Little Gulliver – Page 6 – Little Gulliver

To beach or not to beach? Or our 2, 3 & 4yo hit the sand running!

I say, ‘to beach’ it is! And yes, they were literally running…

Both of us adults in the family were brought up inland, so while the lure of the waves, sand and breeze does get us…its more of an island holiday or Queensland trip that gets us thinking ‘beach’. But, we actually have beaches only around 1/2 hour from us here and we have sadly neglected them over the years. For me it was the thought of Melbourne’s ‘bay’ beaches and my old theory that ‘no waves, no beach’. Mind, I am nowadays a real Melbournite and defend Melbourne’s Port Phillip Bay beaches fervently! And the lack of waves is perfect for the little ones!

So, this stay-cation, on a beautiful autumn morning we headed off. The whole thing was magic – for the kids it was one big sandpit and an unconditional ‘get as wet as you like’ thing. For Mum and Dad it was all about having our feet buried, making sandcastles and the sound of the waves, seagulls and that other thing…what is it…oh yes, no kids arguing!

What we took for our Autumn morning beach trip;

the kids already in their bathers, sunscreen, Banz sunglasses ses and hats.
our 2yo, currently potty learning wore swim pants
water (check our range of gorgeous kids Cheeki drink bottles).
hot cross buns, its now officially pre-easter and I can’t resist them (ate morning tea on the way)
beach towels for everyone.
bucket and spades (raided the sand pit). And the bucket is great to bring your shells home in (show and tell, tick).
truck (our 2yo boy mainly played with this).
croc’s (easy on and off and good for checking out rock pools).
change of clothes (but why bother if the kids are dry when you’re getting back in the car and aren’t sandy).
lunch (ate on the way home). Don’t miss our Fridge to go to keep things cool for up to 8 hours!

What I’d recommend;

* If you don’t have one of those collapsible picnic baskets I recommend them. They’re great for tossing a whole lot of things together when heading out with the kids. You’ll use it a lot more than you think.

* Stuff it bags, I just grabbed one (from a row of them hanging in our broom cupboard) and filled it with our clean change of clothes. Another one for spare swim pants and wipes.

* If you’re like me and not keen to show off your beach body, don’t despair. I wore my swimmer pants under a light dress. There were no bikini’s there this time of year!

* Map out how to get there before you leave. I also goggled “best (insert your coastal area here) beach for kids” and read a few articles to choose one. Some had barbecue areas and playgrounds which would be OK if you were planning on going for a while and maybe had older kids.

* With younger kids don’t think you have to stay too long. We kept it simple and made it a morning trip – as our lot are fairly worn out after an active 1st semester at Kinder.

* coins – our car park needed coins to buy a ticket! And lets face it, with kids, park as close as you can I say.

So, if you’re not normally a beach goer, aren’t sure if your kids are old enough or worry about too long in the sun – pick a lovely autumn day and enjoy your staycation!

Bed rails for travel?

Heide said: April 6th 2011 9:59 PM

petronas-towers-i_2590367 — Petronas Towers

We are travelling to KL with our 2 daughters aged 5 & 2. Miss 2 sleeps in a normal single bed but with a bed rail. The hotel we are staying at cannot provide a bed rail for her (we will need on on each side) and we are having trouble hiring a set. Do you have any suggestions? We looked a DreamTubes but they do not allow the child to be tucked in. Thanks

Donna @ Little Gulliver said: April 8th 2011 4:43 PM

Hello Heide,

Thanks for your email, I’ve been happy to have a look and make some suggestions.

Dream Tubes

You’re right, the Dream Tubes seem like the best, certainly easiest, option. We have them on the radar for Little Gulliver, as we’re expanding our ‘Resting’ category. I hadn’t considered the tucking issue though. I must say outright that I haven’t used them, but I agree, certainly from the way they look there is no option to tuck under the tubes once installed. Its a shame as it seems like an otherwise perfect solution.

I would say though, generally, that the tucking wouldn’t bother our little ones. I would only worry about it for especially cold nights and would look at a sleeping bag or sleep suit to be safe. At least you should be OK there for your KL trip though (weather wise) and hotel rooms are generally nicely temperature controlled anyway. Just a sheet and blanket (even tucked in at the bottom) should be enough. And you could adjust with warmer or cooler pyjamas to suit.

I’ve also read a number of reviews on the Dream Tubes and people certainly seem to like them. The only negative I’ve heard about is the cost. For anyone who hasn’t seen them, they are inflatable ‘tubes’ you zip into a bed cover. This ‘You Tube’ video shows how to install them…

Magic Bumpers

These are foam bed rails. I’m uncertain if they can be purchased in Australia (but wonder whether a Clark Rubber or similar could cut out a couple to size)? They fit under the fitted sheet and mattress cover, so you may have the same problem as with the Dream Tubes, hard to tuck in. They would also take up more packing space, whereas the Dream Tubes fold up to the size of a beach towel. Take a look at the link and have a think. More on Magic Bumpers here.

Mattress only

Then, I wondered whether there would be room in your accommodation to do a little rearranging at bed time…could you potentially put the mattress on the floor? She may not like it though if her sister is in the ‘big girl bed’ and fiddling with the mattress could get a little annoying and too much work for a holiday!

Compact Travel Bed

Another thought is to consider a travel bed. They are either on or low to the ground, so worth a look. (Something like the Regalo could also be handy at home, when the inevitable sleep overs start)! I did a post about this you might like to check Little Gulliver Blog post – Compact Travel Bed.

Other thoughts

I’ve also wondered about the Toddler Coddler ‘Bedbugz’, but its looks like it may work the same as the Dream Tubes. I would also say they’d be harder to find in Australia then the Dream Tubes, as they don’t seem to have a local distributor?

Then there’s the Regalo Hide Away Bed Rail, but even if you liked them they may be too large for travel and awkward to install at your destination.

Hiring

Yes, I see what you mean about the hiring problem. It seems like you can get everything except for a bed rail! Here’s an article about baby equipment hire in kuala lumpur. It does suggest one hire/retail baby shop which you may not have looked at. Another thought could be to check if you can buy an appropriate bed rail to meet you there and maybe donate it (if it’s too big to bring home) before you leave? I’ve heard of people doing that before with strollers.

And finally

We have our 2yo in a bed too. We haven’t needed the rails though as its a little junior bed, so low to the ground. We’re travelling shortly for the first time since he’s been out of the cot, so it’s been good to get me thinking about what we’ll do. With your daughter though, as she’s in a normal single bed now, she may be already used to the height of the bed off the ground. Maybe you could try her without rails and have an assortment of pillows and blankets on the ground around her just in case?

I hope this post has been of some help, I’d love to hear how you go. Enjoy the rest of your planning and let us know if we can help again!

Regards,

Donna.

Embrace the stay-cation

If you haven’t heard of a “staycation”, perhaps you’ve heard of a “stoliday” or “holistay”. What is it? Its a stay at home holiday! I love this concept and I think the idea is a great one for both parents and kids. Its the ultimate slow down and spend time together. Make the ordinary extraordinary – in your own neighborhood!

family-cartoon

So often we get caught up in what we should be doing at home, but by embracing the staycation you are saying “no” to the vacuum cleaner and “stay away mop”. Don’t even get me started on the lawn mower! Swap the suitcase for your slippers I say!

To get your staycation happening consider the following tips;

1. plan how long you will be on your ‘staycation’ and stick to it.

2. organise a list of activities for each day

3. plan ahead if you need to buy anything beforehand

4. try and include something everyone will enjoy

5. include ‘special’ trips you don’t make often

6. make sure the whole family is on board – its not relaxing for you if someone starts cleaning out a cupboard!

7. stick to a schedule – try and be up and out of the house as you would on holiday

8. spend a day at home ‘playing’ – we parents may not take the time to really ‘play’ when we’re faced with the inevitable jobs around the house. Spend a day dressing Barbie, throwing the ball, building the best train track ever!

9. try and have a routine – just as the ‘maid’ would come in and make the beds in a motel – have everyone make their own, but must be done by, say, 9am! Do your other chores early and then forget them.

10. do your normal holiday things – take photos, send postcards, eat holiday food. Make your own at home!

Best time of day to travel

Mel said: March 27th 2011 8:22 PM
childinrestrained Hi! I will be traveling alone with my 19 month old son. What would be the best time to travel? I can get a 1am flight and I think I could get him back to sleep or one during the day? He is a very active little boy so I am leaning towards a night time flight. And I’ve checked, there are no flights around his bed time. He does travel well in the car on long trips. Any help would be great.

Donna @ Travel Toddler said: March 29th 2011 12:35 PM

Hi Mel,

a trip with your son sounds fun! I understand your thoughts on the best time to travel and it is certainly one we all wonder about. I guess its also worth giving some extra consideration when you’re travelling alone AND crossing a time zone, as you may be.

My only thoughts about travelling with a small child at night is to consider the worse case scenario. If he can’t get to sleep – neither can you and you may both begin your trip worn out. Of course you may
both board, drift off and wake blissfully hours later, its really hard to know!

Another thought is to consider your arrival time. Once I board a long flight I switch to the destination time and try and sleep accordingly. This always works for me and luckily I don’t suffer from jet lag. (I haven’t been able to try this with the kids though). The important thing is to consider what time of the day you will arrive at your destination -will you easily be able to make your way to your accommodation?

Of course, with either of these situations, you may not be able to have a choice, but when you do its something to think about.

To help with comfort on the plane take a look at the Zoobies (3-in-1 plush toy, pillow, blanket), animal neck rolls, disposable bibs and neoprene bibs. If you’re not using nappy pants, consider them as they are handy for a stand up change on the go. Try the ones that pull apart at the side (for travel they may be easier to get off if there’s a mess inside). The Little Gulliver Shop by age – Toddler category may be helpful. Also, I always pack a lunch box full of healthy snacks (after a history of flight delays). Make sure he understands only one snack at a time though (thats another story)!

playette_travel tray — Playette – Kids Travel Tray

And really, there are so many entertaining things on planes, people watching, perhaps looking out a window and don’t discount the in-flight magazine for a conversation starter. Take a look at the Little Gulliver – Play category for some extra activity ideas. Consider some colouring, while our Doodle Pro’s and Aquadoodle’s are popular for no mess. The Create-a-scene sticker books are also great for some creative fun with mum.

I’ve included some other blogs that have talked about some of these issues, you may find them useful;

is there a best time of day to travel with a baby or toddler?

first-time-traveling-with-baby-is-there-best-time-to-fly-other-advice

best time to fly part 1

travel tips

I think, instinctively, parents know whats best for their kids. So, after giving it some thought you feel your son will sleep well on the 1am flight, then perhaps he will. Ultimately, you’ve got to be comfortable and then, all going well, he too will be relaxed and enjoy the trip.

I hope you find this useful. I’ll also post your question on Little Gulliver’s Facebook page, some of the other parents (many of them frequent long haul travellers), may have some useful feedback.

Let me know what you decide and how it goes!

Regards,

Donna

Frommer’s on CARES

Arthur Frommer, of Frommers Travel Guides fame, recently included the CARES in his article “10 travel tips, including why you should go to China”.

Read the full article here.

Excerpt “10. Finally, among unusual new travel products is something called “CARES” (Child Aviation Restraint System), a harness-like seat belt for children under the age of 3 who also weigh less than 40 pounds. It’s an alternative to the child seat, and weighs only 1 pound.”

Arthur Frommer is the pioneering founder of the Frommer’s Travel Guide book series. He co-hosts the radio program, The Travel Show, with his travel correspondent daughter Pauline Frommer. Find more destinations online and read Arthur Frommer’s blog at frommers.com

Distributed by King Features Syndicate

Transport in Bali and Cuba

Nadia said: March 13th 2011 3:58 PM

Sent: March 14 2011 10:00 AM

My baby will be 8 months when travelling to Bali and 14 months when travelling to Cuba.

Do i need to take a baby seat with me, are seat belts installed in these country’s’ or is there other products that can help ensure the safety of my boy when travelling by car or bus without lugging around a cumbersome seat (we intend to backpack around).

Donna @ Little Gulliver said: March 17 2011 10:54 AM

Hi Nadia,

Car seats and their world-wide requirements is a really common question and sadly so hard to find information on. My thoughts are though, that I’m afraid you can’t go past a car seat to ensure ultimate safety, especially as some say driving in those areas tends to be a bit “haphazard”. The best option may be to take a car seat with you for car travel, but buses are unlikely to have seat belts.

International car seat laws

Now, the really annoying part for parents trying to do the right thing is that car seat standards are different the world over. Therefore, car seats approved for use here in Australia are unlikely to be “approved” for use overseas. So, is taking your own car seat practical anyway? In the 2 areas you are looking at it could be safe to assume the laws may not be too strict? And if you want to take a car seat on a plane that is a different problem all together.

I’ve got a few thoughts though, on how to make this a bit easier;

Rear facing car seat

I guess at 8 months and 14 months your son would still be in a rear facing car seat (at between around 9 – 11 kilos). If you didn’t want to take your own car seat, consider getting a second hand one specifically for the trip or a budget, light-weight version?

There’s also the Sit n Stroll from Lilly Gold, these are quite popular overseas and have had some good reviews. (I noticed there’s one on ebay in Australia at the moment. Also, I’m unsure if it is approved for use in Australian airlines or cars, so may just be useful for overseas travel). It’s worth checking how easy it is to convert from a stroller to a car seat…

The cars in both Bali and Cuba should have seat belts (but no bolts) so you’ll be fine installing a seat in a car, but as I mentioned the buses are unlikely to have seat belts (but you never know). Also, maybe look at a car seat which has a reclining feature since you may be on the road during sleep times.

Car Seat bags

Consider a car seat bag. Its an easy way to transport the car seat when not in use, there are some with wheels which make it easier to cart around. It also a great space to cram some extra nappies and wipes into.

Stroller

If you’re considering taking a stroller, we use a Quicksmart for travel. Another great option is to get a cheap umbrella stroller, one of the $20 varieties. They do the trick, you wont mind it it gets damaged in transit and you can even leave it there if you’re finished with it. Again, some sort of stroller bag may be handy, depending on what you’re already taking. And, have you seen the Ride On Carry On? I’m still a bit on the fence with this one, but it is popular and I can see it would be useful if you need an extra pair of hands. It may not work with your style of backpack anyway?

Car seat alternatives

I have to say first, that there really is no alternative to a car seat. But take a look at these and see what you think. There are 2 products that I know of which are designed to improve safety in vehicles. Again, neither really replaces the car seat. One is the Safefit. It moves a regular car seat strap into a more suitable position for a child. Coupled with a cushion booster seat to lift the child up, it could work well. Again though, some cushion booster’s are recommended from around 18 kilos, so not recommended for your child’s size. Another is the Ride Safer Vest. I’m not sure, again whether these would suit you at 8 and 14 months and how easily you could get one. A blog I have found useful (though our youngest is now 2, sigh), Travels with Baby, has a great car seat alternatives post (bearing in mind its US based).

Some reading on Cuba

In Cuba, it sounds like the Casa’s, hotels and rented apartments are great options for families, while travelling on public transport works well. Apparently just allow extra time for travel, as many Cubans will want to stop you to see your child! We have family visiting Cuba as we speak, so I may be able to add some more feedback about travelling there at a later time.

http://www.babygoes2.com/

http://www.lonelyplanet.com/

http://www.travelpod.com/

http://www.tripadvisor.com/

Some reading on Bali

http://www.balibaby.com/

http://www.tripadvisor.com/

CARES

Your son may still be too young to fit into a CARES flight harness for the travel you have planned for this year. It’s worth some thought for the future though, especially as you seem to be frequent travellers. And, of course, it and other handy Travel Essentials for Kids are available from www.LittleGulliver.com.au!

I hope I’ve been able to add some useful insights and information for you here. I’d love to hear what you think and how you go. They sound like great trips. There is a lot to think about re the car seat, so in the end, just go with what you feel comfortable with.

Finally, apologies for my delay in replying, I’m catching up after the labour day long weekend here in Victoria. We had some beautiful Autumn weather so all was good!

Regards,

Donna.

Child safety on board light aircraft

Phone query from Doug: March 1st 2011

Little Gulliver had a lovely phone call from Doug, who pilots his own light aircraft. He is looking into safety on board when he takes his grandchildren on a trip. The CARES will be used for the older children, but what are the best options for the baby (then aged approximately 3 months old)? The aircraft does not have bassinets installed.

Ben @ Little Gulliver said: March 3 2011 1:18 PM

Hello Doug,

Thanks for visiting Little Gulliver and your query on Tuesday. I spoke to Donna, our chief researcher, and your findings are in line with our understanding.

CARES with packaging For children over 1, the only two child restraint options for use in all phases of flight are an Australian standard car seat (AS 1754) or CARES restraint. Although, for an Aust. car seat to comply, the airline must be willing to provide the 3^rd overhead tether belt which may then restrict the use of any tray table directly behind the child’s seat and also limit feet rest area for the passenger behind. Each car seat will carry a different height and width dimension and this is why the airlines still have a policy of needing the exact make and model of the seat to cross check with the type of airline seat the child will most likely use.

We do not have access to any lists of which carseat is suitable for which airline seat unfortunately. For your particular aircraft, any Australian approved car seat that fits your seat configuration should provide a compliant seat for your baby passengers who are too young for a CARES. It will need to be setup in the window seat or bulkhead seat so it does not impede other passenger’s ability to move about. One brand we’ve seen mentioned is the Britax Safe N Sound Compaq car seat. The other brands I’d seen mentioned are US standard only so not available for use out here.

Additionally, airlines traditionally only recognise the car seat safety standard requirements of the country they are registered in, so US airlines will be OK with US standard car seats but not allow Aust standard ones on board. This makes it very difficult if travelling across multiple airlines for any overseas travel.

For a baby flyer, the options are even more limited. The infant lap belt is common on Australian airlines but banned in other parts of the world. Evidence appears to show them as relatively ineffective in certain circumstances too. A baby can be in a bassinet arrangement if under 3 months old, but you indicated this isn’t relevant for your charter craft. A suitable car seat or the infant lap belt are the only approved item for such young flyers.

Here’s a couple of articles that may be of interest, apologies if you’ve come across them already. Flying with babies – this is an article Donna published on our blog. This article also links to a Flight Safety Australia Fly Baby Fly discussing babies on board (it was published in 2004, but there appears to have been little progress on the issue since). We also list the links to the latest child restraint policies for most local airlines here.

I hope this helps, please let me know if I can assist with any other queries.

Kind regards

Ben

Dreams Come True at the ACMI

We had a lovely family day at the ACMI (Australian Centre for the Moving Image in Melbourne’s Federation Square) this past weekend. We saw the ‘Dreams Come True‘ exhibition – the art of Disney Classic Fairy Tales. Not only were there some of our favourite Disney movies showing (and we had a look how they were drawn) we also caught a train and a tram!

The kids loved wandering through the exhibition and were excited to see which Fairy Tale we would come to next! Starting with Snow White and finishing with Tangled it was (almost) too exciting…
We caught a tram there, a big treat if you’re 2, 3 & 4! Slight problem was, it had been that long since Mum and Dad had been on a tram we had some ticket issues. The ticket machine was only coin operated – and we didn’t have that many coins, ooops. Do people really know to carry change for trams? Anyway, plan ahead and buy in advance! Its worth checking the Met website too, you can buy Met tickets online and they deliver. There are Sunday savers too. I think we’ll stock up for next time!

As we had a warm weekend in Melbourne we had to break out the sunglasses, hats and sunscreen for the trip. The Banz sunglasses and hats are big hits at our house. The hats have an adjustable band and the three pairs of sunglasses all fit in one of the sunglasses cases for easy storage.

We arrived at Federation Square to find the Melbourne food and wine festival in full swing. There were many activities for kids (food related). We enjoyed planting our own strawberries and digging for potatoes. They also had ‘Willy Wonker and the Chocolate Factory’ on the big screen with deckchairs and free popcorn – very popular!
The temperature climbed to 27 degrees celsius, so the Cheeki drink bottles came in handy. The kids handle them really well. They have a twist spout (which I prefer as our kids tend to pull the pop tops with their teeth). I just keep an eye on the 2yo, as he doesn’t use his as much and sometimes closes the lid without closing the spout…

The only down side to the trip were the toilet facilities at Flinders Street Station, best avoided or at least make sure you have your Cleanspray. Enough said.

All in all a fun day out, we all had a ball. The kids managed to tire themselves out and went to bed early…mums and dads – dreams really do come true!

Travel Brochures Online

Plan your holiday with free travel information and free brochures.

I’m often asked for family travel ideas. A great way is to start with browsing some brochures and see what appeals. While there are a few brochure sites around, I like this one Travel Brochures Online. It includes great information from operators like Trafalgar, Intrepid, Peregrine, Club Med and Creative Holidays. You can download your brochure immediately or have up to 7 posted out to you. So if you’re planning a trip, or looking for ideas it is a good place to start! There are plenty of famiy travel ideas – go to ‘Special interest – Family’.

Note; and the good news is – this is a brochure service only – they will not contact you. For any travel reservations you should contact the tour operators direct.

Happy reading!

Flying 24hours with a Toddler

Chantelle said: February 21st 2011 9:39 AM

It will be our first time taking our 14 month on a plane to USA. Any tips for the such long flight would be a great help?

Donna @ Little Gulliver said: February 22nd 2011 1:02 PM

Hi Chantelle,

How lovely! At 14 months the little ones can be so different, some are up and about, on solids, breastfeeding or bottle. Travel tips can also depend a little on whether you’re travelling alone or with your partner. Other things can make a difference, such as whether you’re travelling on a holiday or visiting family (who may be able to have some goodies available for you on arrival). So, I’m giving a few general tips which I’ve found useful…
I’m guessing though that you are travelling with your partner, as you said ‘our first time’. This can make it easier, as that extra pair of hands is handy for a break for yourself, or even if your child needs a cuddle just as your meal arrives. On the other hand travelling alone with a toddler is ideal, as they really just want to be with you and its a great reason to enjoy some time together while you’re catered on!

You may have already looked at our shop by age category and flying with babies article. It may be worth a look if you haven’t, even though you’ve moved into the toddler years. Also, think about whether you may prefer a bassinet on board and consider booking one if you can. Think about whether booking a bassinet means your seat won’t recline and if that is OK with you. (In most aircraft the row of seats where the bassinets are don’t recline). It will also depend on the weight of your child, you may find you’re past the bassinet range on your airline.

Seating-wise, some parents opt to book a seat for their child, even if they don’t need to for the under 2’s. Alternatively you may also find yourself with a spare seat, which will allow you some extra room to spread out. At 14 months your child may be around 10 kilos, in which case the CARES harness is also an option (recommended for use with children weighing between 10-20 kilos). Much like a carseat does in a car, the CARES is attached to the aircraft seat and provides upper torso support. Some parents like it as it is more difficult to wriggle out of than the aircraft seat belts!

You may like to think about the layout of the plane – is there a particular location you may like, such as closer or further from the toilets etc. www.seatguru.com is a helpful resource for that as it shows the layouts of the aircraft. I generally like to sit on the aisle, as it is easier to get in and out with the little ones.

I have always found a Baby Carrier (like a Baby Bjorn or Infantino) for boarding and disembarking the

: Portable baby chair

plane really handy, depending on how big your toddler is now. Your child may be up and about already and too heavy! I also love the smart nappy bag which can be worn as a satchel or as a back pack – perfect for when you have baby in a carrier on the front! It’s really handy when travelling. Check out www.LittleGulliver.com.au for other handy baby travel items such as disposable bibs (very popular) and (new to the market) disposable change mats. Consider a breastfeeding blanket, portable baby chair and perhaps a Pea Pod travel bed or a zoobie (plush toy, pillow and blanket in one).

Some people mention medicating children and problems with their ears and the like. While it is always a good idea to have some pain relief with you, just in case, I have never found this to be a problem. When I first started travelling I gave them drinks if they looked anxious on take off and landing, but now we just sing songs or look through a book (our youngest has just turned 2).

Food-wise, consider a good insulated lunch box and drink bottle. Take more snacks than you think

Spencil Lunch Box

you will ever need. Then, at the appropriate time, pick one out or let them choose one only. I find mine always pick the really unhealthy thing first and when travelling I think that is OK. You may be treated to some great things on the plane though. Mine couldn’t keep the smiles off their faces on the way to Cairns once, they were given the biggest ice creams they had ever seen!

Nappy-wise, go for nappy pants. If they are wet only, I find they are so much easier to get on and off as they can do it standing up. Take plenty of wipes as they’re handy for all sorts of things. I also use disposable nappy sacs for clean up, to move any sort of rubbish out of your seating area quickly and easily.

Activity-wise, take something you know your child will like and I always get something new – more interesting for both of you! Maybe try an Aquadoodle, colour wonder, play doh, chubbies (cars, planes). For some ideas on travel activities see Ten tips for keeping a toddler busy on a plane and my Top ten travel activities.

Here’s some blog’s where mums have discussed their experiences on flying long haul with a 14 month old, they cover some great topics; Long Haul trips with 14 month old, Long Distance Airplane travel with babies, Flying long haul with 14 month old and Breastfeeding tips for travel.

I’ve sprinkled a number of Little Gulliver products through here, not as an intentional plug, but we’re got so many great products on board its hard for me to give tips without recommending them!

I think the most important tip though – is to relax and enjoy the trip! I know that sounds obvious, but I know with myself I get really wrapped up with the details and it generally works out OK anyway! Having said that, it doesn’t hurt to expect some discomfort – either a plane will be delayed or you get a headache or something…it is surprising how much more prepared for things you can be if you’ve considered it beforehand. And since you’ve emailed us, you’re obviously thinking about it, so are likely to be very organised!

Have a great time and let us know how you go.

Regards,

Donna