How to survive the flight with the baby, real life advises.

one thing we used in the car this weekend for the long drive is a dvd player.  It might keep her occupied on the flight.  

We have just come back from our trip to Russia. The flight was okay, I did have I

Pad with me and played some cartoons for Liza, it helped. I spent some time in the airplane restrooms with her. I washed her hands often because she grabbed everything and she liked to play with water and the mirrors and paper towels in there. There is also a changing table in there so u can use it as a standing table. In other words u will need to be creative to entertain the baby on a long hours flight. 

Our long trip was in December, so Thales was 6 months. In that time was easier than now. But now, as Irina said, we have to be creative and discover in what they are interested. What worked for us, was allow him to play with the magazines and let him stand on the ground between the seats. He spent good time there and had fun, because he would take them out and put them back in the storage behind the seat. And he enjoyed to look through the window, specially during take off and landing. Also, he played with other passengers.  

I always try to give him the bottle/cup in the landing and take off, because it is good for the ears. 

Don't forget extra clothes, wipes, snacks and extra pacifiers in the handbag. Some small toys too. Ah, disposable changing pads for changing her in the plane's restroom. I use to buy Munchkin's  (white with some green leafs). They are very good, big and protect the baby from the dirty changing stations in the public restrooms.

'm so impressed by these tips.  For our trip, I got Mateo three special new toys, one for each night at dinner when I knew he would not sit still.  One was a motorcycle, one was a bus, one was a fire engine.  They were tiny and their wheels spun very quickly once they were pulled back.  Each was only about $5.  They entertained him for a good 20-30 min. each time, but I have to say, he wanted to get on the floor to really play with them.  This is when one of us took him outside for a walk while the other person dined alone:(  We left right at his nap time each way, so he slept two hours on each part of the trip.  At the hotel, there was a lounge area and every morning, I took him there and let him roam around and watch cartoons and play with his new toys.  I think Iryna's flight to Russia takes the cake for the most difficult journey, so I salute her.

With regards to travelling with little one, the others have offered fantastic tips. I have found that the flight crew and other passengers can make all the difference. The crew on my last trip were great, they brought me heated water for his bottle and tried to keep him  entertained at various times. This is not always the case. 

The only thing I can add that hasn't been mentioned is that I separate toys, food,formula etc.... In ziploc bags - as I find this keeps my bag more organised and I don't have to go rummaging to find something.

 

What to Pack for the Car Ride

Family vacations are wonderful experiences but preparing for a road trip with children can be overwhelming. We have a few survival trips to get you on the road safely. What to Pack for the Car Ride Determining what to pack depends on your vacation of choice and the length of the trip. Regardless of the destination, there are some items that you'll all want to have handy in the car. Stop and think - what is going to cause a crisis, upset you, or make you frustrated? While it is good to have several entertainment supplies on hand for bored children (and adults), the best way to pass the time is to focus on the journey itself. Observe what's outside the windows, where you are heading, and the conversation and joint activities inside the car. Packing List First Aid Supplies: A first aid kit, sunscreen, self-activating ice pack, insect repellent, thermometer, fever-reducing and pain-reducing medication with correct dosage chart based on child's weight and age. Extra clothes: Take extra clothes for every child and two sets for children you know will need them. Keep these clothes in the car. It's no fun digging through the luggage at the bottom of the trunk to find what you need. Keep a sweater or sweatshirt handy. Children on the sunny side of the car get warm and the children in the shade are often cool from the air conditioner. Comfort stuff: Pack blankets, pillows, and stuffed animals. Try to limit one to a child or it can be hard to see out of the back window to drive. Food and snacks: Whether you allow food in the car or not, pack a cooler of goodies. Freeze a few of the juice boxes or water bottles to keep the other beverages cold and toward the end of the trip the frozen ones will be ready to drink, too. Snacks of choice should include crackers and fruits. Vacations are usually a time to loosen food restrictions, but it helps to try to be intentional about limiting junk food. Out-of-the-car toys: Pick up some bubbles, small balls, or a Frisbee to play with at rest areas or parks when a break is needed. Children need to run around, and parents can benefit from a stretch, too. In-the-car entertainment: Pack or have each child pack a small bag of hand-held goodies: tape, calculators, pipe cleaners, protected mirrors, small flashlights, crayons, and paper. Buy some new items such as markers, coloring books, crossword puzzles, etc. Make a list of songs to sing or games to play on the road. You can also get books on CD at most libraries. Clean-up supplies: Keep rolls of paper towels, a box of heavy duty wipes, plastic grocery bags for dirty clothes and garbage, fragrance-free disinfectant spray, antibacterial lotion, toilet paper, and disinfectant wipes for yucky roadside bathrooms. The above sounds like a lot of items to take along, but having them at your fingertips can make the ride much more enjoyable. Mother of four, Mia Cronan, suggests these ideas for age-appropriate car toys: For infants: Any object that's bright and new Rattles of all sorts Music-makers A few pieces of mega-blocks Magnetic stick-together blocks Toys of interesting shapes Pop-up toys Safe plastic mirror For older babies and toddlers: Nested containers Sets of things to put into containers Items that fit into other things Busy Boxes with levers, bells, or moving parts Board books Small wind-up toys A blanket or stuffed animal For preschoolers: Picture books Stickers and activity books, crayons, or felt pens Lap-sized wipe-off easels Finger puppets Costume jewelry Pop-up books Inexpensive sets of plastic figures Magnetic letters and a metal tin For preschoolers to grade 2: Activity books Tattoos that press on with a wet cloth Stick-on play sets Travel-size Magna-Doodle or Etch-a-Sketch Threading sets (pictures with yarn) Felt boards Travel desk sets Small magnetic puzzles Small wind-up toys Go-Fish cards Silly putty Yarn for simple knitting A "story bag." You can write phrases on scraps of paper and your child can pull one phrase out of the bag and start a story. For older children: Books Blank paper for playing Hangman and Tic Tac Toe Deck of cards Travel-size Monopoly, Sorry, Snakes 'n' Ladders, Battleship Miniature chess Mastermind Small Lego sets (stored in Ziploc bags) Hand-held toys or electronic games with the sound turned off Small 3D puzzle sets Dealing with Car Sickness For those of us who still experience car sickness as adults, we know what an uncomfortable feeling it can be. Here are a few tips on how to help alleviate the feelings of car sickness: Avoid reading Open a window Chew on peppermint candy Eat ginger snap cookies Use Seabands Focus on a spot far away Sit close to the front Breathe through your mouth Stop the car for a quick walk outside Drink cold water Eat saltine crackers Have a cool face cloth or ice pack Most important, be realistic about your itinerary and allow for flexibility. Traveling with children takes much longer and requires much more patience than traveling alone. By taking it slow, there will be lots of time for relaxation and rest.Remember to take loads of pictures and have a great time.

Be Direct

Book the most direct flight (nonstop if possible), and travel first thing in the morning to avoid delays. Also, get to the airport at least an hour and a half early so you have enough time to go through security.

Pack the Essentials

Take enough diapers, wipes, and formula to last your journey -- plus extras in case of a delay -- then buy more when you reach your destination. (If you're staying with relatives, ask them to stock up before you arrive.) Keep your baby's favorite doll, blanket, or other comfort object handy in your carry-on. And instead of packing bulky baby gear, consider renting a crib, stroller, or high chair from a company such as Baby's Away (babysaway.com), which has more than 50 locations in the United States.

Think Surprises

Bring a toy, rattle, or other goody your baby hasn't seen before, and take it out midtrip (or mid-meltdown). Something new and exciting will keep him entertained and distracted longer.

Dress for Security Success

To pass through airport security checkpoints more quickly, wear slip-on shoes in case you're asked to remove them. Avoid accessories that might set off the metal detector, like jewelry or a belt buckle. The Transportation Security Administration requires that babies go through security screening too, so take off your child's shoes, and don't dress him in clothing with metal buckles or zippers. Always pack nail clippers or scissors in your checked baggage, and in case your carry-ons get searched, organize small items into gallon-size resealable plastic bags. "This way security people can check the contents without creating a mess for you to repack," says Ericka Lutz, author of On the Go With Baby.

Have your tickets, photo ID, and other important documents -- as well as dollar bills for renting luggage carts or tipping skycaps -- in an easy-to-reach spot.

Don't Forget Your Stuff

You know to bring a sweater and extra clothes for your baby, but also stash an extra outfit of your own in your diaper bag. Accidents can happen, and who wants to sit in sticky, smelly clothes for hours?

Diaper with Care

Change your baby just before you board a plane or hit the road because few airplanes and trains have changing tables in their bathrooms. Still, a row of empty seats will do as long as you won't offend nearby passengers. Take along a few plastic bags in case you can't get to a garbage can right away.

Make the Most of Naptime

"If you'll be driving long distances, leave late at night or during your baby's naptime so you can get in several hours of driving while your baby sleeps," says Ericka Lutz, author of On the Go With Baby.

Bring Your Own Food

Mix infant formula in advance, and keep it cool in a insulated bottle. When it's time to feed your baby, pour the formula into a baby bottle, then ask the flight attendant for a cup of hot water and place the bottle in it for a few minutes to knock off the chill. Or measure out powdered formula beforehand, and carry bottled water that's room temperature. Pack enough baby foodand other snacks to make it through potential delays or traffic jams. On flights, don't forget to take along something for yourself that you can eat with one hand. After all, you won't be able to pull down the tray table if you're entertaining your baby on your lap.

Give Baby a Break

"If your child's crawling or cruising, she isn't going to be happy strapped in a car seat for hours," says Ericka Lutz, author of On the Go With Baby. On road trips, map out pit stops every 45 minutes to take a stretch. On planes or trains, walk her up and down the aisle.

Protect Tiny Ears

The change in air pressure during takeoffs and landings can cause ear pain. If your baby's sleeping, he probably won't notice. Otherwise, feed him or give him something to suck on, such as a bottle or pacifier, to relieve ear pressure.

Safety Seats on Airplanes

Though the Federal Aviation Administration and most airlines don't require you to buy your baby an airline ticket, they strongly recommend it. "It's tempting to save money by holding your baby on your lap, but doing so can be very dangerous in cases of hard landings or turbulence," says Peter Greenberg, travel editor for NBC's Today show. "Your infant is safest buckled up in a car seat." Some airlines have an empty-seat policy: You can bring a car seat on board and use it in an empty seat even if you haven't purchased a ticket. But with cutbacks in scheduled service, you can't always count on an available seat. (For international travel, you're typically required to buy a ticket for your baby.) Make sure your car seat is certified for use on an aircraft (the label will say so) and no wider than 16 inches (to fit in most coach seats).

Should I buy organic for my kid and why?

Here is a very knowledgeable information about organic and non-organic products:
http://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/slideshow-to-buy-or-not-to-buy-organic

Should I buy organic for my kid and why?

Look for the USDA Organic Seal

Don't confuse "free-range," "hormone free" or "natural" with organic. Look for the organic seal which means the food is grown, harvested, and processed according to USDA standards that include restrictions on amounts and residues of pesticides, hormones, and antibiotics. Natural pesticides are allowed. Organic foods cannot be treated with any sewage sludge, bioengineering, or ionizing radiation.

Should we have the babies' hair cut off at the age of one or not?

According to Russian tradition, babies have their heads shaved at 1. It is believed that babies will have nicer and thicker hair, and the hair may even change its color after the procedure.
Is it true?! I could not shave off my daughter's curls, they are too cute to say goodbye to. Was it the right decision?

Until what age do babies see everything in black and white?

When do babies start to differentiate colors?

Separation anxiety...

In many cases toddlers are acting out the separation anxiety: they pretend they are not feeling well, cry, want to be hold by mothers all the time. Such kind of behavior is different when they are actually felling sick.

What food is not good for your toddler...

cherries, their hard skin can't be digested by toddlers' little stomachs.