Baby Friendly Travel page 2
Preparing and Planning Tips for Your Family Vacation
by Sarah Jio
Go Sleuthing
Before you arrive, scope out the area online and locate the nearest grocery store or pharmacy. This will come in handy if you run out of something key, such as diapers. Safety Mom expert Alison Rhodes, also recommends getting the name of a local pediatrician before traveling.
Childcare
Inquire about on-site nursery or babysitting services and ask for license information and credentials. Many resorts have terrific childcare programs, but to put your mind at ease, ask them to send you some information, via mail or email, about what they offer. You’ll want to know how many childcare providers are on staff for each child, and don’t forget to check about the age limit. Some nurseries will not take babies younger than four months of age.
SLEEP TIPS FOR TRAVELING BABIES
“Travel can be a wonderful opportunity for families,” says Jill Spivack, LMSW and co-creator of The Sleepeasy Solution book and DVD, “but taking baby away can also disrupt his sleep.” Here’s how to make sure he gets enough (and that you do, too):
On the airplane
“Try to schedule at least part of your flight during one of your baby's sleep periods, especially if you're going on a plane for three hours or longer,” says Spivack. “Red-Eye flights aren't always such a bad idea!”
Naps at the Hotel
“While traveling, you may not want to do every nap in the crib,” notes Spivack. “Just try to be aware of when your baby normally naps and try to do a motion nap, like a drive or a stroll, around that same time. If your baby doesn't nap well enough during the day, you can opt to move bedtime about 30 minutes early that night. If you decide to nap your baby in the room during the day, keep the room as dark and quiet as you can. Unplug the phone, shut the blinds, hang up your do-not-disturb sign, and take a little snooze yourself.”
Nighttime Sleep
“Try to arrange for a crib or portable crib to be brought up to your room in advance,” she says. “When you arrive at your destination, give your child plenty of time to acclimate to the new environment before putting her down for a sleep period. If necessary, you can comfort your child to sleep on the first night to help her get comfortable with the new surroundings. But once you've been away for 24 hours, it's time to encourage her old good sleep skills. In other words, you can toughen up a bit on your sleep rules once your child is familiar with the room she’s now sleeping in.”
After Baby is in Bed
At this point, the TV isn’t really an option, and going out isn’t either. So Spivack suggests: “If your hotel room has a balcony, plan on spending some ‘couple time’ out there once your baby has gone to sleep. It can be difficult to be inside watching TV when your little one is trying to sleep, so try to ‘unplug’ and light some candles, have a good bottle of wine, and catch up with one another.”
Or try this trick: download your favorite TV shows or movies onto your iPod and share the earphones with your sweetie. Baby won’t hear a thing and you’ll have fun snuggling up together.
