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We are about to embark on a little vacation this upcoming weekend that will involve us flying with Maya. This will not be Maya’s first flight, she has flown a few times in the past, however, this will be the first time she gets her very own seat. On our previous flights we opted to have her just sit on my lap. Now that she is a big girl (2 years old) she gets to sit by herself. I think she’ll love it, although I wouldn’t be surprised if she ended up in my lap anyway once the fasten seat belt sign is turned off 
Having traveled by plane in the past with my daughter I know a few things that we must bring with us to make the flight a little easier. I’ve also done a little research on airplane and airport safety in the past few weeks as we gear up for our trip. Anytime you travel it can be a bit nerve-wracking, but add a child into the mix and the stress of traveling can go through the roof if you’re not careful.
Here are a few tips to help make your next trip to the airport with your kids a safe and sane one:
- Don’t forget to tag all your items including any baby/toddler gear you may be checking such as carseats, travel beds, etc. Remember to tag the stroller too, even if you plan on doing gate side check-in.
- Tag your child as well. Put your contact info on your child somewhere, either on their clothing or on their person so if you get separated you can more easily be reunited.
- Be sure you know all the rules regarding flying with a child, especially what documentation they will need to prove their id. If you will be traveling with your child on your lap you will still need to bring their birth certificate to prove they are under 2 (over 2 children must have their own seat).
- Remember the security rules regarding liquids and be sure that whatever you have for your child such as juice, milk or water is within the allowed limits. Check with the airport to determine how much you are allowed to bring through the security checkpoint.
- Security check points with children can be nerve-wracking and a pain since you’ll likely hold up the line because of all the extra stuff and people you have to keep track off. Don’t get flustered, people usually are understanding. Ask for help if needed from the security personnel.
- Remember that you and your child will be required to take your shoes off to go through security so be prepared for that and plan on wearing easy on, easy off shoes.
- Bring plenty of activities and snacks for your child to help keep them occupied both while waiting in the airport and while on the airplane. Crayons, books, music, small toys, travel dvd player and stickers all make great air travel gear.
- Bring something to help with the ear issues during take off and landing such as suckers, or you can try those ear plugs that are supposed to help reduce the pain from the change in pressure.
The best piece of advice I can give a parent traveling with their child is to stay calm, arrive extra early so you aren’t in a rush and just go with the flow. It will be easier than you think and everything will work, even if it doesn’t seem like at the time.
I’ll be sure to let you know how our trip goes.
November is Prematurity Awareness Month, and today, November 17th, bloggers are banding together to Fight For Preemies. We are taking a moment today to spread the word about prematurity, bring a little awareness about the impact prematurity has on the babies born too soon, on the parents struggling as they watch their babies fight for their lives and on their families and friends who stand behind them in support and to spread the word about March of Dimes and the tremendous things they do to help premature babies and to help prevent prematurity so that “one day all babies may be born healthy”.
I was one of the lucky, my daughter was born full term and healthy and I am thankful every day for that fact because I know so many aren’t so lucky. I know people who weren’t so lucky, those who had babies born too soon and too sick.
I have witnessed prematurity first hand when my baby brother was born 8 weeks early. My mother had to have an emergency c-section when complications developed in her pregnancy and she went into premature labor. After only a brief glimpse of her tiny new baby boy she watched as they whisked him away to be airlifted to a hospital with a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit that was adequate to meet his needs, over 2 hours away. Luckily my brother only had to spend a week in that NICU before being transported back to our local hospital and their lesser equipped NICU. I remember being so scared for my mom and for my little brother. I remember how tiny he was, and how fragile he seemed. I remember what it was like when he finally came home a few weeks later and wondering if his fight was over or if he would continue to struggle. I remember my mom being so upset that she couldn’t breastfeed him because it wasn’t encourage with preemies back then. I remember crying, a lot. My brother is now 18 years old and you would never know he was born premature to look at him. But I know it and now that I am older and know so much more about prematurity and what can happen I know how lucky we are to have him with us, how lucky we are that we didn’t learn the very worst about prematurity back then. So, for him I fight for preemies, I march for babies, and I do what I can to spread the word.
I have seen so many people touched by prematurity both in my real life and through the blogging community. I have seen those whose children fought and won and those whose children fought but sadly lost their fight. A former co-worker of mine delivered her daughter 12 weeks early. She fought in the NICU for almost 3 months before finally being able to come home. Today she is a happy, healthy 4 year old and her parents are so grateful for each moment they have with her because they know how close they came to having her here. Through the wonderful world of blogging I encountered and became friends with Heather Spohr. I started reading Heather’s blog a little less than 2 years ago. Through her stories about her life with Maddie, born 11 weeks early, I learned so much about prematurity and the long term effects it can have on a child and on the family. As many of you probably know, Maddie Spohr, passed away unexpectedly on April 7th, she was just 17 months old. Maddie was my inspiration for walking in my first ever March for Babies earlier this year and will continue to be my inspiration as I walk in future marches. I just wish she was inspiring me from earth instead of from heaven.
What happened to Maddie and the Spohrs should never have to happen to any family. Preemies (and their families) need our help. They need us to fight for them so they don’t have to. Visit the March of Dimes website to see what you can do to help Fight for Preemies. Help them reach their goal of a future where every baby is born healthy and no baby has to fight for their life.
All it takes it one trip to the thermometer section of your local store to see how endless the options are. There are so many different ways to take your child‘s temperature, so many different types of devices, just so many choices. When faced with all these options it can be difficult to make a decision on what thermometer is the right thermometer for you. As I’ve learned with my own daughter you often have to try a few different types before you find one that best meets your family’s needs.
As you stand in the thermometer aisle and stare at all the available options how do you make a choice, how do you pick just one (or even 2) thermometer to bring home with you? It all boils down to what you are looking for, what type of thermometer you want, how you want to take your child’s temperature and how accurate you want the reading to be. To help boil down the basics I’ve listed the various available options below including what part of the body they read the temperature from, how accurate they are and a few pros and cons.
Rectal Thermometers: Rectal thermometers will give you the most accurate reading of your child’s temperature. However, rectal thermometers are not for everyone. Older children will not appreciate having their temperature taken this way and many parents are comfortable using them. They work best on smaller children, particularly babies. If you are looking for the most accurate reading and don’t mind taking your child’s temperature rectally than this is the option for you.
Oral Thermometers: Oral thermometers are probably some of the most common, this is how my mom always took our temperature as children. The accuracy of the oral thermometers is good, if used correctly (meaning your child keeps it below their tongue the whole time). The oral thermometers offer convenience, you don’t have to take their clothing off to get a reading, and they are often quick (especially the newer varieties). However, young children, especially babies and toddlers, may have trouble using them as they need to be able to keep the thermometer under their tongue. If you are looking for fairly good accuracy, convenience and your child is old enough to keep the thermometer under their tongue than this may be the right choice for you.
Armpit Thermometers: Armpit thermometers are convenient and do provide fairly accurate readings, however, it is easy to get a false reading if the room is too cold or your child doesn’t keep their arm down until the reading is complete. If you have a small child and you aren’t comfortable with the rectal thermometer than armpit thermometers are a good alternative, just remember that the accuracy isn’t going to be as good. Many doctors recommend adding 1 degree to the reading to get a better idea of what your child’s temperature is.
Ear Thermometers: Ear thermometers offer a very quick, convenient way to measure your child’s temperature, however, their accuracy isn’t the greatest. With small children it can be difficult to get the ear piece situated properly to get an accurate reading. That being said it is a great way to tell if your child is running a fever and you can always use another type of thermometer later if you need a more accurate reading. This is the type of thermometer I use with my daughter because it allows me to get a reading of her temperature quickly without upsetting her too much.
Forehead Thermometers: Forehead thermometers, like the ear thermometer mentioned above, offer a very quick, comfortable, convenient way to take your child’s temperature. Their readings, again like the ear thermometers, are not incredibly accurate. The biggest downside to the forehead thermometers is the price. They cost significantly more than the other options out there.
As you can see your options are endless. Not only are their at least 5 different types of thermometers but there will be endless options within each type. Your best bet is to decide where on the body you are most comfortable taking your child’s temperature (and which option they are old enough to use) and go from there. You will likely end up with several different types. I have 3 different thermometers at my house, an ear thermometer, one that does both oral and underarm readings and another that does just oral readings.
If you have questions about which type thermometer you should purchase try talking to your child’s pediatrician to see what they recommend, you could also talk with your pharmacist or your friends and family with children to get their opinions as well.
Happy thermometer shopping
I’m beginning to think that children are born with an innate ability to use whatever the technology of the day is. They can just pick up whatever the current buzz item is and know exactly how to use it. They don’t need anyone to show th’em how it works because the knowledge is somehow built into their genes. This knowledge is there regardless of whether their parents know how to use the technology or even own the buzz item. It seems that technology knowledge is part of evolution.
This is the only way I can explain how it is that Maya has turned Lorne’s calculator into a smart phone (not sure if she prefers blackberries or iphones yet!).
The other day Maya walked into the living room holding a pen, a piece of paper and Lorne’s calculator. She walked up to her toy box, set the pen and paper down and held the calculator while saying “email, Maya email.” and pressing the buttons with her thumbs. Later that day she did the same thing, except part way through “checking her email” she apparently was getting a call on her iPhone and she said, “oh, phone.” and put the calculator to her ear and said “Hello.” The was the cutest, funniest thing. I couldn’t stop laughing and telling her how adorable she was. (I got her to reenact it this morning so you could see just how flippin’ cute it is).
You see, neither Lorne or I have a smart phone, we both just use regular cell phones and never text with them (I mean never). No one Maya sees with any regularity has a Blackberry or an iPhone that she would have learned how to imitate the actions. We just can’t figure it out. The only explanation I can come up with is that she was just born knowing what a Blackberry and an iPhone are, and how to use it
Happy Birthday Miss Maddie.
You would have been two years old today. I can’t believe you aren’t here to celebrate. It breaks my heart that your mom and dad won’t be able to shower you with love, hugs, presents and cream puffs today. It breaks my heart that you won’t get to blow out your candles. It breaks my heart that your mom and dad have to struggle though this day without you. But today is your birthday and should be about celebration. So, today I’m wearing purple to honor you and to show my support to your mom and dad. And today I’ll be telling everyone I meet about you so they too can know how amazing you were and can celebrate you.
Though it is hard not to focus on the crappy things about this day I’m trying to think about good things too. Trying to imagine what you would be like now as a bubbly little toddler. I’m trying to imagine the things you would be up to nowadays. You’d be talking up a storm I’m sure, wowing everyone with your witty humor and infectious giggles. You’d be dancing and singing every chance you got. You’d be cuddling with everyone. You’d be getting all excited about the arrival of your new little sister (probably kissing your mommy’s tummy every chance you got). Every time I read the stories on your mom’s blog I would always think to myself how much like my own daughter you were. You would often do the same silly things, seemed to love a lot of the same things. So, as I watch her grew up I can easily imagine what you would have been like too. I wish you two had had the opportunity to meet, you would have loved playing together.
I know you are up there somewhere giggling and smiling and being showered with the love, hugs, kisses and birthday wishes we are all sending you’re way today. I want you to know that there are a lot of people down here doing our best to support your mom and dad through this really crappy, really tough time. We will stand behind them, support them and love them for you.
So, happy birthday Maddie, I hope you are having one heck of a party up there in heaven. We miss you, we love you, we wish you were here.
Photo lovingly borrowed from The Spohr’s Flickr Album.