Babble

At New Year's, we'll be going to a wedding and of course, bringing our then 14 month old along.  I'm very happy that it's less than a two hour flight, so that's low on my list of concerns.  Yet I'm anxious about the entire experience!  So here are the areas I could use some advice:

We plan to stay in the hotel being reserved for the wedding, but I'm wondering if that's going to work.  My daughter falls asleep at home only after we leave her room and then sleeps very lightly.  Any suggestions for ways of assuring she gets the rest she needs while not being trapped in a dark room for hours each day?  (And no, somehow, she does NOT sleep in the car or stroller.)  We're hiring a baby sitter for the reception, and I can't imagine she's going to want to hang out in a dark room, either.  I'm wondering if it would be worth it to stay at another place with a suite, but what if a regular room is our only option? 

Do we bring her pack and play or go with the hotel provided baby bed?

Also, is it worth it to bring her car seat, or is a rental seat the way to go?

Okay, well-traveled parents!  Any suggestions would be very appreciated!

My wife and I just got back from a trip where we took our 15 month old. The trip brought us both anxiety as we thought our son would travel poorly. We did a few things that really helped us out that I would recommend:

1. We brought a laptop and he watched his favorite movie for awhile.

2. Bring a "blankie" and break it out only if its really necessary to calm your child down.

3. Bring a cup of juice or something that your child enjoys drinking. Give the juice to your child when the plane begins to descend. Apparently drinking helps keep the ears from plugging up.

4. Bring the car seat...it's easy to check and if you tie up the straps those seats are very durable. It will save you from having to rent one.

5. We did bring the pack and play...the hotel actually provided us a pack and play so I would call and ask what kind of beds they offer for babies. When it was bedtime, we actually covered the pack and play with a blanket to simulate darkness and it worked like a charm. The pack and play had small holes in the mesh sides so we made sure the pack and play was getting plenty of oxygen. Our son went to sleep on time and we didn't have to stumble around in the hotel room without lights until it was our turn to go to bed.

6. If your child is walking, I would let your child walk around a little on the plane. They love it and it seems to disarm people who may become upset with "a baby on the plane".

All in all, the trip for us went really well. Hope these tips help...!

Jake W.

http://www.MerryStockings.com