Now I’m the one flying with children! Oh, how the mighty have fallen. It’s my 10 year anniversary of being a traveling mom. Ten years ago, in November 2002, I took my first international flight with our oldest daughter, Gracie. Since then, we added 2 more kids to the herd and have flown well over 100,000 miles. We just returned from a month-long trip to Thailand and Dubai. The children (and adults) fared superbly on 55 hours on airplanes.

But that’s not to say we didn’t have to put a lot of thought and planning into managing expectations. (How do you prepare an active 6 year old boy for a 15 hour flight?)

Kim Wallace on BabyCenter.com provides some solid air travel advice.

The Secret to Flying with Children

Like many parents with young children, you may have a fear of flying that has nothing to do with the aircraft and everything to do with the possibility of a tantrum at 30,000 feet. In close quarters. In front of strangers. But don’t worry. With careful and creative planning, you can help ensure that tensions don’t rise when the plane does. Here are some child-tested suggestions from travel experts — flight attendants, travel agents, and frequent-flier parents — for air travel with young children.

Flying With Children: Booking your flight

Nonstop flights are preferable in most cases, since there’s only one ear-popping descent to worry about. (Young children have a hard time coping with the uncomfortable pressure changes that accompany landing.) Also, with nonstop flights you avoid the hassle of lugging everything and everyone to a connecting flight. On the other hand, depending on the length of your flight and the temperament of your child, you may want to schedule a layover. Some parents find that splitting international or long domestic flights into two legs is helpful; their children can enjoy a brief change of scenery and stretch their legs.

If you’re catching a connecting flight, New York travel agent Rabia Shahenshah suggests budgeting at least an hour for the connection. If you don’t want to battle crowds, avoid peak flying hours. The emptier flights depart late at night, in mid-afternoon, and early in the week. If avoiding potential delays is a higher priority for you, consider booking the first flight of the day.

Most important, view the journey through your child’s eyes as much as possible. What time of day would be best for him? Will he be tired enough to sleep? Too excited to sleep at all? You’re the expert when it comes to your child’s personality and scheduling needs.

When you’re flying with children, you can request a special meal for your child if he’s a picky eater. Every major airline offers special meals, but most require notification at least 24 hours before takeoff. Children’s menus feature familiar items like peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and burritos; some airlines even offer meals from popular fast-food restaurants. Your child will likely prefer one of these options to “mystery meat” and rice. (By the way, you can order a child’s meal for yourself, too.)

It’s good practice to schedule an appointment with your pediatrician before the flight if your child has symptoms of a cold. He might have a mild ear infection, and you may not know it until it’s too late. An infected eardrum can rupture during the descent, causing excruciating pain and permanent hearing damage. If this is a possibility, you may need to postpone your flight.

Flying With Children: Sitting in the Gate Area

In her 28 years as a flight attendant, Chicago-based Cheryl Kinkead has witnessed countless parenting successes and disasters. She suggests arriving at the airport early so you can have your seats assigned (or confirm assignments made at the time of booking) ahead of the crowd. Otherwise, if it’s a full flight you risk being separated from your child.

Another reason to arrive early: Bulkhead seating. Many parents swear by these front-row seats because of the increased legroom and proximity to the lavatories. Normally, these seats are reserved for frequent fliers until the day of the flight, when any remaining spots go up for grabs. But bulkhead seats have their drawbacks, too. For one thing, says Lani Leydig, a travel agent based in San Mateo, California, there’s no under-seat storage; if you request bulkhead seats, say good-bye to your carry-ons until the “fasten seat belt” sign is turned off.

While you wait to board, encourage your child to expend as much of her energy as possible so he’ll either sleep or relax during the flight. Some airports (Seattle, San Jose, Pittsburgh, Chicago, and Boston) have Kidsports play areas, complete with blocks, slides, crawl spaces, and the like. If you find yourself in one of these child-friendly airports, it’s important to establish a time limit right away. Keep reminding your child that it’ll soon be time to go; this may forestall a tantrum later.

This is also a good time to help calm your child’s fears about flying, if he’s anxious, and to help him feel comfortable with the transition from ground to air, says Georgie Chambers, a mother of three from Davis, California. Ask him what he thinks takeoff will feel like. What will the plane look like inside? What kinds of sounds will it make as it takes off and lands?

Reiterate your travel plans to your child. Remind him where you are going and what you’ll be doing there, so he knows what to expect. This is also a good time to talk about behavior on the plane. If you anticipate trouble, try using a reward system to manage your child’s in-flight behavior. Explain that he’ll receive a special treat — a gift, some special time spent together, a trip to the ice-cream shop — if he sits quietly. And don’t forget to make a pit stop before boarding, to cut down on trips to the tiny airplane bathroom.

Flying With Children: Boarding

To preboard or not to preboard? It’s a long-standing debate. Families in favor say it’s best to board early to ensure finding plenty of storage space. Preboarding also gives you time to properly position your child’s car seat in the plane. That said, your child might not be thrilled about confinement in a cramped cabin. Airplanes tend to be stuffy before a flight, and you never know how long you’ll wait before takeoff. That’s why some parents advocate waiting until the last moment to board.

Flying With Children: During the flight

Once the flight is under way, it’s time to play Santa Claus. (Santa flies, too, right?) Every hour or so, give your little one a gift to unwrap. The presents don’t have to be fancy or expensive; they might include books, snacks, or stickers. But it’s best to give items your child has never seen before, since these will hold his interest the longest. A little creativity goes a long way, too. Airsickness bags dolled up with crayons become puppets. A piece of paper taped to the window serves as a sticker gallery.

It’s important for your child to be entertained, but you can best achieve that goal by giving your child attention. Explain the sights as the plane takes off and lands. Take an active interest in the things that amuse him. The more secure he feels, the happier his trip will be.

Of course, eventually your child will want to walk around. If the aisles are free of carts and the seat belt sign is off, take him for a stroll. He may even meet other children his age.

In the confines of the cabin, it’s wise to be a little more lax with discipline than you normally would be. Quiet conduct that you ordinarily wouldn’t tolerate may be preferable to the protests that you could provoke by being too strict. If your child does reach the boiling point, remind him that he stands to lose his good-behavior reward. And if he still doesn’t cooperate, it’s important to follow through — don’t give in and give him his reward once you’re off the plane. If he learns that Mommy and Daddy are softies in public, his behavior in these situations will only get worse.

Barring any outbursts, the most difficult part of the flight is the descent. When the plane reaches 8,000 feet, the pressure inside our ears is higher than the cabin pressure, and our ears start to pop. Your little one won’t know how to relieve the pressure, so he’ll need your help to keep the discomfort at bay. Play a game in which you make funny faces at each other. This will get him to stretch his facial muscles and move his jaw, just as adults do to relieve ear pressure. And have a bottle, sippy cup, or juice box ready for him, since swallowing will also help.

Back at the gate, it pays to wait while other passengers leave the plane. The cabin staff will most likely help those bringing up the rear — including children and their tired parents.

Bon voyage! We wish you the best in your adventures flying with children!

The answer is an emphatic “yes”!  Even when traveling to Mexico, EVERY U.S. citizen is required to have a valid passport. The only exception is travel to Canada by land or sea. When traveling from Canada by air, you are still required to present a valid passport upon return to the United States. This includes children. But a child is still allowed back into the US from Canada with only a birth certificate as proof of citizenship.

How Failure to Provide Valid Passports for Children Can Wreck Your Trip

Six weeks ago, we had a two week trip to Mexico scheduled over Thanksgiving break. For weeks before the trip, dreams of warm sandy beaches, swimming with dolphins and lunch by the pool sustained us through a cold, wet northern Michigan fall. The night before our trip, we stayed in a hotel near the airport in anticipation of an early morning departure.

The morning of the flight, we dragged the kids out of bed at 5:30am to eat a hurried breakfast in the hotel lobby. Then everyone bundled into the cold car and dashed off to the airport for a 7:40am departure. Despite being cold, tired and a little hungry, the energy level in the car was high and everyone was in good spirits. That was soon to change.

Upon arrival at the airport, John parked the car while I got the kids and luggage to the United Airlines check-in counter. I presented all the documentation to the agent. As she opened Christopher’s passport book, I commented on how cute he looked in his baby picture. Suddenly, my throat felt like I’d swallowed a lump of state bread. Christopher looked about 6 months old in the photo. And Christopher is 6 years old now. Children’s passports expire 5 years from their issue date. Even as the agent looked up, I already knew what she was going to say. “Ma’am, are you aware your son’s passport has expired?”

Phone calls were made in a desparate attempt to see if there was any exception that could be made. But all parties involved knew it was an exercise in futility. After all, we were in the unrelenting realm of the Department of Homeland Security.

I felt like I’d been slapped across the face. In the intricate dance of “who does what” in the family, passports are indisputably my responsibility. To make matters worse, my husband had e-mailed a reminder weeks ago to make sure all the passports were current. I’d failed to open that e-mail.

Surrounded by faces stricken with disappointment and despair, I collapsed in tears and kept repeating, “I’m sorry. I’m so, so sorry.” John and the kids’ feeble attempts to console just made matters worse. Most of the drive home was very quiet, with the exception of Christopher saying things like, “Why aren’t we going to Mexico? I was really looking forward to going to Mexico”, only to be hushed by his sisters before mom started crying again.

Later that afternoon, John was able to reschedule the flight and hotels for the following Saturday. It would be a slightly shorter trip, but at least we would get to go. Now the challenge was to get Christopher’s passport application submitted and returned in 5 days time.  It was Friday and we needed the passport by Wednesday prior to the US Passport Office closing on Thursday for Thanksgiving weekend.  I contacted PassportsandVisas.com. No problem. With a LOT of money, including over $100 in Fed Ex charges, we would have the passport in time.

On Tuesday morning, I got a call. “Hi, Christy? This is Mark at PassportsandVisas.com. I have some really bad news. Your son’s passport application was rejected. The letter authorizing us to submit his passport application was on the outside of the sealed envelope, not inside the sealed envelope.”  When I submitted all the paperwork at the post office, the post office’s instructions said to put the letter of authorization on the outside of the envelope. I told them that I had two copies. Why not just put one copy  inside the envelope and one outside the envelope, as instructed by PassportsandVisas.com website?  But the post office employee was reluctant to put anything in the envelope that was not included in his instructions. And so… the passport application was rejected.

Mark had more bad news. They missed the window for same-day service on Tuesday to re-submit the passport. And the US passport offices were refusing to do same day service on Wednesday due to the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday. So the passport would not be in my hands until the following Monday, thereby missing Saturday’s flight.

My hands started shaking and I broke out in a sweat. This can’t be happening! I asked for the number for the US Passport offices and Mark gave me the main information line, though he said that there really wasn’t anything that could be done.

I spent the day working my way from supervisor to supervisor and finally ended up on the phone with a high level US passport specialist. The only reason I had a case at all was because the post office employee was acting as an agent to the US passport office when they process passport application. If a US passport agent had the wrong instructions, then it was arguably an internal US passport agency issue that caused the application denial. After seven hours of calls, e-mails, etc. the passport was completed and was picked up by the courier for Passportsandvisas.com. Mark was extremely helpful through the process. In the end, he said that in 13 years working with the US Passport Office, he’d never seen anything like this. It was nothing short of a miracle.

How To Get US Passports for Children

Rules and regulations change. Always check the U.S. State Department page on Passports for Children to verify you have the latest information. If you are obtaining US passports for children through the post office or another US passport application acceptance facility, be sure to make an appointment in advance to avoid unnecessary waiting.

Items You Need to Get US Passports for Children

1) Both parents and the child need to be present. If one parent is not present, you will need a notorized letter of authorization from the other parent. Go here for details on how to handle a spouse that is MIA or sticky custodial situations. Both parents will need to provide a photocopy of identification. This includes a US issued driver’s license or passport. You also need to have this piece of identification with you when you appear in person.
2) Form DS-11. Complete Form DS-11 online or print out for DS-11 and fill it out by hand. DO NOT SIGN IT. You must sign it in front of a US passport acceptance official.
3) Proof of U.S. Citizenship. This can be a birth certificate or a previous US passport.
4) Proof of parent’s relationship to the child. In almost every case, this is a birth certificate. In those sticky custodial situation, you will also need a court order establishing custody.
5) One passport photo that meets the US State Department’s passport photo guidelines. This can be incredibly challenging to do on your own. Rather than risk the rejection of your passport application, it’s best to go to a drug store or post office where passport pictures are taken on a regular basis.
6) Fee for US passports for children.
The US Passport office provides a means for you check the status your application online5-7 days after applying for passports for children.

US Passports for Children on Short Notice

If you are leaving for a international trip within the two weeks or are visiting a country that requires a visa and are departing withing four weeks, you will need to appear in person at one of 24 regional passport offices in the U.S. or submit your application through a reliable passport and visa expediting service. I was very impressed with my experience through Passportsandvisas.com. They were willing to jump through hoops in our Mexico travel debacle, including getting on the phone with the US Passport offices when needed and venturing well beyond “procedure” to make it happen.

One thing to note… Riva del Garda is primarily a European vacation destination. Don’t be surprised if English is not spoken as often as other tourist regions. German will get you much farther than English in this part of the country.

Riva del Garda is located on the north side of Lake Garda in a little valley surrounded by mountains. At the top of the valley, Arco Castle is nestled into the southern edge of the Italian Alps, providing a spectacular view of Lake Garda and the surrounding mountainside. A 30-45 minute hike up the mountainside brings you to the castle, which is open to the public. The flat, grassy castle grounds provide space to run, awe-inspiring views, and the perfect spot for a picnic lunch.

Riva’s beachfront was designed with families in mind. Activity abounds amid spacious lakefront walkways, waterside restaurants, cheerful gardens and a glorious sandy beach. Rent a paddle boat to see mountains reflected in Lake Garda’s crystal-clear water. Or venture out on a windsurfer!

Riva also has playgrounds in plentiful supply. Massive trees surround the old town playground, which has an array of modern equipment. The beach has its own playground and wide grassy lawn with lots of room to run. Our kids’ favorite playground is beside an old church out of the town’s center, near the road to Tenno. The highlight is a zip line that is just the right height for kids 4-10.

Continuing up the mountain road toward Tenno, you’ll want to stop at the infamous Varone Falls. Don’t miss the epic Gelato at the little shop just below the falls parking lot. Our kids claimed it was the best in Riva!

The little town of Tenno is perched 10 minutes up the mountainside above the town of Riva del Garda. A few minutes beyond Tenno, watch closely for signs to Lake Tenno’s parking lot. The isolated, pristine waters will delight you and your children. A few bread crumbs reveal the huge fish that reside in this idyllic mountain lake.

Though Riva’s central location provides limitless options for day trips, our three favorites were:

Taking a tram to the top of Monte Baldo with dinner at a waterfront restaurant in Malcisne on the eastern side of Lake Garda.
Taking the ferry to the ancient town of Limone on the west side of Lake Garda, where the townspeople are rumored to have unusually long life spans.
Visiting Rocca Scaligera castle in Sirmione at the southern end of Lake Garda. This well-preserved structure transports you back to the time of princes and princesses, knights and knaves.

If you are craving modern American-style entertainment, Gardaland is a Disney-style amusement park that will delight guests of all ages.

Riva del Garda provides everything you need to create lifelong memories for everyone in your family.

Flying with Baby: Tip #1 – Choose your seats wisely.

A nifty little website called Seatguru.com allows you to “view” your seat.  Simply choose your airline and aircraft body type from the drop-down menu and the Seatmap Key will give you the pros and cons for each seat on the flight.

The most common aircraft body type in the continental US has three seats on either side of the aircraft.  When traveling in a party of 2 or 4, our favorite trick is to book the window and aisle in the 2nd to the last row (the very last row doesn’t allow seats to recline). The front of the plane generally fills first, and middle seats fill last.  So there is a good chance you will have the row to yourself.  If the flight is full, the person in the middle will gladly trade to allow you to sit next to your child or spouse.

Flying with Baby: Tip #2 – Pack light.

Anxiety causes many new parents to pack for every random circumstance.  The extra clutter not only makes it difficult to find the things you really need, it’s also expensive.  Read “Top 5 Tips to Lighten Your Load“.

Flying with Baby: Tip #3 – Be strategic in assembling your carry-on.

A carry-on is your lifeline for the duration of the flight.  Your carry-on should either have lots of exterior pockets or one large compartment with lots of modules.  Each module is a self-contained unit that has a theme.  You might consider having modules for diapering, feeding, clothing, medical supplies and entertainment.

Important items like passports, money and airline tickets should be kept separately in your purse to prevent damage in the event of a bottle leak.  For more detailed information about carry-ons, read “Contents of the Perfect Carry-On”.  You will also want to become familiar with FAA restrictions related to “Bringing Liquids on the Airplane”.

Flying with Baby: Tip #4 – Keep ‘em healthy.

The most common worry for parents traveling with a young child is what to do if their little one has ear problems.  Keeping your kids healthy prior to flying is an important step in avoiding ear problems.  Since air travel is amazingly dehydrating, you will want to encourage your child to drink plenty of fluids.  If your child is prone to congestion, you will benefit from reading the article “Avoid Ear Problems on Airplanes”.

Many parents are concerned about their child getting sick from germs floating around in an enclosed environment.  Since the plane’s air filtration system removes airborne pathogens, the true concern should be germs on surfaces.  Using an antibacterial wipe to clean hands, arm rests, tray tables, and bathroom surfaces will go a long way to preventing the transfer of virus and bacteria.

Flying with Baby: Tip #5 – Keep ‘em happy.

This isn’t as tough as you’d think.  When flying with a baby, your little one will bask in the undivided attention they’ll be getting from you.  In this environment, everything is new.  From shiny pretzel bags to airsickness bags, magazines to plastic cups, a fresh toy is just a short grab away.  For more sophisticated options for entertaining your little one, check the articles “Top Ten Baby Travel Tips” and “Entertaining Babies and Toddlers on Airplanes”.

With that in mind, let me introduce… Algarve, Portugal. For most Europeans, it’s hardly an introduction. Pristine sandy beaches, sunny Mediterranean climate, safety and relative low cost make Algarve the most popular vacation destination in Portugal. In fact, Algarve welcomes 9 million foreign visitors every year!

For those traveling to this tropical paradise with a baby, you’ll want to become acquainted with Tina’s Holiday Extras. Tinas provides baby equipment rental and grocery delivery services, specializing in all things related to traveling with a baby. Tinas even provides vegetarian packs.

As always, simplification is the key to success when traveling with baby in tow. Tina’s Holiday Extras takes care of the details, freeing you to relax and enjoy your vacation.

When a child gets sick overseas…

While we thought we co-created the world’s perfect traveling baby (“What great adaptation she has to a new time zone!” followed by, “Great job on the flexible circadian rhythms!”), we quickly realized she was exhibiting behavior more indicative of a viral infection. The thermometer confirmed a high temperature. Fortunately, I’d brought Tylenol from home and began administering the routine dosages.

You “danke” there’s a CVS around here?
No. Prior to your trip, pack various non-prescription remedies for your child as European pharmacies are far more expensive than American ones, and medicines in Germany are among the most expensive in Europe. And don’t scan the city streets for any familiar symbols: A large red pharmacy-looking sign would be the destination for filling a “Rezept” (prescription) from a doctor in Germany. This service is not likely to be combined within a general drugstore, which is advertised by a neon green plus sign. Knowing what a pharmacy might look like prior to your travel will save you a few brain cells in the sanity department.

When you know a trip to the doctor’s office is inevitable, your best bet is a trip to the front desk of your hotel. Our friendly concierge, Phillip, was able to call the pediatrician’s office down the street, and we were seen just fifteen minutes after we left our hotel room – yes…fifteen minutes! His local knowledge and hometown ties were indispensable in getting the appropriate medical care for our daughter.

When you “bitte” stay in your hotel, versus when it’s OK to sightsee…
If you tend to get a bit compulsive in the “mandatory fun” department, you have undoubtedly learned rigorous activity planning goes out the window when it comes to life on Planet Parent. So be prepared to be malleable. Sightseeing and exhaustive visits to the museums and cathedrals will likely take a back seat to sanity-saving trips to the park. If your child has a low grade fever, is not contagious and not vomiting, it’s probably OK to soldier them on. However, keep the itinerary light: on our first day out with our daughter once she was on the mend included a half day at the Haufbrau House, where we offered her endless pretzels, gingerbread cookies, and plenty of “polka princess-ing” in front of the bandstand. Next, we drove a few hours while she watched her various princess DVD’s and my husband and I took turns touring another site, while she napped in the car.

Just to recap, here are some tips for sickness-preparedness:

1. Begin in the bathroom when packing for your trip. What are the first medications you reach for when your child gets a fever, has a boo-boo, or a tummy ache? What do you normally administer to your child prior to calling your pediatrician?
2. Check that the dosing on the labels are legible, and that the dates have not expired.
3. Pack a thermometer, alcohol wipes, and any prescription meds your child might need.
4. Google pharmacies at your destination prior to your trip to see what signage they employ.
5. NEVER pack prescription medication in your checked baggage!
6. Make sure the things you need most frequently are easily accessible, preferably in an outside pocket of your carry-on bag.
7. Introduce and endear yourself to the front desk and concierge staff upon arrival at your destination.
8. Inquire about concierge and front desk hours, specifically who could be contacted during the night should the desk not be staffed. As a seasoned parent, you already know that children’s illnesses prefer to debut somewhere in the neighborhood of 2 AM!
9. Be sure to keep your child on whatever vitamin / nutritional supplement program he follows at home.

With just a bit of foresight and planning, you can minimize the stress of being away from home with a sick baby.

With the start of the school year, I’m mindful of just how much time we’re spending in the car! Living in rural northern Michigan, I have managed to escaped the drudgery of rush hour traffic. Even so, I spend hours a week behind the wheel with kids in tow.

Studies show that much of a child’s future success is dependent upon the learning acquired in the first few years of life. So why not capitalize on seemingly empty hours on the road?

Imagine you are a preschool teacher and your daily commute is your “circle time”. You might want to discuss some of the following:

* Today’s date
* Review months of the year leading up to today’s date
* The season you are in
* The weather outside and appropriate clothing for the weather
* The day of the week
* Review days of the week
* Holidays, birthdays or special events that might be coming up

You can create games using your child’s name.  Babies respond to their names at a very early age.  I like putting their names to music (actually, I like putting just about anything to music). We taught Christopher to spell his extraordinarily long name using the tune of “Mickey Mouse”:

Who’s the leader in the car,
He’s happy as can be,
C-H-R I-S-T O-P-H-E-R.
Christopher, Christopher,
Forever may he hold his hands up high, high, high, high!”

Corny? Yes. Effective? YES!!!

High five: Many parents teach kids the “high five”.  Teach your child what “five” means by counting to five on your fingers, then encouraging them to give you a virtual “high five” from the back seat. Then encourage them to count as high as they can. Older kids can practice counting by 5′s too.

Body parts: Encourage your toddler to name body parts (Where are your wrists?) then articles of clothing (Where are your socks?) What part of your body do your socks cover? Or, I’m thinking of a body part that starts with an “N” sound. Can you think of what body part starts with an “N” sound?

Shapes and colors: Introduce colors and shapes to your toddler at home with toys, then apply those lessons to real world objects.  “What shape is the car’s tire?  It looks like a circle to me!”  “What color is this flower?  It has white pedals and a yellow center.  The yellow center is shaped like a circle.”

For longer car trips, we play the Skittle Game. I encourage my child to name a word that starts with a certain letter. When they are toddlers, they get a Skittle when they name a word. It can be a nonsense word, I’m just working on phonics. For older children, I give tougher letters and make them come up with three words to get a Skittle. In my experience, M&M’s work just as well as Skittles. Raisins… not so much.

Stock up on educational CD’s and DVD’s if your car has a DVD player. Most libraries have children’s books on CD and many come with a book for following along. You can also download stories on your iPhone or Droid. Here are some of our all-time favorites, which are available for purchase at the Amazon.com BabyTravel Boutique:

LeapFrog Letter Factory, Talking Words Factory, StoryBook Factory and Math Circus (DVD’s)
Sesame Street Old School (Volume 1) & Sesame Street Old School (Volume 2) (DVD’s)
Dr. Jean & Friends (CD)
Raffi’s Singable Songs Collection (CD)
Laurie Berkner’s Buzz Buzz (CD)

If you have favorites you’d like to see added to our list, be sure to make a comment below.

Jen Salko’s picture will be featured on the BabyTravel iPhone app the week of June 20. Two other contest entrants from Dr. Northrup’s subscibers will be featured in the following weeks, including Margaret Windmer the week of June 27 and Jennifer Benner the week of July 4.

We are proud to be a part of the celebration of Dr. Northrup’s newly revised book,
Women’s Bodies, Women’s Wisdom.

As you may know, Dr. Northrup’s newest version of Women’s Bodies, Women’s Wisdom is now available from your favorite bookseller. Women all over the world are grateful for the up-to-date information and Dr. Northrup’s approach for sharing it in the newest edition. Women’s Bodies, Women’s Wisdom is now an essential guide on how to truly flourish in a female body, not just avoid disease. In fact, the newest edition of Women’s Bodies, Women’s Wisdom is an owner’s manual designed to teach you everything that can go right with your body.

Like her latest show for Public Television (also called Women’s Bodies, Women’s Wisdom), Dr. Northrup’s revised Women’s Bodies, Women’s Wisdom is for every woman of any age.

If you have two X chromosomes or know someone with two X chromosomes, I encourage you to get your copy of Women’s Bodies, Women’s Wisdom today!

Life-altering experiences affect different people in different ways. I used to be a rock climber. Once a year, a group of us would make the trek from Minneapolis, MN to Devil’s Tower, WY. We’d train for these expeditions at an indoor climbing gym. One evening, I was tired and skipped a bolt near the top of a route. After pulling a lot of slack to clip into the final bolt, I missed and dropped 25 feet before slamming into the wall a mere 8 ft. above the ground. From that point forward, my hands would sweat every time I thought of climbing. (my keyboard is getting slimy even as I type!)

Severely traumatic experiences make my palms sweat. When I think about driving in the car with a crying baby, my hands start sweating. I used to actually shake, but years of self-guided meditation has cured me of that. How can mere noise cause such savage fear? You know how babies are supposed to fall asleep in the car? Well mine didn’t. I was destined to give birth to not one, but three car-screamers.

If you were blessed with a baby that falls asleep to the steady thrum of wheels on pavement, well, good for you.

But if you, like me, tremble at the thought of being confined in the car with a crying baby, read on, sister. I literally pulled what sparse hair I had from my head. I wept and gnashed my teeth. I actually broke into a cold sweat when I heard the click of the infant seat snapping into its base. For those of you who think I’m exaggerating, I’m not. Daily errands were truly the bane of my existence as a new mother.

But it got better with babies #2 and #3. I learned tricks to quiet the baby or distract myself (and fellow passengers) from the cacophony of sound emitting from the tiny being sitting behind me.

Tip #1: Have a plan

This is your job. You are a mother now, and you need to figure out how to thrive, not just survive. Having a strategy makes all the difference.

Tip #2: Get creative

If your attempts to sooth your baby aren’t working, try something else. My mother assumed that all babies responded to the calming effects of classical music. My middle child preferred techno music with obnoxiously heavy base. She also calmed down when everyone in the car sang Zippity Doo Dah at full volume. Finding out what works for your baby might take a bit of trial and error. But it’s well worth the effort.

Tip #3: Look for a cause

If your baby is normally calm but becomes fussy in the car, look for the root of the problem. Some babies get motion sickness when facing backwards. With your pediatrician’s approval, try some ginger drops. You may also want to look at the car seat itself. My chiropractor told me that many car seats cause an unnatural curve in a baby’s spine, which can become irritating after time. This is especially true if you are traveling on gravel or bumpy roads.

Tip #4: Find activities that don’t require props

When my oldest daughter was 6 months old, I drove alone with her for 10 hours to visit my parents in Minnesota. Despite MAJOR pre-trip anxiety (mine, not hers), we actually had a great time, but it wasn’t without effort and creativity. Armed with a bag of 20-30 toys, I figured I had the entertainment thing licked. But I soon learned that toys weren’t going to cut it. Everything I handed her invoked a happy little coo, but was tossed out of the car seat within 20 seconds. Sitting with an empty toy bag (and very messy back seat), I came up with some more lasting ways to keep her entertained without toys.

• Talk to her about everything you do and see.  Be your baby’s personal narrator, explaining the world as it unfolds around her.
• Consonant / vowel combinations: Starting at the beginning of the alphabet, combine each consonant with each vowel sound. i.e. baa, bay, beh, bee, bih, bye, bah, bow, buh, boo.  This simple exercise often calms babies while introducing them to the basic phonetic components of language.
• Animal noises: Use a full sentence to pair animal names with the sound they make.  For example: “What does a dog say?  Woof, woof”  If you’re feeling musically inclined, go ahead and belt out a chorus of “Old MacDonald Had a Farm”
• Nursery rhymes and songs: Build your repertoire with children’s audio tapes and CD’s.  It’s amazing how much children learn from these little rhymes and songs.

You are your baby’s best toy. Explore how many ways you can feed your baby’s hungry mind.

Tip #5: When nothing will entertain your baby, go ahead and entertain yourself

It matters not what fellow drivers and passing pedestrians think. If chair dancing makes you feel good, go ahead and do it. Keep an indulgent treat in your diaper bag just to get yourself grounded. Deep breathing, chanting, whistling, singing, shouting (happily, of course!), eating… focus on something that makes you feel good. ‘Cause when mama feels good, everyone feels good!

Christy Rounds’s Best Travel Mistakes

Soaked the Seats
O.k. So this isn’t just one mistake. It’s really about five or six. Remember when I said you can learn from mistakes? Seems in some cases, I just don’t. On many airplane trips, I brought an empty sippy cup for each child. When the flight attendant offered drinks, I’d have him / her put the kids’ apple juice in the sippy cup instead of the plastic cup. Smart, right? The problem is, I’d often forget the sippy cups. And invariably, someone would spill their apple juice. So if you were one of the unfortunate souls who had our seats for the next flight, all I can say is, I’m really, really, really sorry!

Smelled like Puke
From the title, I think you can guess the story. I was flying from Reno, NV to Traverse City, MI after a sales meeting. My parents had flown out to watch 6 month old Gracie while I attended my meetings. So Gracie and I were 1/2 hour into an 8 hour trip when she threw up, soaking not only her outfit, but all my clothes as well. Well… I’m not a total idiot. I had a change of clothes for her. But nothing for me. So I spent the day desperately trying to ignore the wrinkled noses and gagging sounds. If you were one of the unfortunate souls who had a seat next to us on one of those flights, all I can say is, I’m really, really, really sorry!

Miscalculated Diapers Needed
How many diapers can a baby go through in a flight? That depends. Does your baby have diarrhea? Mine did. So the normal 4 diapers for 8 hours in transit didn’t cut it. Did you know that it’s very hard to find diapers in Chicago O’Hare? Maybe there is a new baby supply store now, but I assure you, there wasn’t when I truly needed it most! I can also tell you that maxi pads and duct tape are not an adequate substitute. No, I didn’t really do that. Just wanted to see if you were paying attention.

Injured the Baby
Dumb doesn’t even begin to describe this one. I was flying with three little kids – ages 4,3,1 – from Salt Lake City to Traverse City, MI with a stopover in Minneapolis. Thankfully, my parents, who had come to watch the kids while I attended a convention, were traveling in first class. I was distracted with trying to break up an argument between the two older kids, so I absentmindedly dropped a raisin into an empty pop can and handed it to the baby to uses as a rattle. Instead of rattling, my little guy reached into the pop can to get the raisin and sliced his finger. The slice was deep and I couldn’t stop the bleeding. In a few minutes, there was blood everywhere.

The flight attendant told me that if she opened the medical kit, she’d need to file a report when we got to Minneapolis, and I would miss my connecting flight. Not wanting to spend the night in Mpls with three young kids, I tried to stop the bleeding myself. Other passengers were begging me to have the attendant open the $&%*#@ medical kit. We finally got the bleeding slowed enough to not get bounced from the connecting flight. And once again, if you were one of the unfortunate souls who had a seat next to us on one of those flights, all I can say is, I’m really, really, really sorry!

Checked Car Keys in the Luggage
By now, you are wondering why you’d read a blog written by a complete idiot. But wait… I’ve saved the best for last. May of 2009, we were flying from Paris to Grand Rapids, MI with a 3 hour layover in Altanta, GA. Again, I was flying alone with the kids. Do you notice that all my disaster stories happen when I’m flying alone? That’s because my husband is smart enough to avoid all these problems! Anyway… the kids were 6, 5 and 3. There was no movie on the flight from Paris, so I expended a lot of energy keeping them entertained.

Exhausted, we finally arrived in Grand Rapids at 5:00am Paris time. The airline had lost our luggage. That wouldn’t have been a big deal, except for the fact that after 6 weeks of not using my purse in Europe, I’d packed the purse – with car keys inside – in my checked luggage.

O.k. So I shared my tales of travel shame and woe. Now it’s your turn. What are your stories of disaster? They don’t need to be dramatic, just something we can all learn from or empathize with! So go ahead, share…