Toddler Travel Tips

My children are little travelers, just like their parents.  My husband and I have always loved to travel, and one thing we promised ourselves when we decided to have kids, was that we would expose our children to all kinds of places and cultures.  They are still very little, but already we have taken our P man to Hawaii, California, Florida, and many places in between.  Bean is still quite young, but at 4 months, she was on a plane to Disney, and has been several times since then. In a few weeks, we are off to Aruba and I have already begun planning and packing.  I am by no means an expert, but I do have a lot of experience with this, so here are a few things that I've learned, sometimes the hard way. ;)

Pack a little more than you think you will need - in a carry on bag!

This is one of those things that I learned the hard way.  I would always pack at least one extra outfit for each of my children in our carry on, but if you are flying with a very small child, you should also bring at least one extra outfit for yourself.  I figured this out en-route to Hawaii (from NY) when P spit up all over my shirt, pants, seat, and himself of course.  Luckily we were flying with family and my sister in law had an extra pair of pants in her bag that she let me borrow.  Even if you are traveling without kids, this is not a bad idea.  When I was about 6 months pregnant, my hubby and I went down to Paradise Island.  It was cool here when we left, so I wore a sweat suit thinking I'd change as soon as we got there.  Unfortunately, our luggage didn't make it the island until about 12 hours after we did.  I was pretty hot, smelly, and uncomfortable after that.

Pack snacks and drinks - lots of them!

Ever been trapped on a runway with your kids for hours on end?  I have!  NOT cool!  Especially if the plane runs out of water bottles or milk.  One of the biggest advantages of flying with children is that security is a lot more lenient on allowing you to travel with liquids.  I always make sure that I have a few water bottles, plenty of Ella's pouches, and some snacks with me.  I love YummyEarth Organic Lollipops, so I always pack them too.  It's a treat for my kids that I don't feel guilty about.  Of course, when packing snacks, it is essential that you pack extra hand wipes too.  :)

Make Airplane Goodie Bags

When we fly I always prepare little goodie bags for my kids.  I will stop at Target or Michael's a few days before we leave and grab a bunch of the dollar section toys and art kits.  They are perfect for distracting them on long plane rides, especially because everything is new!  I love the little coloring books with the "magic" ink that appears when you draw with the clear marker, and I will sometimes even throw a small container of play-doh in the bag.  Its fun to roll out on the seat back trays and it's relatively mess free. 

Technology

Our kids are most definitely growing up in the age of technology.  It's impossible to deny when I see my 18 month old using my iphone proficiently and asking her Daddy for his "I-pud, I-pud!"  At least we can try to set our kids up with something a little educational that entertains them as well.  Both of my kids have LeapFrog Leappads that are filled with LeapFrog videos, games, and books.  They are touch screen, and interactive, and my kids LOVE to play with them.  I have allowed them to download some tv shows, like Umizoomi and Bubble Guppies as well, and they have been a lifesaver on long car/plane rides.  I always charge their batteries the night before we leave, and I keep my charger in my carry-on. If there is a delay, I can always give them a little extra juice before we board.  Another great toddler activity is to let them use your camera to document their adventure.  You may have to delete quite a few finger shots later, but hey, that's the beauty of going digital! :)

Emergency Preparedness

I know it may sound crazy, but I ALWAYS have infant tylenol, benydral, band aids, and neosporin in my diaper bag.  I also keep saline solution, an extra contact case, a tide stick, boogie wipes, disposible bibs placemats, adult tylenol, and sanitizing wipes in my bag.  You never know when you will need these things.  They are small enough that I have them all in a zip lock bag, and if I need any of these things I won't have to run all over an airport or resort trying to find them.  They have come in handy many times, even when I was just out at the mall.  I'd rather be over prepared.  I usually pack a thermometer in my checked luggage.

Of course, there are inevitably situations where I do end up running all over creation trying to find something that I need, but in general, I feel like everytime I travel things get smoother.  My kids are now used to flying, and know all of the quirky details, like having to take their shoes off once we hit security.  I love traveling with my babies and would never have it any other way.  Do you have any tips for travelling with little ones?  I'd love to hear them!! Especially with our trip coming up so soon!! Share away! :)

Sickies...

Everyone around here is having a rough winter.  We have had so many viruses going through this h6ouse, it's unbelievable.  My poor kids are finally recovering from double ear infections and sinus infections, and I can't tell you how ready we all are for a vacation and some warmer weather.  Th6e forecast says 65 degrees on Thursday and I can tell you th6at we will be outside the ENTIRE day!!  (Not to mention I will have every window and door in my house open to finally get rid of some of the lingering germs!!)

If you can't tell by the number of typos in th6is post, our computer is also under the weather.  It had completely stopped working and now is working but very temperamentally so I am trying to finish th6is post before it totally dies on me.  Part of me wouldn't mind designating this laptop as the kids' computer and getting myself a mac book like I've been wanting, but another part of me (known as my wallet) would like to beg to differ. :/

Anyhoo, I just wanted to hop on, say hello to all of my new followers and a BIG thank you to everyone who participated in my last two giveaways!  I am working on getting some more great stuff for you guys, so stay tuned, but in the meantime, don't forget to head over to A Frog in My Soup to check out my reviews and giveaways over there.  We currently have a giveaway for a 1 Year Supply of Hiney Healer, and a giveaway for a 1 month membership to the Klippie Klub.

Enjoy and Happy Monday!!

xo

Just for g5ig5g5les, ch6eck out th6is little clip of wh6at my typing5 lookis like with6 my wonderful, dysfunctional keyboard.  We h6ave a new keyboard on th6e way, but until th6enm everyth6ing5 I write is g5oing5 to be littered with6 g5'-s and h6'-s.  Cute, h6uh6?  :)

Zooper Winner!

ErinCondren.com Winner!!

Congratulations to the winner of the ErinCondren.com gift card! hhaddox - commenter #7 is the winner! Please email me at stuffmomloves@gmail.com to claim your prize! :)

Zooper {Review & Giveaway!}

Please note:  This post can also be seen on www.afroginmysoup.com.  Zooper has been kind enough to allow me to run a giveaway on both A Frog in My Soup and Stuff Mom Loves.  Enjoy! :)

I am a stroller fanatic. I like to say that when I had kids, I traded in my obsession for shoes and bags with an obsession for baby gear. (My husband will beg to differ...I guess I still like shoes and bags too ;)) So, even though I already have quite a few strollers, I am always on the look for something better, newer, etc. I firmly believe that you need different strollers for different things. The type of stroller that I like to take to the mall, is not the same type of stroller that I like to take to the beach. The type of stroller that I take on vacation, is not the same type of stroller that I like to walk around the neighborhood with. You get my point. Today, I get to share with you a fantastic new stroller that I have had the privilege of testing, the Zooper Tango.

I first heard about Zooper when I was in Disney World with my kids. You can't walk 5 feet in Disney without bumping into a stroller, and my eye was wandering the whole time, checking out all of the newest styles and brands. As soon as I returned from my trip, I reached out to Zooper to tell them how much I loved their designs, and they were kind enough to keep in touch with me and to let me test and review their double stroller, the Tango.
When the stroller arrived, I was able to assemble it in less than 5 minutes, all by myself. This was while my children continually tried to climb into it!! Here's what you need to know about the beautiful Zooper Tango. (FYI for the parents of one child, the Zooper Waltz is very similar to the Tango, but is a single stroller.)
* The Zooper weighs 32 lbs - not bad for a double stroller!
* When folded, the Zooper stands on it's own.
* The Tango has an all-purpose canopy that protects your child from UV rays, the rain, and the sun. (This is one of my favorite features. It's difficult to find a stroller that has a canopy that can keep your child completely safe from the elements, especially in the upright seated position.)
* You can recline each seat of the Tango separately. Each seat has four different positions, and does get almost completely flat so your little ones can rest easily in their seat. Plus, you can recline the seats with one hand!
* The Tango can hold most infant car seats on one side of the stroller. (I LOVE this! I wish I had known about Zooper when my daughter was still in an infant seat.)
* Thanks to the wonderful headrests, the Tango is suitable for infants and toddlers up to 45 lbs each. (90 lbs total)

I received the Zooper in the Jungle Earth print, but is available in many different designs. You can see them all here. A few things that I personally love about the Zooper are the extremely large storage capacity under the stroller, the wonderful cup holder that stays on and straight all the time, the foot muff that keeps my babies warm in this frigid New England weather, and as I mentioned before, the fabulous, protective sunshades. I also adore the fact that Zooper is a company that cares about the community. In fact, from now until the end of the month, Zooper is donating 1 dollar to Doernbechers Children's Hospital for every new like the receive on their Facebook page. Plus, if you head over there and like them, then come back here and tell us you did, you can enter to win one of these two fabulous prizes...

Zooper says, "When heading out with the little one, gear adds up and trunk space becomes a premium. That’s why the Zooper Hook-On Chair is so lightweight, flat folding, and simple to safely secure. Strong steel tubing and a secondary safety lock provide the security you expect. Padded, breathable materials ensure a comfortable dining experience. (Suitable up to 30lbs)."

OR

Zooper says, "Rather than a sling seat that pulls a child’s weight down and shoulders inward, the Zooper Rocker is a supported, multi-position chair designed with one thing in mind—baby comfort! One-hand adjusted back and leg rests provide for both natural upright sitting and lay back positions. The rocking motion is a smooth back-and-forth, not dizzying bouncing, and the frame stops keep everything still at snack and nap times. Sound like first class? When it comes to keeping your baby content, it has to be!"

Here's how you can win!! (Please note, there will only be 1 winner chosen. The winner will be able to select either the hook on chair, or the rocker as their prize. If you would like an additional chance to win, please head over to A Frog in My Soup where Zooper has offered to give another winner their choice of a rocker or hook on chair!)

It's here!!

This afternoon I got the email that I have been waiting to see!  The Bloom Zen & Yoga are available for pre-order at Giggle!  Yipppeee!! The stroller is expected to ship in early March.  In case you didn't have a chance to check out my earlier post about the Bloom Zen, check out a few of these amazing pictures so that you can see all the fabulous features it has to offer.

The Zen folds up so compactly!  I love that because it is an all-terrain stroller, and many of those are impossible to fit in a car.  This bad boy not only folds flat, but the wheels even turn in to keep it's folded size at a minimum. 


Seriously, look how flat this stroller is.  Our family travels to Disney World often, and dragging a bulky stroller on and off the buses is NOT fun!  This would be able to squeeze in between the seats with my legs and not cause the hundreds of other people climbing on to trip and complain.  ;)

I also love the solar powered light up front.  Not only can you leave it on as a spotlight, you can even make it into a flash hazard light.  Perfect if you are out for a run at dusk.

The Zen is a full size stroller, and can accommodate the Yoga Newborn Nest.  It comes in "monochrome" which is shown in these pictures, and is my preference, and also in "cmyk" which is a multi-colored design.

If you are not in the market for a single stroller, or if you are looking for a stroller that is more for the mall and everyday use, come back tomorrow for my review of the Zooper Tango.  Zooper has also offered a very generous giveaway to one of my readers, and I'm testing out Rafflecopter for the first time!  You don't want to miss the excitement!  Happy Oscar watching friends! :)  Goodnight!

I have a problem...

I have a major shopping problem.  I admit it.  I need help.  If I see a good deal, I just can't help myself, especially if it's on something beautiful like this MK dress I couldn't help but buy from 6pm because it was only $36!!!

But really, how hot is the back of this dress??

I couldn't help myself especially since we spent last Saturday night in NYC at Butter.  A-waitforit-mazing! 

I guess I've kind of become obsessed with Michael Kors...the gold zippers are to die for.  Which is of course why when I came across these bad boys at 65% off at Macy's, I couldn't NOT buy them!  They needed to be a part of my closet.  (I really think that keeping my shoes in my closet is just wrong...they are like art and should be displayed and admired ;) )

 

The problem is, that my shoe and Michael Kors addiction didn't stop there.  I may have also picked up a few pairs of shoes for our upcoming trip to Aruba...like these.



And these...

Yikes.  I do have a problem.  But every girl needs a few good pairs of shoes, right??  So, tell me, who is your obsession lately?  Where are you finding fabulous deals?  I still need a few more outfits for Aruba...I can't keep wearing the same clothes on all of our trips..the pictures are getting redundant! ;)  Plus - I'm kind of over wearing maternity clothes all the time...since I'm NOT pregnant.  Sheesh.