Author: Little Gulliver

Kids Travel Toys – Inexpensive Fun On The Run

 

Crayola Mini Travel Colouring Pages

Kids travel toys do not need to be expensive or even have batteries to entertain. Follow these tips to create inexpensive travel activities for your kids.

Subscribe to kids’ magazines? Hide a few issues and pack them for the trip. If your kids pick them before you, head to a bookstore and select up a few new ones for the journey. While you are there, check out the selection of coloring/activity books to give as fun surprises along the way.

Visit your local library before the trip to stock up on new reading material. The library is also a wonderful source for audio books and DVDs but be sure to test them before the trip just in case they are scratched or damaged. Traveling at night? Include a book light in your travel bag. Keep the book light hidden until it gets dark to save batteries. Be sure to store batteries in the book light turned the wrong way so they do not get drained if the light is turned on accidentally during the trip. Remember to rotate them before using!

Use maps for fun and learning on the trip. Have children mark the route from home to the final destination and estimate the trip time. City maps are used to discover fun sites and activities in the destination city. Teach kids how to use a map legend to find parks and museums in the destination city or pitstops on a road trip.

Crayola Rainbow Twistables

Create travel journals using inexpensive notebooks or templates from the internet. Include pages for directed questions such as: favorite site, favorite restaurant, and best day. Also include blank pages for coloring and drawing pictures. Journals are also great for school age kids that need to complete homework on the trip.

Search for free travel activities and games on-line. There are downloads for a wide variety of travel games and activities.

Travel toys do not need to be expensive to be fun – these tips will help you create an adventure to remember on your next trip.

Colouring books crayons, pencils, pencil cases and more are all available in our Little Gulliver Games and Activities, Draw and Colour, and Stickers and Magnets section. Great ideas from The Kids Travel Store with only $6.95 delivery to your door!

How to teach infants and toddlers to wear Baby BanZ sunglasses

This article is courtesy of Baby Banz USA. Baby Banz are available here in Australia at Little Gulliver.

How to teach infants and toddlers to wear Baby BanZ sunglasses

Levi is relaxing in his Retro’s

Wearing Baby BanZ sunglasses, just like wearing sunscreen or fastening a seat belt, is a learned behavior. Kids learn fast, but if you don’t teach them to wear sunglasses as children, they may never learn. Here are some of our suggestions on how you can get your child to love wearing Baby BanZ sunglasses. We recommend starting your infant at 4-6 months of age so they are as used to wearing sunglasses as they are a hat, coat or socks!

1) When you first put Baby BanZ Shades on your child they should be in the sun – not indoors. Many parents try to “get the baby used to the sunglasses” inside, but due to the darkness of the lenses, this can be scary as the child’s world has just gone dim!

2) Make sure the polycarbonate lenses on the Baby BanZ sunglasses are clean. If not, clean them with a lens cleaner and soft cloth. If you don’t have lens cleaner, soap and water will do. Just don’t dry them with an abrasive paper towel.

3) Centre the Baby BanZ sunglasses so the nosepiece rests on the tiny bridge of the nose and the straps are above the ears. Adjust the neoprene strap to be just tight enough so that they don’t slip down, but not tighter. If they are too snug will not want to wear them.

4) It is normal, especially for older infants, to try to pull the Baby BanZ sunglasses off at first. But the more you put them back on and encourage them to wear them, the easier it gets. Start your child as young as possible. Remember that wearing.  Baby BanZ sunglasses for 5 minutes the first time is wonderful. It’s a new experience so build the time up gradually.

5) Set a good example by wearing your sunglasses, too! When mum/dad put on their sunnies, it’s time for baby to do so as well! You can make a game out of this by playing peek-a-boo or Simon Says as well so that baby copies your actions.

Scarlet loves her Adventure Banz

We hope these tips will help you get your child comfortable with Baby BanZ sunglasses for babies and kids.

Baby Banz are available here at Little Gulliver.

Book review – Travel with Kids

Like a lot of people we used to travel a lot before having kids. Now with children aged one and three we’ve been trying to work out the best way to holiday as a family i.e. how the kids can be happy, we can get a well deserved relaxing break, and we can have fun as a family. Not an easy thing to do. I’ve picked up a few of these books and they’ve never really got the balance right, they’re either not practical enough, or they’re so practical they take the fun out of the idea travelling with young a family.
This book gets it just right. It’s beautifully produced, which makes it a pleasure to read. The advice and guidance is full of practical stuff, but delivered in a way that’s meant to give you the inspiration and confidence to get on and book that trip.

Travel with Kids by William Gray

WILLIAM GRAY is an award-winning travel writer and photographer, specialising in family travel, wildlife and adventure. His first book Travel with Kids won the British Guild of Travel Writers Awards Best Guidebook in 2008. He lives in the Oxfordshire Cotswolds with his wife, Sally, and ten-year-old twins, Joe and Ellie.

Travel with Kids is beautifully written and photographed, but what do the readers think? Here’s some reviews from Amazon…

This definitive guide to worldwide travel with kids, from babies to teens, is available on the Little Gulliver Bookshelf. (Since becoming a mum, this has become one of my favourite books)!

The answer to my prayers?

Like a lot of people we used to travel a lot before having kids. Now with children aged one and three we’ve been trying to work out the best way to holiday as a family i.e. how the kids can be happy, we can get a well deserved relaxing break, and we can have fun as a family. Not an easy thing to do. I’ve picked up a few of these books and they’ve never really got the balance right, they’re either not practical enough, or they’re so practical they take the fun out of the idea travelling with young a family.
This book gets it just right. It’s beautifully produced, which makes it a pleasure to read. The advice and guidance is full of practical stuff, but delivered in a way that’s meant to give you the inspiration and confidence to get on and book that trip.
I’ve just booked a two week holiday for our family on the back of this book – so they’d better be right!

beautiful and informative

This weighty reference is an inspirational guide, and I can see it empowering parents to travel further and more intrepidly with the little’uns. It is brim-full of ideas for the whole family and I love the suggested reads for the kids, as well as projects for the brood. The photos are gorgeous and it is a pleasure to simply leaf through and imagine….sunshine, kids contentedly gathering shells or frolicking. ‘Your Child Abroad: a travel health guide’ would be its perfect partner.

Read this book before you plan your holiday

If you want some new ideas about where to go and what to do on a family holiday this is the book for you. It is a fantastic reference book to the world and you are guaranteed to find some new ideas no matter how much you’ve travelled and whether you’re planning to stay in the UK or Europe or to venture further.

The book looks great, is wonderfully designed and easy to dip in to. It is packed with practical information making it easy to organise a holiday yourself and gives loads of top tips about places to visit and things to do. There’s also some great ideas about books to read, games to play and things that you can do with your kids to get them in the mood for your chosen destination.

I have always enjoyed travelling but since having children have sometimes felt stuck for ideas. Having bought this book I feel the world has opened up again!

buy with confidence

Highly recommend this purchase.. we always take a travel guide where ever we go however this one is really useful for deciding where to go on holiday… it provides a brief summary of the things you need to know for destinations around the world. I’ve found this useful to decide where to take our next holiday. I also think this book is useful not just for families but for any avid traveller.

Brilliant

I bought this book as I have a 1yr old and a 2 yr old and wanted to find a holiday that was good for a baby and toddler and this book was fantastic as it gave me so many options – I have booked one of the places suggested and cant wait!

A lovely, useful book

Having bought most of the books about travelling with children, I like this one the most. It is colourful, useful and interesting, providing a good mix of locations from the more local to the far flung, whilst accepting that it can’t cover everything.I love the pages of kids stuff, and there’s a good balance of the useful and fun. It’s so colourful and exciting I get enthusiastic about the travel possibilities for my family every time I open it. It’s definitely destined to be one of the books on my shelf that is slightly grubby and falling apart through so much use!!

Exhaustive and entertaining

This is a fantastic book packed with information for parents and children. If you have been daunted by taking your kids overseas then this title will tell you everything you need to know. It includes preparation before you go, health, choosing a destination surviving on the road and what to do when you are there. There are also sections for your little ones, to get them excited about the destination.

I have followed Will’s writings on family travel in Wanderlust magazine, and I couldn’t think of anyone better qualified to write this book.

Would recommend for any travelling with children

I found this a great help for planning our holiday abroad. It recommends things and places to go right up until their teens and covers the world. I will definitely be using this book for inspiration for all future family holidays.

GUIDEBOOK OF THE YEAR 2008

Travel with Kids won the 2008 Guidebook of the Year Award from the British Guild of Travel Writers.

Here are some other reviews:

A well-packaged reference book that sets the benchmark.
BRITISH GUILD OF TRAVEL WRITERS’ AWARDS

The perfect book to have to hand when planning your family’s annual holiday.
JUNIOR MAGAZINE, AUTUMN 2008

One of those rare finds: a practical family guide as well as an entertaining read.
THE INDEPENDENT ON SUNDAY, DECEMBER 2007

A treasure chest of inspiration.
OPEN ROAD MAGAZINE (HERTZ), SPRING 2008

Packed with inspiration and advice for taking your children abroad.
WANDERLUST MAGAZINE 2007

Top resource for vacationing: Travel with Kids features exotic excursions, from hanging out under a pagoda in Kathmandu to puffin-watching in Wales.
NICK JR MAGAZINE (NICKLEODEON)

From tots to teens, this book helps parents get it right for different age groups, budgets and style of travel.
MTV MAGAZINE

Travel with Kids covers trips from bucket-and-spade holidays to epic journeys. `Take your kids travelling! Take them now!’ is William Gray’s message. `Children grown up fast and you’ll never find a better, more rewarding opportunity to enrich their lives, minds and souls – or yours – than a family holiday.’
DAVID WICKERS, GOOD HOUSEKEEPING MAGAZINE, APRIL 2008

A genuine must-have for parents with itchy feet everywhere.
ANGELS & URCHINS MAGAZINE 

This definitive guide to worldwide travel with kids – from babies to teens – is available on the 

Little Gulliver Bookshelf.

Travelling and Eating in Vietnam

This post is courtesy of Oscar’s mum and can be found at http://www.cookingforoscar.com/2010/09/30/travelling-and-eating-in-vietnam/.

I have a 2 year old son, Oscar, who was diagnosed with food intolerances just after his first birthday, following 4 weeks on an elimination diet. His intolerances include Salicylates, Glutamates, food colours, and most artificial preservatives. This means that most fruit, vegetables, herbs and spices and processed foods are excluded from his diet. I’m sure that I’m not the only parent trying to deal with these food issues, so I’ve decided to share our experiences.

Thursday, September 30, 2010
We have just arrived back from 12 days holiday in Vietnam, Oscar included.  Vietnam is probably not the easiest place to take a child with food intolerances, as it is almost impossible to find out what ingredients are in food.  But, with a lot of planning we made it through the holiday without Oscar having any food reactions.

Our plan was to stick to Oscar’s diet as much as possible for breakfast and snacks and pick the “safest” option for lunch and dinner.  We didn’t expect to be able to buy much from the safe list (other than bananas and pawpaws) and didn’t want to spend all our time there trying to find food either, so we took what we could with us.

The food we took with us for 12 days included:

  • 6 x Aunty Betty’s Vanilla Flavoured Creamy Rice (100g tin) – these were just the right size to take on the plane
  • 6 x Uncle Tobys Microwaveable Bowl Oats Original.  These can be made with boiling water, which is handy for hotel rooms.
  • 6 x 425g cans of pears in syrup
  • 8 x Fosters Chocolate UHT custards
  • Dried fruit
  • Mixed plain sweet biscuits – Arnotts Milk Coffee, Arrowroot, etc.
  • Arnotts savoy biscuits
  • Lollies (for bribery purposes)
  • Powdered milk (for taking on the plane in case we couldn’t get any on board)
  • Small box Rice Bubbles
  • Pear Jam
  • Assorted zip lock bags and disposable plastic containers for storing food and taking out with us in small quantities.

All of this took up quite a bit of space in our suitcases, but the upside was that once all the food and nappies had been consumed we had an empty suitcase that we could fill with shopping.

Because we were flying overseas the food we took for the flight had to comply with the liquids and gels limit of 100 ml/100 g per container and all the items to fit in a 25 x 25cm zip lock bag each.  In our hand luggage we took a couple of 100g Choc Rock yogos, and a small container of jam, a tin of creamed rice, bananas, pears, a packet of croissants and the powdered milk.  To keep the jam and yogo cold I bought a thermal bag (smash brand) that doesn’t need ice and a packet of the smallest gel ice packs I could find (also by smash).  I included one of these in the zip lock bag with the jam, yogo and creamed rice and had no problems going through security with it.  We took powdered milk because I couldn’t find any UHT milk containers that were 100ml or less.   There is supposed to be an exception for liquids that are food or drink for babies and children but I think it depends on which security person you get as to whether they will let something bigger through.  We didn’t need the powdered milk on the plane, as we were able to get it as part of the drinks service.  It did come in very handy though when our flight was delayed landing for 3 hours and we arrived at our hotel too late to go out and buy any.

Breakfast for Oscar consisted of Rice Bubbles or porridge with milk/water to drink followed by something from the breakfast buffet at the hotel – scrambled eggs on toast, bananas, pancakes/toast with butter and/or pear jam and, not to be left out when his parents pigged out on the pastries, a chocolate croissant.  Unlike his parents, Oscar wasn’t greedy, he pulled the croissant apart and only ate the chocolate centre!

Snacks came from the food we brought with us, plus we supplemented and provided variety with icecreams and drinks when we were out:

  • Banana juice
  • Banana and pear (Nashi) juice – Moderate Salicylate
  • Chocolate or Banana Smoothies/Milkshakes
  • Coconut smoothie – made from fresh coconut – Moderate Salicylate
  • Icecream – vanilla, chocolate, coconut (moderate salicylate)
  • Small can of lemon and lime 7up

We were also able to buy raw cashews, milk, bread to have with pear jam and plenty of bananas.

Lunches and dinners were a bit harder.  We tried to pick the safest option from the menu, which was usually a western meal, such as chips, chicken nuggets, fish fingers and pastas with cream sauces.  Not the healthiest diet, but the nuggets and fish fingers and some of the chip servings were freshly made, not the commercial  variety, so preservatives were less likely.  We also let Oscar try anything on our plate that he was interested in (apart from the chillies and really spicy food), and he did try some noodles and spring rolls.

Some other things we found useful for travelling overseas with a toddler included some great products from Little Gulliver – the CARES child safety restraint for use in planes, the Cushie Traveller folding toilet seat, the kids inflatable neck cushion, the Wrist Buddy for keeping us tethered together when out walking in crowded places, and the Little Gulliver disposable wrist bands for recording Oscar’s name and our details in case he got lost..

We also took a DVD player (cheap one from Dick Smith) – which was great on the plane when the lights were turned out and the entertainment system didn’t work – an MP3 player, and a set of Moshi Kids Headphones which are volume limited to protect kids ears, no matter how loud the volume on the device is.

Oscar carried (some of the time) his own backpack which contained some new and old favourite books, sticker books, Crayola twistable crayons (they don’t break when dropped) and colouring books, a special toy and a mini doodle.  I also took extra new books, colouring books and sticker books for the trip home and as a distraction at other times.

This post is courtesy of Oscar’s mum and can be found at http://www.cookingforoscar.com/2010/09/30/travelling-and-eating-in-vietnam/

Potette Plus in Action

Potty training is much easier than it used to be. With Potette Plus you can always have a clean potty or training seat available whenever you need it (its a 2 in 1)! The Potette Plus is available at www.LittleGulliver.com.au for $19.95 Buy Potette Plus. And while you’re there, don’t forget to pick up some spare liners!

Here’s 2 video’s that show how the Potette works…

Don’t worry, if we ever make a Potette Plus video – we’ll use a different soundtrack!

Fear of Flying Cartoon

I’m putting together some information to help parents who have little ones “uninterested” in flying. Our 3 year old has recently shown some fear, such as not wanting to sit near the window and has more recently been uncomfortable looking out the window when decending.

I came across this old Tom and Jerry cartoon on You Tube. It stars ‘Droopy and Dripple’ and ‘Mr McWolf” where they help him overcome (using some interesting methods) his fear of flying. It runs for around 6.49 minutes. The kids should get a laugh!

Book review – Take Your Kids to Europe

Take Your Kids to Europe by Cynthia Harriman

Check Cynthia’s own website for some more info on her book www.takeyourkidstoeurope.com. She wrote the book after taking her own kids there for 4 months! But what do the readers think? Here’s some review from Amazon…

Advice from your best friend

User Review  – Arline K. Wills “Arnie Wills” – Amazon.com –

Cynthia Harriman writes like she’s giving you advice from your best friend, one who’s been there and done all that and wants to help you have as much fun and adventure. Planning such a trip sounds … Read full review

A solid base for your travel plans

User Review  – AD Stevenson – Amazon.com –

I bought this book as a supplement to my already strong European travel plans (been before several times) and expected I might get one or two things from it. I was surprised and delighted by the great … Read full review

Wonderful Book!

User Review  – L. Smith – Amazon.com –

If you are planning an extended stay in Europe with children, you need this book! Take Your Kids to Europe, 7th: How to Travel Safely (and Sanely) in Europe with Your Children (Take Your Kids to … Read full review

Review: Take Your Kids to Europe, 7th: How to Travel Safely (and Sanely) in Europe with Your Children (Take Your Kids to Europe)

User Review  – Judy – Goodreads –

Great resource! I read a different edition – this is the most recent. Read full review

Invaluable Advice!

User Review  – Martha Rausch – Amazon.com –

This book is indeed a godsend for parents. Although it’s geared to Western Europe, over half the book focuses on universal tips that would also be helpful in Turkey or… Read full review

Take Your Kids to Europe

User Review  – Jason Wells – Amazon.com –

We live in London, and travel every chance we have. This book provides great ideas for structuring trips and helping children enjoy the sights and experiences. It’s a good companion for families … Read full review

Great ideas and advice

User Review  – S. Moon – Amazon.com –

This book has great ideas on dealing with budgets, luggage, etc. I especially like that they were keen on the idea of an ‘extended’ stay in Europe eg, several weeks, and provided some sound examples … Read full review

Genuinely “all-family” must-have guidebook

User Review  – bensmomma “bensmomma” – Amazon.com –

The payoff for reading Cynthia Harriman’s “Take Your Kids to Europe” carefully is tremendous. We have a five-week trip to Europe coming up and our copy if already getting dog-eared from overreading … Read full review

Great book

User Review  – Michelle W. Jones – Amazon.com –

This book covered a lot of great things to consider when thinking about going to Europe. It was more geared toward a longer stay and older children, but I think that I’ll be… Read full review

Very Useful book

User Review  – Alisa – Amazon.com –

This book had places to visit for kids that it I couldn’t find in any other travel book. It had great tips on how to entertain kids to how to get kids to try other foods in other… Read full review

Recommended Reading for the Once in a lifetime trip

User Review  – Joanna Loffler – Amazon.com –

Great Book, going to be invaluable for planning our big family trip. Not all the information is relevant to Australians or anyone other than American’s but there is… Read full review

Bookshelf on sale!

These family travel guidebooks are written by parents for parents and are able to answer lots of those questions we ask ourselves. Many fabulous destinations are covered.

The expert guide to great value, child-friendly destinations in England, Scotland and Wales

For a limited time we have our Bookshelf on sale.

These family travel guidebooks are written by parents for parents and are able to answer lots of those questions we ask ourselves. Many fabulous destinations are covered. They’re also beautifully presented and make great gifts for families! Take a look…Little Gulliver Bookshelf.

The ‘Extras’ I always pack

There are a few accessories that we always travel with. We really like creating some familiarity for the kids (and ourselves). Although we’re not really strict on routines we try and stick to our basic patterns, no matter where we are.

 

GAIA bath time fun pack

Accessories

 

There are a few accessories that we always travel with. We really like creating some familiarity for the kids (and ourselves). Although we’re not really strict on routines we try and stick to our basic patterns, no matter where we are. (We’ve had our children quite close together, 14 and 17 months apart – so we’ve found what works for us and stuck to it)!

  • iPod for sleep music – Our kids have ‘Music for Dreaming’ every sleep. It is a sleep cue we have used since before they were born! It is also great for drowning out background noise in small hotel rooms or noisy family gatherings. (I also have some fun music loaded for play when stuck in a hotel room or to lift some cranky moods – Jay, The Wiggles, Justine…)
  • Night light – We have never used night lights in the kids rooms until recently, so we are taking it for familiarity. We always have one in the bathroom at home though, so we have one for on the road.  They are handy for bathrooms, toilets and hallways not lit up at night and better than turning on a bright light if you are doing a midnight toilet assist.
  • Gro bag – I love gro bags and have used them for each of our children from babies until they moved out of cots (our youngest is still in a cot). I find a gro bag is a great way to have some familiarity on the road and is easy to pack. At home I have a 1 and 2.5 tog per gro bag size, but only travel with 1 – depending on the weather expected at the destination.
  • Body wash/ shampoo/conditioner – while its fine to go easy on yourself when you’re travelling (if you have the room) thinking about bathing is a good thing. If you have ever looked at the ingredients on those motel complimentary items, then you may be happier using your own! (GAIA is a great brand and Little Gulliver stock handy travel sizes for just this purpose).
  • Activities – colouring books + pencils. I never travel without activities. I also take a separate lot for the destination as well as the journey! Variety keeps it interesting. These things don’t have to be too sophisticated either. This time I took sticker books and Crayola colour explosion.
  • Books – I always take a few favourites that are in high night-time reading rotation. That way you know, no matter what the mood, the kids will be entertained. I try and throw a new one in, that I know they will like also.
  • Comfort toys – whether your child has an old faithful or would like to choose one for the trip – pack one. It can be comforting to see a familiar face smiling up at them sitting on a bed in unfamiliar surroundings. For our baby, once they are sitting up I always put a board book and a comfort toy in the cot. They are used to this at home, so we do it on the road.
  • DVD’s – no matter how you feel about the box, it can help to get them to sit still for a minute. On our last holiday I found our kids were playing at a level of energy I had never seen before. The only way to get them to sit for a minute was some “quiet time”. If you’re staying in a motel check ahead if they have DVD players, some older style apartments may have video’s (if you don’t have any video’s – check your local op shop)! Internationally, perhaps you are travelling with a lap top that the kids could watch something on occasionally.
  • Medical – last trip the kids and myself got quite sick and I felt too sick to venture out to the chemist! This time I am taking medication (some basics for pain and fever) just in case.

Ok, thats it for the accessories – next installment will be what we take on the plane!

Ten Tips for Keeping a Toddler Busy on a Plane

So, you’ve packed the bags, cancelled the papers and are really looking forward to being away for a couple of weeks free from the usual routine but you’re really anxious about keeping your young kids occupied on that long plane flight.

So, the seat belt goes through this loop?

So, you’ve packed the bags, cancelled the papers and are really looking forward to being away for a couple of weeks free from the usual routine but you’re really anxious about keeping your young kids occupied on that long plane flight.

Besides packing a few great new travel toys that your toddler hasn’t seen before, you’ll want to have some airplane activities that won’t break, get lost or cost the earth.

So here are some practical tips for travelling with toddlers and preschoolers that will help you to relax, enjoy the journey and help you all arrive with your sense of humour!

1. Bathroom

Make sure that your toddler has used the toilet before boarding the aircraft as they are spacious and much cleaner compared to the aircraft ones! It’s also a good idea to carry a supply of baby wipes and be sure to put them in a place where you can easily reach them throughout the flight.

2. Seat choice

Only choose bulkhead seats if your baby needs a baby bed as the armrests can’t be moved. Normal seats are far better if your baby or toddler wants to lie down on the seat with their head on your lap as the armrests can be moved up which is far more comfortable.

3. Ear pressure

If your baby is breastfeeding or on a bottle, give them the breast or bottle during take-off & landing as it is the best thing for their sensitive ears. They will be more relaxed and far less distressed and you will feel more at ease too.

If your child is older, then carry cotton wool or ask for earplugs as soon as you board the aircraft. Make use of them for take-off then save them for landing as the crew may not have any fresh ones left by then. Or play a yawning game with them to see how many times they can yawn on take off or landing as this helps pop their ears so the pressure doesn’t cause them discomfort.

4. Food

Carry a supply of biscuits, water, juice & healthy snacks for your toddler. Raisins are great for keeping little hands and minds occupied for quite awhile and also carry milk packets (the UHT small packets) yourself. Airline snacks run out in flight and milk is a shortage very often too so bring your own so you won’t panic if they run out.

5. Bottle heating

If you ask the crew to heat up your baby bottle check the temperature of the liquid yourself periodically and don’t depend on the crew as they are extremely busy. Most crew in Economy Class are not mothers themselves (as they are very young) so they don’t necessarily know the right temperature for your child’s feed. Airline crew are most willing to help but it’s always best to take responsibility for your own child’s bottle.

6. Health

If your child has a cold it’s a good idea to see a doctor before the flight to check if your child is fit to fly. Toddlers flying with a cold can experience terrible pain during take-off & landing and it’s also dangerous to their eardrums too!

7. Clothes

Always carry a change of clothes for your child and it is a good idea to carry a change of top / t-shirt for yourself too. You never know when you will need it…

8. Rubbish

Get a carrier or plastic bag from the crew, to put your rubbish in as you go along. It helps to keep your area clean and more organised. Also take fragranced bags with you to dispose of your nappies before putting them in the toilet bins provided.

9. Books

It’s always a great idea to carry reading books (new ones as well as old favourites), colouring books and crayons, as well as an ipod with their favourite songs and stories to listen to.

If you can carry a portable DVD player they are usually a big hit with toddlers. If you bring your own DVD player and your child’s favourite DVDs then you will have full control over the content and also the timing of their video entertainment which is good for maintaining a healthy balance about how much they watch. Another alternative might be to play their DVDs on your laptop.

10. Games to play

Toddlers often get naughty when they experience long delays to their journey, so being prepared is half the battle.

* Pack a goody bag filled with activities to keep them occupied and busy and include things like play dough, a few blocks, some small board books, a little car or your toddler’s favourite teddy. You could also wrap each item in wrapping paper a few times too and play pass the parcel with them, to add to the fun and excitement.

These ideas are best and most effective for keeping your child occupied during the normal waking hours on a flight as they encourage your child’s imagination and creativity.

* Put some fun pictures onto your digital camera of the people and places you are going to visit or pictures of a recent trip you’ve been on, like to the zoo, for your child to look at. During the flight, you can relive the fun and tell stories about where/who you’re visiting. It will keep your little one busy and relaxed which will make the flight a pleasurable one for all of you.

* When the flight attendant delivers drinks, ask for a cup, a couple ice cubes, and a straw. There are endless games you can make up with this combination as ice is fascinating to toddlers. Make sure that the ice doesn’t end up in their mouth though as it is a choking hazard.

* Bring a book of Finger Rhymes to teach your toddler. Great ones are “Finger Rhymes” by Marc Brown and “Little Hands, Finger Plays & Action Songs: Seasonal Activities” by Emily Stetson and “365 Games Smart Toddlers Play” by Sheila Ellison

* Learning how to fasten and unfasten an “old fashioned” seatbelt, jacket zipper and poppers or buttons on their clothing (or a carry on bags) can keep them occupied for a long time too.

* And don’t forget the old favourite of peek- a- boo if you’ve got friendly neighbours and “I spy”!

It’s all about relaxing, imagining the journey going really well a couple of nights before you fall asleep, so your unconscious gets ready for the journey positively, and planning ahead. It’s also about being flexible and relaxed when unexpected things happen that you have no control over. Toddlers will pick up on your vibes so lighten up, chill out and have a brilliant holiday!

This great article comes from www. Parenting Australia.com.au  

Sue Atkins is a Parent Coach and Author of “Raising Happy Children for Dummies” one in the famous black and yellow series and mother of two children. She has written many books on self esteem and toddlers and her Positive Toddler Taming CD and ideas book is available from her website. To find out more about her work and to receive her free monthly newsletter bursting with practical tips and helpful advice for bringing up happy, confident, well-balanced children from toddler to teen go to => http:/www.positive-parents.com