If an upcoming family trip has you feeling anxious about traveling with a toddler and worried about how you can keep him or her occupied, relax and read the following tips. Anticipating any toddler's needs and being prepared for the unexpected will make the journey so much more enjoyable.

Explain your trip: Know that traveling with young children does disrupt their daily routine and they may need some reassurance that this new undertaking is safe and fun. Talk to them about the airport, the plane, the flight and other things they will see and hear.

Luggage: Have your toddler pull his own carry-on luggage. He will love to be like mom and dad and you can use his carry on to pack the very things he will need on the ride or flight.

A Bag of Fun: Things to pack include: new books, new small toys, finger puppets, crayons, coloring books and paper. I have found that new things will surprise, intrigue and capture their interest. If your toddler has a favorite toy they love, definitely bring it along!

Snacks:  Healthy snacks in small individual packages work very well. Pack more than you think in case of unexpected delays. Granola bars, crackers, yogurt, dried fruit, fresh fruit & vegetables (if traveling within U.S. borders) are good choices. Veer away from candy and sugar. You don't want a hyper child in a confined area!  

Extra Wipes: Besides their obvious use, wipes are convenient for cleaning dirty faces, hands, toys that have fallen, and armrests.

Extra Clothes: Toddlers have a knack for spilling everything and anything. Also, make sure you dress your toddler in layers as the weather inside a plane is very unpredictable. An extra change of clothes for Mom and Dad is also a good idea for longer trips, in case any kiddie spills make it to your lap.

Clear Plastic Bags:  Use see thru, zip lock plastic bags for all snacks, toys, etc.  It is easier to see what you are looking for and makes it easier for security check points, too

Comfort Items:  Bring along your child's favorite cuddle toy and a soft blanket. No doubt, he will get tired and falling asleep in the airplane seat will be trial enough. However, his favorite sleeping companion will definitely provide some comfort.

Electronic Items/Entertainment:  If you can, bring along a portable DVD player and some movies. This can be a real life saver! Instant entertainment! 

FAA Rules:  If you are flying, check your airline guidelines for toddler seating. They usually require a safety seat/restraint for every toddler. If you don't need to bring a car seat, you still must have an FAA-approved aviation restraint. The CARES Safety Restraint by Kids Fly Safe is the only one currently on the market. This safety harness comes in it own 6 inch sack and weighs about a pound.  It allows your child to seat in his/her own plane seat, safely and comfortably. Please note, it is only for children who can face forward while riding in a car and weigh over 22 pounds. It's a relatively new traveling companion and some flight attendants may not be familiar with it, so you may want to take along the included written documentation verifying it's FAA approved. It is available at amazon.com.

Happy traveling!
 

We discovered Leo had dairy sensitivity when I tried to feed him yogurt. Not only did he make a face like it was the worst thing he had ever tasted, he also started breaking out in hives around his mouth and on his chin: the clear sign of a food sensitivity or food allergy. We immediately stopped feeding him any dairy products. Luckily, it's not anaphylactic, and he should grow out of it. However, it makes for a daunting task as a parent to come up with new foods for a picky toddler, when most kid-friendly foods have dairy as a main ingredient (mac-n-cheese, pizza, ice cream! etc).

(***Please note that I am NOT a doctor and all foods given to your allergic child should be cleared by your pediatrician***)

Here a list of things that we like to feed Leo, for snacks, meals, or a mix of both:

• fresh fruits: bananas, pears, peaches, plums, blueberries, strawberries, etc
• fruit cups: the kinds that are in light syrup or water
• black beans
• avocado
• soy cheese
• soy yogurt
• chicken nuggets (I like the kind in the natural food section... all white meat and wheat breading. A little more expensive but I serve less nuggies with more veggie and fruit sides)
• turkey sausage or meatballs
• sliced deli meat and soy cheese in wheat tortilla roll-ups
• grilled cheese (made with soy cheese)
• ritz crackers with jam (we taught Leo how to 'dip' and he loves it!)
• cereal bars or soft granola bars
• broth based soups (ministrone, chicken and rice, chicken veggie, etc)
• cooked veggies (peas, broccoli, carrots, edamame beans, etc)
• sweet potato, microwaved, skinned and cut into cubes OR sweet potato fries (basically cut into stripes, dipped in oil and baked in the oven)
• cheerios or any wholesome cereal
• toast with jam (I use Olivio instead of real butter)
• soynut and jelly sandwiches (Leo's absolute favorite)

To increase the calcium lost by not having a dairy intake, try to buy:

• calcium fortified cereal
• calcium fortified orange juice
• calcium fortified soy milk

Important fact: There are dairy / food allergies, and food sensitivities. Leo is in the sensitivity category, so he can have things that come in contact with dairy, and still be okay. PLEASE always consult your doctor about what your child can and cannot have. This is only a list of ideas if you child is cleared for most items due to a dairy sensitivity.

Here are some websites/articles with great info:

http://www.faiusa.org/

http://www.kidswithfoodallergies.org/

http://www.foodallergy.org/allergens/index.html

http://www.allergykids.com/

http://kidshealth.org/kid/ill_injure/sick/food_allergies.html

http://www.cookiemag.com/brain/kidhealth/2009/02/allergies

Good luck, and please comment / email if you have any other info.

If you have any doubt that there are toddlers who like black beans, check out this video: