Parenting for Beginners

Author: Jamie Jefferson

Toddlers have lots of energy. In fact, they may have more energy than their parents, if they’ve just had a nap and they are cooped up in an airplane or carseat for hours at a time. And once they reach their destination, a whole new set of challenges begin.

So what’s a parent to do?

Here are five tips for keeping your toddler happy during vacations and long trips, whether on the road or through the air.

1. The most important thing when traveling with toddlers is proper preparation. Have plenty of activities on hand, as well as snacks and drinks during the trip. By all means, stay away from sugary snacks and drinks, which can amp up your child’s energy when you least want it to.

2. Keep your child busy. Pack your child’s old favorites, as well as a fresh new activity book and pack of crayons or colored pencils. You’ll want your child’s favorite book, as well as soft blanket to cuddle up in.

A little snuggle time with mom or dad or an extra afternoon nap can make a big difference in your child’s mood. If nothing else seems to work to calm your child, try simply reducing the stimuli around your child for 20 minutes or so. Take her on a quiet stroller ride or take her into a quiet room and hold her or rock her until she either falls asleep or you can see her tension start to subside.

3. Encourage your child to wash his or hands often. Wipe down grocery carts, rented strollers, and other surfaces with antibacterial wipes when possible. With your child’s new sleeping and eating habits, she might be more susceptible to illnesses and you don’t want to cap off your trip with a sick kid.

4. Do your best to stay calm, no matter what. You know how children tend to mirror your emotions, and that is never more true than when they are away from the comforts and routine of home.

If you encounter delays during your journey or if your child shows signs of a meltdown, keep your voice steady and talk soothingly. Gently rub your toddler’s back and sing a song softly. This can do wonders to soothe both your nerves.

5. Keep in mind that your child might need more sleep than normal. On vacations, families tend to go, go, go – but a small child can easily become overwhelmed and overstimulated, especially with new sites, smells, tastes and noises.

When visiting relatives and friends who don’t have toddlers themselves, be polite but firm about respecting your child’s naptimes and bedtimes. The more you can manage to keep your toddler in a predictable routine, the more likely she’ll be to take the journey in stride.

Few things are as fun and rewarding as discovering the world anew through your toddler’s eyes. Enjoy this special time, take lots of photos, and enjoy the adventure.

---

Jamie Jefferson writes for Momscape.com, Susies-Coupons.com and Susies-Travel-Coupons.com where you’ll find hand-selected online coupons, coupon codes and travel discounts.

Article Source: http://www.articlealley.com/article_1056189_40.html

Author: Pushchair Expert

Travel systems have been on the market for some time now, they are supposed to help you save money and hassle, but do they really, what exactly is a travel system and do you actually need one?  If you do decide that you need a travel system, which one do you buy?  When you get it home will you have enough room for it, will it fit in the boot of your car, and do you want your baby to sleep in it at night. These are all questions that you need to ask yourself before you fork out your hard earned cash.

The definition of a travel system is a pushchair with a detachable carrycot and/or car seat.

A travel system is supposed to be a more economical way of buying a pushchair, separate car seat and carrycot.

If you have a car then you will need a car seat for your baby, so that’s the first step in deciding whether or not to buy a travel system. A carrycot can be used as an alternative to a Moses basket or crib for the baby to sleep in at night, so that’s a second step in your decision and of course you will need a pushchair to take your baby out and about – so a travel system is a good choice for you.

The car seat and the carrycot are both able to fit onto the pushchair frame by simply “clicking” into place. If your baby is sleeping in the car and you need to take him/her out then you can just lift the car seat out and click it onto your pushchair frame. If your baby is asleep in his/her carrycot in the house then, again, you can just click the carrycot onto the pushchair frame and not disturb your little one.

So, now you’ve decided to buy a travel system, but which one? Well it depends on whether you want a travel system with just a car seat or do you want a carrycot too? Travel systems without a carrycot start at around £100 up to around £600. With a carrycot then prices start at around £250 up to £950.

When you’ve decided which type of travel system you want, it’s time to decide on the actual one. How do you do that? The best way is to take a look at some pushchair stores online and see which ones appeal to you. Next so a search for reviews of those particular travel systems, opinions and facts from people who have used them are invaluable. You might like the look of a particular system, purchase it and then find out it’s really not what you wanted – doing your research first will save you time, hassle and money. Also go to a pushchair store that sells the system you’re considering and ask the assistant to show it to you, have a go yourself, ask questions, then decide if it’s the one for you.

---

http://www.prams-pushchairs-buggys.co.uk have taken the time to research and find a selection of the best travel systems ranging in price from low to high depending on your budget.

Article Source: http://www.articlealley.com/article_1060023_40.html

About the Author: I’m Lou, WAHM to 7 kids, I have a number of websites…
http://www.prams-puschairs-buggys.co.uk
http://www.wikiwawa.co.uk
http://www.doggy-bloggy.co.uk
http://www.hannah-montana-stuff.co.uk
http://www.android-fone.co.uk

http://www.prams-puschairs-buggys.co.uk