Traveling with Children

The holidays are a time when many travel to visit family. Some by air and some by car. As a first time parent, traveling can be stressful...look at all the stuff you need to bring with you just so a baby can sleep and eat. It takes a lot of planning, but I believe traveling can be fun and without much of the stress that we, as moms, tend to place on ourselves.

What are some of your traveling tips?

As a family we have traveled by air and car. To me, traveling by air seemed to be of greater stress to me, I guess because there are other people to be concerned about. We've learned many things, that for me, have made air travel less intimidating.

- Your attitude and stress level can affect your child. I decided that I was going to relax and know that my child may be squealing out of excitement at all the airplanes and that was just fine. I think we can learn a lot from children and how they see the world through fresh eyes. Many people need to have joy like young children.

- When going through security, look for a specific line that is designated for families traveling with small children. I've only seen this once, and it was at a peak time of travel, but it made getting through security less stressful.

- Gate check your stroller at the end of the jet way...they will bring it back to the jet way when you have landed. A stroller is handy for carrying all the carry on bags, as well as, allowing you to get from one gate to another much quicker than carrying your child.

- Give your child something to suck when taking off and landing. Whether that be a bottle, a paci, or a sippy cup. It helps their ears pop since they aren't old enough to pop their ears on their own. If they won't drink, try to have them copy some wide mouth silly faces. If your child does cry, just know it is not because they are bad, they are just uncomfortable.

- Ask before you go through security if your lap child needs their own boarding pass. For us, this has varied depending on different airports. We now just request one not matter what, it can't hurt to be over prepared.

- There are changing tables on the airplane bathrooms...but if you don't want to try to maneuver it, your seat works just as well. :)

- If you cannot bring your child's sippy cup of juice through security, don't buy juice. As soon as you board, ask the flight attendant for a can of juice. We've never been turned down. The flight attendants have always been more than willing to accommodate.

- We've traveled with a little boy, so a window seat has always been one of the best things for us. It seems as though watching all the activity going on at the airport is a great source of entertainment before take off.

- Try to purchase or have waiting as many of the necessities as you can. If going on an extended trip, I have just packed enough diapers to get us there with several spare and then purchase diapers once we are there. It saves on packing space. I've done this with formula and food as well. If you are renting a car, ask the rental car agency if they have car seats available to rent.

You can check your car seat, but if you would rather not deal with it, that may be an option. As we've gone to visit family, even great grandparents, we've asked them to try to borrow a pack and play for us. It really saves on another bulky item you have to maneuver. Check to see if you can rent a crib from a hotel or resort if you are not staying with family.

- Pack your own pack and play sheets or crib sheets. We have found, that our child sleeps better when he has something that smells like home. Now that he is older, his blanket does the trick, but as a baby, sleeping on his own sheets really helped.

I've listed some of the tips I have from traveling. Leave a comment and share yours. I know we will be traveling this holiday season, and I'm always looking for some more "tricks" to make traveling with a child easier.

Costume Party

Last Friday, our play group had a wonderful time at the costume party held at the Silvios' home. I think there were like 20 moms and 23 kids there total...although not at the same time. It was a great opportunity for the kids to play with different toys and have many experiences to learn about sharing. It was so fun to see the variety of costumes, from Superman to a dinosaur to bumblebees to an astronaut. Enjoy the many pictures.

October 23

We're heading to Old MacDonald's Farm this Friday for play group. The forecast says the weather should be sunny and nice...maybe even a little cool.

We have a group reservation so we'll be getting a discounted rate of $5.5o per person, 18 months and older. We'll meet by the entrance at 10am. We cannot get the group rate unless we have 10 people go in at once, so please try to be on time. If you need to come late, email me (jaime.r.cochran@gmail.com) and I'll let you know what you need to do in order to still take advantage of the group rate. Please remember to bring cash or check to pay, they do not accept anything else.

All activities are included in the admission price: petting zoo, train rides, pony rides, playgrounds, pumpkin patch, hay barn, sand table, etc. Feel free to bring a picnic lunch to enjoy as well. We'll try to grab several picnic tables once we get there.

Check out their website for more information and directions: http://oldmacdonaldshumble.com

Looking forward to it!

Oct. 16 Play Group

We are meeting at Meyer Park...the side with the playgrounds and the pond. Let's meet at 10:30. We can go on a nature walk with the kids, let them collect nature stuff, have a picnic lunch, and if the kids would like to, they can glue their findings on a piece of paper.

Hope to see y'all there. If your little one is not old enough to collect things along the walk, we'd still love for you to come and visit and walk with us.

I'll bring the paper and glue. Bring a bag for your child to collect his/her findings in.

Stroller Skating

Friday we will be going Stroller Skating at 3 Star Ice and Inline. Don't let the name confuse you...it's a skating rink in The Woodlands. If you do not want or can not skate, bring a toy with wheels for your child to play with on the rink.

The owners have graciously agreed to open the rink to us for our own private skate time. It is $8/mom and child group. The cost includes skate rentals. It is from 10:30 to 11:30, but the owner said they are not sticklers for the ending time if we are having a great time. They will be playing children's music while we skate.

We've done this one other time before and had a great time while getting a great workout. The kids, all ages, from weeks old to 2+ loved it as well.

Check out the website: http://www.3starice.com/page.php?page_id=16825

The rink is located between Research Forest & SH 242 on the North bound feeder of I-45 after Chuys and before Sam Moon.


Please leave a comment or email me if you have NOT already let me know that you are coming. Invite any friends...if we end up having a LARGE group (20 moms) we will be able to get a discounted rate, but I must know before Friday.

See y'all Friday...we are excited!

September 25 Play Group

This week we will be having play group at the indoor play area at Champion Forest. This is a fun place for all ages since it is enclosed and the walls are carpeted. (Helps cut down on the noise). If you have a baby, feel free to bring a blanket for them to play on.

We will meet at 10. The space is reserved until 12. If you want, you can bring a lunch and eat it in the cafe area after we are done playing.

If you are not familiar with where the indoor play area is, leave a comment and I'll email you directions on the exact location of it. It is located in the preschool building of the church...towards the back of it.

Hope to see y'all there.

Don't forget, on October 2, one week from Friday, we will be going Stroller Skating. It is $8/mom. This is a great workout and lots of fun!

Friday's Play Group

This Friday, September 18, we will be going to Monkey Bizness, an indoor inflatable place.

All adults are free and children 1 year and older are $5 if you arrive before 11am...if you arrive after 11am, the price is $7.50. Children under 2 are free with a paying sibling.

Be sure to wear socks...adults and kids. Each person must sign a waiver of liability...it is on their website if you would like to print it out and have it signed when you arrive.

http://www.monkeybizness.com/02open.html

Looking forward to a fun time. If you have any questions, leave a comment.

September 11 Play Group

Play Group next Friday, September 11 is going to be at the McDonald's at Kuykendahl and 2920.

The indoor play area is large and designed like a tree house. They also have a toddler area for the little ones to play.

Feel free to come and play at 10, get a mocha, get a late breakfast, or get an early lunch. Hope to see y'all there.

If you are coming, we'd love to know so we can look for you. Leave a comment if you are planning on coming.

Child Care Books

Before Latham was born, my parents gave Nick and I Focus on the Family's Complete Book of Baby and Child Care. It has been one of the most helpful "go-to" sources for questions about Latham's development. I remember reading it when he was a newborn and thinking, "He's normal, this is all normal. What do I need to look for next?"

The book presents information from advice on developing a birth plan to how to "pass the baton" once the child is grown. It has pictures of different types of skin conditions, steps on how to handle nosebleeds, growth charts for boys and girls, and encouraging verses scattered throughout on the margins. The book is categorized by the different ages/stages of children. For example, the chapter on two year olds is broken down into physical development, language development, sleeping, feeding, toilet training, caring for the teeth, safety concerns, social development, health concerns, and parental maintenance. I have found that no matter where you may fall in your parenting style, whether you are a proponent of cobedding to a proponent of "crying it out," this book address all styles of parenting. It is not a book of "this is the right way to do things" but a book that informs.

I know this post sounds like one big advertisement...that is not my intention. I just wanted to share with all of y'all a book that has been a great source of information and encouragement when I'm feeling like my child is behind or out of control...whatever the emotion is at the time.

What are some books that you have found helpful thus far?

Play Group Fountain Fun

Last Friday, Play Group went to the fountains at Waterway Square in The Woodlands. It seemed as though everyone had a great time running, jumping, crawling, splashing, and walking around. The moms were even able to sit down and enjoy a picnic lunch. If you are looking for a fun, free place to play this summer, check out these fountains. The Waterway Square fountains are one of our favorite places to play.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

May Childcare

The church's sponsored childcare this month is scheduled for May 15.

The childcare is from 6:30pm-9:45pm. The cost is $8/child. You can sign up in Life Group on Sunday mornings. The deadline to sign up for May's childcare is THIS Sunday, May 10. If you will not be at Life Group but would still like to sign up, call the church office and ask for Lisa Williams (281-440-3800).

For more information on childcare, check out the church's website:
http://championforest.org/ministries/childcare/