ML Interest Tag: reconnect

Sometimes You Need to Seize the Day (Here’s How I Make It Happen as a Single Mom)

By Angela Jones

A couple years ago, I wrote a post called Adventures in Single Motherhood.  I had recently been divorced and I was crippled with insecurity and fear which had an immense effect on my sense of adventure.  Since my divorce, I have done some intense rebuilding.  A tearing down to the studs and starting over type of rebuilding.

I have read lots of books and done lots of work to undo the damage which was causing the insecurity and fear.  In my self-assessment, I discovered that the number one, most important thing in my life that brings me joy is adventure.  Aside from parenting, of course, but we’re talking about trying to reignite the spark within me and figure out what apart from being a mom makes me tick.

Two years ago, my family and I decided we were going to embark on an adventure to the UK to reconnect with our family’s roots.  We decided the summer of 2019 was the year we were going.  We hadn’t all been there together as a family since 1982, and I hadn’t been back myself since the early 90’s.

My daughter has been obsessed with London since she was about 4-years-old and when her best friend went two years ago, she lost her mind with jealousy.  This was going to be a special trip.

But when it came time to actually book everything, schedules, life and outside priorities got in the way, and one by one family members started dropping like dominos, until the last two pieces standing were my daughter and I.

I’m so much more confident than I was two years ago, when we lived in Phoenix and I didn’t have the guts to travel the four-hour drive to the Grand Canyon with my daughter by myself. But I wasn’t sure I could do a two-week stint in a foreign country alone with my 11-year-old.  I also knew opportunities for these types of adventures don’t come around often, and sometimes you need to seize the day!

I started to warm up to the idea of doing the trip alone – a special mother daughter trip.  When I told my daughter the family trip had fallen apart and it was just her and I left, she didn’t skip a beat when she asked, “Well, can we just go by ourselves, then?”  And I didn’t skip a beat when I replied, “Of course we can.”

Two days later our trip was booked.  She helped pick the hotels, we got our British Rail pass, {because why stop at visiting one country, let’s visit two} and we made a list of all the things we want to do while we’re there.  No pub crawls for mom, but it will still be the adventure of a lifetime!

The journey of single motherhood has been an interesting one to say the least.  It’s a difficult adjustment to make, going from life with a partner, back to life on your own, but with a little help, and a lot of self-love that has reignited the spark within me, we have settled into a groove.  We are ready for the next adventure!  Because the wanderlust never left, I just needed a reminder that the power was always within me.

Angela is a freelance writer/publicist.  She loves coffee and wine, and spends her days filling her 9 year-old daughter’s head with 1970’s and 80’s pop culture.  She has a rescue cat named Violet, as in Beauregarde, and don't play 80’s Trivial Pursuit with her, because she wins every time.

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How to Enjoy This Valentine’s Day As a New Mother

By Rachael Sablotsky Kish

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, and for many breastfeeding mothers—or new moms in general—that means wondering how to celebrate the most romantic day of the year. Should we hire a babysitter or just bring the baby to dinner with us? What should I wear (especially if I’m feeling a little less than stylish these days)? Having just delivered my third child (conveniently right before Valentine’s Day), I’ve learned a few things along the way about balancing a breastfeeding regimen while still finding time to spend with my partner. Here are a few of my sanity-saving tips for all you nursing (and soon-to-be nursing) mothers out there.

Try to Do This:

Embrace the Little Things to Keep the Spark
Life is hectic with a breastfeeding newborn and there’s just no way around it. You are often exhausted from feeding a hungry baby day and night, which can be a real romance killer. Instead of trying to recreate a Valentine’s Day reminiscent of the times you spent together before you started a family, rely on small gestures to display affection. Recreate your first wedding dance as a married couple in the comfort of your living room. Order take out from a restaurant you’ve been dying to try out. Feast on premium chocolates while you luxuriate in your comfiest robe and slippers. Whatever simple things bring you and your spouse joy, do them!

Dinner and a Movie… at Home
Babysitters are hard to come by on Valentine’s Day and are often booked weeks in advance. You may also be completely worn out from keeping up with your breastfeeding schedule along with the day-to-day tasks of running a household, so I find it’s best not to force a Valentine’s Day “occasion.” Cook dinner with your spouse, light some candles, fire up Netflix, and have a romantic evening for two on the couch.

Go with the Flow
There is nothing nursing moms understand more than to expect the unexpected. Even the best-laid preparations can be thrown into a tailspin with a newborn calling the shots, so be ready to go with the flow. Maybe your baby is especially fussy on Valentine’s Day, or a cold strikes during the most inopportune of times. Be ready to laugh off any roadblocks and know that you and your spouse can tackle anything together, including a non-traditional Valentine’s Day celebration.

Try Not to Do This:

Talk About the Kids
This may seem counterintuitive, as your whole life essentially revolves around their daily needs, but the Breastfeeding Resource Center recommends making your best effort to avoid talking about your breastfeeding newborn during your couples Valentine’s Day. Instead, take the time to concentrate on each other as it will give you both a mental break and allow you to reconnect as a couple before you started your family. As a breastfeeding mother, you deserve a night off and your significant other can agree!

Pressure Yourself to Celebrate on Valentine’s Day Itself
With reservations booked weeks in advance, I felt like I was forcing myself to celebrate on Valentine’s Day and felt like more than pressure than I needed. So, I came up with a solution: DON’T! My husband and I often set the occasion to the night after Valentine’s Day to avoid crowds and eliminate some stress out of the holiday.

It’s important to remember that Valentine’s Day doesn’t center around writing a sentimental card, buying flowers and digging into a box of chocolates. Celebrating unconditional love with your significant other, and the family it has grown into, is what the day is really about. So, treat yourself this holiday and take time with your one and only. You’ve earned it!

This post originally appeared on Imalac.
Rachael Sablotsky Kish
Tinybeans Voices Contributor

Rachael Sablotsky Kish is the Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer of Imalac, a med-tech company which created Nurture, a hands-free breast massage system for nursing mothers that uses an attachable massage component to replicate hands-on pumping. Kish is a Certified Lactation Counselor (CLC), educating and training women on breastfeeding.

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6 Habit Hacks to Keep Your Healthy Resolutions After the New Year

By Liz Cruz

I can’t believe one month into 2019 is already gone! It’s such a great time of year to reassess our lives and what’s important to us. Usually it’s around this time of year that we realize we should be spending more of our precious time with family and friends and taking care of our health. This typically means eating and drinking better or exercising more. Many find the goals they set for the New Year quickly dwindle as the year gets busy and we get back into our same bad habits and routines.

Did you know that by February most people have given up on their resolutions?!

To help with that, I’ve put together six hacks that you can implement with your family that will help guide you through out the entire year

Start Small

Whatever your family’s large goal is break it down into small daily tasks you all can accomplish easily. Instead of, “We are going to exercise more;” decide to take the stairs everywhere you can instead of the elevator. When it comes to food, instead of saying, “We are going to eat healthier”, say “We are going to cook a healthy home cooked meal at least three times per week”. For learning something new, instead of, “We’re going to learn a new language,” purchase a CD program and agree to listen to a language CD for 20 minutes every day. The best way to take a large impossible goal is to turn it into small manageable tasks.

Get The Hard Stuff Done First

Procrastination is a hard habit to kick and most of us try to put off the hard stuff as long as possible. I say do those things first and get them out of the way. Make exercise your first task of the day so you don’t have to worry about fitting it in later. Plus, you’ll feel really good about yourself all day long because you’ve already accomplished something so great for the day.

Replace Screen Time for Goal Time

Take a true inventory of how much time you each are spending in front of a screen – computer, TV, tablet, phone and reassess your priorities. More screen time means less of everything else time whether that’s spending time with each other or spending time taking care of yourselves (for example things like exercising or taking the time to make a healthy meal).

Find Some Balance

These days, families are busier than ever, sometimes to the point of exhaustion. Take time to look at your schedules and determine what activities are most important. Consider minimizing your activities so you have more down time to rest and recuperate during the week and give you more time to accomplish new goals as a family.

Go For Walks (Exercise & Reconnect)

Taking the family on a walk regularly throughout the week not only helps with getting much needed exercise in but it also allows the family to bond much more than usual. It’s important to leave all technology at home on your walks and really spend time talking with each other.

Be Thankful & Grateful

As soon as everyone wakes up in the morning, write down three things that you are thankful for. There is science behind thankfulness and happiness. The more thankful you are, the happier you are, the happier you are, the more likely you are to accomplish your goals for the day.

I hope these tips help you and your family get focused for the New Year and really put some plans into action that will allow you to reach your 2019 goals. Good luck!

Dr. Liz Cruz is a gastroenterologist, author and (most importantly) a parent of four children. A Diplomat of the American Board of Internal Medicine, Dr. Cruz is widely praised for her all-natural, holistic approach to wellness and for effectively reducing the need for prescription medicine.

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How to Stay Connected to Your Partner Post-Baby

by Suzanna Logan

If you’ve had a baby longer than five minutes, you know that babies change your life. They’re like a black hole for your time, energy and attention. Most of the time, this works out great for baby and parent—they crave the extra love and you love to give it to them. But, if you’re not careful, it’s easy for your other relationships to take a back seat to baby—especially the one that created your adorable energy-sucker in the first place.

Fortunately, while it’s normal for passion and friendship with your partner to end up on the back burner after baby is born, all it takes is a little effort to reconnect postpartum. Here are a few of our favorite ways to rekindle the spark with your co-baby-maker. 

photo: Sirah Quyyom via Flickr

Give Thanks
When you’re in the throes of postpartum exhaustion, saying “thank you” to your partner for taking the 2 a.m. shift with baby (when you had the rest of the night) or emptying the diaper pail (when you changed all the diapers) may not be the first thing on your mind, but research has proven that making an effort to verbally appreciate your partner is a key indicator of relationship happiness, with or without baby. If you think your guy is a great dad, say so! (Bonus: Expressing gratitude to a partner is proven to promote loving behavior on their part. Positive reinforcement for the win!)

photo: Yi Wang via Flickr

Take a Baby Breather
You know what they say: Three’s a crowd. And this is why bringing along baby to every date is a no-no. Having a few minutes to focus fully on your spouse—even 30 minutes to grab a cup of coffee and catch up on life—is a breath of fresh air in a relationship that tends to naturally revolve around baby. 

Solve Your Date Dilemmas
What’s holding you back from post-baby date nights? Worried about leaving your little one during their waking hours? Schedule a sitter for after you’ve put baby down for the night (or their first solid stretch of sleep). If funds are tight, swap hours with a mom friend or enlist the grandparents for extra snuggles.

photo: Kaboompics via Pixabay

Talk About Baby—and Other Stuff, Too.
We’ve all heard the mandates to not talk about your kids while on a date with your partner, but we say, gush away about the amazing human you created together. But chat it up about other things, too—world events, updates on mutual friends and family, whatever. If your brain is consumed with all things baby, use your phone as a talking points tool. Before you go out, glance at the day’s top headlines or your social media feed to get you back in the outside world loop and give you a few conversation go-to’s.

Take It Outside
Next time you and your partner find yourselves bickering over household chores or diaper duty, strap baby in the stroller and take it outside. Literally. Turns out, stepping outside for some fresh air can be as good for your relationship as it is for your body. Consider this interesting finding: Moving physically forward with another person gives you the sense of moving forward with them mentally, too, thereby creating a sense of connection. So the next time you feel at odds with your honey, walk it out and watch your stress melt away.

photo: Freestocks.org via Unsplash

Up Your Netflix Game
Good news for tired parents everywhere: The best date nights can happen at home, no planning for sitters or working around baby’s schedule required. It’s easy to turn a mundane night on the couch watching your favorite show into something special with a little effort. The next time you settle in to Netflix and chill, order take-out, grab your favorite drinks and trade back rubs or foot rubs while snuggling up on the sofa.

Snap a Selfie
Grab your phone and open your camera roll. If a quick scroll reveals an endless sea of baby pics, it’s time to snag your honey and take a few couple selfies—bonus points for kissing pics! Then set them as your lock or home screen as a reassuring reminder you’re in this parenting/life/love thing together. 

photo: Becca Tapert via Unsplash

Get Busy—Together
We know. You’re busy all day—changing diapers, making bottles or baby food. But that’s not the kind of busy we mean. (*Wink*) After a long day of toting baby around, it’s likely that the last thing on your mind is slipping between the sheets with your man—unless it’s to sleep. But making physical intimacy a priority is one of the best ways to establish an emotional connection with your spouse. And remember that having a healthy sex life isn’t only about intercourse. Laughing together, holding hands, hugging and kissing all create a sense of closeness that will keep you connected.

—Suzanna Palmer

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Should Your Childcare Provider Get Paid Time Off?

By Lauren Lewis

I hear it all the time—online, in interviews, in mom groups—parents complaining because their provider took a scheduled vacation day, a.k.a., paid time off. The parent has to find alternate care, but they still have to pay daycare.

I also hear: “It’s not fair!” “If they aren’t providing the service, why should I have to pay?” “I don’t get paid time off—why should they?”

True, you don’t get paid time off when you have to stay home with your child. However, there are plenty of working families who do. In fact, most people who work a career, get paid time off. and let’s face it—you want a provider who sees her job as a career, not a temporary working situation.

So you don’t get paid time off and your provider wants paid time off. You don’t feel that’s very fair. Now, the mom in me wants to say, “Fair is a place where you ride the rides and get cotton candy. Life isn’t fair.” However—this is your livelihood, your child and the person you trust to help raise your child. So your concern is understandable.

Let’s put this into perspective. Here are some “perks” you likely get at your job—that your daycare provider doesn’t get:

  • Overtime
  • Lunch breaks
  • Adult interaction
  • To pee in private
  • To drink coffee—while it’s still hot
  • A 401k

So, here’s the deal.

We know that when we take time off from work, it inconveniences you. We know. For our family, when we go on vacation, I am well aware that I have five other families who now have to take time off to compensate for my fun. Guilt doesn’t cover it. I used to hate planning family vacations, for the sole reason that I didn’t want to tell my parents that I’m taking time off.

(In fact, to be perfectly candid, I don’t take my vacations paid because of the guilt. I do, however, take major holidays paid. And after four years of running a family childcare home, I finally gave myself a few sick days in my contract.)

Here’s why childcare providers both need and deserve some paid time off:

You value yourself. As a childcare provider, mother, wife and woman, you have value. You have an important job which demands a lot and as such, you need to practice self care. Part of practicing that self care is the ability to take time off to reconnect with yourself and your family—and the same value applies to your childcare provider.

Your childcare provider values their job. It seems like a contradiction—but I believe most moms understand—we are better parents when we have time to fill our own cups. As caregivers of your kids, have this amazing, beautiful honor of shaping and raising your children and we don’t take it lightly. We want to do it well. But it’s nearly impossible to pour out of yourself when your own private cup is empty.

We can’t be the “Mom who smiles” all the time without taking care of ourselves, too. To put it simply, being a good childcare provider and practicing self-care go hand-in-hand. And that means, very frequently, paid time off.

Take it from me: childcare providers need to take time for themselves. Parents, respect the person helping raise your children and understand their need for self-care. It just helps them better able to give your littles all the love and care they need.

As a childcare provider, photographer and writer, I get motherhood, from feeling like you're doing too much and not enough to finding your identity somewhere between "I am woman, hear me roar" and "I am mom, hear me yell." I see you, I've been there. We are in it together.

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The New American Girl Doll of the Year Is All about Farm to Table Family Time

by Shahrzad Warkentin

Just in time to encourage your kids to make healthy decisions in the New Year comes a new American Girl doll! Meet Blaire Wilson, the American Girl of the Year 2019—and she’s all about promoting mealtime togetherness.

Food is something that we all enjoy in one form or another—and it can also be an integral part of what binds loved ones together. Family discussions over the dinner table can help strengthen connections, but in today’s fast-paced times of digital immediacy, those important conversations can get pushed aside for screen time. Blaire wants to change that by helping families reconnect over mealtime.

“We’re proud to introduce fans to our 2019 Girl of the Year, Blaire Wilson—an everyday girl who thrives on using her many talents to make meaningful connections with others,” Julia Prohaska, Vice President of Marketing for American Girl, said in a press release.

Blaire is a young chef-in-training who loves cooking and concocting recipes at her family’s sustainable farm and bed-and-breakfast in upstate New York. Faced with the challenges of a newly diagnosed food sensitivity, and being self-conscious among other things, Blaire often finds herself staring at a device instead of engaging with others.

She soon learns to find a healthy balance between exploring the real world and the digital one, however, and the hope is that her young fans will do the same.

Featuring green eyes and red curly hair, the latest American Girl doll has a plethora of clothing and accessories to help kids bring her story to life at home. The Blaire collection, which includes items from Pleasant View Farm and Blaire’s Family Farm Restaurant, is available online and in stores now.

Her collection also includes two new books: Blaire and Blaire Cooks Up a Plan. Each book retails for $7.99 and is available in both paperback and Kindle editions.

Prohaska continued, “Building and maintaining supportive relationships with family and friends is central to Blaire’s story—a message we think is important to champion among girls today. In an age where families are often striving for quality time together, we hope Blaire inspires everyone to make a New Year’s resolution to connect more regularly with the important people in their lives and make their time together this year really count.”

Now that is a resolution we can definitely get behind!

—Shahrzad Warkentin

All photos: Courtesy of American Girl

 

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8 Important Reasons Every New Mom Needs “Me Time,” No Matter What

By Akats Dunn

Most new moms are overwhelmed by all of the things that they have to do in a day. There are feedings and diaper changes, as well as all that housework. There is barely enough time to take a shower in a day, let alone get a few minutes for yourself. However, “me time” is very important—enough that you need to find a way to squeeze it into your routine.

Here are eight reasons that new moms need  “me time.”

1. It feels good to get away once in a while.

Every mom needs to get away from their baby. They need time to think and relax, not worrying constantly about every little thing. It can be really refreshing to just enjoy yourself even if you just take a walk around the block.

2. “Me time” will give you time to take care of yourself.

It is important to make sure that you are eating healthy and exercising enough so that you are able to take care of your family. Relaxing is also necessary for good health. You need to be mentally capable of taking care of your baby.

3. If your relatives are able to watch your baby, this gives them time to develop a bond.

It is important for grandparents, aunts, uncles, and other relatives to be able to spend quality time with the baby. Asking them to watch the baby for an hour or so here and there will only delight them.

4. If you have to hire a babysitter, remember it’s healthy for your baby to have relationships with other adults they can trust.

As your baby grows, he or she is going to have to get along with plenty of adults. Adult time as a child helps them learn to interact with other adults, making transitions to daycare and school a little easier.

5. “Me time” allows you to recharge your batteries.

After some time away, you will come back to mothering refreshed and ready to take care of your baby again. Things that bothered you a few hours ago may seem insignificant.

6. Being away from your baby will make you miss him or her.

Missing your baby is a good thing! Most moms struggle with missing their children, which only makes them want to hurry back home. After time apart, you may long for some special time together so you will make sure that you have plenty of quality time together.

7. By spending time with other adults, your baby will grow up learning about different opinions.

You are going to want your child to learn how to think for him or herself. As your child grows, he or she will learn to be well-rounded and well-adjusted.

8. Though it is not “me time,” date nights are also important to help you reconnect with your partner.

Life as a parent is very difficult. Not having any time to relax and connect can make the parenting journey very lonely and frustrating.

Though it can be really hard to find time, “me time” is really important for moms. If your friends and relatives are able to watch your baby, not only will you get a break, it will also give them time to spend with your baby. It may also help the transition to daycare or school a little easier because he or she will be used to more than one person.

However, “me time” is mainly for you. It gives you a break and some time away. You might be surprised to find that, no matter how badly you wanted a quiet house, you might feel lost without your little one—you’d be amazed how much you miss him or her the second they’re away!

Featured Photo Courtesy: Alexis Chloe via Unsplash

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I'm a medical Doctor and proud father with passion for helping women know themselves and understand the importance of loving a baby while staying healthy.

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Doing This One Thing Can Make Mornings with Kids Much Easier, According to Experts

by Shahrzad Warkentin

photo: Marina Caprara via flickr

From battles over attire to feuds about food, getting your little (and big) ones up and out the door in the morning can feel like tiptoeing around land mines. When tempers flare, it can not only make it hard to be on time, but also set a bad tone for the rest of the day. Read on to learn the one thing you can do to help mornings go a little smoother.

The short answer, according to experts, can be boiled down to one word: connectivity. Taking a moment to connect with your child and reinforce your loving bond can make a world of difference when it comes to making it through your morning routine without a meltdown.

As Daniel Siegel and Tina Payne Bryson, authors of The Whole-Brain Child, explain, connections in the brain that allow adults to function in tasks, like controlling emotions, multitasking, and using logic are still maturing in young children and can take up to twenty years to fully develop. In a study Siegel published in 2001, he found that brain development was linked to social interaction and emotional well-being during childhood. In other words, a strong, positive relationship between parent and child can help a child develop optimal brain connections as they grow.

So how does that help you in the heat of the morning rush? Besides developing cognitive functions in the long run, re-affirming your bond with your child each morning also connects you in the moment. According to clinical psychologist, Dr. Laura Markham, taking just a few minutes in the morning to snuggle up can “fill your child’s cup before the day starts, and reconnect after the separation of the night, which gives your child motivation to cooperate instead of fight with you. This is the best way to prevent morning whining and resistance.”

Have you tried this method to help work ‪through morning stresses? Share your thoughts in the comments.

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How to Do Great Falls Like a Pro

by rttriciamirchandani

The DMV has no shortage of hiking trails (we are lucky like that), but there’s only one that is almost synonymous with family hiking. After a few years of struggling with strollers and battling the needs of our small people, we finally got hip to the fact that the best place for an outdoor hike with little ones is Great Falls. Here’s how to make the most out of your next visit.

Photo: ADVENTUREinPROGRESS  via Flickr

Why Great Falls?
The first great thing about Great Falls is that it isn’t far. Unlike the better-known Shenandoah National Park, Great Falls is relatively close to most D.C. locations (it’s about a 20 minute drive from Arlington and the District). This makes it a perfect morning trip on a busy Fall weekend and an ideal trip with small children who don’t enjoy any excursion that begins with a long car ride.

There are stroller-accessible waterfall outlooks (!!!)
The second great thing is, of course, the waterfalls. Stopping to look at the Potomac rushing along and tumbling over rocks and cliffs can be enchanting even for the smallest among you. A very short walk from the Visitor Center (which is steps from the parking lot) brings you to three overlooks with three different views of the waterfalls. So you can see them all before the kids start to fade. Finally, two of the three outlooks are wheelchair (and stroller!) accessible.

How to plan
Lines can get long in the Fall when everyone has the same idea. But if your kids have you up early, the park opens at 7 am. Bring your stroller; most of the trails that you’ll want to explore with small kids are stroller-friendly. Picnic tables and grills are available on a first-come-first-serve basis so consider bringing a few snacks or picnic lunch. Just remember that Great Falls is a trash free park so everything you bring in must leave with you. 

What to see and do
Although the waterfalls are the main attraction, if you and your kids are up for it, there is more to see and do. The park boasts about 163 species of birds so grab your binoculars if you have a bird watcher among you. For older kids, bicycling, boating, climbing, and fishing are all permitted. And if hiking is your thing, fifteen miles of hiking trails wind along the Potomac. Maps for the trails are available at the Visitor’s Center. For younger kids, there is a Children’s Room inside with a please-touch table showcasing the items you’ll encounter in the park, not to mention games, puzzles, and coloring.

Go now; and then just keep going
While Great Falls is a beautiful park at any time of year, it is particularly stunning in Autumn. Vibrantly colored leaves go on for miles and set a beautiful background for the falls. It’s the perfect setting for a new family picture. But what we love most about this annual excursion is using it as a time to connect. After all, the summer days of lazily enjoying each other’s company are over and busy school schedules tend to shift into our world high gear fast. There is truly no better way to help your family reconnect than a walk through nature.

Cost: $10/car
9200 Old Dominion Dr. (McLean, Va)
703-289-2513

Where do you like to hike with your kids in the Fall?

–Tricia Mirchandani

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10 Top Tips for Road Trips with Babies

by Oz Spies

Get your motor running. Head out on the highway…with a baby? Sure! With a little preparation, your kid can be ready to hit the road and go exploring right alongside you. Read on for 10 ways to make your road trip go smoothly with baby on board.

photo: rhonda_jenkins via pixabay

1. Time your travel to baby’s schedule.
Scheduling drive time for when your baby is most likely to snooze means you don’t have to spend the entire trip entertaining a strapped-in, bored, wide-awake kid. If your child goes back to sleep easily after being woken up, consider starting before dawn. Or, if your babe sleeps better after they’ve had a chance to run around, start your trip right before naptime.

2. Pack swaddling blankets.
These handy blankets take up little room and offer shade over a car seat to encourage napping, pinch-hit as a changing pad and provide a clean spot to lay on over a hotel comforter or carpet. They’re play mats, nap time comfort and mess cleaners, too, so pack a couple.

3. Keep the car smelling lemony fresh.
Forget the pine air freshener and pack some lemon slices in a baggie instead. The smell of lemon wards off motion sickness and will keep the car from smelling like spit-up and stale snacks. Plus, they freshen up beverages and lighten up heavy roadside food.

photo: Owen and Aki via flickr

4. Toys. Many, many, toys.
One advantage of car travel versus plane? Extra space for baby faves like egg shakers, crinnkly toys, and Indestructibles books — these thin wonders stand up to chewing, drooling and ripping and can be cleaned in the dishwasher when you’re back home. Have a baby who likes to throw things? Strap clip-on toys, like these colorful links, to the car seat so they always have something nearby to entertain them. Pack the toys in a bin or bag you keep on the seat near your baby for easy access.

5. Bring plenty of snacks.
A hungry baby is an unhappy baby, and the same goes for drivers. Keep a cooler full of healthy fuel, including extra breast milk or formula. For kids eating finger foods, pre-fill snack containers with bite-size treats so you can dole them out easily when the munchies strike.

6. Install a car-seat mirror.
Placing a mirror to face the car seat is not only handy for drivers; your little one will love “oohing” and cooing at that cute baby they see. Add some good tunes and you can watch your baby kicking those adorable feet for miles.

photo: Raissa Viza via Flickr

7. Pack light but smart.
A few pieces of carefully chosen baby gear are all you need. Younger babies can be entertained in a bouncy seat at the hotel while you take a shower. And keep your favorite carrier easily accessible so you’re ready to hop out, explore, and reconnect with your little one mid-trip.

8. Make a mess clean-up kit.
When you travel with babies, there will be a mess. Pack a container with clean-up essentials like extra wipes, Ziploc bags for dirty diapers, facial tissues, garbage bags, spare outfits, extra diapers, hand sanitizer and disinfecting wipes. For the diapers, calculate how many you think you’ll need, and then throw in ten more.

9. Breathe.
Some babies hate the car or have a bad day, no matter how well you prepare for the trip. If pulling over to soothe your little one isn’t an option, grit your teeth, drive through a few tears (theirs and maybe yours) and know that, eventually, they’ll calm down.

photo: Donnie Ray Jones via flickr

10. Factor in time for family fun.
Break up naps and long stretches with stops at clean rest areas, parks and noteworthy sites. The Oh, Ranger! ParkFinder app helps you track down kid-friendly stops along your drive. Remember, while the drive may take twice as long as it did pre-baby, that’s twice as much time for adventures.

Have you road-tripped with a baby? Share your tips in the comments.

— Oz Spies

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