travel with kids

This Company CARES About Your Toddler’s Safety In-Flight

July 5, 2008 By Stephanie 80 Comments

If you’re flying with a baby under age 2, you usually have two options when it comes to seating:

1. You can purchase a seat for your baby to give your family a little extra space, avoid being squashed next to an unpleasant neighbor, and ensure that your child has the safest possible journey.

2. You can take advantage of the fact that almost all airlines allow little ones under 2 to ride on a parent’s lap for FREE.

We only have flown once since our baby made her grand entrance into the world and we decided on the latter option. Essentially, we hoped and prayed for uncrowded flights and pleasant seatmates – and, fortunately, we made out quite well in both categories.

Our daughter was 6 months old at the time and quite pleasant to travel with – sweet and sleepy and smiley. Now that she’s an active, curious, and somewhat squirmy (but still sweet and smiley) toddler, I think we’d probably look into getting her a seat of her own.

AND we’d use CARES, the only FAA-approved harness type child safety device created for air travel. “Just carry a CARES in your pocket or purse, install it on the airplane seat in one minute, and turn any airplane seat into a safe airplane seat for your child!” I think the CARES device is genius because not only is it important for safety reasons, it is also a nice way to “contain” your toddler. What I mean by that is that if my daughter is strapped in, I’m sure she’d be more likely to view the flight as similar to a car ride rather than a free-for-all opportunity to explore the cabin. The best thing about this device is that it is A LOT easier to carry on to the plane than a bulky booster seat (I really don’t know how people manage to carry that AND their toddler).

CARES devices can be purchased online or at a limited number of brick-and-mortar stores for approximately $75.

YOUR TURN: When you fly with your under 2 baby, do you choose option 1 or 2 (see above)? What do you like most about the CARES device and would you consider using it? Why or why not?

WIN IT! One winner will receive a CARES safety device. To enter, leave a comment on this post prior to Sunday, July 13 at midnight (don’t forget to follow the rules). * Winner must provide a U.S. mailing address.

*UPDATE* The winner is #22 Noreen. Congratulations!

The Radisson: Family-Friendly Suites at Affordable Prices

July 5, 2008 By Stephanie 6 Comments

When we go to book a hotel for a family vacation, we always look for three things:

A suite-style room
Complimentary breakfast at the hotel
Proximity to attractions in the area that we want to visit (amusement parks, museums, beaches, restaurants, etc.)

We recently chose the Radisson Suites Hotel Buena Park when we went to southern California because it offered all three of those amenities (plus more!).

The 500-square-foot suite included a living room/kitchen area with a pull-out sofa, dining room table, microwave, and sink. In the back, there was a spacious room with two double beds, another television, and an adjoining bathroom with a sliding door. Suite style rooms are ideal for us because we can put our daughter to bed in the room and then come out and watch a movie, talk, eat dessert, etc. In a “normal” room, we would have to either keep our daughter up late and all go to bed at the same time or we would have to put her to bed and then talk really quietly with all of the lights off. Not very intimate or relaxing, to say the least. Needless to say, we do our very best to avoid “normal” hotels…even if suite-style hotels cost a tad bit more.

Radisson Suites Buena Park also offers a complete complimentary hot breakfast with eggs, sausage and bacon, and potatoes. Fresh fruits, bagels,pastries, coffee, and juices were also available. The food wasn’t gourmet, but it WAS free, convenient, and satisfactory. My husband and I appreciate hotels that offer complimentary breakfasts not only because they are a great money-saver, but also because it’s so nice to just be able to walk downstairs. We could even leave our daughter in her PJ’s!

Finally, the Radisson Suites Buena Park has a large pool, a jacuzzi, an on-site restaurant, and a shuttle service to-and-from Disneyland, Knott’s Berry Farm, and nearby malls. The hotel also offers complimentary wireless internet (shouldn’t every hotel offer that?).

Although our stay was fantastic, here are two things that I think RS Buena Park can do better:

1. Make room service a little more affordable. Macaroni and Cheese off of the Kids Menu really shouldn’t be $8. It was delicious, but still…

2. Offer a special treat for kids upon check-in – a toy, a snack, a coloring book and crayons, etc. I promise parents will think you are positively awesome.

In sum, we had a very enjoyable stay at the Radisson Suites Buena Park hotel. It is a family-friendly and affordable option for your next stay in Southern California. I know we’ll definitely consider staying at the RS Buena Park next time we’re in the area (and, actually, we’ll Google Radisson Suites no matter where we go next…).

Nightly summer rates appear to range between $150-$200/night.

YOUR TURN: What is your favorite “family-friendly” hotel chain?

Filed Under: Travel With Kids Tagged With: family-friendly hotel, hotel with baby, radisson suites, radisson suites buena park, radisson suites buena park review, radisson suites los angeles, radisson suites review, radisson suites southern california

Themed Weekend: Traveling with Baby

July 5, 2008 By Stephanie 6 Comments

I LOVE traveling. Or, I should really say that I love destinations. Being stuck in a little seat where the air recirculates and the bathrooms are minuscule is not necessarily my idea of fun. Long road trips aren’t much better, especially since Motion Sickness often sneaks into our car and invites himself along (how rude!).

I’ve been to Bangladesh, Pakistan, Germany, Canada, Mexico, and 14 of the 50 states in this great country. Each place holds so many memories for me – of heartbreak and adventure, romance and new experiences, laughter and friendship.

Now that I have a toddler, I still enjoy traveling and want to “fit it in,” but my perspective has changed. Traveling with a baby or toddler means frequent stops, lots of luggage, and a healthy dose of surprises. Infusing your trip with humor, patience, and a laid-back attitude will make the trip so much better than if you expect it to be the same as it was pre-baby.

In summary, traveling with a baby can be wondrous and delightful in its own way, but it requires a little more preparation. Stay tuned for product reviews, travel reviews, and giveaways to help you along your way.

Filed Under: themed weekends, Travel With Kids Tagged With: Family Travel, Themed Weekend

Cool, man! Oops, I mean…Coleman

June 1, 2008 By Stephanie 510 Comments

When I think of family camping products, I think of Coleman. They offer such a wide array of products at affordable prices (which all families can appreciate!).

I recently had the opportunity to review the Coleman Evanston 14′ x 12′ tent ($189.99). It sleeps 8 and is really tall so you can walk around and change clothes in the tent with ease. No trying to wrestle your jeans on to your bum in a half-reclined position! The tent also features an adjustable air ventilation system to increase airflow and shock-corded poles for easy and quick set-up. My husband set the tent up in about 15 minutes (on his first attempt). He’s an Outdoor Adventure Guy so he probably is a bit faster than the norm, but I’m certain that most families could set it up within 30 minutes…or faster.

To ensure that our nights are cool and that the air is must-free, we put up the Cool Zephyr Ceiling Fan with Light ($19.99). This little fan is nice because it hangs from tent ceilings so it is out-of-reach of curious toddlers.

And what family couldn’t use a little more organization to lessen the “camping chaos”? Coleman thought of that too. They sell this Freestanding Organizer ($10.99) – perfect for setting up in a corner of your tent to organize tableware, lanterns, and other camping gear.

When it’s time to purchase camping gear and supplies, think Coleman. Whether you’re looking for a tent, a grill, a cooler, a lantern, camping furniture, camping cookware, or a backpack…Coleman probably has it (and for a good price to boot!).

WIN IT! There will be FIVE winners. Each winner will receive a Cool Zephyr Ceiling Fan With Light. To enter, simply leave a comment on this post prior to Monday, June 9 at midnight (don’t forget to follow the rules). The winner will be announced and contacted on Tuesday, June 10. * Winner must provide a U.S. mailing address.

*UPDATE* The winners are #6 Julie, #451 Kay Fischler, #40 Marcia, #262 Tonya Moyer, and #16 Mya Brooks. Congratulations!

Filed Under: Giveaways, Products I Like, Travel With Kids Tagged With: camping gear, Coleman, family camping, family camping supplies, tents

A Blanket that Keeps Bottoms Dry

May 17, 2008 By Stephanie 4 Comments

How many times have you been out-and-about and…

decided to make a quick trip to the park or the beach?
picked up some food for a picnic and headed to an outdoor location?
met up with a friend to do a quick walk or run around the track at a community center?

In all of those situations, a nice blanket comes in handy to spread out on the grass.

This is precisely why we keep our OutMat in our trunk.

Created by Go Baby, “The OutMat is a water-resistant outdoor play mat designed to make afternoons on the grass or at the beach easy and fun. It combines innovative, pliable, water-resistant materials and is easy-to-use, making it a lighter, more compact and more attractive alternative to the competition.”

I love the water-resistant part because it seems like the grass at parks is always slightly damp and thus a bit uncomfortable to sit in. I also love that the OutMat comes in its own little bag (actually the blanket is the bag…) for easy storage. It really takes up very little room, which any parent can appreciate. My only suggestion to the company is for them to make the blanket a wee bit bigger, but that’s only a minor critique. Overall, the blanket is well-designed and compact…perfect for families who love being outdoors, but don’t particularly like damp bottoms.