What to Expect the Toddler Years (90 page)
Read What to Expect the Toddler Years Online
Authors: Heidi Murkoff
Pack appropriately.
For overnight train travel, your carry-on bag should also be an overnight bag—containing pajamas, clean underwear, toiletries, and other basics you and your toddler will need on board. This should make digging into your neatly packed suitcases unnecessary. Better still, it may make it possible to check them through, giving you less to worry about and more room in your compartment or at your seat.
Arrive early.
Check ahead to find out what time the train ordinarily arrives at your station. If there is a ten or fifteen minute gap between arrival and departure, try to get there before the train arrives rather than just as it’s about to leave. The goal: a better chance of seating the family together. If there are two adults, send one ahead, as soon as the platform number is announced, to save seats for all while the other struggles down the platform at a snail’s pace with your toddler. Or hire a porter to not only transport your bags but to board you early, for the best choice of seats. When the train isn’t crowded, or when four of you are traveling together, the two pairs of seats facing each other at the end of most coaches fills the bill perfectly (as long as two of you don’t mind traveling backwards). Just be sure there’s a window through which your toddler can watch the scenery go by.
Take advantage of longer stops.
Even a fifteen-minute stop gives you and your toddler a chance to get off the train and stretch your legs, possibly even wander down to see the engine that’s been pulling the train (just be sure someone is watching your luggage and that you reboard in time). If the stop is lengthy—as it may be in a hub city like Chicago—try to plan an excursion to a nearby zoo, children’s museum, or even a playground or park.
Supplement the snack car.
Even if there’s a dining car, but especially if there’s
only
a snack car, be prepared for the worst: not a single food your toddler will eat. To prevent gastronomic catastrophe, bring along enough of your toddler’s favorite munchables to last the trip. Plan on filling in with milk and juice purchased on the train.
Bring bedding on board.
When traveling long distances overnight, it’s great if you can book a sleeping compartment, when available. If that’s not possible, and the train doesn’t supply bedding to coach passengers, bring along a small pillow and blanket from home for your toddler.
For safety’s sake.
Toddlers sometimes go stir-crazy on long train rides, and get the urge to run up and down the aisles. Because a sudden lurch of the train could slam a small toddler against a seat or another passenger, insist that a young toddler go for a stroll only while holding an adult hand.
RAVELING BY CAR
Never start without the car seat.
It’s essential for auto travel, no matter how long or short the road ahead. If you’re renting the car, ask the rental company to supply you with a safe seat or bring your own. Equip the seat with a cozy cushion to provide head support during naps and provide a variety of distractions (toys, play keys, an unbreakable mirror, a toy steering wheel, all safely attached to the car seat) aimed at making confinement less of a hardship. Suction toys that attach to a car seat tray (if your toddler’s seat has one) or to a window (if the car seat is next to one) are also practical for auto travel.
When there are several travelers on a trip, periodically change seats for everyone but the toddler (moving the car seat around is too cumbersome) to give the toddler a change of pace and others in the car a break.
Don’t drive your toddler crazy.
Those glory days of all-day, all-night driving straight through to your destination, fueled by black coffee and the occasional hamburger or doughnut, are gone. While it’s wise to do as much driving as
you can during toddler nap times, it’s also wise to take plenty of breaks for exercise, meals, snacks, and other diversions. A sensible schedule: Start early, while your toddler’s still cozily pajama-clad, and get in a couple of hours of driving while he or she gets a couple of hours of sleep (unless he or she tends to stay up once awakened). After a stop for breakfast, a change into day togs, and a little small-fry frolic, pile back into the car for a few more hours of driving (broken up by at least one snack-and-stretch break) before lunch. If possible, stop at a lunch spot that has a playground, mall, or a local attraction nearby that you can explore after eating. Then get on the road again, timing your arrival for late afternoon, so that there’s time to unwind at the pool or the playground before dinner and bed. Driving at night is tempt-ing—with your toddler asleep and the road less crowded—but it can also be draining and dangerous, especially if you’re already feeling drowsy after a long day.
TRAVELING TODDLER’S TUMMY
Toddlers, like everyone else traveling abroad, are subject to traveler’s diarrhea. You can reduce that risk by giving your toddler only pasteurized milk and bottled juices. When water purity is in doubt, use only boiled or bottled water for drinking (skip the ice cubes unless they’re made with boiled water). In countries such as Mexico where fresh fruits and vegetables may be contaminated, be sure you bypass vegetables that aren’t well-cooked and haven’t been peeled or treated with an iodine/chlorine solution and rinsed with boiling water (ask at the restaurant; if the answer isn’t clear, skip the dish). Fruit should be washed and peeled. Also be certain that meats, fish, and seafood are cooked through (skip the ceviche and sushi) and that cheeses, yogurts, and other dairy products are pasteurized. Eat only in restaurants that look as though they follow sanitary food preparation practices (see page 527); avoid food sold by street vendors entirely. Follow sanitary practices yourself by being sure everyone in the family faithfully washes hands after toileting (or changing diapers) and before eating. For information on food and water safety in various parts of the world, contact the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (see page 250). If toddler tummy does strike, see treatment suggestions for diarrhea, page 603.
Toddlers on the road, at home and abroad, may also be subject to constipation because of dietary and schedule changes and inadequate exercise. To avoid this problem, be sure your little traveler gets plenty of fresh and dried fruits and vegetables (see safety rules above), whole-grain cereals and breads, has an adequate fluid intake, and a chance for some active play every day. Carrying along a portable potty seat from home may make it easier for your toddler and may be more hygienic.
Some parents prefer to drive when their toddler is asleep and plan driving around nap times and early evening sleeping (you can often carry the sleeping toddler into bed upon arrival). But again, be wary of driving late into the night unless you are well rested.
Don’t use rest stops only for resting.
Sitting in a car for extended periods of time isn’t easy for anyone, but it is especially hard for active toddlers. So make sure you break up driving time with plenty of circulation-stimulating breaks. Bring a large beach-type ball (deflatable, if car space is limited) to toss around and chase at rest stops where there is a
safe grassy area. (Keep it in the trunk while you’re on the road so that there is no chance of it getting in the driver’s way.) Then, if you like, line up the family for a brief but rousing round of jumping jacks, bend-and-stretches, or follow-the-leader (always popular) before buckling back in.
Entertain.
Carry an ample supply of toys, books, and tapes. Those that aren’t attached to your toddler’s car seat should be within easy reach of an adult or older child who can dispense them one at a time, as needed. Bringing everything out at once will just mean chaos. Also be prepared to sing songs, recite rhymes, and play spotting games en route. Young toddlers can try to spot a dog, cow, or horse, a truck, a house, a barn, an airplane, a bus, a bridge. Toddlers who know colors can look for a blue car, a red house, a white church. Toddlers who know shapes can look for circles, squares, and triangles. Once they recognize letters and numbers, they can move on to looking for these. Be sure, however, that whoever is doing the driving is not distracted by the fun and games.
Also carry.
In addition to the supplies needed for any trip (see page 264), you should also take along on car trips: paper towels, several small trash bags, plastic bags in case motion sickness strikes, a blanket and pillow for each child on board, and light sweaters for everyone.
For safety’s sake.
For a safe auto trip, require everyone in the car to be snugly fastened in a seat belt or car seat; don’t drive to the point of fatigue (when accidents are more likely to occur); never drive if you’ve been drinking; prohibit smoking in the car; store heavy luggage or potential flying objects in the trunk, or if you have a station wagon, secure the luggage under a tarpaulin in the rear of the wagon.
EDDING DOWN: SELECTING A PLACE TO STAY
Resorts.
Family-oriented resorts can please the whole family. They provide a single destination, require no moving in and out of motel rooms, no searching out restaurants with children’s menus. A full schedule of programs for children free up parents for adult recreation and some much-needed time alone. Family activities allow for togetherness, as desired, and afford a fall-back in case your toddler refuses to stay with the child-care crew. An all-inclusive price eliminates constant digging for the wallet, regrets when Master or Ms. Picky barely touches the three dishes he or she insisted on ordering, and extra charges for activities that your child may or may not end up liking anyway.
Hotels and motels.
Whether it’s just a stop on the road, or your home for the week, there are certain basics parents of small children should look for in a hotel or motel. One, is the availability of a crib, if your toddler still needs one. Two, is a convenient way to satisfy a toddler’s hunger and thirst between mealtimes. A room with a refrigerator or—even better—a kitchenette is ideal. Failing that, look for twenty-four-hour room service or a twenty-four-hour coffee shop, or at the minimum, an ice machine so you can refill your own food cooler. Three, on-site entertainment: a toddler-accommodating pool and/or playground, ample indoor play space, a miniature golf course, or a game room, for example. Four, baby-sitting service vouched for by the hotel, if you’d like to plan a toddler-free night on the town. Five, a coin-operated laundry or a reasonably priced laundry service. Six, for really desperate times, video rentals, or at least, cable with programming for children. If there’s a choice of room locations available, try
to secure one that is not surrounded on all sides by other rooms (or, at least, not by occupied rooms) but is at the end of a row, so that your toddler is less likely to disturb other guests. And finally, don’t forget to inquire about special family rates—many hotels and motels offer them.
House, condominium, or cottage rentals or exchanges.
It’s always best to know what you’re renting before you make the reservation, but it’s particularly important if your vacation rental will be housing a toddler. If you can’t check out the rental in person, ask for details (and preferably, photographs—or even a video). Choose a location that’s close to shopping, restaurants, baby-sitters, a doctor (or a clinic or hospital); and other conveniences, so that you won’t be doing miles of driving each day. A washer and dryer on the premises or very nearby is, of course, a must. Local manmade diversions are a good idea, too; while nature walks may engage you endlessly, they may not hold your toddler’s attention for very long. Besides, a couple of days of rain can seem interminable when there’s nowhere to hang out but a strange abode.
If the house you’re considering is on a heavily trafficked road, make sure it’s fenced in. If it’s a beach house, make sure that it’s not perched on the edge of a cliff—though the views may take your breath away, the potential for accidents may stop your heart entirely. If it’s right on the water, be sure the beach you’ll be using isn’t rocky and doesn’t have any sudden drops or unpredictable currents or undertows. If the property has a swimming pool, ask if it’s fenced in; unfenced pools pose a serious safety hazard to small children. (You will have to be
extremely
vigilant about supervising your toddler’s ventures outdoors if you choose a house with a pool or near water—wading can quickly become submersion when you’re 2½ feet tall.) The house should also be able to withstand the wear and tear of a small child and be easily childproofed (see page 620). Avoid a house filled with antiques or other valuables or breakables, one on several levels (with staircases everywhere), and one that doesn’t have smoke alarms and other safety equipment.
Outdoor options.
If the great outdoors beckons, make sure you really want to answer. Even if you’re an experienced camper, camping out with a small child can be a grueling experience, especially if the weather doesn’t cooperate. If you nevertheless want to try vacationing under the stars, have a fall-back option ready, such as a nearby motel that’s likely to have a vacancy. Be sure, too, that you have an ample supply of food and drink, first-aid supplies, and a back carrier for your toddler.
For some vacationing families, a recreational vehicle offers the best of both worlds—a chance to camp in comfort, clean sleeping quarters, refrigeration, cooking facilities, toilet, shower, and even air-conditioning. Such travel holds particular attraction for the parents of toddlers. On the downside: the vehicles may be expensive to rent, unwieldy to handle, guzzle gas, and can drive some people (little ones included) stir-crazy.
Options at sea.
Until recently cruises were the glamorous domain of vacationing adults. Now more and more lines are offering packages that include activities and meals that appeal to children and even in some cases to toddlers. Before you respond by plunking down your credit card, consider a few points: Will you be able to relax with your toddler running around on deck (check to be sure that rails are toddler safe)? Is your toddler prone to motion sickness? How long is the cruise you’re considering (more than a week and your toddler may be climbing the rails)? Is there a supervised activity program designed for toddlers? At what age does it start? How good is
it? Ask about playrooms, counselors, food, safety features, medical facilities. Are meals and snacks available at flexible times? Are there special menu selections for the high-chair set?