Picture Of The Week: Sevilla Garbage "Subway"

Sevilla's narrow cobblestone streets and densely packed businesses and homes make traditional garbage pickup difficult, so the city installed an underground pneumatic system to take the garbage away. E was fascinated by the "trash cans" with their swinging doors and couldn't resist investigating.

0 comments | Posted on June 4, 2008 | Save to del.icio.us

Packing Checklist for Breastmilk Pumping When You Travel

Whew, I had a lot more to say about breastfeeding and pumping when you travel than I realized! In this post, I'll cover what you should bring with you in your carryon bag if you plan to pump or breastfeed on your flight. My next post will cover what you need for formula or bottle feeding.

• Breastpump
  Pull your breastpump out of its carrying case and find a way to pack it in your carryon bag. If you travel a lot, consider investing in a travel pump. The Medela Freestyle Breastpump is lightweight and compact, and seems like a great choice. I wish it had been available during the time when I had to bring the (heavier) Pump In Style everywhere I went.
• Pumping Accessories
  Pack the pumping accessories (breast shields, membranes, etc) in a ziplock bag to keep them clean (and to keep them from getting anything else dirty). Membranes area always the most fragile part of the pump, and can be time consuming to find and replace, so pack an extra set. Consider bringing the hand pump adaptor that came with your breastpump in case something happens to your pump. If you are traveling internationally, you might also consider packing a second set of pumping accessories in your checked bag.
• Extra Batteries
  Some airplanes have power adaptors at every seat, but not all do, and you may have a difficult time finding a power outlet in the airport, so bring plenty of batteries. You'll also want to pack your power adaptor and whatever converters you'll need for your destination and any city where you have a layover
• Milk Collection
  I prefer to pump into Medela Pump and Save Bags instead of bottles. Why? The bags take up less room in my luggage, so I can bring plenty of them, and they're a bit more comfortable to use in the small airplane seats. Even better, I don't need to wash them out once they're used. The downside, of course, is that the bags are more easily spilled than screwtop bottles. You'll need to have a sturdy cooler to put them in or be careful with them. Also, you'll need to pour the milk from the bags into baby bottles (choose a time when there isn't any turbulence).
  Another good option is to use your pumping bottles as baby bottles, that way you don't need to pack and carry two sets of bottles.
• Refrigeration
  Freezer Gel Packs (and ice) need to conform to the 3oz size limitations. Look for cooler packs that are clearly marked as being 3oz or less or bring along some frozen peas or lima beans in an insulated bag. You can also pack a few empty ziplock bags and ask one of the restaurants for ice once you have cleared security. I haven't tried them, but these reusable dry-ice cubes look like they could work great.
• Cleaning
  The best way to clean pumping accessories and baby bottles is with hot water and soap. Unfortunately, airplane tap water is not considered safe for drinking and should not be used to clean baby bottles. I use Medela quick clean breastpump and accessory wipes to wipe out bottles or pumping accessories and then rinse with bottled water.
• Carryon Bag/Cooler
  Bring along a small, collapsable cooler (not gel filled) to store expressed milk. Even if you don't have ice, it will help. The airplane floor is sometimes warm, so be careful not to place the bag on the floor. For the past three years, we've used and enjoyed the Baby Sherpa Backpack, in part because it has a built in insulated compartment to keep things cold.
• What To Wear
  Wear comfortable, loose fitting clothing, and make sure it is easy for you to hook up your pump. For travel, I like the Blue Canoe Jane Bras. They're not supportive enough for elegant evening wear, but they're comfortable and provide easy access for baby or a pump with no clips to fasten and unfasten. I also love the The Hands Free Pumping Bustier, which you zip on under your shirt when you need it. You can hook the pumps up without needing to see what you are doing, and it keeps your hands are free to help baby, use a laptop, or read a book once you are set up.
• Bottled Water
  If you are pumping or nursing, you need to drink lots of extra water, and it can be hard to get what you need from busy flight attendants. You can also use bottled water to clean pumping accessories or bottles and to prepare formula for baby. Buy water after security, or pack your own empty bottles in your carryon bag and fill them after you clear security.
• Baby Bottles or Sippy Cups
  Besides the pump, baby bottles are the biggest space filler in my carryon bag. I bring two or three baby bottles or sippy cups and rotate between them, cleaning as I go. That lets me always have one fresh, clean bottle available for use. I switched over from baby bottles to sippy cups as soon as my kids allowed it because the Take and Toss sippy cups nest inside eachother and are easy to pack (they are also BPA free). If you decide to try a new kind of bottle or sippy for your trip, let your child try it before you leave home and make sure that he or she is willing to use it.

Filed Under: breastfeeding packing-with kids packing-with-babies

3 comments | Posted on June 3, 2008 | Save to del.icio.us

Favorite Family Travel Posts Around The Web

I was lucky to have my articles featured on several different blogs this week!

My guest post on How to Track Travel Expenses and Stick to a Vacation Budget appeared at GetRichSlowly and then got picked up at Lifehacker and Consumerist. It was great to read everyone's feedback and ideas for tracking vacation expenses in the comments on these three posts.

Heather on Her Travels linked to our post on A picnic in Barcelona's Park Guell and had some nice things to say about our City Guides

The LA Times Picked up our story on Breastfeeding and Pumping When You Travel

Two great travel blogs: Vagabondish and BraveNewTraveler linked to our story on A Refreshing Change: Beautiful Photos of Myanmar. I read both blogs regularly for their inspiring travel ideas... now would be a good time for you to check them out.

Favorite Articles On Other Blogs

Over at Family Travel, check out Part II of the Williams' family trip to China with their two kids (aged 3 and 5). I always find it inspiring to read about someone's trip, why they went, and what they (and their kids) remember.

In At The Car Wash Minnemom writes about a wonderful outing she had with her kids at... a car wash. This story brings back so many great travel memories for me. Often our best memories are of times when we were doing simple, not very exotic things. Things like visiting our local Taco Truck or blowing bubbles in a park in Madrid. Just getting ourselves out of the house, out of our normal routines and mentally opening our minds to new experiences helps us bond in new ways as a family.

Parenthacks has a great tip to help you keep track of toys and baby accessories. I'll let you click over there to find out what it is, but I'll add that our favorite hack is to take a digital photo of all the toys we pack and then compare against that photo when we re-pack on our trip.

Camping this summer? Wee Life has a great series of articles about cooking delicious looking dishes on a campfire. I might go camping just so that I can try this Dutch Oven Dump Cake

2 comments | Posted on June 2, 2008 | Save to del.icio.us

Listening to Your Feedback

When we ran our CARES Airplane Harness giveaway I asked for your feedback about what you'd like to see on DeliciousBaby. It has taken me a while to publish an article about all the great feedback, but that doesn't mean that I haven't been listening. You had some great ideas, as well as validation for some ideas that we've been thinking about for quite some time.

We've been hard at work making some exciting changes to the site based on your feedback. The changes will start to appear over the next few weeks. (In fact, if you explore a little, you'll find that some are already live!) I'll blog more about the changes next week, but I thought I'd first should share the feedback I got from everyone that participated.

Here's are the most requested ideas:

More Destination Guides
The most popular request was more destination guides to help with travel planning. Several of you specifically mentioned wanting to see recommendations from other parents. You also wanted to see more blog posts where I give an overview of what's great to do in a specific destination.

More Travel Tips
When it comes to traveling with kids, being prepared (both mentally and having the right things on-hand) is more than half the battle, so it is not surprising that so many people wanted more tips and advice.

Several people asked for tips on keeping kids occupied on long flights or road trips. I've done a couple blog posts about this in the past (Keeping Your Child Busy on a Plane and Ten Great Travel Toys You Already Have at Home), but you can expect more during the summer.

Several people also asked questions about feeding kids on the road, which inspired my recent posts about Finding Kid Friendly Restaurants and Nursing and Pumping on an Airplane.

I have some great posts queued up as summer travel approaches, but this feedback also made me realize that I need to find ways to make past blog posts and tips more available to new readers.

Personal Stories
It was really wonderful to hear how people relate to my personal travel stories and that you want to hear more! I've already started to blog a more about our day-trips and short jaunts, and, of course, I have some great family travel plans for this summer. This is also where I turn to you! If you have an experience that you would like to share, please send me email. I plan to post more travel experiences from other parents.

Travel Gear
Several of you wanted to hear more about travel gear that really works, including reviews of strollers, slings, suitcases, and other accessories. This is a subject I have lots of opinions on, and I've held back a little because I don't want the site to feel like a commercial. I have some ideas on how to better share my opinions without (hopefully) making DeliciousBaby feel like a big advertisement. As always, any product I recommend will be one that I have personally vetted and would spend my own money on.

"Specialty" Travel
People requested more information about issues like eco-friendly travel, camping, travel while pregnant, traveling with multiples, and nursing. Knowing what you want to hear about is a huge help. I'm excited to start sharing my ideas on these.

Thank you again to everyone who shared their ideas for how to make the website better! It's never too late to share your ideas. Please feel free to send me email with your feedback or ideas at debbie at deliciousbaby dot com.

3 comments | Posted on May 30, 2008 | Save to del.icio.us

Practical Tips for Nursing and Pumping on an Airplane

In Seattle, where I live, Breasfeeding in public is common, and I quickly became comfortable nursing whenever I needed to. On an airplane, however, things are different. You are inches away from someone you've never met, and that person might be any age, gender, or from a culture with different views on breastfeeding. . . and of course you're stuck next to eachother for hours. It's understandable that many moms are anxious about nursing (or pumping) on an airplane, and I want to share my best tricks and tips for making it as easy as possible.

Stay Well Hydrated
My first and most important tip is to stay well hydrated. Flying is dehydrating, especially if you are pumping or nursing. Also, your baby will probably nurse a little more than usual when you are flying. That means that you need to drink enough to offset both the air travel and the extra nursing. Dehydration can not only make jetlag worse, but it can also make you sick. Carry on plenty of water and don't be shy about asking the flight attendant for extra (though they can sometimes be reluctant to give too much to one person)

Where to Sit
Most airlines let you select your seat online when you book or pre-board selected passengers. Try to get a row just for you and your family.

Whether you are nursing or pumping, the best seat is next to a window. You'll have the most privacy, and distractions for the baby are minimized.

The last 5-10 rows of the plane aren't very private because people wait in line for the bathroom there, and there is always a lot of activity around the galley. Still, the further back you sit, the more likely you are to have an empty seat next to you. I prefer to sit about 2/3 of the way back to balance both considerations.

What To Wear
Wear comfortable, loose fitting clothing. For travel, I like the Blue Canoe Jane Bras. They're not supportive enough for elegant evening wear, but they're comfortable and provide easy access for baby or a pump with no clips to fasten and unfasten.

Nursing On An Airplane
The two main considerations for nursing on an airplane are maximizing privacy for yourself and minimizing distractions for baby. You are also "living" in close quarters with the people around you, and will want to minimize their discomfort as well.

I prefer to be covered while nursing, and I think it minimizes distractions for baby and keeps her warmer. I use a nursing coverup with a neck strap because it can be hard to keep readjusting a blanket in such close quarters. My favorite is the Hooter Hider. It folds and washes well, the fabric is pretty, and D can't pull it off.

A stuffy nose can make it difficult for baby to nurse, and cabin air pressure can make the stuffiness worse. A few drops of saline solution or breastmilk in her nose will help. You can buy a premade saline solution or bring your own along with a small plastic feeding syringe. Be gentle, even three or four drops can work wonders.

Pumping on an Airplane
It's even more difficult to pump on an airplane than it is to nurse, but sometimes (for example on a very long flight) it is necessary. Here are my tips to pumping in flight easier

• If you plan to pump in the bathroom, try to do it early in the flight, during meal service, or during the movie when the lines for the bathroom are shortest (and tying one up for 20 minutes will be the least disruptive). Bring along everything you need, and remember that you should never wash bottles or pumping accessories with airplane water because it is unsafe for babies
• If you plan to pump in your seat, the best times are during takeoff (after they've announced that it's ok to turn on electronic devices) while meal carts fill the aisles, and during the movie because passengers move around least during these times.
• Make sure you are familiar with how to use your pump before you fly. You don't want to be fussing with cords in your snug airplane seat.
• Pump hands free. The Hands Free Pumping Bustier is probably the single best product I had for pumping (besides the pump itself). It is a breeze to slip on over a nursing bra, and you can hook the pumps up without needing to see what you are doing. Best of all, your hands are free to help baby, use a laptop, or read a book once you are set up.
• Cover up with a baby blanket or jacket. There's no need to bring a special coverup for pumping on a plane as long as you have something along that is big enough to give you privacy.
• You can ask a flight attendant whether they have a place to store your milk and keep it cold. Often they are able to help on longer flights. Make sure your milk is well labeled and watch where it is stored (both to make sure it doesn't get lost or isn't put in the wrong place.) I once handed my milk to a flight attendant, she placed it on the counter, and another flight attendant (not knowing it was to be kept cold) warmed it and brought it back to me. The flight had no ice, and my son wasn't hungry for another hour or two, so I ended up throwing away that hard won milk.

Do you have favorite tips or personal stories about nursing on an airplane that you'd like to share? Let us know in the comments.

Filed Under: breastfeeding

6 comments | Posted on May 30, 2008 | Save to del.icio.us

Welcome GetRichSlowly Readers

GetRichSlowly is a popular personal finance blog that helps give ordinary people the information they need to payoff debt and build a healthy financial life. I've been a reader for quite a while, so I'm delighted that Get Rich Slowly printed a guest article from me on "How to Track Travel Expenses and Stick to a Vacation Budget." There's already an interesting discussion brewing, so head over and check it out!

About DeliciousBaby
DeliciousBaby is about Traveling with Young Kids. We have lots of tips and helpful advice to make your family vacation easier and more enjoyable. Our family friendly city guides are packed with kid friendly activities, restaurants, and hotels that grown ups will enjoy too. If you are new to DeliciousBaby, you might want to check out some of our other useful links and resources:

• Saving Money on Your Family Vacation
• Step By Step Guide to Creating A Budget For Your Family Vacation
• Easy Hack to Get Your Credit Card Transaction Fee Refund (Deadline May 30)
• Air Travel with Babies and Kids
• Family Friendly City Guides
• Keeping a Child Busy on a Plane
• Helping your Child Sleep on a Plane

We have some great articles, giveaways and announcements coming up in the next few weeks. I'd like to invite you to subscribe to this blog so that you don't miss a thing.

To subscribe by RSS or Email, click the "RSS" button at the bottom of this post or in the right hand column on our home page.

0 comments | Posted on May 28, 2008 | Save to del.icio.us

Picture Of The Week: Barcelona Playground

While wandering through a residential area of Barcelona one afternoon, we found a busy little fenced playground nestled in between some huge apartment buildings. The kids and I both loved the simple and sweet wooden playground toys, and the small scale of everything made it easy for E to interact with local kids.

2 comments | Posted on May 28, 2008 | Save to del.icio.us

Practical Tips for Breastfeeding and Pumping in an Airport

Perhaps you want to pump a bottle for baby before you board your flight, or maybe baby is telling you she's ready to nurse. You've already followed our tips for finding a quiet Place to breastfeed or pump in the airport and now you just need to deal with the logistics of making it happen.

What follows are my best tips based on personal experience, but more than with any previous article I would really appreciate tips and advice from readers. What worked for me might work differently for someone else, so I would love to hear what you all have to say in comments.

If you are flying with another adult, now is the time to send your partner off in search of anything you need for the flight itself. If not, you'll need to get the essentials and feed baby too. Here are a couple of baby related essentials you might need:

• Water
  Airplane tap water is not safe to drink, especially for babies and supplies of bottled water are limited. If you need water to mix with formula, or to keep yourself well hydrated (remember that you need to drink more if you are nursing), buy some after security.
• Clean Your Bottles
  Water that isn't safe for drinking isn't safe clean your bottles. Even the water used to make tea doesn't get hot enough to kill the bacteria that has been found on some planes. If you have dirtied any bottles on the way to the airport, now is a good time to clean them. If you have access to an airline lounge, the hot water in the tea pot is a great way to rinse bottles.
• Ice
  If you need to keep formula or breastmilk cold, bring a couple of empty ziplock bags with you and ask nicely for some ice at the airport concession stands.
• Extra Batteries
  If you didn't pack extra batteries for your pump, now is your last chance to stock up, you don't want to run out of power midway through your flight.
• Seat Assignments
  Even if you have pre-assigned seats, this is a good time to check in with the gate agent and find out whether you can do better... for example, if the plane is not full, try to get a seat towards the back (but not - seat assignments (if the plane is not full, try to get a seat in the back where you're more likely to be alone

Get Ready... Get Set...

Just like at home, you want to make sure you have everything you need before settling in to nurse or pump. If you are pumping and minding baby, this means having everything baby might need within reach. If you are nursing, remember to have the stroller or sling ready in case baby falls asleep.

Sometimes you just need to repeat "I will never see these people again"
Sometimes it just isn't possible to find a place that is as private as you would like. That's when it is time to close your eyes and repeat "I will never see these people again." On an early trip to New York with E, I had to pump in a not quite deserted gate area. I covered up with a blanket and did what needed to be done. No, I didn't run into my high school sweetheart, my first boss or anyone else I knew. I did meet a very nice and reassuring mom to twin girls who said she'd been there too. Remember, you are doing the best possible thing for your baby and your family. Nothing else matters.

Pumping In The Airport
I found it harder to pump in the airport than to nurse. The social and legal rules that allow women to nurse when they need to don't always extend to pumping, and there's more gear to deal with... Still, if you're creative about finding a private place (preferably one with a power outlet and a table or bench to arrange your gear) it can be a lot easier to pump in the airport than onboard a plane.

If you are a nursing mom who is pumping so that you can give baby a bottle on a plane instead of nursing in close quarters, consider whether baby is more likely to drift off to sleep at the breast or bottle (of course every baby is different). It might be worth the temporary discomfort of nursing next to a stranger to ensure a few hours of sleep on the plane.

Here are a couple of tips:

• If you travel a lot, consider investing in a travel pump. The Medela Freestyle Breastpump is lightweight and compact, and seems like a great choice. I'll write more about what other gear and pumping accessories to bring in a future post.
• The best time to pump is after security, but just before your flight boards. Once you get onboard, you might be delayed (and waiting until after takeoff to pump) for any amount of time.
• The Hands Free Pumping Bustier is probably the single best product I had for pumping (besides the pump itself). It is a breeze to slip on over a nursing bra, and you can hook the pumps up without needing to see what you are doing. Best of all, your hands are free to help baby, use a laptop, or read a book once you are set up.
• Have a storage plan. Make sure that everything is stowed in tightened, leakproof containers. You don't want to loose a drop of milk while you are flying. Additionally, you'll want to make sure that baby's milk is kept cool. According to LaLeche League, breastmilk can be kept at room temperature for up to 10 hours. If you are traveling for longer than that, make sure to label your milk so that you use the oldest milk first. You'll also want to have a plan for keeping your milk cool. I'll write more in a later post about traveling with expressed breastmilk and baby bottles.

Nursing In An Airport
If you are used to nursing in public, nursing in an airport is a breeze (though the international nature of airports might mean you get different reactions than you are used to). However, here are a couple of tips specific to the airport:

• If baby will wait until you board your plane, try to wait. She just might drift off to sleep while nursing, and you don't want to risk waking her up in the transition onto the plane. Also nursing helps with the change in air pressure's effect on her ears, so you'll want to make sure she's not full when the plane takes off (or bring along an alternative)
• Consider nursing baby in a sling. You won't have to disturb him when it's time to board the plane, and if he drifts off to sleep while nursing, you won't need to move him until you are safely settled into your seat.
• Skip the Boppy. A nursing pillow is a huge help at home, but unless you are in first class, you'll never fit it comfortably in that airline seat. Use a rolled up blanket or your arm to support baby. Once onboard, you can use an airplane pillow (safely wrapped in your own clean blanket).
• Have your stroller or sling ready for baby so that you can slide her in if she falls asleep. (btw, we think the sling is the best place for a sleeping baby since you can get onto the plane and stow your bags without removing baby). You will need to remove baby from the sling before takeoff.

Filed Under: breastfeeding

3 comments | Posted on May 28, 2008 | Save to del.icio.us

Weekly Link Roundup: Creative Travel Tips and Inspiring Travel Stories

Mommy Poppins, a blog for parents in New York (and a great resource if you are visiting New York) named us as one of their top resources for family travel! Check out their great article on Visiting New Orleans With Kids

Fly Away Cafe has a great suggestion for creating a travel journal that even my three year old would enjoy. I have particularly fond memories of a journal my husband and I kept on our first trip to Japan together years ago. Temples in Japan have either rubber stamps or calligraphers who will record your visit in a journal for you. We carried along our journal with us each day and filled it with these mementos

New research shows that there may be an Easy Way To Reset Your Sleep Cycle: Stop Eating While I'd never recommend this for a child, it seems like an interesting idea for parents. I notice that I wake up at home mealtimes for the first few days on any trip. My solution is to keep a quick snack next to the bed so that I can eat and go back to sleep. After the first couple of days, my stomach gets reset to local time.

Check out this interesting discussion on Parent Hacks about how to plan an extended family trip.

I was bummed to read this story on the Kids Food Allergies Blog about how difficult it is to travel with a child who has severe allergies. What really made me sad is how insensitive the airline staff were in accommodating her. Sometimes I think people put their compassion aside when they arrive at work.

I loved this story about Taking Kids to China, especially the advice about building excitement for the trip before you go. I can't wait for part two

Perceptive Travel has a nice article on what it felt like to travel in Italy as a new mother. Similar to our own experience, this mom found herself and her 8 month old welcomed with open arms in Rome with her young baby.

0 comments | Posted on May 27, 2008 | Save to del.icio.us

Finding a Quiet Place to Nurse or Pump in an Airport

You've arrived safely at the airport, checked your bags, and baby is ready to eat (or perhaps you need to pump a bottle for the airplane). You're probably trying to figure out where you'll find a private, quiet spot where baby won't be distracted by the activity of other passengers.

What follows are my best tips based on personal experience, but this is one place where creativity is essential. I really appreciate your tips, creative ideas, and advice in comments.

• Many airports have a nursing room with one or more gliders, well suited for nursing or pumping. You can find out whether your destination has one by either checking the airport's website or asking at the airport's information booth.
• Find a quiet corner in an unused gate area
• Some airports have private office cubicles for rent
• Buy a one day pass to a business class lounge (at least the bathrooms are clean and spacious and there is no line. Some lounges even have private shower / changing areas.
• Pump in a restroom. I personally was never able to get past the dirtiness of most airport (and airplane) restrooms, but there's really no reason not to. A family restroom can give you a confined area to watch a toddler while nursing an infant.

When all else fails, remember that in most states you have a legal right to nurse in any public place. If anyone makes you feel uncomfortable, don't be afraid to ask for help, or to make "This is their problem, not my problem" and "I will never see this person again" your private mantras. Here is a link to a 50 States Summary of Breastfeeding Law

Do you have something you want to add? Please let me know in the comments

Filed Under: breastfeeding

3 comments | Posted on May 25, 2008 | Save to del.icio.us