What should I put in my carry on for a 20 hour flight with 4 hour stop?

baby backpack on airplane image

Malissa

So early next month I'm moving to Australia from Ireland and will be flying for approx. 20 hours with a 4 hour stop in Abu Dhabi. And I have some questions...

1~ What will be worth putting in my clear ziploc bag? Like should I put a mini shamoo in there or not bother because obviously there are no showers on the plane. Should I put my toothbrush in a separate ziploc bag or the same one? (I know the airline I'm flying with gives you toothpaste and a brush anyway)

2~ Do wipes count as a liquid and are they allowed in my carry on? Like a pack of face wipes and a pack of baby wipes.

3~ Do I have to declare hair oil, perfume and a regular sized shampoo that will be in my suitcase because they are liquids or not?

4~ Since my carry on will be above my head and I don't want to be reaching up or getting someone else to move so I can get it, can I have a little makeup bag like in front of my feet to put my hairbrush, my "monthly items", hand sanitizer etc. in?

Thanks ⤠And I just put it in this section because I haven't gotten any answers in the travelling section plus I'm presuming many of you have flown before so yep â¤

Answer
1. No to shampoo. Yes to a travel size of dry shampoo. Put it in your liquids bag just to be on the safe side but I'm not sure if its technically a liquid. Yes to travel toothpaste, no to toothbrush if they're giving you one anyway. And yes put it in the same bag, just make it easier on yourself.
2. They do not count as liquid and yes you can put them in carry on, but I wouldn't bring a whole pack I'd just stick a few in a ziplock and call it a day.
3. No.
4. Almost all airlines allow two carry on items. Bring a cross body purse for your essentials and boarding pass, passport etc and put bigger/heavier stuff in the other bag (I recommend a backpack.) make sure you grab your book or magazine out of the bigger bag before you sit down.

Bring a tiny bottle of mouthwash, mascara, and facial & hand lotion. Trust me you will be glad you have it when you land! Go to the bathroom 30 mins or so before landing and use your face wipes, then put on some lotion, mascara, and illuminator or blush so you don't look like a zombie when you get off the plane. :) recycled airplane air is evil. Also, hand sanitizer, tissues, and cough drops or gum are great to bring.

Good luck with your move!

How to travel with newborn internationally?

zawjatuabd

I would like to travel soon with my 7 week old baby to Canada so he can see his grandparents. This will be a 22 hr flight via airplane! How soon can I travel and how I carry him with me conveniently? car seat, stroller what kind, backpack carrier? Anyone tried travelling w a newborn- can u give me tips

Answer
Oh wow i will be travelling from Canada hopefully within a week so her grandparents can see her and that will 22 hours of flight too but the difference is she will 4 months actually i wanted to go since she was 1 month but passport took some time. well the advices i got and after searching on different websites i came to know that:
When you get your tickets just ask them if there is anyway they can give you the seat where you can hook a bassinet up for the baby.
Take lots of diapers, pacifier, wipes, 2 to 3 change of cloths,
Make sure you take a soft blanket of your lill one.
Please don't drug the baby with Benadryl it can create more problem for you because sometimes babies get cranky.
Just make sure that u are feeding the kid (either bottle or breast feed) at the time of take off and landing so that he/she isn't cranky due to air pressure.
Btw dont worry your baby will be sleeping most of the time :)
Good luck!

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Hi, I seriously need help about newborn baby?

baby backpack infantino image

IV

hello everyone, i am 18 weeks pregnant now. I went to IKEA today to see what would I need when the child is born. I must confess, I had no idea how to use half of the stuff available there for babies. I got really depressed. I didnt know what to buy and what not. I have never been around newborn babies, and here i am, a single mom with no clues. dont know how to handle them. Please give me the minimum list of the things I would need immediately after the child is born and until the child is 6 months. Also, please help me if there is something I need to be extra careful about.

Answer
well, your motherly instincts will kick in, unless u are taking medications or drugs. If you have money to spend i would get a baby harness (attaches to you so u can carry baby hands free with backpack like straps, i got mine from walmart by infantino for 30 bux, it is a LIFESAVER newborns like to be really close to you and held all the time, mine did atleast, sometimes the only way i could sleep was with my baby sleeping on my chest and my arms would be right there making sure she didnt roll off, im a light sleeper. I used the harness for her because i couldnt even get dishes done without her screaming to be held. id always rush to shower because she was crying. Nurses at the hospital will teach you how to swaddle your baby in a blanket and dont be shy to ask for tips. I did, because i had no clue either till i had my own, no one told me ANYTHING, I did LOTS of research online about EVERYTHING i could think of and still needed tips. heres what i do, i bought 3 packs of gerber plain white prefold cloth diapers and also 3 packs of birdseye flatfold. I fold the flatfold and use it as a diaper doubler cause shes a heavy wetter, DIAPER pins because they LOCK in place so they cant come undone and stab the baby. ordered them from amazon pack of 36 pins and i really dont need that many pins. I use VIVA paper towels for wipes and also i put them in the cloth diaper as a liner so when its a poopy diaper u just take the liner out for easy cleanup. I used winter fleece sleepers to keep her warm. Newborns can not hold their heads very well so u need to make sure she doesnt sleep with blankets or anywhere where she can suffocate. This is VERY important many babies die because of this neglect. So if u DO cosleep make sure u have a tight fitting sheet and that there is nothing plushy or cushiony nearby. the mattress should be firm and flat. if u cant get a bassinet i heard someone can use a dresser drawer as a bassinet so they dont roll out and onto the floor. i think some yoga mats are pretty firm and flat yet soft enough to provide more comfort than something cold and hard. u need a nose syringe bulb thing to suck snot out of the nose so they can breathe. be ready and have a bottle and formula just incase if breastfeeding doesnt work out. but keep in mind breastfeeding is way healthier and is a once in a lifetime thing that will boost her and keep her healthier throughout her entire life. I switched to burt bees tearless baby wash because i found out all the others had formaldehyde releasers, and my baby got cradlecap (eczema) i believe from that johnson crud which looks like scabs. also my baby had a weak trachea and u could hear noise when she breathes and i would get scarred because it seems like she had a hard time breathing took her to ER and said she would grow out of it and she has. but always call 911 if u think somethings not right. some babies have crying spells where they cry and turn blue cause they stop breathing. they poop every 2 hrs when newborns and eat every 2 hrs, they also need to get patted on the back to burp every 2 hrs because it will help prevent colic. Colic is like a gassy tummy that hurts, remember baby is new to everything and the world so any discomfort will make it cry. if u have extra money get some toys with lights and a mobil they love lights.Youtube has different cloth diaper folds to teach u, thats where i learned some techniques and then developed my own that suited her needs best. 12 diapers a day is expensive. i started solids at 6 months which is recomended by pediatrics because this is when they are able to digest 'solids' so u need baby spoons bibs and lots of washrags. burprags cause they spit up from time to time. a bouncer, a swing, and a johnny jump up are the best babysitters lol - also my baby i gave her a binky most of the time from 2months on because she would suck on it and it would make her throat muscles stronger since her windpipe flap was floppy. also it pacified her and relieved some stress from me so she wouldnt be pacified by me all the time. i needed LOTS of towels because i had so much milk for months when i was engorged leaking out everywhere i bought avent phillips reusable cloth nursing pads from amazon.com and also nursing tank tops for 5 dollars at walmart easy to take ur boob out and not be half naked trying to feed wherever u were baby gets hungry at the grocery store too. Kellymom.com is the best breastfeeding info site and so is dr.greene for different advice on things that may surprise u. such as green poop, for me the green poop was because at first ur milk u produce more foremilk than hindmilk and if baby gets to much foremilk it gives colic sometimes and also green poop. so i would express on a towel to get some of that foremilk out so baby would get more hindmilk and her poop would be more mustard like, sometimes it would be green tho, at 12weeks is when the hormone to produce well mixed milk. fenugreek tea increases supply. do not take aspirin it passes into ur milk and can cause reyes syndrome. at first u will have contractions when baby feeds on breasts but dont give up this is good for the both of u so ur uterus contracts quicker to its normal size. HAVE A BIRTHPLAN READY i wanted the belly button cord to be completely pulsed out till it was white, CORD BLOOD BANKING has healed 82-84 diseases. i could sit here and write a book lol. i'll keep this on watch incase if u want more information. my baby is 8months old and i had a normal birth no complications besides pain and she did not have any shots. especially hep. B shot that is ridiculous to give to a newborn who is developing brain (sorry but my baby will not be on the streets shootin up or havin sex as an infant so therefore the hep. b shot can either wait because of all the toxins or not get it at all), read the vaccine insert ask for it before u give baby anything in a needle. utube bill gates vaccines.

Baby carrier/sling..which is best?

rm w�

Anyone use either of these & know how much weight they can support?

http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3532777

http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3983863


Anyone know any good ones? My baby is 4 1/2 months, 13lbs 9oz. Don't want the backpack carrier things..

Answer
I've have the Moby Wrap. I really like it. It can easily support my toddler. It is easy to wrap when you get the hang of it. I certainly recommend it.


To the first poster --- bag style slings (l

How do you learn to use hiking poles effectively?

best child backpack hiking image

Catharine

I am hiking again after a 30 year hiatus and I have a set of hiking poles I want to use well when I mountain climb. Any suggestions for getting up to speed? Also, suggestions about when and when not to use them? I want to save my knees. Also I'd appreciate suggestions about good web sites to visit or training programs. Thanks!

Answer
http://www.backpacking.net/walkstik.html

Why Carry a Walking Stick ?
IT WILL HELP YOU KEEP YOUR BALANCE

* Crossing Creeks, Streams, Rivers
* Traversing Hillsides
* Crossing Shale, Scree
* Carrying Heavy Loads
* Resting En Route

IT WILL HELP YOU MANEUVER

* Crossing Downed Trees Over Trails
* To Break or Prevent a Fall

IT WILL REDUCE STRESS ON BACK, KNEES, LEGS, & FEET

* Provides Extra Power & Balance, Going Uphill
* Reduces Shock on Knees, Going Downhill
* Takes Pressure off Back & Hips (mainly uphill)

They forgot beating off bears, wolves and small children.

Two Poles or One ?
Should you use two ski-type poles, one ski-type pole, one staff, or ?. It boils down to what is your preference. Or more specifically, what feels right on the trail. Theoretically, I felt that two poles was the best thing to do. It didn't work for me, at first--it just didn't feel right. I couldn't get balanced--couldn't get a good rhythm. I didn't have problems on snow with two snow poles, but I couldn't seem to get the same rhythm on the trail. So, for a long time, I used only one aluminum pole, or one wooden staff, when (non-snow) trekking or hiking. Currently, though, I've gotten more comfortable with two aluminum hiking poles. I've found it helps my bad back, considerably.

Experiment doing both. Do what's comfortable. I can't help wondering though, if, over a long period, the stress put on one side of your body by using only one pole, could lead to back problems. Whereas, with two poles you're putting equal stress on both sides of the body. - ?


http://www.slackpacker.com/trekking-poles.html

II. The "Pro" Side: Advantages of Trekking Poles

Most obviously, poles reduce the impact of hiking on knee joints and leg muscles. Arm and shoulder muscles support and relieve the leg muscles. With the basic "hands above the heart" position necessitated by the poles, circulation is improved and heart rate is reduced. The "rhythm" created by walking with poles leads to relaxed, more regular breathing and increased stamina.

A landmark study published by Dr. G. Neureuther in 1981 proved that use of "ski poles" while walking reduces the pressure strain on the opposite leg by approximately 20%. Furthermore, while walking on level ground, poles reduce the body weight carried by the legs by approximately 5 kg every step. Move to an incline, and that reduction increases to 8 kg. This translates into tons of weight -- yes, tons -- for even a two hour hike.

Jacquie Hunt, editor of a popular hiking newsletter, weighs in with additional health benefits: "An advantage that I found once I started using poles is that my hands no longer swell up when it is hot. Keeping your arms moving so the blood doesn't pool in the hands is a lot safer than keeping hands high on pack straps and risking a smashed face if you trip."

Finally, poles help many people with balance issues. We all have different comfort levels when balancing along puncheons, crossing streams, etc.; for some hikers, trekking poles are worth their weight in gold. They can certainly aid when crossing soft ground, and can be indispensible for tasks like river crossings, and scree running.
III. The "Con" Side: Problems with Trekking Poles

There are two categories of drawbacks to hiking poles -- those legitimate, and those perceived. One of the main problems with my comments in the LA Times article is that my "over the top" approach precluded me from stating the legitimate drawbacks to using poles. So here goes...

First, using poles increases your total energy expenditure. Your arms were not designed to prop up your body, nor to distribute weight. Even Peter Clinch, whose "Pete's Pole Page" is long recognized as an on-line authority, says, "...if you have tired legs and knees then poles can be a win, but if you have a tired body, with your cardiovascular system at its limits, then poles may be more of a hindrance than a help." Those "tons of weight" that poles save the knees aren't carried up the hill by themselves. Many hikers with good legs are unaware that they actually may run out of gas more quickly by using poles.

Not only do poles make hands and arms do what they aren't designed to do, they prevent your hands from being hands! Open the map, eat a snack, wipe your brow, grab a rock, snap a photo, read a compass...all of these become clumsy and time consuming with poles in hand.

The final "legitimate" con is that many people simply do not use poles correctly. Clinch says, "judging from the people I see in the UK using poles, the majority of folk get little or no benefit from them." Without proper technique, poles are simply in the way. And that brings us to the "perceived" drawbacks...

Many pole users are road hogs. They flail about madly, and you'd better get out of their way -- even when you have the uphill right-of-way. "It's all about me" seems to be their credo on the trail. Just as there are rude, inconsiderate drivers on our highways, there are rude hikers on our trails.

How do you assemble a backpack and sleeping bag for camping?

Marnie

New at camping and hiking. My 12 year old is in Boy Scouts. He has packed light, but the backpack is still so bulky. We can't use a framed backpack because he will have to crawl through some low areas and push his stuff through the opening. I know there must be an easy way to put it all together. The load has to be light enough for a 12 year old child to carry on a caving expedition. Any suggestions is greatly appreciated!

Answer
I'm 14 and started when I was 12. I live in Alaska, so this may not be what you're looking for, but I'll do my best. First, I always try to bring the smallest and lightest bag that I have that works for the coldest it should get. You can always layer up if you get cold. Also, internal frames are good, except for that you'll need to put most items on the inside from what I've experienced. Go through your pack when you're done packing to make sure that there's nothing that you don't need or is worth its weight. One extra tip- Use some clothes as a pillow, as it keeps them warm when it's cold and doesn't take extra space.

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Baby Registry Help PLEASE?

babyearth backpack diaper bag image

Torie

I am starting my registry for my first baby and I have registered at Target and Babies R Us and I have a few questions. First, should I put the same items on both registries? Next, I am having a rather large baby shower (50 guests) because we both have large families so I want to put enough items on my list but I'm not sure if I should ask for things that baby will need months after she is born like a potty chair, teethers, stuffed animals, etc. I feel like I should just register for the really important stuff that I will need for when the baby first comes home and I can slowly buy that kind of stuff later down the line as I need it. I'm going off the check list babies r us gave, but I am only like half way done and already have like 70 things on my list! Also, I heard that a lot of people don't even buy things off your registry and just buy whatever they feel you need, and in that case I don't know why I'm wasting my time doing research trying to find out what is the best, trying to get things that will match the nursery, and how much of what I need if they aren't even gonna look at it! Sorry if I seem edgy I have just been working on this for a few days now off and on and I'm getting very frustrated.

Answer
First of do you know what you are having?
If you don't then make a long list of neutral baby clothes for the summer that's coming up. Also make sure you ask for doubles or more of everything, and get many of clothing items in larger sizes. Make sure just in case to get a few Preemie baby clothes just in case.

Also I would also like to recommend both http://www.diapers.com/ , and http://www.babyearth.com/ . For registry. I don't like the Target selection, and what ever these sites don't have Babies R Us might have extras or back ups.

Also here is a list I came up with, with a few helpful item idea's.

Orbit Stroller Seat G2 (Main seat), Stroller Frame G2(Actual stroller), Infant Car Seat G2 (Car seat), and Car Seat Base G2, Toddler Car Seat G2, Bassinet Cradle,
Includes:
Stroller
Two car seats
Pram (Bassinet/Cradle)

Front Carrier (ERGO Baby)
Higher weight limited car seat when older ( Argos⢠70 Car Seat )
Diaper bag (www. diaperbags.com)
Baby Backpack (www. diaperbags.com)
Mamaroo (Alternative to a bouncy or swing)
Play Yard (Pack 'n Play® Playard with Newborn Napper® Station)
Tummy Time mat (multiple mats for different things)
Crib (Allegra Convertible Crib)
Crib Tent (Cozy Crib Tent for Convertible Cribs)
Play yard Tent (The Cozy Indoor/Outdoor Portable Playard Tent plus Sunshade)
Changing station ( First one comes with Play Yard, buy the Young America Mix & Match Changing Station for Nursery use)
Bassinet (comes with Play yard)
Pack 'n Play® Changing Pad and Sheets
Pack 'n Play® Playard Sheets
Changing Table Pad Covers
Bedding
Crib Mattresses (Essentia Baby Jeanius Mattress)
Baby MMonitor(Video Baby Monitor - Lorex LIVE snap)
Bottles and Nipples ( Medela)
Highchair (Peg Perego Tatamia Highchair)
Utensils
Plates and bowls
Cups and sippy cups
Burp Cloths
Bottle brushes
Bibs
Electric Breast pump ( Medela Pump In Style Advanced BBreast pump- On-the-Go Tote)
Milk storage bags, breast pads, extra breast shields, ice packs ( Medela® BBreast milkStorage Solution,etc.)
Baby towels with hoods
Infant bathtubs (4moms Cleanwater)
baby washcloths
brush and combs
Baby nail clipper, etc.
Childproofing supplies
safety gates
Pacifiers (Gumdrop Pacifiers)
Teether (Raz Baby Rav-Berry Teether)
Teething Feeder by sassy (Buy extra bags also)
humidifier
Baby book or scrapbook

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Tips on flying long haul with 14mth baby. Any advice?

baby backpack singapore image

Happy Fami

I will be flying from Melbourne, Australia to London UK with my baby daughter who will be 14 months. I have flown between the two cities before but never with baby. Will be flying Singapore Airlines (love them and apparently they are good for babies) and plan on going for three weeks (that's all the time off we can afford).


Things to consider:

1) Dont really want to give her sedatives
2) She is usually breastfed to sleep (which can be handy but also...tricky!)
3) I will be bringing portable DVD player, lots of nappies, plastic bags, small toys and get them out one at a time, will be using a baby carrier, books, wipes - that's all the advice I have so far...
Please share your experience and offer some helpful tips.

Answer
I'm a former Flight Attendant and I fly a lot of long-haul flights with my three children.

I have never used sedatives. I'm allergic to a lot of them myself so I can't risk it with my kids, especially at 30,000ft. without an emergency room nearby. These are not harmless drugs and while I don't diss parents who use them on long journeys, it's not something that systematically should be done. There can be side effects. I've survived without. You can too.

Besides, on such a long flight, she'll sleep at some points anyway (10 minutes before landing lol!)

Sounds like you have had some good advice. All three of mine were breastfed and this actually will make your trip easier (the oldest did have some bottles but they're harder to travel with). It's a great way to calm them down when they get overtired, which often happens in airports.

Remember that you do NOT have to breastfeed her or make her drink on take-off and landing. This is an common myth. If you are using a car seat, be sure she's strapped in during those times. Mine flew in car seats and didn't take pacifiers and they never had any problems with their ears. Please don't wake your child unnecessarily and/or force her to drink when she doesn't want to.

The best way to avoid ear problems is to schedule a "well baby" visit right before leaving. Her ears will be checked to be sure that she doesn't have an ear infection or other blockage. Flying with something like that is painful. No amount of sucking will help and it can actually be damaging to the ears. These are problems that are easy to avoid and fix.

Speaking of car seats, I really recommend using one at this age. It really wasn't a big deal to bring it on board on a wire foldable luggage cart. I saw both my passengers and my own children were calmer and more settled in their familiar seat. If she doesn't have a seat, ask nicely at check-in if it's possible to get an extra place. Take it to the gate regardless and if you are not success, have your seat "gate-checked" with the strollers and wheelchairs. This is no guarantee but better than checking it at the desk. NEVER check a car seat as luggage. Airlines lose and break checked car seats all the time.

Here's the children's page from Singapore Airlines;
http://www.singaporeair.com/saa/en_UK/content/before/plan/specialneeds.jsp

If you don't need a car seat in London, you might want to look into the CARES harness, which is easy to bring and accepted on Singapore.
http://www.kidsflysafe.com/

Practice changing her standing up before leaving. You'll love this tip in London too where baby changers aren't that common. The changing tables on airplanes are really small and if you can change her in this position, you can use the roomier handicapped lav instead.

Don't forget to pack a couple of changes of clothes and be sure you have enough diapers. She'll go through more on this trip than she would in the same time frame at home. Often, you'll find yourself changing her when you can, rather than when it's necessary, such as right before boarding and landing. Wrap all this stuff in plastic and bind with rubber bands to make more room in your bag.

This is the bib I liked when travelling. It rinses out easily and dries quickly. I found taking this beat a bunch of disposable bibs, especially because it really kept mine clean. It really covers them up because kids get messy on planes. This company makes really bad baby carriers but this bib is great!
http://www.babycity.co.uk/baby-gifts/mealtimes-cutlery-highchairs-baby-bibs/baby-bjorn/baby-bjorn-eat-play-smock-pd-1155.html

Skip a purse and diaper bag and use a big backpack and a small purse around your neck with the essentials. Keep your hands free. I get a bigger backpack that goes up to my knee when placed on the floor. Both of you carry one, one with the extra supplies, and one with what you need. I also take a small cloth bag so that when I took them to change them, I didn't have to drag the whole bag along.

Are you sure she'll watch DVD's? Mine were way too active at that age to watch a screen and no way would they have worn the headsets. She absolutely has to wear them. Playing it over the speakers would be annoying to other passengers. Be really sure that she'll wear them before leaving. Otherwise, the new toys are a good idea. One right before the plane pushes back because that's a really bad time for toddlers to stay seated. Hopefully, it'll distract her and you can't use any electrical items during that time.

For more information, ten years ago I wrote an article on this subject. It's based on both my personal and professional experience of flying with children. It's totally non-commercial and other parents from around the world have contributed;
http://flyingwithchildren1.blogspot.com

It's a tricky age and a long flight but if you're organized, it'll be much easier.

Have a good visit to London!

Advice for taking our 19 month old son on a long-haul flight (30+ hours)?

Steven Jen

Hi, later this year my partner and I are taking our son who will be 19 months old on his first ever flight but I for one am dreading it as it is a long-haul flight going from New Zealand to the UK (via Australia/Singapore and possibly Dubai - depending on which airline we finally decide to book with) for a 3 week stay.

As most boys probably are, our son is very energetic, won't stay still very long at all and gets very bored easily so needs lots of entertaining.

The trip will be well worth it when we do get to the UK as our son has never met any of my side of the family who are all over there. So knowing that alone will help us cope somewhat with any stresses of flying with a young child.

Any advice/tip's/experiences shared etc to help ease the journey will be very much appreciated.

Thanks

Answer
I'm a former Flight Attendant and I fly transatlantics alone a lot with my three children.

This is a long flight and you're going to need to be organized. I wont lie to you and I have to admit that this was probably the worst age for air travel. They love to move but don't have the reasoning to talk about the fact that sometimes they have to be seated, etc.

I recommend that instead of a diaper bag, purse, etc. you opt for a large backpack. Mine goes up to my knee when placed on the ground. Bring at least two changes of clothes and way more diapers than he usually goes through in the same time frame. He will need more than usual. Take out packs of 10, straight from the pack so that they're really flat and put in a plastic bag, Bind with rubber bands and this will make space. Clothes are rolled, placed in plastic and also bound with rubber bands. Split the supplies between both of you in case you're separated or just so that one can take him somewhere without having to fuss with the gear.

My kids at that age were too active for portable DVD players, although they were useful later. You actually have a number of options as far as gadgets that play movies so find out what works for you and if you think it'll keep him occupied. One tip I got was to burn the movies on to your hard drive if you're bringing a computer to save battery time while watching. Make sure he wears the headphones. Practice at home if necessary.

I found simple toys worked best; toy trucks, toy cars, plastic animals, coloring things (magadoodles as well as old fashioned pens and paper), chunky books with openable flaps, pinwheels, plastic rings that click together, pipe cleaners, play dough, etc. Nothing that makes noise. Even a quiet noise played 10,000 will drive your fellow passengers batty. Make sure some of the toys are new (or at least never seen before) so you can "present" them at critical times, like to offset a tantrum and after the plane pulls away from the gate and everyone is supposed to be seated.

Try to get him off of bottles and on to a sippy cup if possible. But if he's like my son, good luck! Chances are he wont so opt for the bottles with disposable plastic liners. Get the flat liners (not "pop-ins"), premeasure the powder in each, roll it up and put in a ziplock.

I really recommend that he have his own seat. This is a LONG time to be on your laps and he's going to be big and heavy. If you opt to save money, try to get an empty seat on the plane beside you. They often do this for families. Be really nice at check-in.

I always fly with a car seat. This is a whole, big subject. Babies are quieter and more comfortable in their own familiar car seat, as well as much, much safer. It's not that big a deal to take it along. I simply strapped mine to a metal luggage cart and pulled it behind me with the carry-on bags. You do want to check your car seat's compatibility, before you book. Make sure you can use it on board. Different airlines have different rules.

Be sure not to check it as luggage. They often get lost and/or broken en route so either use it on board or gate-check it. You may want to arrange a car seat at your destination but please never use one from a rental car company. Have relatives ask around and make sure it's not too old.

I really recommend a good baby carrier. It is the secret to successfully flying with children. He's far too big for one of those dire "front packs" (like the Bjorn) but something comfortable and perhaps with a back carry is good. If you don't already use a sling or wrap, you may want to get a Mei Tai, Ergo, Beco or similar carrier. They're soft, easy to take along and are magic for calming overtired babies on flights (experience speaking!) Also, in big scary airports, toddlers don't always sit nicely in their strollers and want to be held. As a Flight Attendant, I saw far too many parents trying to get through airports with clingy and sleeping babies over their shoulders. Don't be one of them!

Please don't fret over ears. It's actually a myth that babies have to suck on something for take-off and landing. Sure, if you want to offer a cup to drink, not on landing but at the top of descent (landing is too late) when everyone's ears have to reverse pressure, do so. This is about an hour before. What I do recommend is that you schedule a doctor's visit and make sure he doesn't have any ear blockages or infections. These are dangerous and painful to fly with so just have someone look in his ears. We "caught" one in my toddler son once. But on the flight itself, there is no reason to unnecessarily wake up your child or force him to drink if he doesn't want to.

For more information, nine years ago I wrote an article on this subject. It's based on both my personal and professional experience of flying with children. It's totally non-commercial and other parents from around the world have contributed;
http://flyingwithchildren1.blogspot.com

Have a great tr

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I'm looking for a hiking baby carrier?

cheap baby backpack carriers image

Alice

My daughter is 13 months - 22 lbs and still isn't walking. But, my husband and I love to hike. We are looking for a good/inexpensive hiking baby carrier. Preferably one for the back. Any thoughts or suggestions?

Answer
We had a Kelty Pathfinder Carrier that we got at REI eons ago. We loved that in addition to being adjustable for the child, it was really easy to switch the torso length of the backpack so my husband and i could trade off carrying. Walk around a store with your child in tow and see how it feels. A padded hipbelt and auto kickstand are must-haves, but other features we liked were the removable/easily foldable sunshade (great for wind and minor drizzle too), a padded front bar - you'd be amazed how easily your child will sleep back there, zippered pockets on the belt and shoulder straps so we could easily access items on the trail without removing the backpack (snacks, gps, phone), The zip off backpack for storage worked great so when we were hiking together we could each carry some of the load, but if either of us was hiking alone with the child (or the other one was carrying gear as we backpacked) we could have the essentials (diaper, change of clothes, food, first aid kit) with the baby. I'd search Craigslist for a good one at a discount rather than buy a new one that has less features or is cheaper.

Hints: A small hand mirror in the front hipbelt is great for checking on the baby while hiking (Is she still wearing her hat? Is she sleeping?) Sometimes you want the sunshade as a barrier to prevent hair pulling... if your little lady is anything like my second (not a problem with my first).

I have a 6 month old what do I bring on a plane for her?

courtney s

What do I need to bring on a plane and to the airport for her? Like do I need a form of identification showing she is my baby? Do I need a docs note saying it's ok for her to fly? Also we do not have the same last name. Does her carrier get checked with the luggage?....

Answer
1. Bring a backpack and fill it with awesome stuff like coloring books, and maybe a toy plane that looks like the one you're on. The cheap toy aisle at Wal Mart is great for this kind of stuff. Make discovering what's in the backpack an activity to be saved for the plane ride.

2. No, you don't need a doctors note.

3. It doesn't even have to be your child. As long as the tickets go together you should be fine. That's how my son went with me, and home with his grandparents.

4. Carrier's only get checked if you want them too. MOst people are allowed one carry on, for a backpack, large purse, or tote that fits in an overhead.

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Travelling in Europe with a baby. What gear should I bring?

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Mandi

I am going on a winter vacation around Europe for a couple weeks with a baby who will be almost two. I am looking for a stroller that works well on cobblestone, reclines, and is light. My son was born with a brain condition called Hydrocephalus and because of that his head is large and he is behind with his gross motor skills. He probably will still not be walking by this time. I am thinking about bringing a baby hiking backpack for times when we cannot use the stroller.

I would really appreciate advice on this from anyone who has ever travelled in Europe with a baby before! We will be going to about 5 different countries and travelling by metro and plane.

Answer
I think a light stroller is a good idea as it will be easy to fold up if you're in a restaurant or on public transport. If you're flying between countries consider a buggy bag to put it in before the flight.

Not all of Europe is covered in cobblestones(!) and most cities are fairly buggy friendly. If you're coming in winter then have a buggy with a foot muff to keep him warm. A back carrier is also a good idea for busier places or say certain sights like the coliseum where there are steps.

You can buy the other things you need here, nappies etc. Pampers and Huggies are both available across Europe (Pampers are called Dodots in Spain). There are a mix of facilities in terms of baby changing. In the UK and northern Europe, most places have change tables. In some mediteranean countries there can be less facilites in places like restaurants but if you head to big department stores or shopping centres most are well equipped.

If you plan to eat in restaurants, a fabric type fold away change seat is a good idea as some smaller may not have high chairs (most UK places will have high chairs).

good luck and have a great time here.

How big should a diaper bag be?

BRITTLE

Hello all. I was wondering how necessary is a "diaper bag"? I have a large purse that measures 15X11X2 so I was wondering if I could fit all my baby's essentials in that? I don't want to have to carry a purse AND a diaper bag. I like the nooks and crannys of diaper bags, but I'm not a fan of the prints/sizes. So, are those dimensions big enough and does not having the bottle holders and thousands of pockets horribly necessary?

I also plan on buying a bigger bag for overnight visits to my parents and in-laws and for that I was thinking the SKIP HOP backpack...it's a child's backpack primarily designed for a preschooler age child and is so cute, but i was wondering if it could double as a overnight bag for baby and possibly his hospital bag?

What do you ladies use? And what do your husbands use? Do they mind carrying around a purse diaper bag or should he have his own bag, too? So many questions, but this our first...can you tell?! haha

Answer
Your purse will do fine. I have one nappy bag which I used for about 2 months. It was too big! All I've used since are large handbags. With my oldest son I did use a little bottle bag that I'd pop a bottle into and then into the handbag. Otherwise spare clothes, nappies, wipes etc all went into my handbag. If you are only going out for a short period of time a few nappies, small wipes etc fit fine in a handbag.

When we had our second son I did use a kids backpack for a little while but soon swapped back to a handbag. My husband usually used this if he was alone (rarely) with our oldest son. We do use it for overnight visits to see my parents. It should also be perfectly fine for a hospital bag for your son.

Edit- Also one little tip is to keep a couple of nappies, spare clothes etc in a box in your car. That way if you do need more they are still pretty handy but it saves you the trouble of lugging them around.

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How to travel alone with a toddler an infant? By plane. Any advice?

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rcarolyn28

I would like to know how anyone here might have travelled alone by plane with a toddler (mine is almost 2) and a baby (mine is 10 months old). Please I am at a loss at how I will be able to visit my father with both babies. What gear is available, how can this be done? I will of course have help to get to and from the airports but in between with boarding, seating, and after arrival to get to baggage area. Thanks.

Answer
Okay well your one child (the older one) will have their own seat. but you will be holding the baby unless you purcahsed a separate seat. i highly suggest a double stroller and wheel the luggage behind you. You can use your stroller up until the very last second and then they will put it under the plane for you and then they will have it ready for you right when you get off...but that is going to SAVE you. Also make sure you have a backpack so that you can keep a change of clothe, diapers, etc and pack some new toys and snacks so that your toddler will be interested and if you have a potable dvd player i would pack that in the bag as well. Also if they have a favorite binky or blanket or cup i would definately let them have that. Relax and take your time.
hope that helps...happy travels.

What are some child friendly activities to do with an infant?

Amanda

My husband and I like to take day trips, go to beaches, museums, galleries, amusement parks, etc.

We're pregnant but are exploring all areas of parenting and want to know what other parents do to stimulate their babies or if most people wait til toddler age?

Answer
As a newborn, they will really just sleep most places you go. As they hit about 6 months, they become both much more alert, and much easier to carry around, in my opinion (once they are sitting unsupported they can go in a backpack or sit on your hip in a sling). So around 6-7 months was when I started taking my dd places just because she might have fun there.

There are a couple things you have to remember with baby outings. The first is that your baby will probably only be able to be happily awake for a few hours w/o feedings and/or a nap (some babies nap well on the go, others don't). So for any longer excursion, you have to make sure you plan in stops/time for these things. Babies also usually have a pretty short attention span, so the best outings are ones where enough is going on to keep them interested, but not enough to by totally overwhelmign (like very loud or very crowded. I have found my dd does much better in overload situations when she is close to me in the sling, as opposed to in a backpack, in the shopping cart, etc). The final thing to consider is that babies are more sensitive to environmental conditions - they should not spend a lot of time in the sun or in extreme temperature conditions, esp since before 6 months sunscreen is not recommended.

So that said, I have found the best outings to often to be ones that can be done in just a few hours, between naps. Often these are very mundane things. Babies LOVE animals, so a trip to a local petshop can be a favorite outing. We also go to the library's children room/story time - besides reading and getting books, babies LOVE seeing other children. Many areas have science centers with special corners for young chilidren. My dd also enjoys the pool, going on hikes or walks (something we did since she was very young), going to the playground, and actually even going on errands (lots of people to see).

As far as the things you mention, amusement parks are overwhelming for young children usually, and while they like the beach, a few hours out in the sun is probalby enough at that age (plus you would need a ton of gear to keep the sand/salt/sun off). babies are pretty indifferent to things like museums - they would probably enjoy the people, its just a question of how bad you would feel if she was loud (babies are pretty unpredictable). So I guess my overall recommendation is to keep it short and local most of the time, while they are young. Longer expeditions like camping or the beach are possible, but tend to take a lot of planning, packing and vigilance, so most people only do day trips occasionally.

Of course there are tons of things you can do with your infant in your own house as well.

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Things a new mom didnt know she really needed?

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Kristen

Hello,

My cousin is about to have preemie twin girls and Iâd really like to get her some things that would truly be useful to her. So my question is for all the moms, what was truly useful to make you and your babies more comfortable, relaxed, happyâ¦

I know a helping hand would be very useful but she lives across the county and she does have family there to help her with that. Iâm honestly looking for materialistic things that would really help her without just being âclutterâ All suggestions are welcome, thank you for reading this. :)

Answer
I have a 2 1/2 month old, and throughout this time, I kept writing down the things that really came in handy for me and things that I could have done without. Some of the things that are really really helpful for me are:

1. Bottle Warmer - I pumped my breastmilk due to inverted nipples that made it hard for me to breastfeed so in the middle of the night I had to have bottles ready. This warmer has done wonders cause I kept it in our bedroom and it has a cooler that holds two bottles. It helped me avoid going out to the kitchen and made my life a lot easier. Whether she is breastfeeding via pump or bottlefeeding, this warmer really helps.

2. My breast friend - this is an alternative to the boppy. I still find multiple uses for my boppy, however, boppys don't provide the best support when breastfeeding. My brest friend is sturdier and provides much better support for your back and shoulders when breastfeeding. It also allows you to transport the baby to their crib when sleeping, holding her on there without alot of movement.

3. A backpack for babies or sling - this worked miracles for me with my newborn during those stages when she really wanted to be next to mommy all the time. Before this, I found myself bound to the bedroom feeling guilty if I didn't hold her, but once I put her in the carrier, I was able to cook, clean and feel liberated to do things around the house. I recently discovered the Moby wrap. I don't know how this would work with twins, but it can help with one at a time. Go to www.mobywrap.com.

4. Glider - Oh my gosh.........this thing works wonders with putting the baby to sleep or comforting them when needed.

5. Swing - she tends to enjoy this as well, and often times she goes to sleep here.

6. Sleeper Bags - These are very helpful to avoid unbuttoning a lot of clothes in those midnight hours. My husband loved these also.

7. Breastfeeding Bras - some say you don't need these but they were a God send for me, even when pumping. They would help hold the pump in place so my hands could be free to do other things. And believe me, I pumped a lot.

8. A Breast Pump - I invested in the Medela Pump that runs about $300 or $280, I can't remember. This was such a worthwhile investment. Whoever says the manual pumps are okay have never had to pump before. I believe in investing in the top of the line when it comes to pumping.

9. Gift Cards - my friends gave me tons of gift cards for my shower(s) and they were so handy. It helped me during those times I wasn't working and needed things for the baby.

10. Diapers - Find out what kind of diapers she prefers to use for them and stock up. I am still surviving off of the diapers we recv'd from our shower.

11. Burping Clothes - I prefered the kind that are like diapers. they can be purchased in WalMart where you get 12 for $12. I can't seem to get enough of these.

12. Bibs - I never knew bibs were so expensive. Get tons of these for later. They don't tend to use as much when newborns, but at around 2 months, they start to drool more and it helps when you burp them and they spit up. I never had many so it caused me to change her clothes a whole lot more.

If she doesn't mind second hand items, I highly recommend shopping for used baby items on www.craigslist.com. You can find great deals on their for things like the glider or swing.

Hope this helps!

What are the names of Dora the Explorer's brother and sister?

Lisa F

I know Dora has a baby brother and sister that are twins...does anyone know what their names are?

Answer
The brother is named Backpack and the sister is named Knee Socks.

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How big are roxy sugar baby bags?

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Zita

I might buy a roxy sugar baby backpack (16 l) for year 8 but i don't know if it will be big enough. I don't know how much homework i will get as this is going to be my first year at an english school. I have always used a jansport backpack with wheels but i think that might be kind of weird. Is it? Which should i use? Or should i get a messenger bag?

Answer
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go with the 30 l

extra room never hurts!!!!
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Why do African Americans where those childish backpacks with Spiderman, Dora the explorer, etc?

Lucifer

There are lots of them at my school, I was wondering why they wear such baby backpacks?

Answer
I've never seen any black people where I live doing that. Maybe just a silly trend in your town. I remember back in the 90's they hung pacifiers around their necks and I thought it was ridiculous. But I think every race and person makes a bad fashion choice at one point or the next. You grow up and you change.

Maybe you should go up to one of them and ask. Let me know -lol

Here's a thought, I know when I was in school, some kids thought it was too dorky to carry their backpacks or folders around, so they'd bring those flimsy pee-chee folders and roll them up. Maybe they think that by wearing childish backpacks it's kind of the same thing. Like if you have to carry a bunch of books around, might as well make a joke out of it. Like "I don't need to wear a big backpack because I'm not a nerd, so instead I'll wear this kid's backpack because I don't take school serious"

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I will have a 2 1/2 year old and a new born this summer. Tandem or side by side?

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respekdpic

Would I still need a stroller for a 2 1/2? What double stroller would you recommend? I usually just walk with my 2 year old but I was thinking if I was shopping alone or running errands with both of them, I want to have the option of putting them in a stroller for safety reasons, specially when it's crowded. Thanks.

Answer
I am a fan of the "Sit and Stand" type strollers. Check these ones out:
http://www.onestepahead.com/catalog/product.jsp?productId=6793
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Baby-Sit-N-Stand-Stroller-Galaxy/5246099
http://www.nextag.com/sit-n-stand-stroller/shop-html

Especially at 2 1/2 years old, most likely your older child would not want to be confined to a stroller all the time. This worked very well for my children who were about 2 1/2 to 3 years apart. They do have these "Leashes" which I was never a fan of, because it kind of makes it seem like the children are being treated like animals. My 3rd child was a "Wanderer" though (Found out later he has Autism) so we did use one for a few months. Here are some examples of more discrete ones: http://www.walmart.com/ip/Goldbug-2-in-1-Monkey-Child-Safety-Harness/4532497
http://www.mypreciouskid.com/toddler-backpack-harness.html

Do you use a backpack "leash" for your child?

Mrs. Dwigh

If you do, do you get a lot of rude comments from strangers about it?

Answer
Yes we use it occasionally. And I'm going to use it more, as I cannot keep up with my 2 year old as her little baby brother is growing inside of me. :) I'm 27 weeks. I wish I used it at the wic office the other day actually. Definitely taking her monkey backpack harness-aka child leash- with me when we visit Seattle in the next couple weeks. It's actually pretty cute and they can hold like their snacks or a cup in there. :) My daughter will run like crazy anywhere, so it is very handy to keep, I just keep it in the car. I have the tail part wrapped around my wrist and let her hold my hand. Then when she get's her eye on something, she can't run off too far. :)
I haven't really got any rude comments about it but I'll tell you a funny one a little boy made a comment on it. We were in Costco and we had her monkey"leash" on her so she can walk around. Well a little boy in the grocery cart goes. "Mommy! mommy! That girl has a leash on!!" I just smile oh so sweetly, then he looks at my bf and repeats. "she has a leash"... My boyfriend retorts back, "yeah, but you are in a cage!! LMAO!!! kid's face just dropped and his mother and I were laughing hysterically. :)
But I don't care what people think. My daughter's safety and more important than people's opinions. Better safe than sorry.

BTW... A LEASH IS WHAT MOST DOGS WEAR AROUND THEIR "NECK"... just to the people referring these things to walking a dog... :)

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How do you carry your baby when you go out?

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Mountains

When you go out with your baby, what do you use to carry him or her around? I'm just wondering which items I should get before my little one is born, so I thought I'd ask all of the moms & dads - which item(s) do you use the most when you go out? and why do you prefer to carry them that way?

For example:
Stroller
Carseat carrier
Sling
Hold in arms
Backpack carrier
Front carrier (ex. Snugli)
other?

Answer
I agree with the car seat in stroller. The reason I like this, is purely CONVENIENCE! When you use this method, your baby is already in the car seat in the car, you simply unbuckle the car seat from it's position, press the carrier's release button, and wah-lah the car seat is free to go with you. Next, your husband pulls the stroller around and the carseat clicks right into place, than the car seat and stroller both have a canopy that connects, so baby is better protected from wind, rain, and loud noises. You can stroller baby around which is great, because trust me, baby's get heavy overtime and tired arms make for tired moms. The stroller makes for a smooth ride, and you can use the under carriage to store baby's items, diapers, spit-up rags, extra bottles or whatever, plus they usually come equipped with a cup holder which is perfect to hold a drink of your choice while you are moving around the store.

The super positive points:

If baby is sleeping, you don't have to wake the baby at all when you leave him/her in the carseat, you don't have to worry about anyone bumping into baby on accident, because they were not paying attention to your precious bundle you were carrying in your arms.

If you are in a grocery store, and don't need a stroller, the car seat carrier should just click right into the cart, and again, you won't have to wake baby up, or worry about how dirty the pre-provided baby carrier that comes with some shopping cart might be.

How to travel with newborn internationally?

zawjatuabd

I would like to travel soon with my 7 week old baby to Canada so he can see his grandparents. This will be a 22 hr flight via airplane! How soon can I travel and how I carry him with me conveniently? car seat, stroller what kind, backpack carrier? Anyone tried travelling w a newborn- can u give me tips

Answer
Oh wow i will be travelling from Canada hopefully within a week so her grandparents can see her and that will 22 hours of flight too but the difference is she will 4 months actually i wanted to go since she was 1 month but passport took some time. well the advices i got and after searching on different websites i came to know that:
When you get your tickets just ask them if there is anyway they can give you the seat where you can hook a bassinet up for the baby.
Take lots of diapers, pacifier, wipes, 2 to 3 change of cloths,
Make sure you take a soft blanket of your lill one.
Please don't drug the baby with Benadryl it can create more problem for you because sometimes babies get cranky.
Just make sure that u are feeding the kid (either bottle or breast feed) at the time of take off and landing so that he/she isn't cranky due to air pressure.
Btw dont worry your baby will be sleeping most of the time :)
Good luck!

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What are some objects that represent change or growing apart?

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momo41

I need it for a project at school. It needs to be a real life object that represents changing or growing apart. Please Help!!!

Answer
Examples:

*A key, to a new house or a first apartment
*A driver's license
*A wedding dress/veil/etc. - beginning of a new life/marriage (change) or the end of one stage, like moving out of your parents place (growing apart)
*Baby shoes - first steps (change) or the beginning of independence (growing apart)
*Backpack - starting school or a new school
*A moving box -moving to a new house/neighborhood (change)/ moving away and leaving friends or family (growing apart)

You get the picture, just think along those lines and you'll have an object that works perfectly for your project! Use your own life experience. Think of times of change or growing up/apart that you've gone through. Don't worry, you've got this! Good luck, I'm sure you'll get an A+!

What is a good bravery book for a 12 year old that is somewhat medium length?

Lauren

My 12 year old daughter is doing a project on a book about bravery. Its due November 30 and shes a slow reader so it needs to be something she can read quickly. she is a tomboy so if that helps:)

Answer
Sorry in advance for the extra long answer

Hurt Go Happy :Thirteen-year-old Joey Willis is used to being left out of conversations. Though she's been deaf since the age of six, Joey's mother has never allowed her to learn sign language. She strains to read the lips of those around her, but often fails.Everything changes when Joey meets Dr. Charles Mansell and his baby chimpanzee, Sukari. Her new friends use sign language to communicate, and Joey secretly begins to learn to sign. Spending time with Charlie and Sukari, Joey has never been happier. She even starts making friends at school for the first time. But as Joey's world blooms with possibilities, Charlie's and Sukari's choices begin to narrow--until Sukari's very survival is in doubt. Its 227 pages I loved it read it when i was 12
by Ginny Rorby

The Shadow thieves by Anne Ursu: Its kinda long 424 pages but good :See that girl, the one with the bright red hair, overstuffed backpack, and aura of grumpiness? That's Charlotte Mielswetzski. And something extra-ordinary is about to happen to her.

Oh, it's not the very cute kitten that appears out of nowhere and demands to go home with her. It's not the sudden arrival of her cousin Zee, who believes he's the cause of a mysterious sickness that has struck his friends back in England. It's not her creepy English teacher Mr. Metos, who takes his mythology lessons just a little too seriously. And it's not the white-faced, yellow-eyed men in tuxedoes, who follow Charlotte everywhere.

What's so extraordinary is not any one of these things....It's all of them. And when Charlotte's friends start to get sick one by one, Charlotte and Zee set out to find a cure. Their quest leads them to a not-so-mythical Underworld, where they face rhyme-loving Harpies, gods with personnel problems, and ghosts with a thirst for blood.

Charlotte and Zee learn that in a world overrun by Nightmares, Pain, and Death, the really dangerous character is a guy named Phil. And then they discover that the fate of every person -- living and dead -- is in their young hands.

A Mango Shaped Space by Wendy Mass :Mia Winchell seems to be a typical teenager, but shes keeping a huge secret from everyone who knows her: sounds, numbers, and words appear in color for her. Mia has synesthesia, the mingling of perceptions whereby a person can see sounds, smell colors, or taste shapes. When trouble in school forces Mia to reveal her condition, her friends and family can't relate to her, and she must look to herself to develop an understanding and appreciation for her gift. Spiced with wit and humor, A Mango-Shaped Space is a poignant coming-of-age novel that will intrigue readers long after theyve turned the last page. Praised by reviewers and award-winning authors alike, A Mango-Shaped Space has brought renewed attention to the fascinating world of synesthesia, which includes famous artists such as Vincent Van Gogh and Serge Rachmaninoff 218 pages

Harry Potter is good not too long

Incatation by Allice Hoffman: Its still a favortite to this day: Estrella is a Marrano: During the time of the Spanish Inquisition, she is one of a community of Spanish Jews living double lives as Catholics. And she is living in a house of secrets, raised by a family who practices underground the ancient and mysterious way of wisdom known as kabbalah. When Estrella discovers her family's true identityâand her family's secrets are made publicâshe confronts a world she's never imagined, where new love burns and where friendship ends in flame and ash, where trust is all but vanquished and betrayal has tragic and bitter consequences. This is only 176 pages and is very good and has a lot about bravery

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How much money should I save for a new baby?

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Jilly

I want to start trying for a baby next year. I plan on taking between 3-6 months off from work. How much money should I set aside? Thanks.

Answer
If you plan to be off work that long, I would save a few thousand.

On baby items alone, brand new for the most part, we spent about $1500. Luckily our baby shower brought us a TON of diapers, clothing, and major expenses (stroller and car seat). The most expensive items will be clothes and diapers. Babies tend to go through them like crazy. My son is wearing 3-6 month clothing and he is 9 weeks old.

He is breastfed, so if you plan to feed your baby formula...add that to your expenses as well. I am not sure how much formula costs. BUT you also have to figure how much baby might eat during growth spurts. My baby ate double during weeks 2,3, and 6. They literally will want to eat every 2 hours even when they seems to eat every 3 or 4 normally.

Here is a breakdown of our expenses:

Clothes: $75 (bought a few pajamas for warmer weather)
Diapers: $40 (newborns tend to go through 12-14 day, mine goes through 8 or so, we buy pampers sensitive)
Wipes: $20 (extra large box with 6 refills)
Ointment: $7 (Aveeno or Butt paste)
Baby wash: $7 (we use Aveeno, baby skin dries out with fragrance washes)

* I didn't add the toys we bought him this month because with a newborn, the first month is literally sleep, poop, eat, sleep. That is about it. Then about month two it would be nice to buy books, floor gyms...etc.

**Buy a white noise machine or mobile (helps them sleep)
**If not breastfeeding, buy a binky
**Receiving blankets! They sleep better when swaddled (about $6-8 a pack)
**Hand mittens, they claw like crazy
**hats
**They go through a stage where they never want to leave your side, buy a safe sling or baby **backpack to carry him/her around in....this stage usually sets in around 3rd week.

What stores in the mall sell baby phat clothes?

mattnniki6

I usually get my baby phat clothes online (on their website), but I have heard that there are other places to get baby phat clothes for cheap. Does anyone know of these places? is the mall one? and where else.

Answer
Girl, here's what I do.... Go to Burlington if you have one where you live. Burlington sells Baby Phat Jeans for less than 54.00 a piece, sometimes only 34.00 a piece. Also, all their shirts and hoodies are under 40.00. Their jackets are about 119.00 a piece. The only downside to them is that they don't have a very large selection, (like maybe only 5-10 different styles of shirts and 5 different styles of jeans and a few capris) but the money you save when you find something you love is outstanding! You also can get purses and those little backpack things with prices ranging from 19.99 to 64.00. They got belts too sometimes. I love Burlington so much. They also have other types of name brand stuff, like G-Unit, Rocawear, Enyce, etc. I hope this helps. I also order offline, cause Baby Phat is the majority of what I wear, but it's so easy to burn 200.00 on just like.... three things. Try Burlington. As far as Macy's goes, I've never known Macy's to sell ANYTHING Baby Phat, and I used to shop at Macy's quite often. Oh yeah! Try TJ Max. They mostly have purses for under 50.00, but sometimes you'l come across some really cute shirts or jeans for under 40.00! The shirts will be like 19.99! I hope this helps.

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Has anyone done Semester at Sea?

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ballaerina

Is it competitive? Would you recommend it? Do you have any advice for an applicant?

Answer
SAS is a FABULOUS PROGRAM!! You will not regret the decision to go - I PROMISE!

Here's some advice I've given others in the past:

as far as money is concerned - it's different for everyone. i brought a lot in the way of cash for trip expenditures. that is, i bought almost nothing in countries to take back with me (which was a damn good thing, too, because i would have just lost everything in katrina, anyway). my roommate, on the other hand, bought a huge backpack and filled it with trinkets and gifts for people. she only brought about a grand for this, as she did most of her trips with SAS. it totally depends on the type of person you are.

make sure you go through that itinery book thouroughly - my recommendation would be to do a good mix of trips. i personally picked about two big ones to go on with the group - i travelled in china with sas (i did tsingua university and the great wall with a short stint in shanghai for the new year) and i travelled kenya with the group (i did a 4 day safari and a day at the baby elephant orphange). for the rest of my sas adventures, i pretty much just wing'ed em. i hadn't had much travelling experience in the past, so i thought this was a great way to learn. haha.

this goes back to the applying early thing - the only way to secure your spot on sas trips is to apply early. point blank - even then, it's not a guarantee. don't stress out over this - no matter what you pick, you'll have an amazing experience!

as far as other advice is concerned:

-go knowing no one. you'll meet tons of people and have a blast. if you know someone, you're likely to shut the two of you out from the rest of the ship.
-don't invest in a satellite phone - it's just not worth it. they're expensive, and chances are, someone else will let you use theirs for a minimal fee if god-forbid there was a crisis (i.e. during our "storm incident" a few kids had em and just let us call our parents to let them know we were okay).
-bring USD! despite what you may think, most of these places think cashiers checks or travellers checks are worthless. i made this mistake. don't do it. there is a safe in your cabin where you can lock up any valuables.
-buy a "travellers belt" and use it! it looks stupid underneath your clothes, but it's a great way to ensure you don't get pick-pocketed (and as americans, that happens a lot).
-bring lots of singles because its a great way to haggle!! also, you can exchange currency one you get to a port - they offer this service right on the ship. easy. and don't sweat the exchange rates because they'll always be terrible. haha. in the long run, you'll only lose a few us dollars by doing it the day of. the onlyonly way you'll wind up risking more is if you exchange more than you need in each county (because the exchange back will always be less - just as a rule of thumb).
-don't pack more than you can carry. everyone else will have the same amount of crap and no one is going to help you because they have their own load to worry about.
-it's not a fashion show. being a girl, this was a hard lesson to learn. i brought a few "cute going-out outfits" and wound up exchanging with three or four other girls when we had adventures on the town. on this note, label your clothing! it will probably, at some point, get lost in the laundry.
-bring bathingsuits. lots of them. you're surrounded by water and hell, there's a pool.
-if you have a laptop, bring it, but be careful. while it is a small community with tons of trust, laptops, as with other expensive electronics (ie ipods), tend to disappear. you can rent one on the ship (which is what i had to do after my television fell on mine during the 'wave') for a minimal fee - the rentals are pretty crappy.
-use your ship internet time wisely. if you go to india, don't waste any of your shipboard internet minutes because internet cafes in india are like a penny a minute! by that same logic, use your free minutes in south africa where internet cafes are a dollar a minute. once you expend your shipboard internet minutes, using the on board computers get expensive.
-get your shots in advance. i applied late like i mentioned above. i had to get al 3490825875467862134 vaccines in two weeks before i left. NOT FUN! also, beware of your malaria medication. mine made me sick. turns out, i was allergic. i stopped taking mine and i was fine. i don't reccommend this, though. make sure that your body can handle all the meds and such.
-don't forget that this is school! the grades you earn will stay on your permanent transcript. excuses like "but i lost my paper to a fire-breathing chinese dragon" will only get you so far. the professors aboard are great ones and they are learning with you. open your mind and expand. you will learn more out of the classroom than in - they know this - but this is still no excuse to not take classes seriously.
-here's some advice you may not want your parents to read: don't go with a significat other. now i don't know whether you are dating someone or not. i wasn't when i went. my roommate was. needless to say, she broke it off with her long-term beau. if you ask almost anyone that has gone, it is just not wise to go attached. you are experiencing things with people that only they will understand. and truth be told, after two months of seeing the same people day in and day out, they start to look good, haha. so avert relationship disaster. and if it's meant to be, your sigother will be waiting for you when you get off that ship and you will be waiting for them as well. but let it be known that you will be a changed woman after this trip and your relationship may never be the same (plus, they'll get totally sick of you yapping: sas this...sas that..sas..sas..sas)!!
-try everything once. i did stuff i never thought i would do: cage diving with great whites, jumping from a 75 foot cliff into a freezing pool of water, horseback riding through the winelands, riding in a rickshaw... i even ate things that got me so sick i thought i wouldn't see another day. no matter the outcome, i'll probably never have the chance to do these things again and i relished even in the not-so-pleasant times.
-prepare to see the worst. imagine the most horrible thing you have seen in your life thus far. you'll see worse. trust me. humanity can be cruel. learn from it and carry it with you.
-HAVE FUN! this is unavoidable but take time to write in journals, snap photos, and reflect on what you are doing. less than 1% of the world's population circumsail the world and you are one of them! it's awesome. it's better than awesome.
-keep in touch! i want e-mails, updates, pictures, whatever! sas was the best time of my life, and i promise it will be yours, too.


hope this was of some help! if you have more questions, please don't hesitate to ask! lots of luck,
Stephanie
stephattulane@yahoo.com

Matching tattoos for the kids? HELP! Idears?

So youâll never guess where I am right now........Dharamsala! Esperanza put aside here prejudices about tattooâs on women and we took up Aleah on her offer to go backpacking with them there!!! âThemâ is Aleah and Namir (the Israeli couple) and their daughter Netanya, and of course we are Esperanza, Ryan, and myself. Itâs so AMAZING. Weâve already done TONS of stuff...I just got time to come to an Internet Cafe (there are tons of them, due to all the hippieâs around hoping to catch a glimpse of the âDollyâ Lama).

Anyway, we all have really bonded, and last night at dinner we came up with an AMAZING idea. Of course, we made A + N aware of our quest to get Ryan his tattoo. Then they reminded us of an ancient custom of India. Sometimes if two couples (or two mothers) struck up a really good friendship, and if one had a boy and the other a girl (or was pregnant with same), they would vow to cement the alliance between their families by betrothing the children to one another. (For you guys that donât know, âbetrothâ means âengageâ.) Then when they got older, the kids would marry.

This got us thinking about Ryan and Netanya....and tattoos. Why not....get them matching tattooâs? It would be meaningful on so many levels. It would commemorate the fateful meeting between our two families, as well as strengthening our bond. Also, it would be a beautiful way of betrothing Ryan and Netanya.

Our only problem now is coming up with the PERFECT design. We were thinking some kind of six-pointed star with all of out names and what they mean....maybe even the symbols for each of our names at each point. Shareef means âhonor(able)â (Arabic), Esperanza means âhopeâ (Mexican), Aleah means âimmigrant to new homeâ (Jewish), Namir means âleopardâ (Israeli), Netanyu means âGift of Godâ (Hebrew), and Ryan means âKinglyâ (Irish). We could also have the names written in each of their scripts (Arabic, Mexican, Jewish, Israeli, Hebrew, and Irish). However, we still need to work in on Ryanâs the original idea of his birth date and âMIRACLEâ in Arabic. Plus we donât want it to get too big because theyâre just babies (6 + 7 months).

Any ideas would be AMAZING.
OK you guys have no right to judge us if you don't know the whole story...and I didn't ask for your opinions except on the DESIGN so...ideas? What is a symbol of "hope" and "immigrant"?
I don't have any tattoo's but Aleah has lots (like I explained last time) and she said they didn't hurt very badly....kind of like a cat scratch or a sunburn....she even fell asleep during one of them LOL

Answer
Hello again Shareef! I hope that you are all having a great time seeing the mighty greatness that is the dolly lama!!! lolz.
a couple of thing...

1. DO NOT listen to these people that say not to tattoo a baby! I mean, we, in America, get babies ears pierced, get the little boys circumsized, and we even cut their umbilical cords! Talk about pain! However, I am under the impression that they babies can't remember all of these things, so now is the best time to get the tattoos done! I mean, from what I hear, tattoos are pretty PaInFuL and I wouldn't want to remember it unless I had to! They will thank you for it in the long run, I promise!!!

2. Congrats on "betrothing" little Ryan and Netanya! I am sure they will enjoy years of happiness together!

3. As for design... PLEASE don't get a nautical star! Those are SO played out! What you chiefly need to do, is incorporate something that has INTENSE meaning to all of you.... like maybe .... well, I think that butterflys would be best! What you can do for little Netanya, is get a string of butterflies on her lower back! That is a totally original place for a tattoo, plus, it will be cute because it won't show unless she wears lowrise diapers! Then everyone will get a little *peek*... lolZ!! Okay, so there will be a total of 5 butterflies... on the right side, you can have two butterflies, one with her mom's name in some pretty language, like sanscript or japanese, and the other with her dad's name in the same language! Make each butterfly the color of the parent's eyes to add deeper meaning. Also, on the left side of her lower back, you should put you and Ranza's names in chinese or whatever... you should see how the characters look first to see which language looks better. Once again, make the eye color of the parent the color of their corresponding butterfly! Then, for the centerpiece! You will have one butterfly that will symbolize the JOINING of the two families! The butterfly will be half Ryan's eye color and half Netanyu's eye color! The, to symbolize Ryan, you should have the butterfly wearing a crown and to add Netanyu's "Gift of God" added in, you could have the crowned butterfly have a halo on top of it's crown! Underneath the butterfly, you can have "Miracle" written and both babies birthdates!
For little Ryan, make the design the same, except instead of butterflies, make his flames or a tribal. Those are both SUPER manly designs! just make sure you still carry the colors of the eyes, etc, into the design! Also, make sure to leave room where they can tattoo their wedding date someday!

All in all, I think that my design will be much more symbolic than a star, and not as complicated.

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Any parenting advice please?

baby gap backpack image

Q. I am 32 years old and 8 months pregnant with my first baby. I will be raising her on my own, and want to be the best mother I can be. I have read most of the books, researched a lot online, and still have many fears.

Any words of wisdom?

Answer
Congratulations! It seems you have done everything I have done when I had my son (now 5 y.o.) - books didn't help much⦠only gave me the basic idea on things. I did talk to parents online, there are message boards you can participate in and get advice from other parents.

Not everything that worked for others will work for you so it's best to keep an open mind, listen to your instincts and remember to rest physically and emotionally. If you can get any help of your friends to watch the baby so you could sleep - that will help you. I am still sleep deprived, five years later :).

If you happen to feel depressed after the delivery - a little baby blues are a normal thing as your hormones change, but if you feel the "blues" don't go away and starting to develop into a depression (lasting lets' say more than a month) - you may want to see a doctor and get her advice. I did get depressed after my son was born and it's hard caring for a baby when you're not feeling like doing anything at all...

People will tell you many, MANY things. Some will push their opinion onto you and some will make suggestions. It's best to keep an open mind. The way I looked at it - if this is something that my doctor tells me and I agree with it - that's the road I am going to take. If someone tells you smth outrageous and claims it works - use common sense and your best judgement. If ever in doubt - talking to other parents or a doctor [or both] usually provides enough useful information for you to make an educated decision.

Watch your budget - being a single mom can get tough financially. If you're planning on sending your child to day care - this can get a little pricey. What I learned from it - visit different day care centers, talk to teachers and ask questions. Walk through multiple rooms and review. If anything you don't like - move on to another center. And in my experience with childcare - you get what you pay for... Same goes for private babysitters and nannies â but I personally chose against hiring a nanny for safety reasons. I heard too many stories of abuse so I trust day care centers more because there is more structure there. And the day care center will be held accountable for every bump your child gets while in their care - so you know they will make sure to follow all the rules.

There's going to be lots of trial and error situations. As they say "it will get hard before it gets better" and with newborns it's very true. But even if you catch yourself thinking: "this will never end, I'll be stuck to this baby forever with no time for me" - no, you won't be. It's true that you will be glued to this child for the first year most likely and it will be hard to find time for yourself... But it's only until the baby starts walking, talking and etc... As the times goes by you will be getting your personal time back.

I agree with someone who said this earlier â take lots of pictures!

Wishing you the best of luck!

Ok, and here is the list of things I could not live without. Links are for information only â I am in no way soliciting any particular products, this is just a list of things I had and found they did work (for me). Maybe you will find it helpful.


- Vibrating bouncer with ocean sounds
http://www.amazon.com/Fisher-Price-Ocean-Wonders-Aquarium-Bouncer/dp/B000324Y7U

- Simethicone drops (Mylicon) which I added to my son's formula or gave by mouth (he had colic and these drops did majic to him)
http://www.medicinenet.com/simethicone_drops-oral/article.htm

-Tiny Love symphony-in-motion mobile
http://www.amazon.com/Tiny-Love-Symphony-Motion-Mobile/dp/B00067ELGG/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=baby-products&qid=1216408151&sr=1-2

- Enfamil formula (highly recommend if you choose to use formula).

- Gap backpack instead of a regular "diaper bag". I loved it - it looks great, not like a diaper bag, very roomy inside, convenient and the best thing - you throw it on your back, pick up the baby and off you go. Very easy.
(I tried to find a link but they don't sell them anymore...It used to be in "Diaper Bags" section on Gap website...)

- Dr. Brown baby bottles. They do work.
http://www.amazon.com/Dr-Browns-Natural-Flow-Bottle/dp/B00005BYUR

- Baby Einsten videos â my son loved them all!
http://babyeinstein.com/en/

Romeo & Juliet one page summary help? Comparing Romeo and Juliet's one theme to today's society.?

Daivik

Hi Guys,
I need help writing one page summary for Romeo and Juliet play. In the 1st paragraph I am supposed to write about one theme from Act 1-Scene1-5 and in 2nd paragraph I am comparing that to todays society.For example, lack of marriage choices,generation gap,family feud,literacy any one of those or any other new ideas? I have to write at least 2 paragraphs.Can anybody help?

Answer
In R&J the feud between the families was the reason that they couldn't be together. A daughter's duty was to marry to benefit her family, and definitely not an enemy of her family. They were both teenagers and felt that, like most teenagers, they knew what was best. Sorry, but true. in R&J's time when people got married it was REALLY for life, whether you liked it or not, that was why they felt death was better than a life without each other, they just needed to clue each other in on their plan. Conversely, even though the marriages were engraved in stone, the morals weren't. Affairs were common, after the heir was produced, then discreet affairs were very common among the upper crust of society.

Comparing it to today's society... Every parent wants to see their child marry to someone who they feel is a "good" person. It doesn't have to be a feud between families in our society, but cultural differences, religious differences. Or something as simple as appearance. I remember when a guy came to pick up my baby girl (ok she was 16) but he was on a motorcycle, wearing leathers, had an earing and had tattoos..... I remember thinking OMG!! no way is he leaving with my baby. but he came to the door introduced himself to me, shook my hand. I told him she wasn't quite ready yet. I asked him if he wanted to sit down to wait. He was a wonderful young man. He apologized for showing up like he did and asked if he could use our bathroom and went out to get his backpack. When he came out he was in jeans and a Tshirt. He was in the drama club at school and rehearsals had gone late so he didn't have time to go home and change and get his car. They were going to take my daughters car and, if it was OK with me, leave his motorcycle at our house. He didn't want my daughter riding it because she didn't have the right clothes. This kid was an honor student, and graduated that year 1st in his class. that was in 2000. He just finished his residency and last July they gave me my first grandchild, a girl.

In today's society we tend to complain about who our kids like, about who they are dating if we don't like them... in most cases the more we complain the longer they will date that person. I tried really hard not to have an opinion until I talked to them.

Sometimes I think there needs to be a rule that you have to date, with no sex for at least a year, then if you are still interested in each other and are talking about marriage when you are older, then you should have to wait until at least one of you is out of college. Finances is the #! cause of divorce in this country. and getting a divorce is just too easy. If your commitment were stronger, or you had to wait longer and make that commitment stronger them maybe divorce wouldn't be the first solution that popped into people's mind at the first sign of trouble.

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