Last weekend we had a simple family gathering, daddy’s side of the family. They said its a birthday celebration of October to November celebrants, also Yca’s birthday (Dec. 11) celebration as well.
Anyway, I got so excited when I learned that I’ll be seeing my cousins, also the little cousins. So what do you do when you know that you’re going to see your cousins again? Haha… of course, FUN TIME!
Welcoming my two new little cousins, (L-R) Louie and Jael
You have a new baby, and you and your spouse are planning to take a much needed vacation. Do you take the baby with you, or do you leave him with a family member to care for? Your thoughts will undoubtedly be conflicted. If you take the baby, will it be too much of a hassle? If you don’t take the baby, will you feel too guilty to enjoy yourself? It’s a catch 22 situation, but the reality is that many people travel with their infants and have a great time. It’s simply a matter of good planning that includes or provides for the baby at all times.
When vacationing with a baby, select an appropriate location featuring activities that permit the baby to tag along. If you plan to climb Mount Everestor trek through the Brazilian rain forest, you would be wise to consider leaving baby at home. With the baby along, it’s best to select a vacation spot where relaxation and easy living are the basic themes, and young children are welcomed. Family cruises and beach or lakeside vacations at family resorts are great choices.
Theme parks are inviting, but not recommended for young babies. Even Disney World can be frightening to a baby. These venues should be visited after the child has reached the age of five years. For your own convenience, make sure that wherever you do decide to stay can provide a crib, high chair, and other needed accessories to make baby’s stay comfortable.
Travelling to and from your vacation destination can make or break the experience. Prepare properly for the travel and make it an enjoyable part of the vacation. Plan your travel to take place during off-peak hours. Travelling, especially with children, during spring break can be frustrating if you get buried in with the boisterous college crowd, and travel during long holiday weekends is much more expensive than other times of the year.
Be prudent when you pack for the trip. If you’re not careful, you’ll end up with more luggage for the baby than for yourselves. Bring only the essentials, and then only those essentials that can’t be rented, borrowed, or purchased at the destination. Check with the hotel, resort, or cruise line to see if strollers, cribs, and playpens are available. If not, bring a pack-n-play and a fold-up travel stroller. Bring only enough diapers for the actual travel time, diapers can be purchased at the destination. Experience shows that parents, especially new parents, over pack for the baby, bringing items that never get used. Pack simply and improvise when necessary.
If you’re travelling outside the country, make sure that you have all of the documentation and passports that you need. Travelling outside the country usually the help and advice of an experienced travel agent. Missing documentation can ruin an otherwise perfect vacation. Make sure that you allow plenty of time for travel. Rushing will cause stress for both you and the baby. If you’re flying, allow plenty of time for security. If you’re driving, add ten percent more time than you think you’ll need to ensure that the trip is a relaxing one.
When you arrive at the destination, parents and baby will experience feelings that are quite different. For both it will be a new and exciting experience. For the parents, it will be an escape from life’s routine, an adventure, a new memory in the making. For the baby, on the other hand, it will be a venture into the strange unknown. He’ll be leaving the security of his home, his nest.
Make sure you bring as much of that nest with you as is practical. A favorite blanket and a special toy can make a world of difference. Bring foods that he is used to. You may wish to experiment, but the baby will be happier with his favorite flavors. Don’t rush the baby into strange activities. Let him settle in to the new surroundings and slowly immerse him into new experiences. Take your time, and relax. If the baby senses that you are not stressed, he will soon adapt and relax so that you can all enjoy the experience.
Don’t forget to take lots of pictures. As parents, you’ll remember the details as you build this new memory, but the baby will need the pictures years from now to remind him of your trips together.
Hi, I’m Christine Allen from Livesnet, a site devoted to helping people find the perfect baby gears for their needs, and offer tips on daily problems. I love to write about parenting and baby product reviews. Why not visit our website to see my hot reviews on Davinici Kalani 4 in 1 crib and Kidsline baby bedding.
December 5th, 2011 
Sorry for the late post.
I would like to say a big