Five Travel Tips for People with Toddlers

Over the past two years, we have travelled with Gabriel locally and overseas. So far, he has travelled on the following modes of transport:

• car
• bus
• boat
• train
• airplane
• bicycle (didn't go far!)

Here are some tips we've learnt from our experiences that may help you prepare your little one for those trips.

1. Bring along the parent or caretaker your toddler is most attached to. Don't think that they don't know or feel anything when their loved one is not around after a while. If you don't heed this advice, be prepared for some far-reaching negative effects after the trip. Children do remember such events and may change their behaviour towards their loved one after they re-unite.

2. Travel by air before your toddler turns two years old. Most airlines offer 25% to 75% off the adult fare for toddlers less than two years old. However, this also means they will get a seat. You can overcome that by choosing partially-full flights or requesting that the airline seat you at the exit or partition rows. This way, your toddler can get an available seat or have more space to move and rest, respectively.

3. Use a lightweight stroller. Get a stroller that weighs no more than your toddler and one that can recline so that he/she can nap on the go. It can be hand-carried into the airplane cabin. If you're heading to places with temperate climate, don't forget to bring a portable fan with soft blades!

4. Pack light snacks and lots of water. Young ones tend to get bored much quicker when they are confined to a seat. Calm your toddler by providing snacks like plain biscuits. Water is vital as they, like the rest of us, dehydrate more when travelling. It is also a good way to clear the ears during altitude changes, like in an airplane.

5. Pray for your toddler's safety and blessing and tell him/her that he/she is going on a trip. You've done all the preparation and precaution you can ever think of, now leave the rest to your Higher Being. Even though they are young and may not have started talking, it's good to tell them what is going on and they may recall the trip when they grow bigger.

Technorati Tags: tips, travel tip, toddler travel

What To Do When Your Child Is Choking

Over the weekend, there was a nine month old baby girl who choked to death when she was:

1. alone in the living room
2. attempted to eat a half inch sized fruit found on the floor

She did not survive by the time she was rushed to the hospital.

It is very important to be always on guard with newborns and babies as they can get into trouble very quickly, sometimes taking just less than a minute to die from some hazard. In Malaysia, there have been cases of young children drowning in rivers and buckets, choked on small objects and equipment such as foldable chairs and tables.

Caretakers and parents must assess whether the child can chew and if not, whether the food item is small enough to be swallowed without choking. Bones in fish and meat must be taken out beforehand, no matter how small or soft they are. In the above case, it shows that proper baby-proofing of the house needs to be done to ensure that there are no dangerous objects accessible.

Below are some links to procedures that you can perform when your baby is choking. I'll summarize it as follows.

1. Observe your child for specific symptoms and react accordingly. If your child is not able to cry or cough, you may need to help remove the object in his or her mouth. If your child is coughing, encourage him or her to cough the object out. If you are going to help your child by giving back blows, be prepared to call for help within two minutes.
2. Give back blows on the back area between your child's shoulder blades while you position him or her such that his or her throat is pointing downwards. If your child becomes unconscious, you may have to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation, or CPR.

I've created a procedure chart (PDF document) that you can download, print and paste it in the rooms your child usually plays and eats in. Remember to write down your local emergency numbers at the top.

Links:

BabyCenter.com - Infant First Aid for Choking and CPR: An Illustrated Guide (Babies Under 1 Year Old)
<URL:http://www.babycenter.com/general/9298.html>

BabyCenter.com - First-Aid for Choking and CPR: An Illustrated Guide (Toddlers)
<URL:http://www.babycenter.com/general/11241.html>

BabyCenter.com - First-Aid for Choking and CPR: An Illustrated Guide (Preschoolers)
<URL:http://www.babycenter.com/general/72329.html>

BabyCenter.com - First-Aid for Choking and CPR: An Illustrated Guide (Grade-schoolers)
<URL:http://www.babycenter.com/general/72434.html>

Technorati Tags: safety, safety tips, child care, choke, cpr, choked to death, procedure, caridopulmonary resuscitation, first-aid