The BabyTravel team hit the road last week! It's not a very big team - 5 to be exact - largely comprised of people under the age of 8 or people who act like they are under the age of 8. Ahem. Our latest excursion was a voyage to Santa Barbara to visit my husband's grandmother, Mops, for Easter. Mops is 92 years old and had never met Christopher, our youngest, so everyone was VERY excited for the trip! … [Read more...]
Evaluating Lodging Options
February 17, 2010 by · Leave a Comment
One Friday in my mid-20's, I decided to escape a particularly nasty January in Minneapolis by taking a solo trip anywhere warm. I arrived in Miami the next day and rented a mini-van, which served the purpose of both transportation and accommodation for a week in Key West. Having a baby changes everything... including the places you stay when you travel. Gone are days of escaping on a whim, resigned to a course of fate's choosing. … [Read more...]
Beaver Creek, CO – A Winter Version of Disney
February 2, 2010 by · 4 Comments
As sacrilegious as it may sound to die-hard Disney fans, there is a place on this planet that is even more worthy of creating lasting family memories than Disney. This magical place is Beaver Creek, CO. Whether your pleasure is tubing, skiing, skating, roasting marshmallows or eating chocolate chip cookies, Beaver Creek will find a special place in your family's heart. … [Read more...]
The Best (and Worst) Airport Hubs for Traveling Families
January 28, 2010 by · 1 Comment
Unless you are traveling to and from a major city, it is likely you will have a connection before arriving at your final destination. Each airline has hubs through which it routes the majority of its connecting flights. When choosing your flight, it's handy to know which hubs offer kid-friendly options for traveling families. … [Read more...]
Entertaining Babies and Toddlers on Airplanes
January 22, 2010 by · 5 Comments
You paid more for luggage than the actual price of your airfare, you shoved your over-large stroller through the security checkpoint, and you watched in resignation as your child did laps around the moving walkways. As the plane boards, most parents suffer some degree of anxiety about the potential public humiliation they will endure if their child throws a tantrum on the flight. Whether your flight is a puddle-jump across the state or an epic trans-Pacific voyage, you'll need a strategy to keep the little one(s) entertained. … [Read more...]
The Perfect Baby Stroller
January 16, 2010 by · 1 Comment
Writing this article is akin to stepping into the void. If you think it's hard to choose a baby stroller, try writing a review about them! After scouring internet chat rooms, independent consumer reviews, Amazon reviews, baby equipment websites, baby stroller manufacturer websites and even YouTube, I think I finally have a clear perspective of todays stroller landscape. First, you probably need to accept the fact that you will need more than one stroller. If your life is dynamic (read: "not boring"), it will be difficult to find a one-stroller-fits-all solution. … [Read more...]
Prevent Airplane Ear
January 12, 2010 by · 3 Comments
The majority of parents traveling with young children worry about airplane ear. What Is Airplane Ear? A short anatomy lesson will help you understand airplane ear and how it develops. Ear pain is caused by a difference in pressure in the middle ear and the cabin of the airplane. This occurs most often and most intensely during descent, but it can happen during take-off as well. … [Read more...]
Destinations for Traveling with Baby
January 10, 2010 by · Leave a Comment
It was a running joke amongst friends that our family moved every time I got pregnant. Though it was a daunting task to move babies from Michigan to northern California, to Colorado and back to Michigan in a 3 year period, the experience provided tremendous depth for sharing baby-friendly destinations. Cities When choosing a place to vacation with young children, consider visiting a city. Most large cities offer an abundance of activities for parents traveling with young children. Whether you enjoy zoos, aquariums, fabulous playgrounds, children’s museums or a variety of dining options, … [Read more...]
Car Trip With Baby
January 3, 2010 by · 2 Comments
Successful Car Trip (suk-ses'ful kar trip) - A trip by automobile in which all passengers arrive at a given destination (though not necessarily the originally intended destination) alive and in one piece. Now that we've established the definition of "success" as it relates to taking a car trip with a baby, we can discuss some ideas that will make the experience truly enjoyable for both parent and child. … [Read more...]
Healthy Options at the Restaurant
December 7, 2009 by · 1 Comment
by Dr. Christine Wood, Author of How to Get Kids to Eat Great and Love It Eating out has become a way of life. In 1978, Americans got 18% of their calories from food eaten away from home. Today, it is almost twice that number. People who eat out tend to eat more calories and larger portions. Restaurant food and fast food choices are usually less healthy than choices made at home. Here are some healthy tips on eating out with your kids. … [Read more...]