Rather Be In Hawaii » Essential Gear

Make Your Hotel Room More Child Friendly With the Right Gear

admin — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 05:54:18 +0000

A hotel room can seem like a strange and uncomfortable place especially to younger kids who like routine, and might not share their older siblings’ enthusiasm for new places and surroundings. Try to make the room seem as much like home as possible to get kids to settle in.

A favorite blanket or a stuffed toy that she sleeps with every night is an absolute must.

See if you can take a couple of small things from her bedroom to place in the hotel room – family pictures, perhaps.

While making reservations, ask if you can have a room that’s away from the noise and the streets. Flashing headlights, vehicle noises and street conversations can make getting your child to sleep a nightmare. A room at the back of the hotel that’s quieter and darker might not have a great view, but if it helps your child sleep soundly, it’s worth it.

Once you get to the room, check if the nightlights work. They absolutely should, and if they don’t let the staff know immediately, so they can fix or replace it before your bedtime. Keep the light on to help your child find his way to the bathroom in the middle of the night. Keep the bathroom light on too, so he’s spared the trouble of looking for the switch.

Alternatively, you can take along two flashlights. Leave them by your bedside table, so your child can use it to make his way around the room, while you can use the other one as an emergency spare.

If you’re uncomfortable about having two lights on at night, buy a couple of chemical light sticks; these are easily available at camping supply stores. All you have to do is shake them, and they give off a bright light. Leave one in the bathroom.
Don’t experiment with electrical devices especially if you’re traveling abroad where voltage requirements might be different from in the States. If in doubt, ask staff to guide you. They’ll let you know if what you’re planning to use is compatible with their electrical circuitry.

Depending on the duration of your trip, bring along a rope or a clothesline, some laundry detergent powder and clothespins. The clothesline can be used to hang clothes after a quick wash in the bathroom. This way you don’t have to cart along luggage loads of clothes for your kids. By doing a couple of quick wash cycles in the bathroom, you can get away with packing fewer changes of clothes for your kids.

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How to Pack for Hassle Free Travel With Toddlers

admin — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 05:52:58 +0000

Traveling with babies can seem like a piece of cake when compared to kids who are already mobile. Toddlers and preschoolers are a lot more difficult to keep still during long flight, and packing for them will have to account for options to keep them entertained.

Pack wisely. Take along a couple of easy to play games in your carry on baggage. Or take a pack of cheerios, some thread and ask them to string along to make a necklace. Remember, they won’t be occupied with just one activity for the entire time you’re on the flight – so make sure you have a choice of toys or games or other activities that you plan to use when they get tired of one.

Pack their favorite snacks too. This is not a time to be thinking of calories – just pack whatever they love. Avoid sugary snacks. The energy levels make a kid hyperactive – the last thing you need on a flight!

Also, take an extra change of clothes for each child in case of emergencies, where there’s spillage or even vomit. Pack as many moist and dry wipes that you think you need, and then add a couple of more packs. You can never pack enough wipes for kids on travel!

While packing, remember to make a list before you begin throwing stuff in haphazardly. Keep this checklist with you, and use it to tick off to make sure you haven’t left anything behind on the journey back.

You can never have too many clothes for a toddler on travel. If you’re heading off to a winter destination, you need plenty of sweaters and coats; for a beach resort, take plenty of light airy breezy clothes made of cotton, swim wear and sun block.

Take some emergency medication for a fever or a cold.

While booking flights, choose one during the morning when the kids are fresh, and not likely to get as cranky. If there are going to be connecting flights, try to have at least an hour or two between connecting flights. This will give your kids enough time to run around on ground, and stretch their legs.

Pack your child’s favorite meal in a thermos, and make sure to keep plastic cutlery and bibs too.

Don’t leave behind your child’s favorite stuffed toy. The trick is to make the plane ride seem as much like home as possible, so he’s comforted instead of edgy. His favorite teddy bear is also a must.

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First Aid Kit For A Family Vacation

admin — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 05:46:04 +0000

A first aid kit is an absolute must when you’re a family on vacation. The kind of medication that you’re used to might not be easily available at your destination. Your hotel might offer you emergency supplies, but beware that those hefty taxes will be applied to your emergency essentials as well. You don’t want to be wandering about in a strange city in the middle of the night looking for stomach ache medication.

You can either buy a first aid kit that’s easily available, or create your own box by throwing in a few essentials. A large plastic box that’s easy to open will do. Use zip lock bags to compartmentalize pills, creams, ointments etc. so they are easy to find in an emergency. Remember to label each bag so a quick glance will tell you what’s inside.

Here are a few things that your first aid box should contain:

Sterile gauze
Adhesive bandage
Anti septic ointment
Anti histamine medication (These can be used not just for allergic skin rashes and colds, but also for coughs and as a mild sedative for your child. They tend to make kids drowsy so don’t give your child a spoonful just before you set off for sightseeing at the beginning of the day. A spoonful at night will give her a fitful sleep.
Moleskin. If you’re going to be doing a lot of walking during your trip, blisters on the feet are a definite possibility.
Mild pain reliever (Keep in mind that not all chemists will carry the same medication. Also remember to keep the prescriptions of all your kids’ medication. In case things go bad and you need to visit a doctor, knowing what medication he was on will help.
Diaper rash cream
Tweezers
Pair of scissors
Pain relieving gel or spray
Sun block
A mild antibiotic
Anti diarrhea medication
Anti nausea medication
Anti septic wipes
Disposable cold packs
Calamine lotions
Insect repellant
Disinfectant
Cotton

A happy vacation is one where nothing goes wrong through out the trip. For all those small emergencies that always seem to crop up when you’re on the road with kids, just keep these essentials handy, and you have nothing to fear!

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Traveling with Children – Checklist for Your Trip

admin — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 05:30:13 +0000

A family vacation can be a hassle free trip provided you have all the gear you need. To avoid leaving behind things that are really important, begin creating a checklist a couple of weeks before your flight, and add things to them over the days. If you sit down to make a list a couple of days before the trip, you’re likely to forget something that strikes you later – when you’re on the plane!

If you have a baby, your bag should contain the following items:

Lots of diapers
A changing pad
Diaper rash cream
Stroller
Front pack or backpack
Feeding bottles
A feeding bowl with lid and spoon
Sterilizer
Bibs – lots of them
Baby wipes
Pacifiers
Baby toys
Tins of formula
Bottled water

If you have a toddler, don’t forget to take along:

Lots of clothes if you don’t intend to do laundry. If you want to take a limited number of clothes and do a few wash cycles during your trip, leave behind jeans and other clothes that take forever to dry. Light fabrics that dry in a few hours are ideal. For boys, pants that can be unzipped to create shorts are good for separate looks with the same clothes. Take along two or three sets of swimwear if you’re heading to a warm climate, and lots of jackets and vests for colder climes.

If you have a stash of old clothes that you want to get rid of, take them along on your trip, and throw them after they’ve been worn a couple of times. It’ll cut down your luggage dramatically.

General

No matter how many of you are on the trip and how many kids are going along, you’ll absolutely need:

A first aid box with essential medication, bandages, gauze, anti allergen medication and other must haves
Trash bags for wet clothes.
Camera
Zip lock bags to store little things like your daughter’s accessories and hair pins.

As far as possible, try to compartmentalize your possessions into separate zip lock bags. It makes finding everything in a hurry a lot easier if you just have to glance at a few bags, see their content and find what it is you’re looking for instead of rummaging through clothes and more clothes to find a safety pin.

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