Childcare Tips Archives

8 Smart Ways To Entertain Your Toddler In The Car

February 13, 2017 kidloLand Comments 0 Comment

Going on a road trip is one of the best things you can do with your family. A long drive with your loved ones is truly a magical experience. But mommies, I’m sure you will agree that traveling long distances with little children in tow is not a joke. During the long journey, your child will be strapped to a car seat with minimal space for movement. As a result, your sweet little baby will start feeling cranky and throw tantrums. It takes a lot of patience and some meticulous planning to make sure that your child’s, as well as your own car journey, goes well. So the big question is…

How to keep your child entertained in the car on road trips?

Here are some tips.

family road trip — image credit: pexels.com

1. Pack the snacks!

Nothing can keep your child calm and relaxed if he is hungry. Plan out the snacks that you will carry with you beforehand, and pack them for your journey. Don’t forget to bring along lots of water and some milk in sippy cups. Although healthy snacks are preferred, you can add in a few of your child’s favorite snacks to keep him happy during the ride.

2. Sing songs

A family road trip is incomplete without some music! Little children react to music in an unbelievable way. Take pictures and videos of your toddler bobbing his head to the beat or your older kid singing along to the lyrics. You can even play some of his favorite nursery rhymes and keep him entertained.

3. Bring your iPad along

If you have an iPad or a tablet, bring it along on your road trip. Download an app, such as KidloLand, which is an all-in-one companion for your preschooler. Loaded with a ton of educational and fun content, your child will surely never get bored of playing and learning.

entertain car road trip toddler tips — image credit: Pezibear/pixabay

4. Bring some toys!

Your child might have some favorite toys or soft toys at home that she loves to play with, so why not bring them along too? Your children can cuddle with soft and fuzzy toys, making it much easier for them to fall asleep. Avoid bringing toys which make noises for your own sanity.

5. White board and dry-erase markers

A clear white board is a blank canvas, all it needs is your child’s imagination! During a long road trip, your child can feel bored of sitting in one place for long hours. How about giving her a white board with some dry-erase markers? She can doodle, scribble, draw, write and keep herself engaged for quite some time.

6. Finger puppets

Finger puppets are a great way to keep things interesting on your road trip. Encourage your little one to make up his own story with the finger puppets and keep adding new twists and turns to it. This will not only keep him entertained but it will also make him think! Colorful finger puppets are great ‘friends’ for your child to talk to, and it also promotes creative thinking and imaginative play.

entertaining car activities for toddlers — image credit: publicdomainpictures

7. Books

You can bring along some story books with colorful illustrations to keep your little one engrossed. Read the stories to him or let him read them all by himself. When you read a story to him, add voice modifications for different characters and make it fascinating. Your child is guaranteed to love every bit of it!

traveling with children in car — image credit: publicdomainpictures

8. Lullabies

Naps are extremely essential during road trips! You can play some of the lullabies for babies within the KidloLand app on your iPad/tablet and soon, your little munchkin will be drifting off to sleep. Remember to bring some soft pillows for your child so that she can comfortably fall asleep. Once your child has fallen asleep, take a power nap yourself because you deserve it! After all, mommy needs some sleep too.

Summing Up

It’s best to make a checklist and pack all the essentials for your road trip beforehand. Some strategic planning can ensure that your child has a relaxing and exciting journey in the car. Happy journey!

How To Deal With Your Toddler’s Tantrums

January 25, 2017 kidloLand Comments 0 Comment

Every parent of a toddler will agree that the dreaded temper tantrums are a complete nightmare. Your adorable and sweet little child turns into a screaming and bawling one. Raising a child is not easy and handling a crying toddler is definitely one of the tougher tasks involved in parenting. So how do you manage your little munchkin’s massive temper tantrum? Here are some simple ways:

Stay calm.

This might seem like a no-brainer but it is the most important thing to do. If you start panicking or start yelling at your already distressed child, things will only get worse. Your toddler’s fit of anger will recede slowly if he sees you being calm about the situation. Toddlers are still growing and they will end up getting angry about trivial things. Make sure that you take a deep breath and handle the whole outburst calmly.

Give her time.

When your child is overcome with emotions and gets really frustrated, she will throw a tantrum. In this case, one of the things you can do is leave her alone. That doesn’t mean that you should abandon her. Just let her sit in a safe space all by herself and you stay nearby. Once she has calmed down a little, you can come back and talk to her in a soothing voice. Avoid saying things like, “You’re a bad kid!” or “You annoy me!” Be gentle and help her to feel better.

how to stop temper tantrums — image credit: publicdomainpictures/pixabay

Change your surroundings.

Sometimes, toddlers find the worst places to throw a tantrum. It can be a restaurant, a supermarket, or the Doctor’s office. It can be very difficult to pacify your child when he is crying his eyes out about something, especially in public. In such situations, get out of where you are and go somewhere you can be alone with your child. A change of surroundings or some kind of diversion can help to take his mind off the original reason for frustration.

toddler tantrums 2 years old — image credit: jordan whitt

Hug!

Reasoning with your toddler will not work, so just go ahead and hug! When a child hugs his mom, it releases a hormone called oxytocin in his body which results in him feeling good. It helps to calm down his flared up emotions. Some soothing words and a comforting hug will surely benefit your toddler and make him feel happy.

Be funny.

Making the situation funny for your child can help her see the brighter side of things. With the help of any nearby objects, try to say and do something funny to distract her. You can also make funny faces to make her laugh! Even if it doesn’t completely calm her down, it will definitely help in some way to ease her frustration. Also, don’t forget to appreciate your child when she successfully calms down.

toddler temper tantrums — image credit: amandacatherine/pixabay

Try to avoid future tantrums.

If your child is freaking out so that he can make you buy something that he really doesn’t need, like some candy or a certain toy, politely refuse. Don’t give in. If you do, your child will realize that throwing a tantrum can give him whatever he wants. In order to avoid future tantrums, make sure that you always carry some snacks, in case your little one gets cranky due to hunger. Figure out whether your toddler gets out of control when he’s hungry, bored, angry or sad. Be prepared and tackle the situation before the storm arrives.

Bottom line

Handling your toddler’s temper tantrum is all about some patience and some clever strategies. If your child gets too hysterical and you feel like you cannot handle it, don’t be afraid to contact a child health care professional.

5 Tricks To Raising Your Twins That Will Help You

November 29, 2016 kidloLand Comments 0 Comment

Your life changes completely when a little bundle of joy enters your life, but how much does it change when two of them join your family at the same time? Well, it changes drastically. Giving birth to twins can mean double the joy, double the blessing but also double the effort and sleep deprivation. Raising twins needs a lot more energy and involvement from both parents than raising one child. If you have infant twins or you’ve received the good news from your doctor that you’ll have twins soon, firstly – congratulations! Secondly, don’t stress. Proper planning, preparations, and scheduling of your time right from the beginning can be very helpful.

How should you handle twin babies?

You will come across a lot of problems and issues which parents with one child usually do not experience. Identical or not, raising two little babies who are so similar yet so different is a challenge. So how can you handle the mischief of cute little twins? The following are some things that we think will make it much easier.

Embrace their differences

Right from the beginning, your identical or fraternal twins will be quite different from each other. They will have different likes, dislikes, one of them might be a happy little love bug, while the other might wake up the whole neighborhood with his cries. As a parent, it is essential to embrace their differences and work with them. Remember to never make either one of them feel excluded or unloved. Value their choices and individuality even if the society only views them as a ‘pair of twins’. There will be moments when your twins do not seem to like each other that much, but if you handle it with care and love without losing your temper, such situations will be resolved very quickly. Healthychildren.org has useful guidelines for balancing your life with twins.

Set a schedule

It’s no easy task, but try to set a common schedule for the twins. If your children’s feeding time, bathing time and sleeping time is the same, it means that there will be some time left for you as well. Partner up with your significant other and schedule your nap timings accordingly. With some practice, you can breast-feed both babies at the same time or you can choose to feed them formula. Although having twins can mean sleep deprivation for parents, it doesn’t have to be a complete nightmare.

Multi-task

If you’re a parent of twins or even triplets, multi-tasking will be an important part of your schedule. There will be times when one of your babies is throwing a tantrum while the other one is just playing with his toys quietly. At such times, you can pay a bit more attention towards calming the crying baby without feeling any type of guilt for it. Being a mom of twins means you need to juggle multiple things at the same time while keeping both your babies occupied without losing your cool.

Ask for help

Even if you can successfully multi-task, don’t refuse any help when it comes your way. Ask for help from your mother, mother-in-law, baby sitters or any of your best friends and they’d be glad to help you out. You can use this time off to sleep, eat well, go swimming or do anything that helps you relax.

Manage stress

Raising twins is a stressful duty but there are a few ways you can effectively handle the stress. Don’t isolate yourself. Take breaks during the day. If you’re depressed, talk it out with someone. Express yourself. Find some time for yourself and unwind. Don’t lose the spark of your marriage with your significant other. Join Twins and Multiples support groups. Lastly, don’t worry, things will get easier gradually.

In a nutshell

Having twins is an experience like no other. It’s a challenge but it is also greatly rewarding. It can get crazy, your house might become a complete mess, you might even envy parents with one child – but don’t panic, it’s all worth it in the end!

The Best A-Z Guide For Your Baby’s Day Out This Thanksgiving

November 17, 2016 kidloLand Comments 0 Comment

Traveling with little kids is stressful, but it gets worse during the Thanksgiving season. People throng to airports and cause traffic jams on the roads in huge numbers in order to visit their families for the holiday. Thanksgiving is one of the busiest times of the year and the long wait at airports or traffic jams can be incredibly frustrating for your little one. No matter how you’re traveling, by flight or by car, you absolutely need a checklist to make sure you have everything. Your travel bag should consist of all the essentials – a first-aid box, food and medicine, electronics, toiletries for your baby and more. Here’s an A to Z guide that can come in handy when you travel for the Thanksgiving holiday!

A

Anti-bacterial wipes – These can be useful to wipe your hands after a diaper change in the car.
Allergy medication – If your baby is prone to allergies, make sure you carry the necessary allergy medicines.

B

Baby food – This is essential because your child will get hungry during the long car ride or flight.
Bib – Carry a plastic-coated bib to catch any spit, drool and to make it easier to clean up after feeding time.
Bowls – Bowls or small plates are important to carry so that your toddler can eat from it easily.
Band-aids – Necessary to cover your child’s cuts and scraped knees.
Blankets – If you’re traveling to a colder region, this is a must!
Bathing suit – Carry a bathing suit if you’re traveling to a warmer town.
Baby creams – Carry travel-sized lotion and moisturizer which will keep your baby’s skin soft and free of rashes.

C

Comfortable clothing – Long rides can be boring; comfortable clothing for kids can help them doze off faster.
Car charger – If you plan to use some electronic devices for your child to play with during the journey, pack a car charger with you as well.
Car seat – A car seat is mandatory for your child’s safety. Healthychildren.org has great guidelines for infants, toddlers, preschoolers & older kids.

D

Diaper bag – Pack these necessities in your baby’s diaper bag.

E

Eatables – These can include some of the snacks that your child loves to eat. It’s okay if it has a few unhealthy options as long as it keeps your child happy during the journey.

F

First-aid kit – This can come in handy for any unexpected problems that may arise.
Formula – Formula, breast milk and juice for infants or toddlers are permitted through the security checkpoint at airports. For more information, you can read the TSA’s rules.

G

Gloves – This is another essential for travel to colder towns.

H

Hand sanitizer – Hand sanitizer can be very helpful to keep your hands clean during long rides.
Hair supplies – Hair ties, combs, etc. are some important additions to the checklist.

I

iPad – You can carry any electronic device where your toddler can play with apps. KidloLand is one such educational app where children can have fun with learning.

J

Jackets – Jackets or sweaters are a must-have to keep your baby warm.

K

Kleenex – Tissues can be very convenient to keep your hands clean.

L

Lollipop – You can give lollipops to your children to ease the pressure on their ears during take-off or landing.
Lullabies – Apps which have good lullabies and bedtime songs can be really helpful when your child is having trouble sleeping.

M

Medicines – For unexpected sicknesses.

N

Napkins – An essential in every travel bag!

O

Baby Oil – Pack travel-sized baby oil to moisturize your baby’s skin.

P

Pillows – Make sleeping comfortable for your little one by taking some small pillows with you.
Pacifier – Use of a pacifier during naps or bedtime can significantly lower the risk of SIDS.
Portable Potty – A travel potty can help your child relieve himself in times of emergencies.

Q

Quilt – Cozy bedding can enable your child to have a pleasant journey.

R

Reading material – You can either carry story books or get an app which has stories and fables to entertain your child.

S

Sunscreen – Pack a travel-sized bottle of sunscreen to protect your child’s skin.
Socks – A pair of socks are perfect to keep those little feet warm.
Stroller – If you’re on a car journey to your hometown, make sure you bring a stroller along with you.
Shampoo – Travel-sized shampoo can come in handy while you’re on a long-haul flight.
Sippy cups – Sippy cups can keep a child engaged on flights and also help him during take-off and landing.
Stuffed animal – Your child’s favorite stuffed animal can be the perfect companion for your baby if he gets scared or worried.

T

Toothbrush – An essential part of your toiletries packing list.
Toothpaste – Pack a small toothpaste tube.
Toys – When your child gets bored, he’ll need some toys to play with. Make sure you don’t pack the squeaky toys.
Thermometer – For any unexpected illnesses.
Towel – To clean up easily.
Trash bag – You can use a trash bag to collect your child’s soiled diapers for disposal.

U

Underwear – Always keep an extra pair of your child’s underwear with you.
Umbrella – For any unexpected rain.

V

Veggies – Cook your child’s favorite vegetables and bring them with you for a healthy snack.

W

Wipes – An essential for a child’s packing checklist.
Water Bottle – Your child will get thirsty often, make sure you have enough water with you.

Z

Ziploc bag – You can pack individual outfits of your child or pack snacks in Ziploc bags.

How To Get Your Toddler To Eat Healthy Food

October 27, 2016 kidloLand Comments 0 Comment

Let’s be real – if you keep a bowl of veggies and a slice of pizza in front of your toddler, he will most likely go for the pizza. Your child is growing and you definitely do not want his diet to consist of fast food and junk food. A nutritious and balanced diet composed of healthy food plays an important role in a child’s overall development. Vitamins, minerals, calcium, carbohydrates, proteins – your kid needs them all.

If your child is a picky eater and heavily prefers sugary treats over fresh vegetables and fruits, this list will come in handy. Here are some recommendations for you to get your toddler to eat healthy food!

Make food fun

Healthy food doesn’t have to be boring! Cut soft carrots, tomatoes, cucumbers or strawberries, bananas etc. and make funny faces with those slices. Vegetables & fruits provide essential vitamins and minerals to your child and it’s necessary to make it a part of your toddler’s meal time. Remember, eye-catching presentation goes a long way!

kids healthy food — image credit: Bubblejuice/pixabay

Sneak in some healthy food

Prepare a purée of certain vegetables that your toddler wouldn’t eat otherwise, and use it as a sauce. Make a dip made of beetroot or avocado and serve it to your unsuspecting child. You can also disguise a few vegetables inside a bowl of chicken soup!

Make healthier options for toddlers

If your child has very limited choices in terms of food, don’t worry, you can make healthier versions of them! Include bread and cereal in his diet that is made from whole grain. Bake potato chips instead of frying them. Make pasta, but include veggies and puréed vegetable sauces in them.

toddler-healthy-fruit — image credit: Jill111/Pixabay

Be a good role model for kids

Practice what you preach! Don’t expect your children to follow a healthy balanced diet if they see you munching on fatty foods. Be a good example – eat healthy, nutritious food and your child will follow your lead.

toddler-healthy-eating — image credit: tookapic/pixabay

Set a schedule

Your child might feel like snacking on something only because he is bored. Avoid this by setting a schedule of eating. If your toddler really likes to snack in between, give him some fresh fruits to nibble on occasionally.

Set limits

If your toddler craves for some unhealthy food or chocolates occasionally, don’t refuse him completely. Make your rules clear to your children and stick to them. A small cookie, candies are completely fine as long as they are eaten in moderation.

healthy-food-toddler — image credit: EdMontez/Pixabay

Be innovative

Children get bored very easily. Make it interesting every time by adding new veggies, fruits or by presenting it in a different way. As a parent, you have to be on your toes if you don’t want your toddler to get bored with healthy food!

Consult a doctor and decide on a good, balanced diet for your child. Kidshealth.org has a nutrition guide for toddlers that you can check out.

Checklist: Packing Your Baby’s Diaper Bag!

October 10, 2016 kidloLand Comments 0 Comment

A well-organized diaper-bag can save your day! But what items do you really need to stock in your bag? It mainly depends on how old your child is and for how long you’ll be out.
Explore the following checklist to stock items in the diaper-bag of your toddlers :

1. Diapers and wipes

Ensure that you carry diapers and wipes as you’ll need one diaper per hour and a few extra sometimes. Take a minimum of 10 wipes for diaper changes, sticky hands and dirty surfaces.

2. Disposable bags

Carry disposable bags for storing soiled diapers. Make sure that your child can’t get to them since plastic bags (including the biodegradable versions) pose a suffocation risk!

3. Thermometer

Carry a thermometer with you as it is a compact and discreet method of checking for fever.

4. Hand sanitizer and towel

Carry a hand sanitizer for cleaning your hands after changing diapers especially when there’s no time or place to wash them. Pack a towel to wipe your hands as well.

5. Bottles and sippy cup

Keep sippy cups and bottles handy to feed milk and water to your little one.

6. Extra outfit (including socks)

Take extra outfits as you never know when spit-up, drool, spills or poop explosions will necessitate a change of clothing.

7. Pacifier and bibs

Carry bibs and pacifiers as baby bibs are the best way to keep your baby’s clothes spit-up free. Pacifiers offer a temporary distraction and enable your baby to fall asleep easily.

8. Snacks

Fill the diaper bag with a jar of baby-food and spoon or finger foods depending on your baby’s age.

9. Favorite blanket

Carry a blanket to cover your baby or as a changing pad, nursing cover, bib, shade, or burp cloth.

10. Books or toys

Carry toys according to the outing and your baby’s age.

11. Sunscreen or a hat

Take sunscreen or a hat to protect your child from the sun.

12. Emergency contact numbers

Save the phone numbers of your family’s doctors in your cell phone and keep your health insurance cards in your wallet.

Image Credits: PublicDomainPictures, annca, Gadini, TaniaVdB, Counselling

20 Most Positive Things To Say To Your Child!

October 6, 2016 kidloLand

A little child is like a flower, the more you water the flower with kindness and positivity, the more beautifully it will bloom. A positive attitude towards your children is highly important right from the beginning. Including encouraging words and gestures in your conversation have an immensely long-term effect on your child’s thinking and growth.

Every child looks up to his or her parents as a source of inspiration and it is essential to practice positivity by example. Negative and aggressive comments made in times of anger will only create issues in their psyche and behavior. Children will express and communicate all of their thoughts freely only if the environment around them is cheerful and lively which is inherently the parents’ responsibility.

Here are the 20 most positive things you can say to your child for effective communication between you and your bundle of joy.

1. I love you.

Let your child know that they are loved, unconditionally.

2. You’re really good at this!

If your children are putting effort into something, make sure you applaud their endeavors by complimenting them.

3. I appreciate you.

Let your child know that you care.

4. It’s okay to make mistakes.

Children make mistakes. Let them know that it’s alright.

5. What are you feeling?

Children, sometimes, do not realize how to convey their thoughts and open up. Ask them about their feelings clearly and lovingly.

6. Thank you.

Thank your child when he/she does something nice for you. It will instill good manners in your kid right from the beginning.

7. I’m proud of you.

Even if your child didn’t succeed in something (for example, an art competition or a school race), say that you’re still very proud of their effort.

8. You make me so happy!

Just tell them that they’re a ray of sunshine in your life and watch as their face lights up in joy.

9. I admire your kindness.

Kindness is a virtue which must be inculcated early on in the childhood. Teach them that a kind demeanor is greatly appreciated.

10. That’s an amazing idea!

Accept every idea, suggestion and opinion from your little one with cheerfulness.

11. I’m sorry for this.

Saying sorry to your children helps them understand the importance of accepting your mistake and sincerely apologizing for it.

12. We understand you.

There will be times when your child becomes stubborn & throws a tantrum. Saying ‘we understand you’ makes the child realize that his/her parents are trying their very best to help.

13. I am here to talk about anything at all.

When your children are growing up, they will have questions – lots of them. Don’t let any topic be taboo and be open to answering any questions that cross their minds.

14. I’m here to help.

Let your children know that no matter what they’re going through, you’re always there to help!

15. You are important.

Help your child understand mutual respect by making them feel important and valuable in every way.

16. I trust you so much.

Saying this builds a strong foundation of trust among family members and helps the child build better relationships in his/her lifetime.

17. Do you like it?

Ask for their genuine opinion and ask whether they like certain things or not.

18. You can do it!

Your child will struggle at various things while growing up. Be their personal cheerleader and remind them that they are very capable of doing it well.

19. I forgive you.

Saying ‘I forgive you’ is as important as saying ‘I am sorry’. Teach your child that forgiving someone and not holding grudges against them takes a big heart.

20. You look great just the way you are.

Avoid belittling comments about your child’s physicality or abilities. Appreciate them in all their cuteness!

Be an epitome of kindness, love, and affection around your child because you never know which of your words are shaping your kid and will be carried by them throughout their lifetime!

Image Credits: deboyscyfoto, PublicDomainPictures, Profile, thedanw, PublicDomainPictures

7 Tips To Become An Ideal Parent

September 20, 2016 kidloLand

Parenting is both an art and a science. An ideal parent is the one who displays unconditional acceptance of what the child is. A parent’s relationship with his/her child has great
influence on child’s actions including child behavior problems. If your relationship with your child is not good, they’re not going to listen to you. See yourself how you relate to
other people. If you have a good relationship with them, you tend to trust them more, listen to their opinions, and agree with them. If you don’t like someone you just don’t
like, you will ignore their opinion.

7 Tips to become an ideal parent are:

1. Avoid harsh behavior

Don’t yell, be loud or vent your frustration on your kid. Convey your message in a soothing tone. Always remember to make a proper choice of words. Talk to them about their
mistakes and teach them not to repeat the mistakes again. There are many other ways to discipline a child, including ‘time out,’ which works better and does not involve
aggression.

2. Motivate and appreciate

If your child is less motivated, it can be a source of great worry, frustration, sometimes even despair and that’s where the trouble can begin. Convincing your children to do
things they don’t want to do can be too challenging. Also making them stop doing the things you don’t want them to do can be even trickier still. If your child experiences
failure, motivate him to try hard and leave a trail of positivity! Also appreciate your child for good work, which boosts confidence!

3. Parents should adapt and adjust with time

Keep a proper track of your child’s development. Your child is growing up. Consider how age is affecting the child’s behavior. Encourage question answer sessions and appreciate
their curiosity. Answer every question they ask you and are curious to know. A child’s curiosity knows no bounds! Get on track with them so that they travel ahead smoothly!
After all you play a vital role in the smooth life cycle of your kid.

4. Cultivate your child’s independence

Children may undergo some restrictions imposed by their parents which means that even if the child wants to do something, he cannot do because of the restrictions. This
creates a sense of self-control. When a parent encourages independence, it helps the child to develop a sense of self direction in which the child is free to explore and perform
things! Independence is a gift that a parent can give to their children. Cultivate independence by showing confidence in your children’s capabilities, teaching them that they
have control over their lives and giving them the freedom to make their own decisions.

5. Be steadfast with your child

There is nothing more powerful than believing in someone unconditionally. We often see parents nagging at their children and pushing them to be the perfect child. No doubt
they love their children, but this very act of trying to change someone gives out a strong signal of disbelief. Be steadfast when your child is being stubborn or just plain bossy.

6. Parents must respect their child

The best way to get respectful treatment from your child is to treat him respectfully. You should give your child the same courtesies you would give to anyone else. Speak to
your child politely. Respect his opinion. Pay attention when he is speaking to you. Treat him kindly. Try to please him when you can. Children treat others the way their parents
treat them. Your relationship with your child acts as the foundation for his relationships with others.

7. Show unconditional love

Unconditional love is love without requiring anything in return. Some powerful ways to show unconditional love to your children are by learning their language, serving them
unconditionally, learning to listen to them, being spontaneous etc.

Image credits: Public Domain Pictures VaniaRaposo mh-grafik Unsplash

Flying With Toddlers – 8 Tips For Long-Haul Flights

September 15, 2016 kidloLand

Flying with little children can have either of the following outcomes; it can be a dream or
nothing short of a complete nightmare. It is more worrying if you’re traveling long-haul
flights which last from six to twelve hours or sometimes even more. Parents all over the
world board flights with toddlers with the constant fear that their child will throw tantrums,
get bored or cry their hearts out which leads to a bad experience for everybody involved.

It is very important to plan your journey beforehand because this planning will ensure safe,
happy travels for you and your child. If you plan to fly with your little bundle of joy any
time soon, here are eight things you should definitely take into consideration.

1. Purchase a seat for your child.

If your kid is younger than two years, the airline will give you a free ticket for your child for
domestic flights. For international flights, lap babies are charged 10% of the fare of the
adult accompanying the child. Carrying your child on your lap the whole time is a bad
idea in case unanticipated turbulence hits hard, especially if the journey is long-haul. Purchase a good seat early (airlines will most likely offer you a discount for your child) and buy a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) approved car seat which guarantees your child’s safety.

2. Ask for help from the cabin crew.

If you’re traveling alone with your toddler, don’t be afraid or embarrassed to ask for help
from the air-hostesses on board. They will be ready to assist you in case your toddler
understandably freaks out, especially if it is his/her first time on a flight.

3. Bring a tablet/mobile device with you.

Little kids need to be constantly entertained. If you bring a tablet or give your phone
loaded with kid entertainment apps, you can take a little break while your child is engaged
with the device. You can choose a variety of apps from the app store which has fun
elements and educational activities such as KidloLand.

4. Distract your toddler with candy.

Flying is scary, even for some adults! It is possible that your child will feel uneasy or want
to throw up while the plane is taking off and landing. Distract your child with some candy or
a juice box with a straw to comfort them and ease the ear pain which comes with the
change in air pressure.

5. Pack plenty of food and toys.

Make sure the snacks you pack are healthy for your baby. Even better if you can get creative with it! Since a child gets bored very easily with one form of entertainment, switch it up by offering toys (preferably not the squeaky ones) and fill your carry-on bag with his/her favorite food. After playing for quite some time, your child will get tired and eventually fall asleep.

6. Pick a good seat.

Make sure you pick a window seat for your child and a middle seat for yourself so that your
child has room to stretch and relax during the long journey. If that is not possible, ask
fellow passengers if they would like to kindly switch seats.

7. Select nap-time flights.

It is crucial to book flights with timings which coincide with your child’s nap-time. Most
moms prefer traveling long distances overnight. When the lights dim in the airplane, it’ll be
easier for your child to fall asleep.

8. Carry your child’s essentials.

Don’t forget to carry your toddler’s must-have products and supplies. Clothing,
diapers, soft blankets, medicines, socks are a few of the things you must carry with you at
all times which will come in handy in case of an emergency.

Traveling with toddlers doesn’t have to be scary if you follow the above tips. Happy
traveling!

Image credits: Fuzz, PublicDomainPictures, silverstylus.