Posts Tagged ‘Travel’

Doesn’t matter that you haven’t had a glamorous family trip since 2008. Your kids can take a virtual (read: affordable) trip every month with the utterly charming website Little Passports. Each month, the Little Passports avatars, Sofia and Sam, travel to a new country, and send your kids a package in the mail with a letter about the country and little souvenirs (postcards, paper toys). Kids also get the access code to the Little Passports members’ only site, which offers games and activities connected to the travel (see the Brazil Boarding Zone to check those out).

Packages vary, with discounts for those who sign up for multiple months all at once, but the service runs from about $12-15 a month. Seems worth it to see the smile on your newly cosmopolitan kid’s face when he gets the mail and it’s for him. Imagine that.

Visit Little Passports for more information.

Snow, snow, and more snow. Many of our east coast readers have found themselves homebound with extreme weather this past week, and winter is not over. We dedicate UrbanBaby Reads this week to all of you that might need a new dose of inspiration on ways to keep busy with projects and planning for the year ahead - snow or no snow.

Create.
The Creative Family. By Amanda Blake Soule

Write.
How to Make a Journal of Your Life. By Dan Price

Organize.
Mom’s Ultimate Book of Lists, A: 100+ Lists to Save You Time, Money, and Sanity. By Michelle LaRowe

Plan.
Wanderlust and Lipstick: Traveling with Kids. By Michelle Duffy

Prepare.
One Magic Square: The Easy, Organic Way to Grow Your Own Food on a 3-Foot Square. By Lolo Houbein

Let’s Start the Discussion: How do you and your family pass long days indoors?

Memorial Day kicks off the summer travel season — and those who find a good deal will be hitting road or taking to the friendly skies. But what to pack in baby’s suitcase? Below, the expert physicians at MommyDocs share their must-haves to avoid a vacation-induced flu:

Nasal aspirator: Babies haven’t quite figured out how to clear their own tiny nostrils and will need help from Mom. A nasal bulb syringe can help remove bothersome boogies from the nose.

Medicine: Talk to your doctor about what is best to have on hand for your child. These may include items such as nasal saline drops, fever reducing medications, and drinks to rehydrate and replace electrolytes. You’ll also want to make sure that any medicine you carry has not expired, and that you’re aware of the appropriate dosages based on your child’s weight. Never give medication to an infant, especially under the age of 3 months, without first consulting your physician. And always contact the doctor for a fever (100.4 F or greater) in an infant under 3 months of age or for any medical concerns in a child of any age.

Thermometer: Make sure you have a good thermometer and know how to use it. For infants, especially under 3 months of age, temperatures should always be taken rectally with a digital thermometer, like a Vicks digital thermometer. A great option once children have graduated from rectal temps is the Braun ThermoScan ear thermometer.

Your doctor’s phone number: Always have your doctor’s number on speed dial or somewhere very easy to find, such as in your wallet or glove compartment.

Hand sanitizer: Limit your child’s germ-spreading and germ-getting by enforcing a strict hand-washing policy. If available, use water and soap, scrubbing for at least 20 seconds. Another great option is an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. Just be sure it is completely rubbed in and kept out of reach of children.

Tissues: Teach children to avoid touching their eyes, nose and mouth as much as possible since germs can spread this way. Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze and remember to throw the tissue in the trash after you use it. Also, encourage everyone to direct coughs and sneezes into their elbows, not their hands.

Visit mommydocs.com.

While you feel entirely lucky to be going anywhere this spring break, the preparation for a week away from home is still a hassle.

Get organized before you go: Little Jet Set is an online store full of thoughtfully designed and well-constructed travel accessories. Founded by two “mom travelers” and attorneys, the site features great gear, games and toys to take on the road, from books and cool activity backpacks to infant travel clothing and kiddie neck pillows. Broken down by category, age or brand, the assortment of product is easy to access while you finish the packing list.

Are we there yet?

Visit littlejetset.com.

You were a world traveler before parenthood ever came into play, so why stop now? The first present to your baby will be frequent flier miles — if only you can figure out where to go first.

Get some help in the process: Trekaroo, a community-oriented travel website geared toward families, just launched to connect globetrotting parents. Designed to help you overcome the stress of traveling with kids, the site’s tips and tricks may help you decide on the Grand Canyon vs. Grand Cayman. Developed by a mom-and-dad duo, Trekaroo features recommendations, reviews and budget suggestions on popular destinations across the States (soon expanding worldwide).

Happy trails.

Visit trekaroo.com.

As they say on the boards, a journey taken with a child is not really a vacation, it’s just a trip. But since you’ll be taking many of them in your parenting life, it behooves you to learn how to entertain the little buggers on planes and in the backseat of the car. Think-ets are little net pouches filled with tiny play-stimulating objects; you pull it out, give it to the kids and challenge them to make a game out of what’s inside. Or, you pull out five things one after another and see if you can integrate each into a story you make up. Or you line up four things and try to weave a story around them.

The whole point is to get kids thinking, because a thinking kid is not, for the moment, a complaining kid. Just wondering over each object can eat up a half hour or so, because the things inside the pouches are intriguing: a wooden block, a piece of agate, a miniature tool, a little animal, a golden ring. You, too, may find yourself drawn to fingering them and wondering about where they came from and how they could be connected. Not to worry, at $10 a pouch they’re cheap enough to get yourself one, too.

Available at think-a-lot.com.

There’s always one in the group — that RoboMom who lost the baby weight in 3 weeks, whips up organic baby purees and quotes Nikki Giovanni. Her one downfall? She’s perpetually late for playdates. Help keep her on track in 2009 with momAgenda’s super organizer that’s a combo calendar, folio and notepad. Pages and interchangeable tabs keep phone numbers, schedules and menus within arm’s reach. Plus the monthly calendar has slots for up to four kids, in case she decides to add to the brood.

Since she’s up for a promotion (of course), a few business trips are on deck for the new year. But nights away from home will be a little more comfy with Scandia Down’s ultra luxe travel pillowcase. Fitting any standard hotel pillow, the down-filled case will help her get the proper beauty sleep (not that she needs any) on the road.

momAgenda All-in-One planner, $48 at momagenda.com. Hotel pillow down travel case, $75 at scandiadown.com.