LATE in Spain – it’s easy to beat the crowd with kids!). But that’s part of the beauty of traveling in mid or low season.
It’s been a little crazy around here lately, 3 birthdays at our house this past month, interlude of flu, preparing for another book printing, planning our next international trip, and so on. Nice to take a moment to just pause and appreciate where we’ve been so far – I encourage you to do the same! This post is part of Photo Friday at DeliciousBaby.com.
Related Posts and Pages:
Review of Carabeo 2000 apartment in Nerja
Thanksgiving in Andalucia
A cure for rainy vacations with kids
Safe journeys,
Shelly Rivoli
Author of Travels with Baby and the new Take-Along Travels with Baby
www.travelswithbaby.com Travels with Baby on Facebook
All content of this blog (c) Shelly Rivoli 2007 – 2011
Bronze Award Winner in Travel Blogs from the North American Travel Journalists Association
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