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Shelly Rivoli's
Archived tips from Shelly's syndicated blog. To comment or subscribe visit www.travelswithbaby.blogspot.com.
See Tips 1-10 11-20 21-30 31-35 36...
Tip #30: Get Savvy to Great Places to Stay with Small Kids Tuesday, June 4
Having spent hours upon hours searching the internet trying to discern which places might be most comfortable to stay with my own small children, I have often felt the aching need for a comprehensive resource that gives a Mom's-eye perspective of hotels, resorts, condos and other vacation properties around the world. I'm delighted to report that Jamie Pearson has pulled it off. She just launched Travel Savvy Mom, written by a network of traveling and expat moms around the globe. Already online: profiles of vacation properties in Hawaii, Egypt, Australia, Oregon, Costa Rica, South Africa, Spain, and New York to name a few. Better yet, these write-ups are geared not just toward traveling families, but toward those facing the added dimension of vacationing with babies and young children in particular. I'm so excited about this site that I already submitted a profile of my own, which you can read here. For those of you who have found truly great places to stay with babies and small children, I hope you'll consider submitting your own property profiles for consideration on the site. If you see a property listed where you've stayed with your family, you can add your own comments and experiences, too. Congratulations on a great site, Jamie! And thanks for taking some of the guess work out of planning trips with our littlest travelers.
Safe journey,
Shelly Rivoli,
author of the award-winning guide
Travels with Baby Summer Sale - Save 15% on Travels with Baby and qualify for FREE Super Saver Shipping - Click here for details!
Tip #29: Turn Around Flights with Your Toddler Tuesday, May 27
While your toddler most likely rides facing forward in the car at home, you may want to consider the advantages of installing his car seat rear-facing on your next flight -- if that is an option. Keep in mind that most convertible car seats have rear-facing upper weight limits of 30 lbs. or more (see your car seat's manual for your limit), and even the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends keeping children rear-facing until they reach the upper weight limit for their car seats (standard practice in some other countries). But in the airplane, there are other advantages as well. First, your child may travel more contently while facing you, enjoying regular eye contact and watching to know you are calm and confident about the takeoff, even if he is not so sure about it all. Second, it's easier to keep track of toys and books and snacks on his lap, and especially when they start to escape (fewer hunts under the seats). You may also be better able to recline his seat in this position, helping him nap or nod off more successfully during your flight. But best of all, he won't drive the forward passengers -- and you -- crazy by kicking the backs of their seats and obsessing over the fold-out tray. If you're concerned there won't be room enough for his legs, consider how he sits when watching TV or during story time, and don't overlook how much more comfortable your own legs would probably be when folded and resting against the seat, versus dangling unsupported for hours. If you have an upcoming flight with your toddler, you might just give it a try.
Safe journey,
Shelly Rivoli,
author of the award-winning guide
Travels with Baby Summer Sale - Save 15% on Travels with Baby and qualify for FREE Super Saver Shipping - Click here for details!
Tip #28: Consider the Sit N Stroll Friday, May 16, 2008
I'm often asked if I feel the
Sit N Stroll
I'll start by saying, I DON'T believe the Sit N Stroll is right for everyone or every situation. But to assume it's a car seat you'll only use for travel would be to greatly underestimate the value of the Sit N Stroll. As it happens, ours is out in the car right now, and the next destination is merely the post office down the road.
Here are the handful of reasons I've found myself logging numerous miles with our Sit N Stroll without leaving town
Outgrowing the Infant Car Seat
For any parent lamenting the
transition from handy infant carrier car seat to toddler
car seat and losing the ability to easily transport
child in and out of the vehicle (sleeping or
awake) without unbuckling straps, this is the next best
thing. Perhaps, since it means you don't also have to
keep an extra stroller or stroller frame (like a
Snap N Go
The Tantrum Advantage No more back seat wrestling matches with the two-year-old as you struggle to get her out of the car seat and into the stroller, and back into the car seat for a simple quick trip into the bank or post office. Just pop the wheels out, roll in, roll out, run the seatbelt around (much like you would on a high-back booster), and you're on your way. I've found this to be a real sanity and time saver
A.K.A. The "Nap N Go" Soundly sleeping in the back seat after an afternoon (or morning out)? Worried she won't make the transition from car seat to your arms to her crib without waking? No problem. Unbuckle the seatbelt (that again goes around the seat instead of through the back) and either carry your sleeping kiddo in the seat by its handles or pop out the wheels and roll her along to a quiet corner of the house and take care of the dozen other to-dos on your list.
Another great feature the Sit N Stroll has in common with infant carriers is the sunshade canopy--as useful in the car and on airplanes as it is out and about. If you've found yourself using the sunshade on your child's infant car seat during trips in the car, you can imagine how it is also useful on a toddler car seat. While the sunshade canopy used to be an optional "extra" for the Sit N Stroll, it now comes standard with the car seat. It works very well at blocking out side sun, overhead AC vents and reading lights, even with a taller-than-average 3-year-old, as shown here (I should add the strap height slots also provide a good fit for tall children as compared with many other convertible car seats on the market--another reason mine is back in the car!).
Trains, Taxis, and other Transportation If you have many taxis in your future, you'll appreciate the ability to wait at the curb with your child safely buckled into the 5-point harness, then simply lift the Sit N Stroll (as the wheels retract in mid-air) and set it on the back seat. Slip in beside her and buckle the seatbelt around the car seat, then yours around you, and you're on your way. Considering the option of struggling to get a car seat installed, folding up and stowing a stroller, and reversing the process once you arrive, or perhaps opting to go without a car seat at all on a short ride. On train rides, our older daughter appreciated being able to sit in it (unbuckled) and having a better view of the passing scenery--and better access to the tables when we were seated where she could doodle and play games. On public transportation, including buses, light rail, and subways, there have been times I've also been glad I could just fold up the wheels and set the Sit N Stroll on an actual seat beside me, rather than fuss over my stroller out in the other passengers' pathways or compete with bicycles and wheelchairs for the extra space near the doors.
Less Junk in Your Trunk If you have a small car, or just a lot of stuff (and people) to haul in it, it's also nice to be able to stow your stroller beneath your car seat--so long as you only need a light-duty stroller during your outings. For most sidewalks, stores, and other smooth terrain, the Sit N Stroll is perfectly adequate as a stroller. Just note you won't be able to store many goods beneath the seat (there's an optional attaching storage bag).
So if any of these points sound advantageous to you for trips around town, you can probably imagine how the Sit N Stroll might also serve you well on trips across the country or around the world: In tiny compact rental cars, on train trips and cruise vacations, and in taxis upon arrival wherever you may land, not to mention killing time in airports during marathon layovers and making time between gates when the first flight comes in late (trust me). That said, there are some applications for which the Sit N Stroll is not suitable.
Possible Drawbacks for Some:
Also, the Sit N Stroll is a finely tuned piece of very lightweight equipment, and as such it deserves to (and requires that it) be treated with respect. If you tend to man-handle your gear and have a low frustration tolerance, you might be not like retraining yourself to buckle the seatbelt or LATCH strap over the car seat each time your load the car.
It might also take a while to get the feel of deploying and retracting the stroller wheels while the stroller (and child) is in midair--this took me some time, but now I can do it without even thinking, even with my 28-pounder strapped in. You'll want to practice a few times at home before heading out into the world with your Sit N Stroll.
If any of these possible drawbacks speak to you in more than a whisper, you may be happier in the long run with a different car seat solution for travel--of which there are many. Be sure to check out these recommended car seats for travel, accessories, and car seat alternatives. Travels with Baby (the book) is also loaded with tips for traveling with car seats, both across state lines and around the world.
As for the Sit N Stroll, you can find it online at:
Amazon.com
Safe journey,
Shelly Rivoli,
author of the award-winning guide
Travels with Baby
Tip #27: Slow Down, Soft Pedal, Save Gas. Friday, May 2, 2008
In recent news, you may have heard about one airline's clever solution to combat skyrocketing fuel charges--without sticking it to their customers. Rather than increasing ticket fares or charging for extra baggage, Brussels Airlines will simply fly its same routes a mere 5 mph slower than it has been, slowing from 435 to 429 mph. While saving 1.1 million Euros per year (roughly 2 million dollars U.S.), the airline's flights will arrive only 1 to 2 minutes later than they did previously (read more here).
Families hitting the highways for road trips this
summer might do well to follow suit. Though I admit
that, having survived a number of 1,000 mile
road trips
with babies and toddlers
But maybe we don't have to. According to this article by CNNMoney.com, a LandRover SUV driving with its cruise control set to 70 mph got almost 14% better gas mileage than it did when cruising at "driver-controlled speeds" between 65 and 75 mph. The article underscores the issue that driving-style, mainly how we use the gas and break pedals, greatly impacts how far our gallons of gas carry us--especially in stop and go traffic and in passing lanes.
Still, it's worth noting that fuel economy drops by about 1% with each additional mph of speed you add over 55 mph. As The Chronicle found in this test drive of a 2001 Chevy Malibu (back in 2005, when Bay Area gas was an alarming $2.99 per gallon instead of the $3.96 I paid this week...), the car averaged 35 miles to the gallon when sticking to 55 mph on California freeways. Driving the reverse route at just over 70 mph, the same car averaged 25 miles to the gallon.
Perhaps it's time sites like Mapquest add a few new features to their "Get Directions" options, like "Most scenic" and "Most cruise-control friendly" routes. (They have added a cool new feature for searching gas prices, BTW.) If we're going to slow down, let's at least enjoy the scenery. If we're not going to slow down, let's at least try and take full advantage of the cruise control.
Safe journey,
Shelly Rivoli,
Author of the award-winning guide
Travels with Baby
Tip #26: Get Travel Insurance Saturday, April 19, 2008
In your life before children, you may have been much more willing to "chance it" that you'd make that flight purchased with a nonrefundable fare, or figure that you'd make that bargain last-minute vacation package come h@!% or high water, and forego the optional trip insurance add-on.
Things change once you have children. Not only do the trip expenses multiply, but the odds that one of you may get sick before or during the trip increase. With a baby or toddler along for the ride, you are also more likely to seek a doctor's attention during vacation if he should fall sick, and the chance for a subsequent ear infection is always a concern--especially if you'll be traveling by airplane and may need to postpone a flight until the ears recover. Chances are, these thoughts have crossed your mind.
Rather than stress out before your family vacation (or opt out of traveling with your children altogether), get trip insurance--and get on with the planning! Whether you just want to insure the cost of airplane tickets or you have an entire vacation package lined up, you'll be able to look forward to the trip and pack your bags with confidence knowing that even if your vacation ends up getting postponed or interrupted for some unforeseen reason, you'll be able to get the full value of your dollars spent and possibly other benefits, too.
What you can expect... If you've never purchased trip insurance before, you might be surprised how inexpensive it can be--especially when many packages, like the "Essential Expanded" insurance plan offered by AIG Travel Guard Insurance, cover one child 17 years or younger per covered adult for free. When pricing this package for my family of four, based on full-priced tickets for each of us from California to Massachusetts, the cost would be $56 to insure all of us under this plan. That would not only cover us should we need to cancel or delay our flights (a value of $1420 in this case), but would give us added benefits at our destination such as emergency medical treatment or evacuation, lost or damaged baggage coverage, or baggage delay coverage.
Extra benefits and options... While family life can be unpredictable enough at times, it is also a comfort to know that many of these plans (including the Essential Expanded) also give you protection against financial default of an airline, cruise line or tour operator (see plan details). With AIG Travel Guard's Gold package, you can even cancel your trip for "work reasons" and get medical evacuation home or to the hospital of your choice should or your child need care. Plans with worldwide medical health insurance and hurricane/weather protection are also available.
Where else to look...
Your credit card may also provide
some level of travel protection, but you should call
ahead to
call to confirm this and get the full details. Certain
travel companies make it easy to add-on travel insurance
when you purchase a package, though you might want to
price out your options yourself to know which is the
better deal. Cheap Caribbean, an online travel agency,
offers complimentary hurricane/weather insurance with
every vacation package they sell--even when they are
matching the price of a competitor--and allows you to
pay the difference for other insurance upgrades if you
like.
Safe journey,
Tip #25: Bring on the Bottles Thursday, April 3, 2008
For any air passenger, the prospect of spending unexpected extra 2 to 10 hours in the airplane--before it even leaves the tarmac, is a frightening proposition. Now try that with a baby. Or a toddler. Or for some families... both!
In this age of "unpredictability in air travel," parents need to be more ready than ever to handle unexpected delays with their children, be it in the airplane itself, or even in the airport. Truth is, baby essentials such as diapers, wipes, and formula are not easy to come by in airports, and even airport stores and restaurants close at some appointed hour.
Aside from bringing far more diapers
than you anticipate you'll need during your flight (the
importance of which is illustrated in
Travels with
Baby!), you should also be sure to bring plenty
of snacks for the family, and liquids for your child. If
you are gearing up for your
first flight with your baby
* You CAN bring on prepared bottles
* You CAN bring on
liquid formula * You CAN bring on expressed breast milk
* You CAN bring on
juice * You CAN bring on jarred/packaged baby food
--in quantities that exceed the 3 oz. rule for other liquids and gels.
The TSA states:
"You are encouraged to travel with only as much formula, breast milk, or juice in your carry-on needed to reach your destination."
Of course, the amount needed to reach your destination may be significantly more if you end up sitting on the tarmac an extra 5 hours! Pack accordingly, and present your child and all of your liquids for him (any filled baby bottles, sealed formula bottles, sealed juice boxes and bottles, and baby foods) very clearly and obviously to the security personnel as you approach the X-ray. Click here for more details.
These do not need to be in a quart-size plastic zip-top bag, like the personal liquid and gel items for older passengers, but for organization's sake, you may find it helpful to store all of baby's beverages and baby foods in a gallon-size plastic zip-top bag within your diaper bag (or two bags, if you're going long-haul). That way it's easy to remove everything you'll need to present with one hand--even as you hold your child in your arms. The bag will also help contain any leaks or drips during the flight.
Also, remember you may carry on
milk boxes
Safe journey,
Tip #24: Think Outside the Car Seat Tuesday, March 18, 2008
As mentioned in Tip #23, we were not as prepared as usual for our recent 11-hour road trip to Oregon, nor did we have the benefit of fair weather as we do in summer, when usually make this trek. By the time we were half-way home again, the girls voted unanimously (and animatedly) that they were done with the car and, of course, with their car seats.
With some 5 or 6 hours still to go, we had to come up with something new and wildly different from the menagerie of toys now flung all over the car and repertoire of road songs we'd grown almost hoarse from singing. The frigid rest areas where even dogs scarcely stepped outside of their vehicles held little entertainment value for any of us at this point. We had to think of something else, and fast.
That's when Tim took a detour on the mountain pass in a quest to reach one of the last patches of snow still accessible by car. It was on the slope beside a dirt road within eye-shot of I-5, completely iced over from recent rains with a smattering of roadside splat and tree needles. But the children were ecstatic, shouting and chanting as we set the brake, "SNOW! SNOW! SNOW!"
Although Tim and I grew up with
flurries of the stuff, it's something we certainly never get at our home in California--except
on T.V.
They kids could hardly contain their excitement as they
reached out to see just how cold it was. Making the
most of this unlikely roadside stop that we could, Tim
devised an impromptu sled out of one of our car seat
travel trays
A mere fifteen minutes out of the car and not a nickel spent, yet we were all the better for it--and have a very fun memory. It was a good reminder of why I like to travel with my children. The simplest things we take for granted in our grown-up travels (like expired snow on the roadside in this case, pigeons or airport "people movers" in others) can be such a source of joy and wonder to small children.
Every stop of the way doesn't have to be Disneyland on a road trip with toddlers or preschoolers. There are plenty of simple, meaningful ways to enjoy a break from the drive with your child. Here are a few ideas:
1. In unfamiliar towns: Hit the local library to use its restrooms, drinking fountain, and enjoy a storybook (or a few if there's time) in the children's section before climbing back into the car.
2. At scenic turnouts: Have a picnic or snack outside of the car, using your ice chest and stroller or blankets for seating (or keep your lawn chairs handy if you've brought them along).
3. At rest areas: Bring an inflatable beach ball or rubber ball to chase around the lawns of roadside rest areas.
We'll always have a warm, fuzzy spot in our hearts for Dunsmuir, California--and our handy travel tray.
Safe journey,
Tip #23: "Unexpect" to Travel Tuesday, March 11, 2008
With the sudden news of a death in the family last week, I was humbly reminded that not all trips one takes in life are planned. We had just returned from an overnight trip out of town and were unpacking the car with the girls still asleep in their seats as the call came through. We had to hit the road A.S.A.P. In about an hour, we'd used the potty, changed a diaper, and loaded everything we could think of, including funeral attire, into the car for an 11+ hour journey into the Pacific Northwest beginning that late afternoon. We were also haunted by the knowledge that there was still a nail in one of our tires that we'd discovered just the day before, which was causing a slow air leak I'd planned to have repaired the next day.
I watched as some of my own sage travel advice for road trips, such as "Making good time doesn't always make for a good time," flew out the window in the face of this family emergency. And after the first few rounds of, "OUT DIS CAH SEAT!!!" from our traveling toddler, we turned to what we thought would be our saving grace for this time-crunched trip--the shows we'd already loaded on the laptop for previous travels. It was then that we discovered half of our laptop power cord was M.I.A., and the battery was of course dead. As we proceeded north, we began to think of a few other things we'd forgotten, most especially that there are places where it could still be only 35 degrees Fahrenheit in the middle of the day.
Still, we could manage just fine with what we'd packed. What was more difficult was masking our grief over the loss of a parent during the long drive, and figuring out how or exactly when we'd explain to our eldest daughter that we wouldn't be able to see their beloved Grandpa when we finally reached his home. Other than the occasional spider in the house, or ill-fated house plant, her understanding of death so far has been blessedly limited. And so, finally, at a fast food restaurant in southern Oregon, Tim took her aside to have the talk, leaning heavily on the concept that death is a natural thing that happens to people who have lived long lives and eventually get old. She nodded her head to say she understood, and remarkably didn't shed a tear. But a moment later she asked, "What's 'died' mean?"
He had to think of another explanation, one more obvious to a preschooler. "It's when an old person's body stops working," he offered. This seemed to suffice. But after we reached Grandma's house, she started exhibiting some peculiar behavior, particularly in the bathrooms. Tim reopened the topic of Poppa's death, only to discover there had been a gross misunderstanding. What Angelina thought he'd said was: "It's when an old person's potty stops working." I think we could both hear Poppa's laughter echoing in our hearts.
When faced
with a family emergency, it can be hard enough to get
out the door in a timely manner and deal with the
business at hand, but once you have a baby or small
children to consider, it is extremely helpful to be as
prepared as possible should an
unexpected trip arise. Some "good travel habits"
and gear definitely
helped us to get on the road quickly and travel more
comfortably, such as our children's travel kit, car seat
travel trays
Help your family be prepared for "unexpected travel":
1. Keep your child's travel kit intact at home, particularly the carry-on version if an emergency may mean air travel (Travels with Baby page 204). It's organized and handy any time you need to access these items at home, and you won't have to go digging or second guess what you might need as you try to get out the door.
2. Stock up on the "Every parent should have in the car..." items ( Travels with Baby, pages 165 - 166) and make sure they are in your car at all times.
3. Store essential travel documents where they would be accessible in unexpected hours, especially if you would need to fly to reach extended family in case of emergency. Passports and birth certificates stored in the safe deposit box may prove a major inconvenience and cause delays in some cases.
4. Tuck an "ICE" (In Case of Emergency) contact sheet in your wallet, with cell phone and home phone numbers of friends and family close to your home in case you leave suddenly, as well as extended family and friends you may not call frequently but would likely need to reach in the places where a family emergency may find you.
5. Discuss in advance how you might respond to a family emergency that calls you away from home. Would you drive? Would you need to fly? Where might you stay? Would you travel all together, send one parent alone, or send one parent ahead and meet up at a later time? As well, consider how you might finance the unanticipated expense.
6. Remember that a baby gear rental agency may be available to provide helpful items you've left behind--the stroller, a crib, Excersaucer, babyproofing items, toys, etc.--and you can check the online directory at TravelswithBaby.com for an agency near your destination.
With the luxury of time, there is much we can do to prepare for pleasant journeys with our children, but in the face of unexpected travel, I hope these tips will help to smooth your family's way.
In loving memory of our "Poppa," 1933 - 2008
Safe journey,
Tip #22: Have Dinner Delivered Thursday, February 28, 2008
Be it the road stop cafe, the resort restaurant, the museum cafeteria, the local pub, or the last bistro that's still open after your trans-Atlantic flight, eating in restaurants is part and parcel of most vacations. However, most parents with babies and small children find that eating out in restaurants can be exhausting enough at home, let alone in an unfamiliar destination where the menu and presence of high chairs or boosters is a question mark. (And don't get me started on countries where dinner service only begins at 8 p.m.) However, opting for a vacation rental or hotel room with a kitchenette and planning to cook and clean up after every meal may not feel like much of a vacation either. How to find a happy balance? At least one night of your trip, have your dinner delivered to your door. Room service can be a real sanity -- and time -- saver while traveling with infants and toddlers, but it's not always an option. Pizzas can be delivered in most cities around the world--yes, even to hotels (check the phone book in the drawer for numbers). But for the lucky visiting Vancouver, B.C., you can now even have child-friendly foods ("Mac the Cheese") along with gourmet grown up fare (wild sockeye salmon risotto) freshly prepared and delivered to your door by Meals for Mums (the ingredients are organic and all natural to boot). If you're headed to San Francisco, you might take advantage of Waiters on Wheels, which can deliver everything from pancakes and omelets to sushi and falafel from dozens of S.F. restaurants (see the menus online--you can even print the ones of interest to tuck into your suitcase). Dining out with toddlers anywhere can present some serious challenges, and then there's New York City... so when you've finished juggling the stroller and have exhausted the few child-friendly options, try GothamMenu.com for a first-rate collection of Manhattan's to-go menus, including restaurants with delivery. And now delivering restaurant-prepared dinners to San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston, Boston, NY Metro, Jersey City, Philadelphia, Washington D.C., and London: SeamlessWeb.com. Of course, you'll need Internet access to take full advantage of most of these services, so if your hotel doesn't offer free access, make a pit stop at a cybercafé during your sightseeing.
Safe journey,
Tip #21: Taxis and Car Seats Sunday, February, 2008
Safe journey,
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--the car seat that converts to a stroller--is
"worth the money." Having traveled at home and
abroad with two different
children at various "car seat ages and stages," both
with the Sit N Stroll and with other car seats and
options, I hope I can shed some
light on the topic for more parents considering the car
seat.
Sunshade Solution
Whether or not you use the Sit N
Stroll to help get to your destination, you may still
want a different stroller to use once you
get there. For example, it won't be your best friend on
bumpy trails and through rough terrain, nor over
cobblestones, and not while sightseeing outdoors in
extremely hot climates (the upholstery + the ventless
canopy makes it a bit of a heat trap). You may want to
check your stroller on certain trips, or simplify things
altogether and
I
have found the seatbelt to be the simplest and most
user-friendly over all for installation, and when using
the car seat rear-facing, I've found I can just leave
the seatbelt threaded through one side of the seat to
keep it visible and easily accessible when I'm not
removing the Sit N Stroll between drives.
Here you can see both the handlebar, which
is raised by squeezing the two red levers together, and
also the lower handle you squeeze with one hand and
press down to extend the wheels (or squeeze and slide up
toward the top of the seat to retract the wheels into
the base. Which leads me to the next consumer who may
want to reconsider the Sit N Stroll: Those with back
problems may not be able to use it for as long as other
parents. For the bad-backed among us, it's hard to beat
a good
In a recent conversation with a good
friend, she excitedly told me (incorrectly) that New York City
is the only place in the world where you can take a taxi
with your baby without being legally required to
have a car seat. Fortunately I didn't have to get into
the specifics of Mexico, or Southeast Asia, or elsewhere
"in the world" where families who could actually afford
a car seat are few and far between before she corrected
herself (still incorrectly) and said, "in the United
States." She'd apparently read this bit of trivia in a travel
article, and I can only assume the writer is from New
York City, not San Francisco, Las Vegas, Paris, London, Tokyo, or
one of the many other places in the world where this is
common practice for city dwellers, and legally so. It's
a topic I'm asked about frequently, and was sure to
include in
