LilSugar

Expectant Mamas Can Fly High Without Worry

LilSugar — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 04:00:12 -0700

Flying the friendly skies just got a bit less burdensome for expectant women. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists has revised its recommendations regarding pregnancy and travel by air, deeming it safe for women who are not considered high-risk. According to the new recommendations:

Since 2001, "a number of observational studies have been published confirming that air travel is generally safe during an uncomplicated pregnancy. These new studies have made our previous recommendations stronger and more detailed . . . When a patient with an uncomplicated pregnancy asks about occasional flying, we should feel comfortable saying, 'It's safe.'"

That's great news for women whose work requires them to travel and for those looking to squeeze in a relaxing babymoon or trip to visit distant friends prior to the lil one's arrival. The new recommendations should also ease the minds of moms-to-be who like to fly themselves, like Angelina Jolie who was piloting her own plane while pregnant with Vivienne and Knox and Gisele Bundchen who recently took up helicopter lessons. How far into your pregnancy did you continue to travel by air?

Traveling Sans Babies Has Its Advantages

babysugar — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 10:30:48 -0700

Look ma, no kids! Last weekend, mama got a break from pureed baby food, stinky diapers and bath time duty. The grandparents came to the rescue and watched my wee ones as I took off on a beach adventure with my hubby. While I missed the lil ones, there were certainly plenty of perks traveling as a childless passenger that I will never take for granted again.

Packing: For starters, instead of washing, folding and packing clothes for three people, I just tossed my clothes in a bag. Usually I skimp on my own wardrobe to ensure enough room for diapers and pajamas. This time, I packed extra dresses, a sun hat, more than enough shoes, and two, yes two, books!

Getting Ready: When the alarm went off, I showered, kissed the tots goodbye and walked out of the house. There was no race against the clock to clean, dress and buckle everyone. Also left behind? Prepared bottles, sliced fruit, crackers and a bag full of cartoon DVDs.

Getting There: When we pulled into the long-term parking lot, my husband and I jumped out of the car, grabbed the suitcases and ran to the shuttle. With kids, mama's got to unleash the car seats, strollers, and added baggage.

To see the rest of the reasons I look forward to adult travel and what bums me out, read more.

Security: Getting through security as an adult traveler is a breeze. It's as easy as taking off the shoes, putting the laptop in the scanner and walking through the detector. Add a toddler or two to the mix and mommy's tossing liquids left and right, de-robing wee ones, shoving car seats on X-ray machines and then putting it all back together again.

Flying: Ahhh... mum is seated, got her best book in her lap and her ear buds plugged in tight. She may even get to enjoy a glass of wine and a movie. If she's got baby with her, she's got someone tugging on her shirt, begging for a story, snack or a movie. Let's not even discuss diaper changing in the lavatory and keeping a screaming child quiet while other passengers glare at her.

Now that I sound like an ungrateful mother, let me tell you all the ways I missed my children terribly before I even left the house. The night before I left my babies with my parents, I took loads of pictures of them so I could stare at them on my camera during my trip. I also had to cuddle and love them to pieces. I snuck into my daughter's bed and cradled her before I finally crept into my own bed. I would have jumped in my son's crib if I didn't think it would wake him up. When I arrived at the airport, I ogled other tiny travelers wishing mine were with us. And, at the risk of sounding pathetic, I'll admit that I listened to the Dragon Tales soundtrack on my iPod because it made me feel closer to them. In the end, they had a terrific time with my parents and I'm 100 percent positive I am a better mother after a reinvigorating relaxing trip.

Do you have tips for traveling with or without the kids? Join our Mommy Club group and share your stories and tricks.

Things Moms Can Leave Behind When Flying

babysugar — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 06:00:28 -0700

When moms begin flying with their wee ones, the friendly skies quickly turn into anxious ones. Parents embarking on their first airborne adventure with a child will quickly learn that some things are not what they used to be. There are five things that most every parent can leave at home when they've got their child in tow.

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Airplane Zingers For Traveling Broods

babysugar — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 14:55:00 -0700

Traveling with youngsters is no easy feat, especially when mama is the only adult in her party. Though the time on board is usually short, a screaming infant and scowling travelers in a cramped space can make it seem like an eternity. When all of the words of travel wisdom have failed, fellow flyers often make their displeasure known with less than complimentary comments. Though we find most jet-setters to be more kind than not, here are some of the toughest zingers we've heard. What's the worst you've gotten?

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Mommy Dearest: Family Assigned Separate Seats on Flight

LilSugar — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 09:00:40 -0700

Mommy Dearest,

We recently returned from a short vacation and traveling home was a nightmare. Our flight was canceled and my husband, son and I were put on a different flight - all three seats were in separate rows. The customer service agent told us the flight attendants would move people so at least one parent could sit with the child. But, once we boarded that didn't happen. One attendant told us to just ask passengers to swap seats. Thinking people wouldn't want to sit next to a four-year-old boy we inquired, but no one budged. The people sitting next to my son said we should have never boarded knowing we were separated. Luckily, another attendant persuaded a man to move after I told her the alternative was to have my son sit on my lap. What would you have done?

– Recovering From Flight

To see the response from Mommy Dearest, read more.

Recovering From Flight,

I am glad that everything ended up working out for your family. I would have assumed that a sympathetic traveler would have aided you in your situation sooner. Perhaps, you'll consider writing a letter to the airline so this doesn't happen to others in the future.

-Mommy Dearest

Submit a question for this feature at the Mommy Dearest Group on TeamSugar.

Would You Let Your Child Fly Solo?

babysugar — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 08:00:00 -0700

Wee ones eager to earn their wings at an early age have no problem jet-setting around the country by themselves. Divorced families and transplanted grandparents keep unchaperoned youngsters at the top of mileage reward programs. While most airlines have an unaccompanied minor program, it's not a guarantee the child will get to their destination safe and sound. A while ago, a flight attendant was allegedly to blame for an eight-year-old's illness. Then recently, another eight-year-old and a 10-year-old each ended up in the wrong cities on separate occasions. While I'll certainly want my tots to visit their family, I don't know when I'll be brave enough to let them travel alone. Would you put your child on a solo flight?

Junior Jetset: Tips For Traveling

babysugar — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 13:20:27 -0700

Whether by planes, trains or automobiles, traveling families have their work cut out for them. In addition to carrying all the essentials, parents must consider entertainment and comfort before jetting off to their oasis. Make for a pleasant trip and avoid any Griswoldesque disasters by heeding some pointers from a well traveled mama.

Pack an easily accessible carry-all bag that can endure 24-hours of travel. Include: diapers, wipes, formula, bottles, hand sanitizer, water, snacks and a change of clothes.
If flying, have the tot wear easily removable shoes and jackets as they have to deal with TSA just like us!

To see the rest of the tips, read more.

Bring some fun along: travel versions of board games, Crayons and paper, books, a DVD player, an iTouch or iPhone, and chewy bright toys for the babes. New ones are especially helpful as they can distract the tot a while longer.
Bring a special treat or candy for a brewing storm. An M&M for good behavior can go a long way.
If bringing a car seat along for the adventure, invest in a simple apparatus to help wheel the child along. It will keep mom and dad from lugging the seat on their backs through the terminal.
Bring as little as possible. Much easier said than done, just remember a sink and some soap can handle some tough messes and make everything new again.
Carry a small first-aid kit in case of emergencies. Fill it with Tylenol, band-aids, thermometer, motion sickness pills, sunscreen and anti-itch cream.
Lastly, relax. Kids can pick up on the stress from mom and dad so sit back and enjoy the ride!

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Why Didn't Anybody Tell Me: Airplanes Make Diaper Life Tricky

babysugar — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 05:00:26 -0700

To keep the skies friendly, parents usually arm themselves with diapers, wipes and cream for unpredictable messy moments when traveling. Before boarding, many moms rush to the nearest bathroom for a quick last minute change that will hopefully (and doubtfully) last the duration of the flight.

Only the lucky few escape without at least one diaper change on board. When that not so magical moment arrives, a mother must decide her fate: change on the seat, floor, or across the trays - yes, some people do that. It seems that the most logical option would be the changing table in the bathroom. But what happens when there's no changing table in the lavatory? Such is the dilemma that many jet-setting mommies are finding themselves in lately.

Most airlines have updated fleets that now include changing tables in their lavatories. However, there are still some older birds that have yet to be babyproofed. In those cases, a parent must decide: floor, seats, lap or table trays (yick). How do you change your tot up in the air?

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Would You Choose an Airline With an Onboard Nanny?

LilSugar — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 07:00:27 -0700

With Spring breaks little more than a distant memory now, we can all probably tell a story or two of woe about our travel experiences. From packed flights to ground delays, there's nothing like flying to remind you why you needed a vacation in the first place.

Gulf Air, the national airline of Bahrain, offers a rather unique solution for parents looking to max out their vacation time while traveling with tots. Their Sky Nanny service gives parents a break from the moment they reach the check-in counter. In addition to helping throughout the boarding experience, the Sky Nanny arranges appropriate dining times for children, sets up bassinets for babies, distributes activity packs and extra snacks for older kids, provides age-appropriate entertainment options and will even keep an eye on your kids if you happen to fall asleep or need the restroom. And here's the best part, it's free!

Unfortunately, Gulf Air's flight map isn't very extensive, but would you purposely select an airline if you knew they had such a service?

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Babysugar Diaries: Preparing for a Long Flight

babysugar — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 08:00:21 -0700

Another weekend, another wedding. Last night, my husband and I flew from San Francisco to Martha's Vineyard for another nuptial filled weekend. Excited as I am for the celebrations, I am never thrilled for the brutal red-eye.

To make life a little easier, I brought a pregnant woman's goody bag on board with me. Here's what it included:

Knee high socks to help blood circulation in my legs.
Bottles of water (purchased after security, of course!)
Snacks - low sodium because less dehydration is best.

To see the rest of my list, read more.

Tums and Tylenol in case I started to feel ill.
Headphones, earplugs and my iPod to block out the noise.
Books, magazines, DVD Player - anything to entertain me in case sleep was out of the question.
Pillows - a donut one for my neck and a small one for my back.
Slippers so I could rest comfortably and get up and walk around with ease.

A long skirt or dress is a dream to wear on a plane as you can relax in nearly every imaginable position - seat permitting. Also, if you are flying during mealtimes, check ahead of time to see if you can request a vegetarian option. They tend to be rather bland, which can often keep a mother-to-be less nauseated than the other options.

If you have some flying tips, share them in the comments below!
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