Planning for the pitfalls when traveling with your children

You might not give the baggage handlers at airports a lot of thought until that perilous point in your day when you are waiting for your suit cases to drop onto the baggage belts and for some reason, they don't.  Or, you can wait in the special claims area section for your car seats and stroller, only to have them come down the chute with a seat missing or a stroller that has had the wheel ripped off. At that point, you can make your way over to the baggage office for your airline and stand in line with others who are waiting on their luggage as well.  It's a frustrating end to a long day, or a unhappy beginning to a long awaited vacation.

Unfortunately for those in this situation, this happens more often than you would like to believe. In the crush of miles of luggage, our precious items can be misplaced and our expensive strollers can be crushed. If you plan on taking your children's safety seats and your stroller along on your vacation, there are a few ways you can protect them:

• Place labels on car seats. Include your name, the dates of your travel, the hotel name where you will be staying, and your cell phone numbers. If your seats are lost, this will make it easier for them to be returned to you. 
• Put your car seats together in a large plastic bag. Often the airline will provide these bags, but bring your own just in case.
• Fold your stroller up to it's most compact position and zap strap the wheels down. The wheels of a stroller are often the most damaged area, and many parents have their equipment returned to them with a missing wheel. 

Even with the utmost precaution, accidents will happen. Anyone who has experienced the irritation of having to fill out a claim form for a $1000 stroller will tell you that it's a frustrating experience. Your best bet for protecting the necessary gear you need to keep your children safe is to leave it at home.  Travel BaBees has locations across the the USA, and can provide you with a clean, sparkling stroller or car seats of any size.  Before your next vacation, give us a call!

Traveling with your baby? Fighting boredom while on the road

If you are heading out on the road this spring break, you might be wondering what to bring along for your kids. Packing light with children is not an option, as they will always want to bring another toy or a beloved stuffy.

To keep them busy in the car this spring break, Travel BaBees has come up with a few tips for entertaining them along the way:

Movies - Whether they watch them on your iPhone or on a portable DVD player, movies will make your trip much more relaxing. If you have several children, consider loading a separate movie on to your phone for your toddler and another onto the portable DVD for your older child.

Road games - Counting the blue cars as they go by can be an entertaining game for a half hour. There are many driving games you can play with your children. Make a few up along the way and you'll watch the miles disappear.

Backpacks - Stuff your child's backpack with a new toy, coloring books, new markers, and a few other odds and ends that you've picked up at the bargain store before your trip. A backpack works very well if you surprise your child with it.

Books - Books are a no-brainer for long road trips, and they can make the time fly by. Be sure to put a pillow with your child so they can be comfy while reading, and don't be surprised if they doze off for a nap.

Your upcoming road trip doesn't have to be stressful. Be prepared for when they are bored and pack light, because Travel BaBees can supply you with everything you need once you arrive.

Cabin fever relief for the snowbound

It's hard to believe that some parts of the country are experiencing spring like weather conditions when the other half is completely snow bound. If you are one of the unlucky few who have experienced a harsher than average winter, you are probably ready to explode from cabin fever. I'm sure you've run through every activity you can think of for your kids, so instead of posting arts, crafts, or games, here are a few web sites you might not have visited to get some fresh new ideas to keep you sane this winter:

• Do you have a budding astronaut on your hands? Spend some time on the Nasa kids club. You and your child can build a rocket or explore deep space. The best part? There are a variety of levels so your child can play solo. 
• The Smithsonian is out of reach for everyone who doesn't live in the area, but you can still visit the museum online by spending some time at Smithsonian for kids. Their interactive walkthroughs take you and your child through virtual exhibits. It's fascinating, and they can learn at the same time. 
• How Stuff Works is interesting for adults, but when you are trying to answer the endless questions that come out of your child's mouth, this is a great web site to find the answers. 

Although it's difficult to be cooped up in the house with your children, it's best to take advantage of the time you have together and make the most of it. The snow will melt eventually. Happy winter!

Grandchildren on their way? Be prepared!

Grandparents love when their grandchildren come for a visit.  If you struggle for activities that everyone will find fun, here are a few quick ideas for you:

•  Play dough.  Licensed character kits such as Littlest Pet Shop, Barber Shop, or Chunky Monkey are a must have when the grandkids are over, and they can entertain the kids for hours.  Play dough is generally non-staining and low mess, so you don’t need to worry about your furniture. 
•  Crayons and coloring books are a staple, and you would be amazed at the variations that Crayola has come up with in the recent past.  You can purchase extra large coloring books that are almost the same size as the child, or character coloring books like Disney Princess, Bob the Builder, or the Wiggles.   The differences in crayons is significant, and you can get them for little fingers, big fingers, liquid form that only comes out when you shake them, and markers that dissolve with water.   
• No need to run out and buy a bunch of toys when the Grandkids come and visit.  Rent a tub of toys from Travel BaBees. The tub includes books and videos, and are from varied brand names like Fisher Price.
  

A great visit with your grandchildren starts with being prepared. Rent them a comfy bed, a safety gate, or a double stroller for walks from Travel BaBees.

Storkcraft Crib Recall

Travel BaBees would like to acknowledge the recent crib recall by Stork Craft and advise our customers that we do not currently use nor rent the StorkCraft brand.

The CPSC states 'We urge parents and caregivers to immediately stop using the recalled cribs, wait for the free repair kit, and do not attempt to fix the cribs without the kit.

'They should find an alternative, safe sleeping environment for their baby.

'Consumers should contact Stork Craft to receive a free repair kit that converts the drop-side on these cribs to a fixed side.'

If you are waiting for your repair kit, Travel BaBees has crib rentals on a weekly basis.  Please contact us or fill out a reservation form to reserve yours today.

For more information on the crib recall, visit http://www.storkcraft.com or follow them on twitter at http://twitter.com/StorkCraft

Airline travel: Striking fear into parents hearts everywhere

This fall has been more stressful than usual for parents across the country. We've had to deal with the H1N1 pandemic, resulting in our worry every single time our kids sniff or sneeze. Resign yourself to the fact that your monthly budget must expand to include exciting extras such as Purell and Anti-bacterial soap, at least for the next few months.

Just when we've started to relax slightly, WHAM! We're hit with the upcoming holiday season. Yes, it snuck up on us again. The celebration of Thanksgiving on November 26th begins a month long holiday bonanza that will include parties, family get-togethers, and the two words that cause parents to recoil in horror: Airline travel.

If you've been watching the news in the past month, you will have already heard of the mom and screaming toddler that were escorted off SouthWest Airlines because the child would not settle down. Any parent can imagine being in the same situation.

Traveling with your kids can't be said to be a fun experience, but many, many Americans pack up their kids and their suitcases to travel across the country to be with family and friends. Given how stressful it is to handle your children in large places such as airports and small places such as airplanes, how can you avoid the pitfalls along the way? Planning is key to avoiding some of the stress. Not unlike a commando going into war, plan your itinerary item by item and right down to the last detail.

Need some help? Travel BaBees is here with a few quick tips that will take some of the stress out of your upcoming air travel.

Tip#1 - Pack light and leave unnecessary objects at home
Do you know what it is like to wrestle your car seat from the grasps of the luggage carousel? Or even worse, go through the frustration of hauling your car seats into the airport only to have them get lost when you arrive? It's frustrating beyond belief, especially after a long day of switching flights and dealing with cranky, claustrophobic kids. Leave your car seats in your car and avoid this stress by renting them at your destination from Travel BaBees.

Tip #2 - Decide where your child will sleep before you get there
If you've ever asked your parents what it was like to travel with you, they'll tell you that they just put a blanket down on the floor and you'd pass out anywhere. I laugh when I hear this, because my kids would take one look at that blanket and recoil in horror. After a long day of flying, planning for where your child will sleep is important. Whether you are at a hotel or Grandma's house, having a comfortable bed will help you avoid the long, sleepless nights (for you!) that a cranky, uncomfortable child will bring when in a strange environment. If you have a baby, rent a fully equipped crib. Your fussy toddler will feel right at home in a toddler bed. Making their transition as comfortable as possible is important when traveling, especially when dealing with jet lag.

Tip #3 - You may not believe this, but leave your stroller at home
This tip is often met with stunned expressions. You paid a lot of money for your specialized stroller. It is the carrier of your child, the holder of your extras, and you can check it at the gate. Why on earth would you leave it at home?

I have two words for you: Baggage Handlers

Yes, these experienced airline professionals will check your stroller at the gate, and occasionally it will come back unscathed, but more often than not they aren't that gentle with your prized piece of equipment. I've seen strollers come back with the plastic casing cracked, with one wheel rolling away when you set it back up again, and with fabric seats ripped beyond repair. Think that is frustrating? Have you ever tried to file a claim against the airline for a destroyed stroller? You'll be waiting months for that cheque.

If you want to keep your expensive stroller intact, leave it at home. Travel BaBees can deliver a stroller to your destination, so all you have to do is grab it and go.

Yes, flying with your children is scary enough to make you want to stay home. Fortunately for traveling parents everywhere, Travel BaBees is there to lighten your load.

You too can enjoy your Thanksgiving dinner, no matter where you have it this year.