Last night I was on the phone with one of my oldest and dearest friends. We were talking about being moms, having kids and all the crazy cool things that go down in our days. It came up that her husband (who is nice enough to follow this blog) wondered how it is that I managed to spend time with my son, cook all our food, work, be a wife, keep our home, garden and do all the other things that go into being an involved green mama.
As a blogger, I share a lot of information about myself and my family with you. Really, that’s most of how I know what I know…experience. I also shared with you in my About Me section, if there is something I’m working on or want to change about myself, I’m the first to share that. This is evident in my New Year’s Resolution to shed 100 pounds.
My conversation last night, however, made me realize that for all the sharing I do it’s really easy to come off as near perfect in my execution of being a green mama. Let me assure you, I am nowhere near as green as I wish I were or as I think some other bloggers appear to be.
Let me share with you some of the trials, errors and little secrets that I experience and am still working on. I’m not sharing these with you to make myself feel better (because I don’t really feel that guilty) but to assure you that we’re all in this together, warts and all!
I Confess
I’m all for composting, an advocate even. In my post about worm composting I was very excited to share my worm bin with you. Sadly, about a month ago I overfed my red wigglers. The temperature in my bin shot to 110*. That’s no bueno. I tried to reverse the heat wave, but there was no saving them. My worms died and that made me really sad. I had to explain to my son what happened and am starting over. PS- If your worm bin gets too hot, don’t try to reverse it, just take out the hot compost and save the worms.
We drive 2 cars. Even though we only use about a tank a month, one of them is an SUV.
Plane travel is the worst offender when it comes to green house emmissions. We fly (as a family of 3) round trip to somewhere 4-6 times a year.
In a perfect world we would eat only locally and seasonally. I don’t like squash that much and bananas are too good for us to give up (sorry Luke).
There is a clothes line in my backyard, but more often than not I choose to machine dry my clothes.
The house we live in is old and has drafty windows and poor insulation. There’s a gap in my front door, but I haven’t done anything about it all winter. Energy savings fail.
This is a big one: I have a house cleaner come and clean my whole house every other week. I LOVE her, and I’m never going back. It has taken a weight off my shoulders, it makes me happy, and I feel healthier knowing my house is clean.
If the dishwasher doesn’t get emptied first thing in the morning (this happens <50% of the time) there are piles of dishes, pots and pans on my counter and in my sink at the end of the day. Thanks to my husband for cleaning them and not sighing too heavily when he walks into the kitchen every night.
Folding laundry is the bain of my existence. I often leave it in a pile and wait for my house cleaner to fold it. For which she volunteered by the way.
Addiction in two words: Amazon Prime.
Even though I was gang busters to use cloth diapers, I was so seriously overwhelmed by motherhood that we use disposable.
Sauerkraut (and all it’s fermented goodness) has yet to thrill me.
Two summers ago we installed a lawn in our backyard (low water Xerilawn) and I don’t regret it one little bit.
Evidently I’ve bought into the Apple revolution as I own THREE different devices – iPhone, iPad and a Macbook.
In the beginning I was sure attachment parenting was for us. Turns out sleep training (and some cry it out) was one of the best parenting decissons we’ve ever made.
My son is vaccinated, using the Dr. Sear’s alternative schedule.
In the five steps to a Zero Waste Home, I’m terrible at step one: refusing.
My son watches some television almost everyday, and so do I.
Can you say caffe breve? I drink one a day and we use our Nespresso machine, which only has dissposible pods in which I have no say as to what kind of coffee is used. Although I’ve been searching desparately to find good reusable ones, to no avail.
We aren’t members of a CSA (see squash reference above).
My cats used to get a homemade raw food diet, but when the baby came they got reverted back to dry (grainless) cat food.
I’m sure if I thought about it I could come up with 100 more things to add to this list, but I’ll stop here for now. Remember, we’re all human and we’re all works in progress. Do what you can do and take small steps. Continue to be optimistic that whatever goals you have for being a parent, being green or maybe just starting to cook dinners at home – you’ll get there, slow and steady wins the race. Celebrate small successes and make choices you can stand behind. And last but not least, be well!
When I was waiting 2.5 weeks after my “due date” I seriously thought I would be pregnant forever. FOREVER. Here are some ideas for that time in between.
Odds & Ends
Growing up, my brother was into calligraphy and that meant really cool pens.
Do you buy second hand? I haven’t done a lot of that, but I’m hoping to in the future.
We travel a lot, and I struggle with bringing enough food to make it on long flights and in airports without eating plane food. I also love seeing what other people bring with them. So, I loved this.
Because It Feels Good
What do goats and barbies have to do with each other? Bet you’ll never guess.
Mmm, muffins. Delicious, single serving, cake-like treats. I’ve found that since I’ve gone off the refined foods that my sweet tooth isn’t quite as strong as it used to be and that it’s a lot easier to be satisfied with treats that are less sweet. I also don’t eat a whole lot of grains these days, so when my mind starts wanting something baked I like to make it myself so I can control the ingredients. And lately, muffins fit that bill perfectly.
This recipe is a riff on my Real Food Blueberry Muffins, which you should also try. These muffins are tender and sweetened with coconut sugar and (wait for it) bananas! That’s right, those super ripe bananas on your counter or in your freezer are perfect for this recipe. The darker and mushier, the better!
INGREDIENTS
1 3/4 cups sprouted or soaked wheat flour (If you find 100% whole wheat to be too “wheaty” for your taste, than you can cut in pre-ground Einkorn flour or white flour as the 3/4 cup)
1/3 cup coconut sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 large or 3 small super ripe bananas, mashed
1 beaten egg
3/4 cup milk
1/4 cup melted butter
1/2 cup nuts of choice, chopped (optional)
MAKE IT
First things first, you should make this by hand. A mixer will over mix the batter and hand mixing will keep it light and fluffy. So get out a mixing bowl and whisk. Also, I like lining my muffin tin with cups, but if you have your own tried and true way, do that. You should get 12 muffins.
Preheat oven to 400*
Melt the butter and set it aside to cool.
Add all dry ingredients in a big mixing bowl and combine with your whisk. Make a well in the middle.
Mash up your bananas.
In a different bowl, beat the egg and add the other wet ingredients, including the bananas. Make sure the melted butter isn’t so hot that it cooks the egg.
Add the wet ingredients to the dry and mix until ALMOST completely combined.
If using nuts, add them now and mix gently until just combined.
Now STOP mixing, don’t over mix, it’ll be better this way.
Fill muffin tins 3/4 full.
Bake for 20 minutes, until golden brown.
Let cool.
If you take off the paper too soon, it’ll tear apart your muffin. So, let it cool awhile before eating, preferably with some salty pasture raised organic butter. But plain is good too!
We’ve reached the time of year where you can tell the people who resolved to take weight off actually followed through. I have a boatload of friends who (for many reasons) have been losing weight and are looking awesome. It makes a wonderful atmosphere to keep the momentum going and for us to inspire each other.
On the other hand, I experience some envy around the friends who went über gang-busters and lost a TON of weight really fast. A few years before Porter was born I did this too, but over the years it crept back on. What this means to me is that I have to constantly remind myself that I’m in this for the long haul and I have to set good examples for my son while doing it.
There is little interest for me in spending hours at a time working out in a gym, especially now that the weather is making the outdoors so enticing. I also have to remember that I’m resetting my lifestyle. One that includes healthy eating all the time and creative ways of being active that are inclusive of my whole family.
I guess the lesson this week is one I’ve learned many times over in other aspects of my life, that everyone is on a their own path. Everyone finds their success differently. I am enormously happy for my friends to get healthier with me, no matter how they go about it.
For the first time, since childhood, I’m making legitimately healthy choices. No sneaking candy or binging on baked goods. In fact, Porter and I have been baking together lately, and how can I not share in the foods we prepared while he’s enjoying them? I’m getting better at enjoying the small treats when they come along, setting that good example for Porter, and satisfying my sweet tooth with real food in a sustainable way. That feels pretty good.
Upon waking one day my son asked for muffins. Hmm, okay. We didn’t have muffins. It took me a moment, but then I realized that we had everything we need in our pantry to make blueberry muffins. They aren’t crazy ingredients, it’s not shocking that I had them, but in that moment I felt like the best home-maker ever. And I never have that feeling. It felt really good. Not only that, but it was easy enough to do with my 2-year-old son. And triple bonus, the hubs loves blueberry muffins above the rest. I became giddy about these muffins.
I followed the Better Homes and Gardens Cookbook recipe with my real food ingredients and they were eh, and then realized I could make them better. So I did. These aren’t the overly sweet dessert muffins with giant tops that you find at bakeries. They’re slightly sweet delicious treats for breakfast or snack time. You can feel good about your kids eating them too, especially slathered with butter.
Ingredients
1 3/4 cups sprouted or soaked wheat flour (If you find 100% whole wheat to be too “wheaty” for your taste, than you can cut in pre-ground Einkorn flour or white flour as the 3/4 cup)
1/3 cup coconut sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt 2 beaten eggs 3/4 cup milk 1/4 cup melted butter 1/2 teaspoon lemon extract (or vanilla in a pinch) or 1 teaspoon lemon zest 1 cup blueberries, fresh or frozen. Reserve 1/4 cup.
Make it
First things first, you should make this by hand. A mixer will over mix the batter and hand mixing will keep it light and fluffy. So get out a mixing bowl and whisk. Also, I like lining my muffin tin with cups, but if you have your own tried and true way, do that. You should get 10-12 muffins.
Preheat oven to 400*
Melt the butter and set it aside to cool.
Add all dry ingredients in a big mixing bowl and combine with your whisk. Make a well in the middle.
In a different bowl, beat the eggs and add the other wet ingredients. Make sure the melted butter isn’t so hot that it cooks the eggs.
Add the wet ingredients to the dry and mix until ALMOST completely combined.
Add your berries and mix gently until just combined.
Now STOP mixing, don’t over mix, it’ll be better this way.
Fill muffin tins 3/4 full.
Using your reserved berries add a few to the tops of each muffin so they peek out.
Bake for 20 minutes, until golden brown.
Let cool.
If you take off the paper too soon, it’ll tear apart your muffin. So, let it cool awhile before eating. My son hated this part.
The part he loved was eating them covered with butter, duh.
There are so many books and studies claiming to know the truth about birth, but what I’ve found in my conversations with mothers and birth professionals are so many unique experiences surrounding each birth. A book or study can’t possibly take into account the actual voices of individuals. So what better way to find out than to simply ask.
That led me to what I call Knowing Birth interviews. I have come up with a handful of questions that, moms, dads and care providers will answer. I’ll then take their answers and put them directly on this blog.
The only requirement is honesty and openness, and maybe a few pictures too. If you would like to share your experience and answers to the following questions, please email me at doulamegan@gmail.com and I will get the questionnaire to you directly. Anyone can participate and there’s no judgment from me about your answers. I promise to keep a close eye on the comments and keep ‘em clean.
THIS WEEKS INTERVIEW IS THANKS TO…
Vanessa of the blog Unchained Sunday. Let me tell you, she is awesome. Her passion for real food, her critical eye towards the staus quo, and her adorable son are all worth finding out more about. So after you read her Knowing Birth interview, go check out her blog at www.UnchainedSunday.com
Where did you choose to have your birth and why? What are your feelings about that choice now?
I knew I wanted a non-medicalized birth because I’m crunchy like that. I didn’t really want a home birth, though, because I was a little scared about complications (I have some health issues and wasn’t sure how everything would play out). I liked the idea of a birth center (my mom delivered me in one) and a midwife.
It was only when I was pregnant that I learned about Ina May Gaskin. I found out that the Farm’s Midwifery Center ( http://www.thefarmmidwives.org ) was still around, and went down there for a weekend to check it out (both the Center and the community in general). It wasn’t going to be realistic to have my baby there, but from being there and after a long conversation with one of the original and still-practicing midwives, I felt better-equipped to make a decision (even though the videos they showed scared the crap out of me).
In a kind of roundabout way, through a doula that knew my grandmother’s chiropractor, I was referred to Rhode Island’s preeminent home-birth midwife, Mary Mumford-Haley. She’s pretty (in)famous around here. At the time, she was running the prenatal program at a family clinic run by a local community action program. Which was a bonus because I had Medicaid. Prenatal visits were in the clinic offices and deliveries took place in the birth center of a nearby hospital.
I am grateful to have happened upon Mary and the clinic (where my son and I continue to go). Prior to the referral, I’d done a bit of research but nothing panned out. With the clinic, everything just slid into place; I knew I was in good hands, and would be taken care of in ways that jived with my own strong sensibilities about health and wellness and medicine, and pregnancy and birthing and childrearing.
How did you prepare for your birth?
Prenatal yoga. I tried not to think about it. That’s not true. But I was kind of terrified and knew that I didn’t know anything, that I wouldn’t know what to expect. Different techniques were suggested to me, which all sounded good, but my financial situation was very prohibitive. The doula at my clinic said that yoga would be a good all-encompassing practice for me, especially with the compilations of my health problems. I had a work-trade deal with a yoga studio (thank you Kaeli!).
Also, I kind of waited till the last minute to do a lot of things, which turned out to be a bad idea because my kid came early! So it was all very spontaneous at the end. Which, overall, worked well.
Who was invited and present at your birth?
(Just to get this out of the way, and in case you’re wondering, I’m single, so there was no partner to be there.)
Aside from the plethora of nurses, doctors, residents, and trainees I hadn’t invited, I scored big-time with not one but *two* volunteer doulas. Bianca’s the doula I mentioned before, who was an Americorps member at the clinic and had the desire (and stamina) to attend every birth she could. Dawn was a nurse at the clinic, who just randomly said to me one day, “I want to be at your birth! I want to be your doula!” I said sure, if you insist! The two of them were absolutely godsends and I wouldn’t have made it through as (relatively) well as I had without them, no question.
My midwife Mary was not there—the OB, Heidi, that worked for her handled the delivery. I’d only met her once before, but now we’re BFFs.
My mom also came. We’d discussed whether or not that’d be a good idea, didn’t really come up with a decision, and just played it by ear. It ended up being a good thing. I was pretty out of it and oblivious of everyone except my doulas for a while there, but I know she was glad to have been present.
What qualifications do you look for in a midwife/OB/primary care provider?
I look for a referral from someone, or from a network, that I trust. I look for a person both skilled in, and critical of, Western medicine. Skills/knowledge in other traditions are a plus. Anything for a well-rounded, holistic perspective, basically. I look for knowledge in and encouragement of alternative and traditional remedies, even when that means no remedies at all. I look for a person I can hash things out with, who respects me as a person not just a patient, and who will say the right things in the right tone when I get all neurotic. (Mary was *really* good at that last thing.)
What is your ideal relationship with a birth attendant?
BFFs! I need to have a pretty close relationship with someone to be that comfortable with them.
If you have received maternity care from both the medical and midwifery models of care, what are the biggest differences? Pros/cons of each?
I began my prenatal care in a county health department in Ohio. Six months into my pregnancy, I moved to Rhode Island, where I met up with Mary and her cronies at the crunchy clinic.
There was a world of difference. In Ohio, I was herded like cattle and looked at sideways like they assumed I was a junkie or something. It was one of the most impersonal and depressing experiences of my life, and at an especially vulnerable time. I connected with one person, a social worker, who left the department after I’d seen her once. My care was rotated between three local OBs who spent about 10 minutes with me and never learned my name. I fibbed at certain questions (what I was eating, if I was taking the right prenatal vitamin, that sort of thing), knowing that I was doing the right thing for me but that they probably wouldn’t see it that way and might refer me to DCYF for early intervention or something. If I’d delivered through the department, I have no idea who would have done it, and I probably would have had little voice in the circumstances of my birthing. Thankfully I did not stay long enough to get acquainted with their delivery system.
Meanwhile, back in Rhode Island. My first visit to the clinic, I was met by the nurse I’d talked to on the phone, who remembered our conversation. (This was Dawn, mentioned above, who was my doula. See, it all comes full circle.) Mary treated me like a friend from the start. They all seemed *happy* that I was there. And I knew I could talk to them—I could be honest about what I was doing and thinking about, and not only would they not judge, they’d probably agree with me. Imagine that!
Did you feel adequately informed of your options?
For the most part, yeah. Honestly, there was so much information out there, I got kind of overwhelmed. How to sort through it all? How to know what’s important to know and what’s not? How to make decisions regarding something you can’t ever truly know about until you’re *in* it? I don’t do well under information overload.
How do you feel about the safety of birth in a hospital vs outside of a hospital?
I don’t think it’s about hospital versus not-hospital, but rather about who’s handling the birth, if you trust them and they know their sh*t.
Is there anything you would change about public policy relating to birth/maternity care? Why/how?
Pretty much everything. Why? Because it’s all wrong. How? I don’t know, a coup? All the crunchy pregnant people of the world could be quite the proverbial force to be reckoned with.
What do you feel were the most influential factors surrounding your birth? Why?
Ina May Gaskin and The Farm. Mary Mumford-Haley and the clinic. The crunchiness and anti-establishment-ness that pervades all aspects of my life. It keeps me critical of the status quo and helps me to find alternative spaces where I belong.
Who owns birth?
I would like to say “the community,” but let’s face it: community is dead in our society. Between the atomization of the nuclear family and the impersonal and diabolical interference of the government on our bodies, we’ve pretty much only got ourselves.
I guess I can still say “the community”—and define “the community” as the person who’s pregnant, and those nearest and dearest, who will be most affected by the birth—be it the other parent, or, as in my case, family and friends. My son only needs one parent—he’s got tons of aunts and uncles, who are not literal aunts and uncles (I’m an only child), but who are his family, his community.
Want to know more about Vanessa?
Check out her blog Unchained Sunday to learn about real food, parenting and a unique perspective on life. You can also read her birth story, which I happened to find quite powerful. Thanks Vanessa!
HOW TO JOIN THE KNOWING BIRTH SERIES
Email me at doulamegan@gmail.com and I’ll send you the questionnaire directly. There are no requirements, only that you have a voice about birth and want to share it openly and honestly.
Today’s post is for the fam. This is the first year we’ve celebrated Easter with Porter. We’re celebrating the gift of Spring, and Porter was psyched (to say the least) when he learned of a bunny that will hide eggs. So yesterday we went to our friends house to color eggs in anticipation for the Easter bunny. That furry friend didn’t let us down. Not only did he hide our beautiful eggs, but he left Porter some homemade marshmallows and graham crackers. He also got Thomas the train bubbles and a kite. We celebrated with some more friends this morning and with the warm sun shining. I hope your day is beautiful, warm and hopeful for the days that are ahead. Happy Easter!
This was Porter’s favorite egg. He carried it around all morning long and loved it to pieces.
This is a particularly lovely photo of my mom.Getting tangled up in the Banyon tree in Lahaina.
We were pretty certain that after we had a kid our travelling would dwindle to the occasional trip to visit family. Thankfully, that’s not happened and we’ve gotten to experience truly wonderful sights and cultures with our child in tow.
P has been charming flight attendants since he was 2 months old, he’s now 2 years old. He’s been to Hawaii 4 times, Maine, Spain, and California many times to visit our family there. We’ve flown non-stop and we’ve had to make connections. Big airports, small airports, customs, baggage, international, trams…we’ve done them all. Our upcoming trips include Boston, Alaska, and California a couple more times for good measure.
Be kind with flight attendants and they’ll be kind with you.
P’s always been an easy travelling companion and, with the exception of that one time he had a head cold, he’s never been THAT kid. Here’s my biggest thought on whether a baby/child will be a good traveller. If they eat out at restaurants well, I think it’s a good indication that your child can handle being cooped up in a flying can, with a bunch of strangers, for many hours on end.
Will it be easy? No, not like when you didn’t have kids. And certainly not like when they’re older and can plug into movies or books for hours on end, but it’s very possible and definitely worth it.
Through our travels there are a few things we’ve learned that I think you might also find helpful, or at least worth considering:
Travel Business/First class if you can afford it
If you can bring the grandparents, DO IT!
Give yourself at least 30 minutes longer than you used to (pre-baby) at the airport
Get a chiropractic adjustment for yourself and baby a couple of days before you go
Be patient with yourself, others and especially your baby
Avoid the red-eye if you can
Make lists and check them
As a side note, if you’re pregnant and planning to fly you should read what WebMD has to say about the subject, talk with your care provider, and then make an educated decision. Here’s the link to the TSA website for travelling with children, where they lay out what your child can expect when trying to get through security.
The more the merrier!
It can be stressful at times, but after you’ve arrived at your destination it will all have been worth it. Just think how good you’ll feel having accomplished such a task as flying with a baby and all the memories you’re about to make on your trip. I’ll break the rest down by age, since that does indeed make a difference.
Infant – 6 Months
Assuming you had a normal pregnancy and vaginal birth doctors seem to agree that it’s safe for mother and child to fly as soon as 2 weeks after birth (source 1, 2). Why anyone would voluntarily do this at 2 weeks post-partum is beyond me. Barring any big life moves I recommend staying put for a month or two and developing some semblance of sanity routine before venturing into the world of TSA, cabin pressure and time zone changes.
What To Bring
Your baby’s passport (required for international travel) or a COPY of their birth certificate. Don’t forget this. Ticketing agents don’t always check them, but when they do you’ll be glad to have it.
A change of clothes for baby and mom. Let me stress that MOM does indeed want a change of clothes. I’ve experienced the worst possible blowout, EVER, on an airplane and paid for it for the rest of the flight. Not pretty folks, not pretty at all.
If your breastfeeding you can bring one of those cover/sheet do-dads, but it gets really hot on an airplane. Like Bikram yoga hot. I found that wearing a very large, comfortable, maternity shirt that I could stretch over the baby worked much better. Then you don’t have to fumble around with a giant piece of fabric while confined to a tiny seat either. After a year, I just started whipping out the boob, stare if you want, I don’t give a darn.
If you’re bottle feeding, bring formula. TSA will let you bring liquids through too, but they will test for the gun powder and flammable liquids that you’re really trying to smuggle in and then they’ll pull you aside for a little one-on-one time. Just you, a TSA agent of the corresponding gender, and some sanitary gloves. Mmm-hmmm.
A pillow. For the first bunch of flights I brought my Boppie. It was cumbersome, but it made feeding and holding a sleeping baby for hours manageable. It’s worth it to bring some sort of cushion.
For a wee babe you can carry them in your arms or bring your baby carrier/sling to spare your back and free up a hand for dragging luggage/diaper bag. You should know that even though it seems like a dandy idea to have your baby strapped to you during flight, you will be required to TAKE BABY OUT of said carrier during take off and landing. If you’re flying in Europe with a lap infant they have a special baby seat belt, that connects to your belt, which is required to be around your baby.
If your baby is sitting up, or able to ride in an umbrella stroller, bring one of those. It’s great for loading up with a baby, or other baby items, that you’re going to trudge around with you for the duration of your trip. It will have to go through security, will be checked at the gate, and (unless the airport staff hates you and sends it to baggage claim) it will be brought to the door of the plane when you exit. Do everyone a favor and leave your jumbo multi-child stroller at home, or at least check it with your baggage.
Technically, kids under the age of 2 fly free if they sit on your lap. That’s how we’ve always done it. Airlines do this so families won’t stop flying because paying for a baby ticket is outlandishly expensive. If you’re a safety first type then you can bring your car seat on the plane, but you will have to purchase a full price ticket for your baby.
Bonus while travelling with a child under two is that you will often get to skip to the front of the security line, you don’t have to go through those obnoxious full body scans, and people are generally helpful and friendly.
You can bring your car seat with you wherever you travel and check it for free with your luggage (unless you get a mean ticketing agent who hates you).
And in case you’re getting overwhelmed, don’t forget to bring more diapers than you think you’ll need, the appropriate amount of wipes, and your little changing mat. They don’t typically sell these at airports.
I don’t know what it is about flying, but the air pressure seems to squeeze every last bit of bodily function out of your tiny baby while inflight and you’ll have to master the art of changing diapers in a lavatory. It’s very possible that this will be the most traumatic event of your baby’s life and he will scream bloody murder the entire time you’re in the lavatory. Or not. Either way, deep calming breathes become enormously helpful during these times.
Honestly, if it’s just a wet diaper I’ll change it right at our seat. Shhh, don’t tell. It is required that the dirty diapers be thrown away in the lavatory or off the plane. A flight attendant will refuse it in their regular trash pickups.
On The Plane
Business class is good, grandparents are better.
If it’s your first time flying you may have an overwhelming sense of guilt for what you may be exposing your inflight neighbors to. And yes, it may be loud and involve screams and glares and all sorts of bad stuff. But more often than not, your baby will be fine either eating (during take off and landing to keep their little ears clear) or sleeping. People are generally kind, and if they’re not than I say %$&! ’em.
When your baby is very little they don’t need toys or books, just loving arms and some food. I think travelling with really young babies is actually much easier than older ones, albeit a little boring.
If you’re travelling alone, make sure to get anything out you might need and stick it in the seat pocket, so you won’t be fumbling around too much. Hopefully you’re travelling with your partner, in which case you’re $$$ honey. Two sets of arms, someone to buffer you from the rest of the plane, and a person to feed and water YOU is always nice to have.
6 Months – 18 Months
When your child is older they will obviously be more active and interested in the world around them. This becomes extra fun when you’re flying coach and the person in front of you has big hair that a baby would love to tug on. It also means that when they coo and gaze at strangers they’re often going to get a smile in return, which is nice for everyone.
The previous list holds true here, and if your baby is into toys/books you should bring a couple. Bring a bottle for your baby to sip on (if they’re not still nursing) for take off and landing. If your baby is eating solids, bring them. Again, liquids are okay, but they will be scanned by TSA at security and there’s a good chance you’ll get a rub pat down too. But mostly, just be ready to be the most interactive parent you’ve ever been in your life. Now, dance monkey!
18 Months – 23 Months
In doing some research I found out that if your baby celebrates their second birthday while in the air, you will indeed have to buy them a ticket. So don’t travel on your baby’s birthday at midnight.
When P was about 18 months he got too big to have a pillow and sit on my lap. I still wore the same huge maternity shirt in case he wanted to nurse (he often didn’t), we brought along a couple of toys/books, and I even loaded movies and apps onto the iPad for the brief time that they would hold his attention.
Honestly, this is the most uncomfortable time to travel with a child. They’re getting bigger, they need to move more and are ready to throw down a tantrum at a moments notice. This is when Business/First class is super nice if you can afford it. More dancing, more monkey, go!
2+ Years
On our most recent trip Porter got his own seats. It was great. Despite his obsession for putting the tray table up and down, we both had space. His interest in airplanes and airports was very inspiring. I brought a pillow (tied up with a shoe lace) in hopes that he would nap, but he didn’t, shoot.
I didn’t bring the umbrella stroller (we checked it with luggage) and instead opted for a Trunki. A lovely carry-on which contained his toys/books/diapers, which is conveniently capable of pulling your child on. You should seriously check it out. Porter rode through the airport some of the way, pulled it some of the way, and when he was over it I just slung it over my shoulder.
Before getting on the plane, talk with your child about what to expect. Get a book (like one of these) that explains the airport/flying process, and certainly remind them that they’ll have to wear a seat belt. Show them the signs on the plane and the different parts. Don’t be afraid to enlist a friendly flight attendant to talk with your child. Sometimes a perfect stranger has a positive effect on your child’s desire to stay seated.
During take off and landing P and I practiced opening our mouths very big. We then licked pretend ice cream cones and swallowed the pretend ice cream. Imagination, works like a charm!
At this point you’ve made it! Now your child is really expensive and considered a full human being – at least to the airlines. Gone are the days of cutting in front of the security lines. On the upside, we’ve mastered art of standing up while changing a diaper in the lavatory. If you have the distinct pleasure of potty training while travelling, more power to you! The success you’ll feel after your baby uses the onboard lavatory for the first time is oddly empowering and definitely a momentous occasion worthy of turbulence and exaltation. Now, go enjoy your trip!
Anything I left out? Add your ideas in the comments.
