Tuesday 6/19/12
Baby Sign Language
We have been working really hard incorporating sign language into our daily communication with "A" and lately he's taken off with it. I absolutely love that he is able to tell us what he wants! It helps with frustration on both ends. The words we use are: hungry, more, thirsty, banana, milk, water, orange, done, shoes, socks, book, please, and thank you.
When I was little, I was actually fluent in sign language so I was lucky and didn't have to look up the words. But this is the best website (in my opinion) to learn the words. It includes a video to show you how to sign each word. http://commtechlab.msu.edu/sites/aslweb/browser.htm
Another website is called "Signing with your Baby" and it has books, DVD's, and flash cards that you can buy in addition to online pictures of common words to teach your child.
On a side note, although I taught "A" the correct signs, he chose to change some of them. For example, he refuses to sign "done" the way I showed him. Instead, he throws up his hands when he's done. I didn't fight him with it, and now we both know when he's done.
Good luck and happy communication!!! :)
When I was little, I was actually fluent in sign language so I was lucky and didn't have to look up the words. But this is the best website (in my opinion) to learn the words. It includes a video to show you how to sign each word. http://commtechlab.msu.edu/sites/aslweb/browser.htm
Another website is called "Signing with your Baby" and it has books, DVD's, and flash cards that you can buy in addition to online pictures of common words to teach your child.
On a side note, although I taught "A" the correct signs, he chose to change some of them. For example, he refuses to sign "done" the way I showed him. Instead, he throws up his hands when he's done. I didn't fight him with it, and now we both know when he's done.
Good luck and happy communication!!! :)
Air Travel with an Infant
While planning our upcoming summer vacation, I thought maybe I should put tips when traveling with an infant on my blog. Last year when we "A" was just 5 months old, he went on two airplane trips in a month! The first trip we flew without Daddy (but had Auntie with us), and I was pretty nervous. Then the second trip, we flew as a family to Florida. That was a LONG trip, but went pretty smoothly. Here are some tips that may help you on your next trip with your little ones.
1) Infants under 2 can travel on your lap. You also have the option of buying a seat for them too. We put "A" on our lap because he HATED his car seat and screams while in it (the other passengers didn't need to hear that for 5 hours). So we figured he'd be the happiest on our lap.
2) You can bring full bottles onto the plane. The no liquid rule gets pushed aside when you have little ones. Some airports wave a little stick of paper over the water to test it, and other (more sophisticated) airports stick your bottles in a little machine that tests them.
- Tip: I put very hot water in my bottles and then placed them in a thermal lunch bag. That way when it was time to mix the formula, the water was still warm.
1) Infants under 2 can travel on your lap. You also have the option of buying a seat for them too. We put "A" on our lap because he HATED his car seat and screams while in it (the other passengers didn't need to hear that for 5 hours). So we figured he'd be the happiest on our lap.
2) You can bring full bottles onto the plane. The no liquid rule gets pushed aside when you have little ones. Some airports wave a little stick of paper over the water to test it, and other (more sophisticated) airports stick your bottles in a little machine that tests them.
- Tip: I put very hot water in my bottles and then placed them in a thermal lunch bag. That way when it was time to mix the formula, the water was still warm.
3) BRING YOUR CHILD'S BIRTH CERTIFICATE (or passport)!
Apparently you and the airlines can get hefty fines if you are caught without it. You have to prove your child is under 2 (even if they are a newborn).
4) Most airlines let you check a car seat and stroller for free. We flew southwest and got to check 2 bags for free plus the stroller and carseat!
Stroller: We were able to keep the stroller while in the airport and check it at the gate. It was very convenient to keep it and roll it around during the long layovers, and the best part is, the workers had it set up and ready for us when we got off the plane. Just remember, you have to fold it up and put it in the x-
ray machine when going through security. (We mainly used the stroller to hold bags because "A" prefered the backpack (see below).
Carseat: We ended up buying a car seat carrying bag from Amazon and were soooooo glad we did. When we saw the other car seats going around the luggage belt, they sure were beat up.
Apparently you and the airlines can get hefty fines if you are caught without it. You have to prove your child is under 2 (even if they are a newborn).
4) Most airlines let you check a car seat and stroller for free. We flew southwest and got to check 2 bags for free plus the stroller and carseat!
Stroller: We were able to keep the stroller while in the airport and check it at the gate. It was very convenient to keep it and roll it around during the long layovers, and the best part is, the workers had it set up and ready for us when we got off the plane. Just remember, you have to fold it up and put it in the x-
ray machine when going through security. (We mainly used the stroller to hold bags because "A" prefered the backpack (see below).
Carseat: We ended up buying a car seat carrying bag from Amazon and were soooooo glad we did. When we saw the other car seats going around the luggage belt, they sure were beat up.
We used our Kelty backpack in the airport as well, and it worked really well during the layovers. We walked up and down the small Albuquerque airport for three hours. It also doubles as a diaper bag so we didn't need another bag.
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Our car seat bag had wheels and straps so you can either wheel it or carry it like a back pack (or pack mule).Note: We never used an infant car seat. We started with the convertable, which this bag is made for. |
5) Buy a new toy and don't let your child see it until you're on the airplane. This should give you at least 10 peaceful minutes! My very smart friend Meghan bought her toddler 16 or so new dollar store toys (and wrapped them) and let her open one toy every hour (it was a long flight to China). What a smart mommy!!!! Check out her blog Happiest Baby In the World.
6) Give your baby a bottle or a binky during the ascending and descending parts of the flight. This will help their little ears with the altitude change.
7) By law, airlines have to give you a "loaner" carseat when they lose yours. We found this out the hard way. But thankfully the loaner carseats are sterilized and not bad.
8) Bring lots of snacks! (If your baby has started solids) I suggest the bags of food like Plum Organics or Peter Rabbit Organics. You don't need a spoon or bowl, just let your little one suck the delicious food out. We love the Mish Mash variety because they have oats and/or quinoa.
6) Give your baby a bottle or a binky during the ascending and descending parts of the flight. This will help their little ears with the altitude change.
7) By law, airlines have to give you a "loaner" carseat when they lose yours. We found this out the hard way. But thankfully the loaner carseats are sterilized and not bad.
8) Bring lots of snacks! (If your baby has started solids) I suggest the bags of food like Plum Organics or Peter Rabbit Organics. You don't need a spoon or bowl, just let your little one suck the delicious food out. We love the Mish Mash variety because they have oats and/or quinoa.
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And last. . . . . . Don't let the mean looks and glares from the grumpy passengers bother you! There are plenty other people on the plane silently thinking "Wow, what a good mom!"