traveling with babies?
Answers:
I used to live in Alaska and would visit my family in California fairly regularly, so I know what you're going through! Let me see what I can remember of the ordeal... ;-)
First thing: make sure they have something to suck on (pacifier, bottle, juice box, whatever) to help them equalize the pressure in their ears during takeoff -- otherwise it can be extremely painful for the little ones!
For my son, we always had a special set of "travel toys" -- something small and easily portable (Matchbox cars, little Fisher-Price "peg people", etc.) that he only got to play with on trips, so they would be new and interesting and would take him longer to get bored with. Storybooks are always good, as are coloring books. if you own or can rent a portable DVD player with maybe a Disney movie or something on it, those things can be worth their weight in gold!
Make sure you bring snacks as well -- airline food rots, and it's not likely to be anything they'll like, anyhow. Bring finger foods that they like and that are easy to cleanup and transport -- raisin boxes, plastic baggies with goldfish crackers, grapes, Fig Newtons, etc.
Try to travel in the evening, so they can sleep for at least part of the flight.
While you're waiting for the flight to arrive, run 'em ragged -- play games, run around, explore the airport and watch the airplanes taking off and landing -- do everything you can to tire them out so they'll sit still during the flight.
Once they sit down in their seat on the plane, make sure they STAY seated -- if they get it into their heads that they can run up and down the aisle, it'll be a constant battle to keep them in their seats.
Make sure that they also have their favorite "snuggly" -- a security blanket, stuffed animal, etc. -- as well, to help induce sleepiness. It can also give them something to focus on, making sure that "Teddy" gets buckled in along with the child, and so on...
I sincerely hope you'll be travelling with your spouse/partner.....my wife and I thought we were being heroic dealing with just ONE toddler between the two of us!
Just remember: no matter how rough the trip gets, you WILL survive the experience! Best of luck to you!
Back in July my husband & I went on a 6 hr trip with our then 4 year old and 9 month old. For the 4 yr old i brought I made up a bag that i didn't let him see until we got into the car. I got him those markers that you can write on the windows with. He loved those just to scribble. I sat in back a little and we wrote "Honk if you like Spongebob" You would be surpised at how many people honked and waved, he loved it. I'm sorry I can't even remember what else I brought besides that and a DVD player. As for your 8 month old... when my 4 yr old was busy doing somehthing else i set the dvd player so he other little one could see it. It was harder trying to keep him busy but i also hung stuff from the back window so he could just watch his toys. GOOD LUCK and hope you have a safe trip.
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