Airplane: When traveling domestically, you do not have to buy a ticket for a child under age two, but without a ticket, they will have to sit on your lap for the flight. At check in, make sure your ticket says you are traveling with an UNTICKETED INFANT; you will need that to go through security. With domestic travel you do not need an ID for your child, but I always travel with a copy of my son’s birth certificate just in case.

When going through security, I find it helpful to carry your baby in a Bjorn or other type carrier. You will have to fold your stroller and put it through the x-ray machine. You can gate check your stroller planeside with no charge. That way you can use it to walk through the airport. You can also check your car seat (and infant car seat base) for free upon arrival at the airport.  These items do not count toward your baggage allowance.

On board you can bring a “reasonable” amount of liquid for your baby. I always pack extra snacks, diapers, wipes, toys then I think I need, and always an extra outfit for you baby. If you child is a big spitter upper, you might want to bring on another shirt for yourself.

Road Trip: Pack a wide variety of snacks, toys, and books. Fuel up before you go and only stop for gas, or for your toddler to stretch their legs and run around (or when he or she needs to nurse or a diaper change). Pack snacks for the adults so you do not have to stop for the grown-ups. Although pulling over at a fast food restaurant that has an indoor play area is a great tip someone once gave me. Also, plan your drive around naptime as much as possible.

Hotel: Hotels will provide you with a crib (or pack and play) and a fridge upon request. It’s always a good idea to confirm this a few days in advance. Most hotels we have visited have provided a portable playard for baby, and I always bring with me a pack and play sized sheet since many hotels just use a regular sized one. Also the scents of home are soothing to a little one when on the road.

Since my son goes to bed early (around 7pm), we try to book a suite or a larger room when possible (to us, worth the extra money) so that when the little guy goes to bed, us parents can watch a movie or read. We usually end up watching movies on our laptop, with headphones.

So whether you are heading near or far this holiday, have a happy and healthy Thanksgiving! Bon voyage!

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In an effort to look seasonal, but without spending a ton of cash, I try to buy holiday items for the following year, after the holiday this year. Just this past week I went to Old Navy and bought a Snoopy Halloween shirt and a pair of Halloween PJ’s for my son to wear next fall! (Each item was less than $4). On the day after Christmas 2008, before my son was even born, I bought him some great Christmas themed clothes and pajamas at a significant savings. I even scored a red snowsuit for $8 that he actually ended up wearing all winter.

I also had luck not just with holiday gear, but seasonal items as well. This past September, I purchased some shorts and swim trunks for next summer, off the clearance rack at Target. And as long as the items don’t have the year on them (such has “Happy Holidays 2009”) they are kids items, and probably won’t be out of style next year. And sleepwear your kids can use until they grow out. Last March my son was still fitting into his reindeer pj’s, so who cares that Christmas had come and gone?

The only issues with buying in advance are that you have to guess a bit on the size. But for shirts, jackets, and bibs, its okay for them to be a little larger (pants you need to have a better fit). You also need to have a place to store these items until next year! And don’t forget that you have these clothes tucked away, as it can be tempting to buy more once the season or holiday rolls around! But overall, this is a great strategy to save money on items your child is not going to be wearing often!

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1. The first item I highly recommend for keeping your infant or toddler warm this winter is a muff for your stroller. You may think that a heavy blanket will suffice, but you really want something that attaches to the stroller and zips up. I have the JJ Cole Toddler size Bundle Me, which I can use on both of my strollers. Some companies such as Bugaboo and Maclaren even sell muffs that are specific for their brand of stroller. An item like this is essential for cold weather because it will keep you little one warm, and you won’t have to worry about them kicking off a blanket!

2. My son has a jacket for the fall and spring, but when the temperatures really drop to the freezing mark, I dress him in a snowsuit. Last year, his infant snowsuit covered his feet, had flaps to cover his hands, and of course a hood to cover his ears and head. This year he has a larger version, but with holes in the feet so he can wear shoes or boots, now that he is walking.

3. In the colder temperatures, especially on a windy day, it’s a great idea to also have a plastic rain shield that fits your stroller and protects your little one from the wind. You can also use this when snow is falling, to keep your child dry.

4. Last winter, New York City saw an unusually high amount of snow so I ended up often using my Baby Bjorn. After each storm, as the plows cleared the roads, piles of snow would be left at the intersections (or huge puddles of water as snow melted) so it was hard to maneuver the stroller, especially when running quick errands. But of course if it is a very icy it’s probably best to just stay home! (And for those days you might want to stock up on some hot chocolate!)

What is your favorite winter baby or toddler gear?

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We do have four washers and three dryers in the basement of our building (which is significantly better than no access at all). However since it would be challenging for me to have to run downstairs three times (one to fill the machine, one time to transfer to the dryer, and one time to pick up the clean clothes) with the laundry basket, detergent and stroller, I never do the laundry. So every Sunday morning, my husband spends approximately 2.5 hours doing all our laundry.

He usually begins around 8 am and is done with folding the clothes and putting everything away by around 10:30. The great thing is that he can do four loads in the time it takes someone to do one load in home machine.  The downside is that we literally have to plan our weekend around laundry time. If I need to go out during that time, I have to take my son with me. Sometimes we schedule the laundry time on Saturday morning instead. And on rare weekends the laundry gets done in the late afternoon.  But it works for us, and frankly, I hate doing laundry anyway, and its something my husband is quite skilled at!

Because we can only do laundry once a week, when my son was an infant, and in that constantly making a mess on things phase, we needed to have extra swaddle mes, changing pad covers, and Boppy covers then the family who could just throw a soiled item in their machine.

If we didn’t want to, or really couldn’t find the time for laundry, another option, which is significantly more expensive, is to send your laundry out to be washed and folded. It would still be impossible to drop off, or pick up, with a child in the stroller, but this would obviously save you time. We recently tried this service and the cost was in excess of $25 so we try to do the laundry as much as possible ourselves.

So if you are looking for us on a Sunday morning, laundry is probably what we will be doing!

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On the weekends, I often make time for myself. To meet up with friends, sit in Starbucks, run errands, browse around the mall, or get a mani/pedi. But my alone time then takes away from family time. So this past summer, I finally decided to hire a babysitter one afternoon a week, for 3 or 4 hours, so I could go do… well, whatever I wanted! I had been meaning to do this for sometime but I was so nervous about leaving my son with a stranger. Although he needed it as much as I did. Being with ME every waking hour of his day, well lets just say he can be a little clingy and mom-attached.

I was extremely fortunate that this summer, a great babysitter literally fell into my lap. My cousin’s 20-year old daughter was home from school and looking for work. She had plenty of babysitting experience and was the perfect “starter” babysitter for me. I was super nervous leaving my son the first time, but he did great and had fun with a new face and a new friend. By our third week, the little guy didn’t even cry when I left and I noticed that in general, he was more willing to be around new people.

But the fall came, and our great babysitter had to head back to college. I now was more comfortable with the overall idea of leaving for a few hours a week, so I figured I would find someone else through my neighborhood connections. Then a job opportunity came my way (one afternoon a week, for several hours) and of course my start date was the week that my husband was out of town, as was my immediate family!

So I had to scramble a bit to find someone. The added complication was that this babysitter would have to put my son to bed, something only myself and my husband have done. I  found a few potential sitters in the neighborhood, but no one that could make a long-term commitment. I then put a note on Facebook to see if any of my mom-friends had any leads…but I actually got a response from a former student of mine, who is currently unemployed from the brutal marketing job market, and looking to do some babysitting.

Again, a perfect situation because not only is this girl young, fun, and experienced, I actually knew her so it wasn’t like inviting a complete stranger into my home. I am so lucky that this has worked out. I love working one afternoon a week, I have the babysitter come an hour early so I can enjoy an hour to myself before I start my job, and its fantastic for the little guy, who now waves good-bye to me at the door before I go!

Clearly finding a good babysitter is a bit stressful, but necessary. And now that I have one, several friends have asked me for her number. I know a good sitter is hard to find. Does anyone have any advice for finding a good sitter? I know I have been extremely lucky!

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