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When infant travel hits the road A baby changes your life in ways you never expect – not least of which is that you stop thinking about yourself as a singular entity. This tiny person takes up huge amounts of space (in your home and in your heart), and his well-being is factored into every decision you make. In the comfort of your own home and routine, mommy plus one is a doable concept, but it gets a little dicey when you’re separated from the conveniences of changing tables and Diaper Genies. Taking your show on the road should start with baby steps – a quick trip to grandma’s house or the market. Once you feel comfortable away from the nursery, schedule lunch out with friends or a shopping mall run. By the time you’ve worked the bugs out of diaper bag packing and stroller stowing, you’ll be ready for the ultimate challenge – air travel. All of us who shunned parents on planes and their cranky kids have it coming now that the shoe is on the other foot. It’s a curse best avoided by pre-planning and patience. As frequent flyers well know, the skies are seldom friendly to even the most prepared traveler, but there are ways to make your journey with Junior as painless as possible. (The first, of course, is to never blame baby.) Getting started By Michele Piazzoni You’ve heard of prenatal care. Now the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is hoping to introduce “preconception care.” The idea is that since about half of all pregnancies in the United States are unplanned, all women of childbearing age should give a little thought to things such as folic acid supplements, and lifestyle choices involving diet and alcohol consumption to ensure healthy pregnancies. The CDC is even developing a standardized preconception visit and billing code so that the care will be covered by health insurance. A trial program in Utah hospitals, which required a bilirubin test on all newborns before discharge, has been praised for significantly reducing the number of babies who are later diagnosed with elevated bilirubin levels and lowering the number of readmissions to the hospital for treatment of jaundice. Researchers who monitored the program suggest that it may be a critical step toward preventing jaundice, hyperbilirubinemia and a rare condition known as Kernicterus that can cause permanent brain damage. Do you have a crybaby on your hands? Be prepared, his crying may indicate more problems down the road. A recent German study found that children who were described by their parents as excessive criers beyond 6 months of age were nearly nine times more likely to have eating difficulties and seven times more likely to have sleeping difficulties. However, babies who were excessive criers up to 3 months of age were not more likely to develop such difficulties than non-criers. If your budget can bear it, purchase a ticket for you and your infant. Children under age 2 may fly free of charge if they sit in mom’s or dad’s lap. However, there’s nothing like a crowded cabin to make you regret your frugality. Most airlines offer discounted fares for infants, so it’s worth checking into an infant rate before booking your flight. Special assistance needed Airlines are surprisingly compassionate to those traveling with children, offering perks including additional baggage allowances for strollers and car seats and early boarding privileges. Kind flight attendants will warm your baby’s bottle and even hold your child if you need a hands-free lavatory visit. On a recent flight to New Orleans, the plane’s pilot held my son while I got our gear situated. If friends or family will be picking you up at the airport, have them ask airport security to let them meet you at the gate. They may get lucky! What to expect If you’re accustomed to air travel, rude people should be nothing new, but expect the obnoxiousness quotient to double when you’re carrying on a child. Men the size of NFL linebackers have refused to budge to make way for my baby and me. One particularly self-entitled woman insisted on sitting in the center seat between my child and me on a Southwest flight. On the positive side, the behavior of these adults left me feeling very proud of my son’s conduct. Coping with cabin pressure If you are nursing, wear clothing that helps camouflage the process to prevent ogling from other passengers. Consider a shawl or poncho since these flexible garments can double as baby blankets, changing pads and pillows when necessary. Be prepared to nurse or offer a bottle at takeoff and landing to help your child cope with noise and the cabin’s changing air pressure. Juice or water bottles don’t spoil as quickly and are perfect for pre- and post-flight refreshment. Baby’s baggage There’s no such thing as packing light when it comes to baby’s stuff, but you can be smart about it. Pack a few of his favorite toys, stuffed animals and books to help him feel at home. When planning his wardrobe, ask yourself if you will have access to laundry facilities. If not, pack plenty of clothing changes for infants who are teething or are prone to other accidents. Keep in mind that we all want our kids to look cute, but a comfortable baby is a happy baby is a happy mom. What to carry on Pack a diaper bag or overnight bag with the necessities plus a few extras. In my case, my baby was bottle fed so I measured out dry formula and added it to several clean bottles. I brought bottled water to mix up each meal as needed. Don’t forget pacifiers and a toy or two to keep your little one occupied. Pack plenty of wipes, diapers and burp cloths. Depending upon the length of your trip, you may want to dress your child in something comfortable for the flight, then change him into his couture upon arrival. It’s a good idea to take along an extra top for you too. When your loved ones live halfway across the country, as mine do, you have no choice but to endure the indignities of air travel. Try to fly during non-peak times to ensure the most elbow room, bring along your stroller and car seat (not counted as luggage items) and be considerate of your fellow travelers. When you’re traveling alone with an infant, sympathetic passengers, flight attendants and even pilots can become your best friends. And don’t forget to ask for the bulkhead seats. S. Danyelle Knight is a regular contributor. |
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