Family Vacation: Tips and Tricks for Traveling with Kids- Guest Post

Family Vacation: Tips and Tricks for Traveling with Kids

I remember a time when vacations were simple.  I could flit off to somewhere warm in the winter or go skiing in the summer on a whim.  I packed a bag or two, bought a ticket and went on my way.  Not so, now that I have kids.  Vacations are so much more meaningful than they ever were before but they also require an incredible amount of preparation.  Here are some great tips and tricks to ensure a fun and hassle-free vacation:

Prepare for life's little messes

Children are messy!  Come prepared for motion sickness, potty accidents, colds, boo-boos and sticky fingers.  Keep extra first aid supplies, wipes, zipper bags, and tissues accessible for quick clean-ups.  For easy access, you may want to invest in a trendy backpack or travel sack.  If you are traveling with younger children, you may encounter a mess that is beyond wipes.  An extra set of clothes in an easy-to-reach or carry-on bag may prove to be a lifesaver.

Don't skimp on the entertainment

Long trips plus bored kids equals DRAMA!  You don't want to haul a dozen different electronics on a plane, but let's face it, packing a few will undoubtedly make for a smoother ride.  iPads can be loaded with educational games and material that can be used with headphones.  Download fun games to a tablet to help pass the time.  Handheld games take up very little room.  Of course, don't forget to bring a few non-electronic essentials such as crayons, coloring books, playing cards and travel games. I am always amazed at how long a new box of crayons can keep my kids occupied during a long trip – and at 99 cents a box it is most definitely worth the investment!

Try to keep nap times on schedule

It may be hard to force a child to sleep on a plane, train or in a car, but do try to encourage them to close their eyes during normal naptimes.  Bring naptime blankets and toys and do what you can to darken the space.  Close window shades if you are traveling by air or train.  If you’re planning a long car trip, think about investing in a portable shade for your car.  Older children may have fun using eye masks to help them sleep.

Research makes perfect

It is easy to get caught up in the planning process and forget that vacations are supposed to be fun.  Between all of the required reservations and number crunching in your head, it can become overwhelming.  A solution many of us choose is to book the cheapest flight and least expensive hotel possible in order to spend that money elsewhere.  Instead of downgrading your transportation and accommodations, try using the Internet to find the best deals without sacrificing comfort.  Flying earlier in the day will make your waiting time much shorter and is often cheaper.  Also try using hotel review sites or social networking to find your family’s perfect hotel. When my family traveled to Hawaii, we utilized our friends online to vet all of Honolulu’s top hotels and ultimately found the one best suited for our vacation plans.  If you are traveling for a weekend trip, look into booking a hotel in the business district.  Many of these hotels rely on their Monday through Friday traffic and have decreased rates during the weekend. 

Pack ahead

Don't wait until the last minute to pack!  Begin making a list as far in advance as possible.  I use my smartphone for my initial list – that way I never forget to add something or worse, misplace my list!  Start packing a week before the trip and finish no later than the day before you leave.  The calmer you are on departure day, the calmer the kids will be.

Following a few simple steps will help you accomplish the much larger goal: to have fun, relax and create wonderful family memories.

Thursday Blogging - tips

10 Smart Parenting Techniques that Will Get Your Newborn to Sleep Longer

If you have been working on getting your newborn baby to sleep longer, it may help if you feed your baby before getting him to sleep, give your baby a warm bath, follow a consistent routine, put a sound machine near your newborn, always be on the lookout for a sleepy baby, create a conducive environment for sleeping, make sure your baby’s diaper is dry, swaddle your baby, keep the temperature right, and be flexible and try different techniques.

As a parent, it is very challenging to get your newborn baby to sleep longer. Though they sleep for as much as 15-19 hours in a day, they do not do this in one period of time and their sleep habits usually make you getting really sleepy and tired as well. To help you get your newborn baby to sleep longer, consider the following advice:

Feed you baby before getting him to sleep
The foremost reason why your newborn does not sleep longer is that his stomachs is still small and he needs to be fed every few hours, usually every two. To help your baby sleep longer, especially at night, feed the baby before putting him to bed. But, be sure not to overfeed him, as this will cause discomfort to your baby and make him sleep less than you expect.

Give your baby a warm bath
A warm bath can help your baby sleep longer through the night as it will help soothe your baby. You can make this a part of your bedtime routine to give him a cue that it is about time for bed.

Follow a consistent routine
Bedtime routines can help put your babies in a good sleeping condition. Although it takes weeks or months to get your newborn baby to get used to a routine, it helps a lot to start introducing it to him early. A warm bath, a good book, and a lullaby can help your newborn baby start thinking that it is about time to sleep. Set your own routine that you think will work for your baby.

Put a sound machine near your newborn
Many white noise machines are designed to help your baby get to sleep easier and stay asleep longer. A sound machine (Keyword/URL) will help cover the noise around the house that might disturb your baby’s sleep, like when you are doing some chores or when a dog is barking. Make sure you choose a sound that is comforting for the baby and not something that may scare him. Alternately, you can keep some classical or other soft music playing all throughout his sleep to soothe him.

Always be on the lookout for a sleepy baby
As a parent, you may often get the wrong notion that tiring your baby can make him sleep easier and much longer. The thing is, when babies are overstimulated, it makes them harder for them to go to sleep. If you see signs that your baby is sleepy, such as when they start to yawn, rub their eyes, and cry, get your baby ready for bed before he starts getting more irritable.

Create a conducive environment for sleeping
Whatever the time of the day is, make your baby’s bedroom a soothing place for him to rest so he will be able to sleep longer. It would be great if your newborn gets to sleep longer during the night so you can get the rest that you need. To help achieve this, differentiate your baby’s afternoon nap and his night time sleep so that he will be able to adjust his sleeping hours. For example, you can lie down with your baby in bed to help her get a nap, and you can do your bedtime routine at night to help her sleep easier and much longer. Keep the room dimly lit at night to help your baby differentiate night and day.

Make sure your baby’s diaper is dry
Wet diapers and clothes can disturb your baby’s sleep. Make it a point to change your baby’s diaper before takging him to bed to give him a comfortable sleep that can last for longer hours.

Swaddle your baby
Newborn babies need security. When your baby does not feel safe, the tendency is that he will not be able to get a good sleep. Swaddle him and make him feel safe and secure, just like those days when he was still in your womb, and give him a better, more secure, and longer sleep.

Keep the temperature right
A bedroom that is too cold or quite hot can leave the baby uncomfortable, waking him up earlier than expected. Keep the temperature right for the weather to help your newborn baby sleep longer during her naps and especially at night.

Be flexible and try different techniques
All babies are different when it comes to sleeping, even twins. Stay flexible, and try different techniques to help your baby get to sleep longer. For some, nursing the newborn will work great as part of the bedtime routine after a warm bath and a good book. Others carry or rock their newborns to sleep. Make sure that you put the baby down when he is already in deep sleep. When you find your newborn already sleeping, keep rocking or let him stay in your arms until about thirty minutes before putting him down to bed to make sure he is really asleep.

Getting newborns to sleep longer is a very challenging task. They get hungry easily, they get scared easily, and they need to adjust a lot to their new environment. Try different things out, see what works best for your newborn, and be consistent when you have found the right technique. Once you do this, you will not only help your newborn sleep longer, but you are instilling in him a healthy sleep habit that will help him as he grows. You, too, can get the rest you truly deserve after all your love and care.

Thursday tips

8 Useful Time Management Tips for Mom

You and the rest of the moms out there can have good time management skills by following some useful tips: get organized, delegate household responsibilities, multitask, focus on priorities, develop household shortcuts, follow a routine, bend to certain unexpected situations, and relieve yourself of stress.

Dealing with time properly is something moms should learn how to do effectively. If you consider following specific time management tips, it will not be hard for you to adjust and complete all your domestic responsibilities, kids’ needs, the relationship with your spouse, and even tasks at work. You can manage all of these responsibilities well if you learn to adapt to some forms of effective time management discipline.

Get organized
Getting organized can get rid you of the stress of failing to remember a number of appointments, unfinished tasks, and forgetting other relevant activities. Getting organized by coming up with a system that makes it possible for you to accomplish everything efficiently and effectively. Organize your home by eliminating any clutter anywhere within your house. A messy place drains your time and energy too. Your time is another aspect to organize. You do this by making a ‘to do list’. This will serve as guide of the things you need to finish during the day.

Delegate household responsibilities
Another secret to managing time is to delegate household responsibilities. It will soon become rewarding for the entire family when everyone is able to take turns in doing household chores. Start by asking your kids and spouse to take part in doing the simpler household tasks.

Multitask
The surest and safest way to multitask is to pair one simple task with a another that needs more focus. One good example is to clean your kitchen counter top while making a phone call. However, if you feel that you become agitated by doing two tasks at a time, then it is time to stop.

Focus on priorities
Giving in to other people’s requests can be a nice gesture. However, there are times when you have to say ‘no’ for the simple reason that you need to attend to more important things that are of top priority to you.

Develop household shortcuts
You can develop your own style of taking shortcuts when doing household chores. You can implement your way of clearing clutter, dusting your furniture, cleaning the windows, washing the dishes, and doing the laundry. Think of a technique to hasten your accomplishments without jeopardizing the quality of your work.

Follow a routine
Have a routine to prevent any waste of mental energy. Schedule your time for menu planning, going grocery shopping, running errands, and other essential activities.

Bend to certain unexpected situations
You must be flexible so you can cope with changing and unexpected situations. Even when you have your own set schedule, there are unforeseen things that might come up. When you are flexible, you will not easily get distracted and annoyed by any alteration in your planned activities.

Relieve yourself of stress
You deserve some forms of self-care. You must be able to spend time alone reflecting, meditating and journaling your thoughts. Indulging in a home spa and engaging in various exercise programs can be of great help too. Quality sleep and a healthy diet are two basic things you must have.