The Head Snuggler Puts and End to Drooping Heads : A Review & Giveaway

Ah, yet another product that I wish I had invented. An idea so simple, so needed and only now is it being addressed.

If you have a little one in a car seat you know what I mean. On any given car ride little ones tend to fall asleep. And very soon their little heads are so far forward they are practically touching their bellies. If your child is older, like Brenna, they may go sideways. Either way it looks uncomfortable.

I spent years trying to address this problem; Doug or I would lean into the back seat and straighten the girls' heads only to have them nod back down within minutes. I couldn't think of anything to solve the problem short of tying their heads down- and I'm pretty sure that wouldn't have been comfortable.


When I first saw the Head Snuggler I wasn't sure it would work. It's a really simple idea. I figured Caelan's little head would just nod right out of it. I should learn to not make judgements until I try something. Because it worked wonderfully.

It fit easily on the car seat (it also fits on strollers) and didn't bother Caelan at all when I put it on after she fell asleep. I even pulled it down to shield her eyes from the sun. Brenna, who rarely naps, has requested one for her booster- just to cover her eyes.

If your child naps in the car and gets "droopy" I highly recommend the Head Snuggler. It works.

You can buy the Head Snuggler online for $20.99 + s/h.

For Have Kid Will Travel readers: To receive a 15% discount simply complete your purchase at www.melrosekids.com and then email info@melrosekids.com and mention this blog post along with your name and you will receive a credit.

Melrose Kids has offered a head snuggler for one of my readers in the green with polka dots design.

To enter just leave a comment.

Want more entries?

• For one extra entry subscribe to Have Kid Will Travel. You can do this near the top right of the page. Leave a comment letting me know you did this.
  
• Add my button to your website for another entry. Leave a comment with your site so I can verify. (This can only be done once per site. Duplicate comments will be deleted.)
• Blog this giveaway. Leave the link in the comments so I can verify.
• Tweet this giveaway. Tweet as often as you like, just be sure to leave a comment each time with your twitter id or the individual link. (Copy & paste: RT @iatraveler: Does your kid's head droop when sleeping in the car seat? Check out the head snuggler! Plus a giveaway! http://bit.ly/9UZ20 )
  
• Link this giveaway on Facebook. Leave the individual link in the comments.
• Add my blog to your Technorati favorites
  

The fine print:
Make sure I can easily find an email to contact you; I will not search for one. Contest ends July 14 at 11:59pm. I will draw the winner July 15. The winner will be contacted via email and will have 3 days to respond. If I do not hear back from the winner within that time another winner will be drawn.

Read more...

No Throw Keeps Things in Reach

I'll be honest, when I was first approached about trying No Throw I initially thought, "My girls are too old for that" and almost sent an email to decline their offer. After all my girls rarely use a stroller and if they throw something I make them retrieve it.

Then I remembered how often I have to turn when we are in the car to fetch a sippy cup or no-spill bottle of juice. Or how many times I have tried to maneuver myself into an impossible position to rescue a drink from under an airplane seat. I accepted the offer to try this product.

I was quite impressed with the item I received. It was very easy to use, made of quality materials and attractive in purple with butterflies. It's also "slippery" material which Caelan loved. She spent quite a bit of time just feeling it. It worked just as advertised; with the juice tethered to the car seat Caelan could easily pull it back. In fact, she would knock it off just so she could "go fishing". The only down side: she is also able to undo the velcro that holds the cup secure. Fortunately she is also able to tighten it again, which made for a fun game.

Because of how it is created No Throw can be used for more than just cups. Loop it around a favorite lovey or toy to keep it from falling from the stroller. Yet another "why couldn't I have thought of this" product.

More About No Throw

No Throw was created by twin sisters with young sons who loved to throw their cups. You can now find No Throw in Walgreens locations throughout the US as well as in baby boutiques and select grocery stores. It is available in a wide variety of colors and patterns (including trucks, princesses, zoo animals, numbers and letters) and retails for only $5.

This is a great item not only for travel but for every day with a little one!

Want to win a No Throw?

To enter leave a comment telling me how often you have to fetch cups for your kids!

Want more entries?

• For one extra entry subscribe to Have Kid Will Travel. You can do this near the top right of the page. Leave a comment letting me know you did this.
  
• Add my button to your website for another entry. Leave a comment with your site so I can verify. (This can only be done once per site. Duplicate comments will be deleted.)
• Blog this giveaway. Leave the link in the comments so I can verify.
• Tweet this giveaway. Tweet as often as you like, just be sure to leave a comment each time with your twitter id or the individual link. (Copy & paste: RT @iatraveler: Does your little one drop bottles or cups? No Throw review at Have Kid Will Travel + giving one away! http://bit.ly/1avDD6 )
  
• Link this giveaway on Facebook. Leave the individual link in the comments.
• Add my blog to your Technorati favorites
  

The fine print:
Make sure I can easily find an email to contact you; I will not search for one. Contest ends July 8 at 11:59pm. I will draw the winner July 9. The winner will be contacted via email and will have 3 days to respond. If I do not hear back from the winner within that time another winner will be drawn.

Read more...

Fun Free iPod Touch/iPhone App

I got an iPod Touch a couple of months ago. I love it! Funnily enough I have no music on it. I also don't have any videos or movies. What I do have are some great apps- most of them free!

One of my favorites, which is great for travel (and education) is the USA Factbook Free app by ADS Software Group. You'll find it in the education category.

It includes

• Documents: Declaration of Independence, Articles of Confederation & the US Constitution
• State information: flag, seal, capital, area, etc.
  
• Maps: regions & roadways, highways, ancestry, territories & more
• Anthem (with lyrics and sound) and flag information
• Major cities
• Presidents: including previous occupations, military service and education
• Quiz: capitals & locations

It's definitely a fun and educational app. Great for keeping older kids occupied while you drive or fly- and educated on your destination!

Read more...

Why You Should Take a Carry On When You Fly

My mom came out to visit us this past weekend. She had no problems on her way out and, no, her bags weren't lost.

On her way home to Iowa, however, she was bumped. Her flight from Chicago to Des Moines was overbooked. And so was the later one. She wasn't able to get on a flight until the following morning. The airline gave her a check for her inconvenience and paid for her hotel and food for an evening. Which was all well and good. But they didn't pull her bag from the flight. In fact, they didn't even offer to.

So there she was, in Chicago, with nothing but her purse. Even a small carry on would have been better than nothing. Here's my list of carry on necessities (and don't forget the 3-1-1 rule):

For me:

• Cleansing cloths
• Moisturizer, foundation (I use old contact lense cases for this stuff. Each side holds one useage, easily staying under the 3oz rule and saving precious room in my baggie)
• Travel size toothpaste & toothbrush
• My contact solutions, case and glasses
• Chapstick
• Makeup
• Comb and headband
• Change of clothing
  
• Deodorant

For Doug:

• Deodorant
• Toothbrush (I have the toothpaste)
• Change of clothing

For the kids:

• Two changes of clothing - one very comfortable for sleeping in if need be (besides, accidents happen)
• Small toys, games & our activity bags
• Snacks
• Travel size toothpaste & toothbrushes
• Travel size moisturizer (they have sensitive skin)
• Baby wipes (101 uses)
  

Getting bumped rarely happens to families but with airlines cutting flights and selling out all the space on the planes that do take off it's best to be prepared.

The Aviation Consumer Protection Division publishes the Consumer Guide to Air Travel. It's a nice resource if you have any questions. (Just and FYI: you really don't have that many rights.)

If you are traveling sans kids and don't mind getting bumped National Geographic blog has a nice article titled Make the Most of Getting Bumped.

Read more...

Tika Kids Makes a Great Take Anywhere Bag: Review & Giveaway

Sometimes keeping organized can be a lesson in futility. Especially when it comes to drawing and coloring supplies and children. When I was crusing etsy one day I found a great shop called Tika Kids that makes Crayon Bags. These fun and hip little bags have little "pockets" on the outside of the bag- specially designed for a couple of pencils and 8 crayons.

The bags are made of heavy weight cotton and vinyl so they will hold up. The strap is short (17.5") which makes it ideal for tots to tote. And, possibly the most essential fact, they are machine washable!

You can see that it is nicely sized for children (bag measures 11” x 10.5” x 2”) and the vinyl adds a nice bit of shine to the bag (which my daughter noticed right away... "Oooh, Mom,it's shiny!)

We tucked dry erase markers in our bag because inside is a wonderful magnet/activity board. This multi-functional board is edged with fabric (ours is matching vinyl) to cover any sharp edges and can be used as:
**a drawing with dry erase markers - it wipes right off! (SRX makes a great mini dry erase marker and they look much more attractive than the tall markers I had on hand this morning!)
**a surface to draw on paper
**a travel board for Magnetix®
**a magnetic puzzles and games board
** Tika Kids also sells magnetic puzzles and dry erase marker/eraser combos

Don't feel left out if you have boys, either! There are lots of bags featuring dinosaurs, frogs, golf and nautical designs.

The slogan at Tika Kids is "creative items to keep your children quiet as mice". Not only will this be a great item for any travel we do but we will also take it along to restaurants and doctor appointments and use it during "quiet time" when my daughter doesn't want to nap but I must have a bit of time to myself. Oh, yes, these little items will be getting a lot of use!

(edited to add: this was so popular we bought another set for my youngest daughter. We absolutely love these bags and get so many comments/compliments on them wherever we go!)

Pricing: bags are $15, magnetic boards are $10, puzzles and other items begin at $4.50.

This contest is closed

Want to win one?
Tika Kids is offering $25 to one lucky reader to spend on her etsy shop. That's enough to buy a bag & board! Plus she has some stuff on clearance! To qualify visit Tika Kids and leave a comment telling me what you would spend the $25 on.

For an extra entry subscribe to Have Kid Will Travel via email (you can do this near the top of the page in the right column). Leave another comment telling me you did so.

For a third entry either blog or twitter this contest. Leave another comment with the blog link or your twitter id so I can confirm this entry.

US entries only, please.

Only three entries per person, please. Make sure I can easily find an email to contact you; I will not search for one. Contest ends January 30 at 11:59 pm. I will draw the winner Saturday, January 31. The winner will be contacted via email and will have 3 days to respond. If I do not hear back from the winner within that time another winner will be drawn.

** Note: The TSA agent at my airport said they wouldn't let the board on a flight. But when I asked Tika Kids I was told that her niece had flown with one... I suppose it depends on your agents. Take it on a flight at your own risk.

This giveaway is part of the Bloggy Giveaways Carnival. For more great giveaways click the button below.

Read more...

United's Customer Service - First Class All the Way

The last flight I took was with my 4 year old daughter. Just her and I, flying home to test some products we had received. It was a great adventure for her to be traveling alone with me and it gave us some one-on-one time.

Because it can be very expensive to fly into our home airport from, well, practically anywhere, we had two parts to our journey. The first part was from Minneapolis to Chicago and the second from Chicago to Des Moines.

We flew United Airlines as they had the best rate. I have a Mileage Plus card, though I haven't flown with them in a few years. Checking in was a breeze with the Easy Check In kiosk. I swiped a credit card and was shown my itinerary and my seats. I was also shown upgrades that were available and the additional cost for those upgrades. They were a reasonable price but I passed because my flights were really just short hops. The staff at the counter were a great help when my very curious daughter decided to touch the screen and try to check luggage we didn't have.

As we were waiting I noticed that we were traveling to Chicago with a rather large group- the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra to be exact- and that my daughter was the only child that would be on the flight. As the orchestra members began requesting early boarding so they could stow their instruments one of the associates at the counter approached us. Because I had the only child on the flight she had noticed that our seats put us directly in the middle of the orchestra seating and asked is she could move us forward. I said, "sure," and handed her our tickets.

When she brought our tickets back she told me to be sure to preboard so I could have my daughter settled before all the instruments came on the plane. As we were boarding she came back to me and told me that she was moving us up to first class since seats were available and that would open up a bit more room in the back of the plane for the orchestra.

Alrighty then...

Let me tell you, those seats are so big and spacious. We were in the first row and the flight attendant was so attentive to my daughter (who was strangely fascinated with the warm cloth presented to wipe her hands). We also had two pilots directly behind us who were very nice and answered a lot of questions for a little girls who wants to know everything about everything. They all chatted with her and answered questions long after I would have told her to shush. She even came home with souvenir cards showing the airplanes the pilots behind us flew.

That flight was over much too soon and our second leg wasn't nearly so memorable. And I think that little taste of first class may nave spoiled me a bit. You can bet I'll be saving for those nice seats for our next overseas adventure. I bet I could actually rest on the plane!

Thanks, United, for the best domestic flight I've had in a long time (and it wasn't just the upgrade!).

Read more...

Luggage Tags as Unique as You Are

I know that your suitcase probably came with a generic luggage tag. And it looks just like every other luggage tagged suitcase out there... You've probably read all those tips about making your luggage different - colored tape, ribbons, etc. Why not customize a luggage tag?

While cruising thru etsy I found SparkleFactor and loved their customized luggage tags. So I contacted them, explained what I was looking for and what information I would like and here is what I got:

I absolutely adore the little girl with her luggage! And the monogrammed "H" is nice for me- why should my kids get all the cute stuff?

Luggage tags are completely customizable. Choose the background, a graphic (83 available but be sure to ask if you don't see what you want- they may have it!), choose what you want printed (both sides or just one) and choose your hook (climbers hook, plastic loop or ribbon for a bow). Four tags are $3- and they can all be different designs and hooks. That's less than $1 per tag- you can't make them yourself for that price! All designs are emailed to you for final approval before printing and mailing.

The lamination is nice and heavy so these tags will last through your travels- whether they take you to grandma's house or the Grand Canyon. These would also make a great gift tag that could be reused! No waste!

Sparkle Factor also has note cards, hair bows and fancy hair clips. The ladies are wonderful to work with and my daughter loves her special tags. One for the backpack, one for the suitcase, one for the diaper bag and one for mommy!

Read more...

CARES Child Aviation Restraint System

If you fly with a child who is out of a car seat but not quite big enough to be safe with only the lap belt you will love the CARES Child Aviation Restraint. The CARES changes the lap belt into a five-point safety harness and makes flying much safer for children.

Here’s what makes CARES such an invaluable travel solution:

• CARES is the first and only harness type Aviation Child Safety
  Device to be certified by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) as
  an alternative to a car seat.
• CARES is an elegantly designed belt-and-buckle device that works in
  conjunction with the regular airplane seat belt and provides young
  travelers the same level of safety as a car seat.
• CARES weighs just one pound and fits into a 6" stuff sack! It is
  easily portable, simple to install, adjustable to every size airplane
  seat, and usable on any seat in the airplane, except in the emergency
  exit rows.

It was incredibly easy for me to use and kept Brenna from hopping around in her seat, which is a problem we often have when flying. The CARES Child Aviation Restraint System is available from Family Travel Gear and costs $62. The peace of mind is worth every penny!

Family Travel Gear is one of my recommendations when it comes to buying travel supplies. Their customer service is exceptional, their shipping is fast and if you have any questions that are happy to provide answers. I highly recommend them for all of your travel necessities.

Read more...

Trunki Ride On Suitcase

With a small child airports can be difficult to navigate. Everything around you stimulates them and stopping "to look" almost requires an extra hour of travel time. So when my daughters both showed great interest in the Trunki I received from Family Travel Gear I had a feeling our transit time across airports had gained momentum.

I'm sure "Trixie" (she's the girl Trunki, the boy is Terrance) wasn't meant to be a ride-on toy but my girls can't stay away from her! They play "travel" at home and she has added to the great fun! With her bright pink color and "horn" handles she's much more fun than a regular suitcase. She's sturdy, has side latches that are secure and a handle that allows you to pull her behind you or tote her over your shoulder. She's easy to pack and has two very tiny "hidden" spots for treats or treasure.

Trixie fit in the both the overhead luggage compartments and under the economy seats on our flights. She's not really handy to get into during a flight, but it can be done. But where Trunki shines is through the airport (or hotel hallways). Both my girls loved riding her. And we got lots of smiles and comments as we rolled along. The girls both enjoyed riding so much that they didn't have to stop and look at every little thing. It's also very easy to pull, even for kids. One tip- shorten the strap, it makes Trunki easier to maneuver and keeps you from getting in the way of other travelers. It definitely made our travels easier and more fun!

Trunki's Specs:

Holds up to 5 gallons of travel essentials

Weight is only 3.55 lbs.

Shipping Box Dimensions: 18.25"L X 8.25"W x 12.75"H

Carry's up to 110lbs.

Constructed of 100% polypropelene

Suitable for children from the ages of 3 to 6 years old (Our youngest is almost 2 1/2 and she loves it, too!)

Four-wheeled

Built in stabilizers and secure catches

As I mentioned, Trixie has a "brother", Terrence. He's just the same but blue with green trim. There is also a new addition to the Trunki family, the Deluxe.
This newly updated version of the Trunki suitcase includes several NEW features:

NEW Carry handle Quick to grab for a departure gate dash

NEW Locking catches Stop toys falling into the wrong hands

NEW Teddybear seatbelts Strap in the toys and stop them tumbling out when Trunki is open

NEW Internal pouch For keeping little things tucked away and easy to find

NEW Key Fixed to strap so it never gets lost.

NEW Trunki passport Your new Trunki suitcase will come with its very own passport, which can be filled
with exciting downloads, keeping tots entertained when Trunki has been
stowed away.

Photo courtesy of Family Travel Gear

We will be investing in a "sibling" for Trixie before our next travel adventure. This is definitely a dream come true if you travel with kids! The original Trunki sells for $34.95 and Trunki Deluxe for $44.95.

Family Travel Gear is one of my recommendations when it comes to buying travel supplies. Their customer service is exceptional, their shipping is fast and if you have any questions that are happy to provide answers. I highly recommend them for all of your travel necessities.

Read more...

TRAYblecloth for a Clean, Organized Flight

I had seen the TRAYblecloth on a few websites and thought (as I often do) "Why couldn't I think of that?" because it is truly a brilliant idea if you are flying. So when Cindy from Love to Travel Products, the makers of the TRAYblecloth, asked if I would like to review one I jumped at the chance.

Believe me when I tell you that they didn't miss a trick when they put this together. The fabric is fun and bright, there are three pockets that are easy to access whether the tray is up or down and another large mesh pocket on the underside of the tray. The top of the tray is covered in a clear vinyl pocket perfect for drawing or writing (and then wiping clean) and provides access for games and activity sheets. The TRAYblecloth even comes with 4 mini dry erase markers. The only thing it doesn't include is an eraser- but a tissue or napkin works well for wiping off the markers. Love to Travel Products even has a page of printable games to use with the TRAYblecloth.

The TRAYblecloth can be slipped onto your tray table at the beginning of the flight and can remain on until you land. The stretchy mesh backing makes it easy to use on almost any size tray table (except first class). And it is easy to fold and place in the reuseable bag it comes in when your flight is over.. It takes only a small amount of space in your carry on and weighs practically nothing.

Brenna loved this. The different activities I downloaded kept her occupied, the pockets kept the markers from escaping and kept a snack close at hand. I didn't have to worry about her setting food on the tray table because it was covered. It honestly made our flight more enjoyable.

The Kid's TRAYblecloth is available in a variety of fun designs and retails for $24.99. It's worth every penny. We'll be investing in another before our next family flight so my girls can each have one.

If you're like me you're thinking that kids get all the fun stuff... But TRAYblecloth was originally made for adults. The Original TRAYblecloth retails for $19.99 and the Executive TRAYblecloth for $22.99. I'll be picking up a couple of these, as well. Imagine not having to stuff everything into the pocket on the airplane seat! No more forgotten books! I'm practically giddy!

For more information see the YouTube video.

Read more...

Games on the Go

In Parent's Magazine's October 2008 issue is an article titled 29 Kid's Games to Play On the Go. A few of these ideas are really great for travel, too... And won't annoy your fellow travelers, which is always a plus...

For Babies:

Who's This? Laminate photos of grandparents, aunts, uncles,
cousins, and their pets too. Put them on a key ring. Say the name of
each person as your baby looks at the picture. When that gets boring,
point to the cat and ask, "Is that Grandma?" Then try to get your baby
to shake her head "no." We have a little photo album with "extra" family photos in it. My two-year-old still loves looking at it. And my 4-year-old loves to "remember" when the pictures were taken.

Paperwork: Crumple a piece of plain white paper and give it to your baby. Let her
crumple it more. This is apparently really, really fun. When she gets
it too soggy (because it will go in her mouth), replace it with a new
sheet of paper.

For Toddlers:

Look Closely Pack a child's magnifying glass. If you're at a
place where she can walk around, let her check out her surroundings. If
not, dig things out of your purse for closer examination.

Mirror Game Let your child draw on a nonbreakable mirror with a
dry-erase marker (don't forget to toss one into your bag) as he looks
at his reflection. Whether he gives himself a mustache, glasses, or
freckles, he's bound to give himself a giggle. The only problem with toddlers and dry erase markers is that they like to draw on themselves, too! Keep a stain stick in your purse, too!

Tell Secrets
Whispering has a great effect in a loud, crowded place. Simply whisper
a message in your kid's ear. The background noise will require him to
focus intently on your message, and he will undoubtedly want to whisper
a message in your ear next. Concentrating on hearing and delivering the
whispered messages is calming for your child -- and for you too.

Talk to the Hand Use a plain brown paper bag as a puppet, and
talk to your toddler with it. Give your toddler a bag too, and your
hand will have someone who speaks the same language. We use socks. My girls love "sock hand puppets" and will even do this at home.

For Preschoolers:

Art Appreciation: Look around you. Is there a painting on a wall? Ask your kid
questions about the painting and, together, create a story. Who lives
in the house? Why does the man look so happy? If we are traveling we always have paper and crayons or markers. Have your child draw the picture as she sees it and then talk about both pictures together.

Tricks of the Eye Floating Hot Dog: Point the tips of your index fingers together
until they almost meet. Bring them closer to your eyes until it appears
that a hot dog is suspended in the air between them. Hole in the Hand:
Roll up a piece of paper and look through it with one eye. With both
eyes, focus on a distant object. Now hold your other hand right next to
the rolled-up paper. You'll see a hole in your hand.

How Big? Whip out a plastic retractable tape measure and your young surveyor can
get the measure of the land ... and the leg ... and the arm. When that
gets dull, challenge your kid to a "guess how many inches" contest with
your child's head. All kids love to have their head measured. I like a sewing tape measure... It's more flexible, doesn't have sharp edges and can be used as other things, too. Like a leash or a jump rope. And you'd be amazed at how often a kid can roll it up and then watch it unroll across the floor...

Budding Photographer? My daughters love my digital camera- or even the camera on my phone. And seeing things from their point of view makes you realize how much you miss. We love our VTECH Kidizoom camera. Or give them an old cell phone with photo capabilities. Let them take pictures and then talk about what they've seen.

Handy Things to Have On Hand

• Emergency lollipop. Even if your kids don't normally get to indulge.
  
• Favorite book. The one they always beg for. The one you're sort of sick of reading.
  
• Travel-size Magna Doodle. Or Etch A Sketch. The Aqua Doodle Travel N Doodle is wonderful, too.
  
• Notepad and crayons. Can't do without 'em.
  
• Audio story. Whether it's delivered by a CD or an MP3, a story is a lifesaver for a very long wait.
  
• Deck of cards. Have your kid make up a card trick or two. Flash cards are a favorite of ours, as well.
  
• Sticky notes. Doodle on them, make a flip book, or arrange them on a table in a cool design.

Portions of this article originally published in the October 2008 issue of Parents magazine.

Read more...

VTECH Write and Learn Letter Book

In my house we love educational toys. They make learning fun! So when Caelan's birthday was coming up and I was being asked for gift recommendations one of the items I chose was the VTECH Write and Learn Letter Book.

Unlike other learning books this one requires no cartridges or add-ons; it's all in one so there is nothing to misplace. The pages are a flexible plastic that won't damage easily and will wipe clean after grimy fingers are finished playing.

This interactive story book has 20 pages that teach letters,
numbers, vocabulary and writing skills; you change the setting with the colorful sliding knob on the right. There are 17 activities to teach over 60 words, numbers 1-12, phonics skills, colors and all the
letters of the alphabet. Each page features two letters and teaches handwriting with finger touch so there are no pointed objects. The letter buttons light up to help the learning process.

Learning activities include matching letters to words, letter writing, "find it" game, letter order, spelling, counting and a music page that records the notes your child presses and lets them play it back. There is also an animals page.

This toy turns on automatically when it is opened or a page is turned and turns off when shut or after a period of time.

The age recommendation is 3 and up, but Caelan just turned 2 and she loves it:

She is learning letters and numbers in pre-school and this helps her to continue learning at home- when she thinks she's playing.

It has a handle for easy transport

and is great for car trips. There is a volume button on it, but low is still pretty loud so if you take this on a flight I would cover the speaker with a bit of masking tape to muffle the sound.

Brenna, who is 4, also enjoys this as she is learning letter sounds and is spelling short words. This is definitely a toy that can help your child learn through pre-school and into kindergarten.

Because it's made by VTECH it's built to withstand your toddler and I can tell you from experience that their customer service is top notch.

If you have a budding photographer in the house be sure to check out their Kidizoom Camera. We own one and love it.

Read more...

Snack & Play Travel Tray

I was contacted not long ago by Family Travel Gear, a company that specializes in products for people traveling with kids, and asked to review their products and services. Of course I was quite flattered- who doesn't like to try stuff?

I spent quite a lot of time perusing their website, which is very user friendly. You can easily find just what you are searching for with their categories by person, trip or item. As I looked through their travel items I was impressed by not only the large selection but also the fact that they have everything from games and books to GPS systems.

I chose to try their Snack & Play Travel Tray as we were preparing for a rather long car trip. I was immediately attracted to this tray over similar items because it has a foam base which is sturdy enough for drawing or eating but will not injure the child in case of an accident.

The tray itself can attach around a car seat, stroller or the child so it does not have to be steadied on the lap (therefore avoiding being dropped numerous times which may be a fun game for your little ones but not so much for you). There are big mesh pockets on both sides to hold crayons and small coloring books, toys or drinks. It also has foam sides to keep everything on the tray, which is great for on-the-go snacking. And since the tray is nylon it is easy to clean.

Here is the overview (from the Family Travel Gear website):

Strap buckles around car seat, stroller, or child

Foam insert collapses on impact

Padded rim keeps toys and snack on the travel tray

Two mesh side pockets

Sturdy nylon fabric

Dimensions: Tray area 10" x 15"; Side walls 2" deep.

Brenna, age 3 1/2 really enjoyed the tray for drawing and other activities.

Caelan, our 1 1/2 year old, liked it best to keep her snacks from escaping.

Although they don't mention using this tray for air travel I am going to. If you use a car seat on an airplane (which I recommend if your child is under 2 and you are taking a long flight) this will come in very handy as the seat back trays will not fold flat over your child's lap if they are in a carseat. This makes it very difficult when it is time to eat. I really wish we had this product when we flew to Ireland. (It would have also been really handy during all the driving we did over there.)

Family Travel Gear gets great marks from me for customer service. Every bit of my transaction with them was verified via email (you can also track your order via "My Account" on their website) and shipping was super fast. They have a 30 day 100% satisfaction guarantee policy and a member discount (for customers who create an account) of 5%.

I highly recommend them for your family's travel supplies.

Read more...

Be Reunited With Your Lost Luggage

I just found BagsReunited.com the other day. It's a great free resource in case your bags don't make it to your destination when you do.

All you do is sign up and you are given a tag number. You can print as many tags as you wish (there are 5 to each printed page) and you just attach them to your bags when you fly.

I am going to laminate mine so they hold up. Or you could put them into a luggage tag.

If your bag is lost you report it lost using a very easy online form. And when it is found the online finder's form is just as easy. When your bag is found you receive an alert via email or, for $4.99 per year, an alert on your cellphone via text.

I really like this because, while I will put my name and phone number on my luggage tag, I don't like to list my address.

For more information check out their FAQs page. Really a great free service.

There are other handy benefits, too, like an itinerary keeper and a contacts list.

Read more...

Flying? Check Out the TSA Website and Blog

With all the changes taking place with airport screening it is imperative that you know what is allowed before going to the airport. Leaving items at the security checkpoint is, well, rotten.

To help the TSA has a website filled with info like the 3-1-1 liquids rule and a page specifically about traveling with children.

Of course the TSA has issues, mostly concerning consistency, so they have added a blog to address questions and regulations. I've clicked through the blog and have found the answers to the questions very well explained and helpful in addressing issues and rumors.

Truly a great resource for anyone who flies.

Read more...

More Mess Free Fun

In my quest for mess free items for our upcoming flights I found the Water Wow! Doodle Book at my local Target store (online at shop.nickjr.com) by Giddy Up. Brenna is a big Backyardigans fan but I also saw books featuring Diego, Dora and Spongebob.



This product is a mix between an Aquadoodle (water pen) and the Color Wonder products (pictures appear in color). You fill the water brush and use it to find the items listed above the picture:



I like that it has a "seek & find" game to it that Brenna can play by herself by looking at the pictures or I can play with her by reading the questions.

The book itself is about 12" tall, 6" wide and 1/2" thick. Each book has 4 game pages, allowing you to continue playing while pages dry. It has a carrying handle at the top and the water brush clicks into it's holder.

A note about the pen: You squeeze it gently to wet the brush. If it is squeezed hard by your child it can leak. For that reason I say this product is good for ages 3 and up- you can tell them (and sometimes they listen) not to squeeze the pen.

I really like the educational values this product has (seek & find, counting, colors) and that it is reusable. A great travel product!


Brenna loves it!

Read more...

Mess Free Doodling

I've been on the lookout for fun little items to put in the girls' backpacks for our upcoming trip. When I saw the Aqua Doodle Travel N" Doodle I grabbed it for Caelan.



I really like it's size- it measures 11"x8.75" when closed and 11"x17.75" when open. It's light and the handles make this a great item to take along anywhere.



It has two drawing mats which is nice because kids aren't known for patience (at least mine aren't!); one mat can be drawn on while the other dries. The Aquadoodle pen is held securely in the center by a wide elastic and the case is held closed by velcro. The no-mess water pen is ideal for even the youngest artist.



Like all Aquadoodle products, the pen opens "backward", which helps keep my three-year-old from accidentally opening it, and has a great seal- I have yet to experience any leaks with their products.

I recommend this item for any child old enough to hold a pen to paper. It is a water product so you don't have to worry if they suck on the tip (which my daughter does) or write on anything else.

My three-year-old also loves this- especially the "learn to draw" diagrams on the edges. It even makes me feel like an artist.

Read more...

For On The Go Artists

When the grandparents were asking about what they could get the girls for Christmas I told them the Crayola Marker and Activity Tote with Color Wonder markers would be great. I was thinking it would be great for around the house or to take along someplace, I wasn't really thinking about it being so nice to use during the travel.

The tote is wonderful for coloring on the go. The backing is sturdy and provides a great base for laptop coloring.



There are "pockets" to hold the paper in place during coloring or carrying and two "flaps" that form the cover of the tote hold the markers in easy reach when the tote is opened.



Transport is easy with the handle at the top.



The tote comes with a 36 page activity book and 8 markers. (We already had some markers.) The 8 1/2 x 11 Color Wonder books (for purchase separately) will fit into this tote.

I have never had a problem with these markers discoloring clothing or furniture, nor have I noticed a "marker odor". Small children may need help getting the book into the pockets so it won't fall out when carried. In my opinion this is a great product for on-the-go artists.

Crayola recommends this for kids ages 3-9. My personal recommendation is 2-6.

Read more...

Tips to Survie a (Holiday) Flight

Budget Travel had a great article in it's December 07 issue about surviving holiday flights. So many of these are great tips no matter when you go. My additional comments are in italics.

by Erik Torkells | December 2007/January 2008 issue

Path of least resistance After years of learning the hard way that the days on either side of Christmas are like something out of Halloween, I now fly home on December 25. Airports and planes are much less crowded. If you use a travel agent they can help guide you through the quietest travel times any time of the year.

Don't get stuck It's worth paying more to fly nonstop. The combination of crowds and bad weather is a tinderbox: One big storm and the system explodes. In winter, I wouldn't fly through Chicago, Denver, or Minneapolis if the airlines paid me. We fly non-stop whenever possible, which can be difficult out of Des Moines. If you do have a lay-over make sure it's not too short. I know that sounds counter-productive, but it will give the kids time to run off all that energy from sitting still for so long. Check out this post to see if the airport you are visiting has a children's area- many do.

Supply and demand Staying in a hotel over Christmas? Look for properties that tend to draw a business clientele. Occupancy rates drop on and around the holidays, making for deals. This is also a great tip for weekend travel.

In with the in crowd Join all loyalty clubs, even if you don't care about the points/miles. You'll get treated better, particularly if the hotel or car rental agency is overbooked. We belong to every club imaginable. It pays to belong.

A spot of one's own Airport parking lots are more likely to be full around Christmas and New Year's. Look into private parking lots located off airport premises (airportparkingreservations.com). They'll often guarantee a spot, they have free shuttles to and from the terminal, and they're cheaper. This is great if you don't have family that can help. Make sure you ask about security.

Losing the wait This is when airports get more people than they were built to handle. You can--and should--check in online up to 24 hours in advance. Just go to the carrier's website; you'll be walked through checking in and printing your boarding pass. If you're not checking bags, you'll be able to go straight to the gate. But it's a good idea even if you are checking bags, because many airlines have bag drops where, if you've checked in, you can hand over bags without waiting in the main line. Because you really don't want to wait in line if you don't have to...

Ease your burden I ship gifts ahead so that I don't have to check bags. Airlines and airports aren't handling bags as quickly or as reliably as they used to, and I don't like to wait after finally getting off the plane. We always ship items ahead, as I told you in this post. Diapers, wipes, toiletries, snacks... Anything we won't need until we arrive.

Time on your side Go to the airport earlier than normal. Airport security is a nightmare around the holidays because of the sheer number of people and the fact that many of them are infrequent, inexperienced fliers.

No secrets Wrap any gifts after you arrive. The TSA reserves the right to open anything.

Speaking of the TSA... The rules for carrying on liquids and gels are confusing and not uniformly enforced. You can bring as many containers as you want, provided they all hold three ounces or less and fit in a single one-quart Ziploc bag. Containers do not need to have the manufacturer's label. You're supposed to remove the Ziploc from your carry-on when you go through security, but I've never done it and never had a problem. In fact, I always have a four-ounce bottle of moisturizer and have yet to have a problem with that, either. Many people have encountered screeners who won't let their stuff go through. If your liquids and gels are valuable to you, follow the rules to a T. If not, you may find it not worth the trouble. We ran into this when flying in December 06. Security in Des Moines let us through with a ColdPak to keep the baby's bottle chilled. Dallas screeners took it away.

The secure zone If you want to bring water or other drinks, buy them once you've passed through airport security.

And now, boarding People are carrying on a ton of stuff, usually because they're bearing gifts. If you are, too, get on the plane as early as possible. Different airlines board passengers differently; sometimes, the same airline does it in different ways. Stand near the gate; you may even want to ask the agent how the boarding will happen. If the agents are boarding the plane by zone or group, wait until the group before yours is almost done, then enter the line. By the time you reach the front, your group will probably be called. And if not, what's the worst that can happen? They'll make you wait right near the gate. If you are using a car seat (which I suggest for kids under the age of 2) make sure to get on the plane first. Hauling that bulky thing through a full plane to the rear is a big hassle. If you are lucky enough to have two adults in your party get one adult on first with the seat and wait to board with the kids until the last minute.

Nice guys disembark last I wish we lived in a world where you were guaranteed overhead space near your seat. Until we do, I refuse to store my bag behind me, because I'll never get off the plane. Look ahead while you board: If the space above your seat is full, put your stuff as close to it as possible, and don't be afraid to take someone else's space. After all, someone took yours. And you can't see if someone messes with your stuff if it's behind you.

The pickup game The days of circling the arrivals area are thankfully coming to an end. More and more airports have "cell phone lots" where drivers can park for free and then wait for arriving passengers to call. Use them! Many of these lots will also have a phone number posted so you can check arrivals and delayed flight info.


Note: This story was accurate when it was published. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.

Read more...

No Loose Batteries in Checked Luggage as of Jan. 1, 2008

According to an article from the Associate Press, as of January 1, 2008 you cannot pack loose lithiam batteries in checked luggage.

You can check the batteries if they are in an electronic device such as cellphones, cameras and laptops. (Ummm... who checks those items?) If the batteries are not in original cases or a device you can pack it in a plastic bag and stow it in your carry-on bag- there is a limit of two batteries per passenger.

According to the FAA "fire-protection systems in the cargo hold of passenger planes can't put out fires sparked in lithium batteries."

The ban was put in place to affect shipments of non-rechargeable lithium batteries. I am personally a bit confused why shipments of batteries would be loose, but, hey, if it keeps my plane from bursting into flames...

I just added a note to my always prepared travel necessitis list: Small ziptop baggies for loose camera batteries.

Read more...