This week's tip was emailed to me by my friend (in real life!) Sheryl of Peanut Butter & Jelly Boats. She got to thinking about traveling this holiday and how babywearing has helped in the past:I was thinking about our Thanksgiving trip. We flew. We did not take a stroller, I wore Ethan in the pouch and the boys walked along side us carrying their own backpacks. It was SOOOOOO much easier than carting a stroller around the airport! I could wear him in the pouch and walk right through security. No folding and unfolding of a stroller to put on the belt to be x-rayed. Then moving through the aisle of the airplane to get to our seats was super easy. He was just right there, snug against me the whole time. I'll never take a stroller to the airport again!!
Also, the last time we went to Disney World, I brought the sling, just in case. It was naptime for Ethan and we were headed to the Winnie the Pooh ride. I took him out of the stroller and put him in the pouch. While other toddlers were cranky and fussy, Ethan was calm and laid his head on me while snug in his pouch. While other parents were trying to keep their kids happy standing in a 30 min. line, Ethan fell to sleep peacefully within 5 min. Then I just got right on the ride with him still in the pouch. He slept through the whole line and almost through the whole ride! It was so incredibly easy!
This is an awesome benefit of babywearing! I just wanted to add that on an airplane, I have been made to take the baby out of the sling during the flight...I thought it was retarded, cause if soemthing happened I would want baby strapped to me! But the fligth attendant insisted it was against policy. BUT otherwise in the airport it worked GREAT!
ReplyDeleteAnd when visiting relatives with a new baby over the holidays, keeping baby close helps ward off the baby holders and germ spreaders too! :-)
Great tip! Thanks to you and Sheryl both.
ReplyDeleteI am praying our travels go as smooth tomorrow, we are not taking a stroller for our 3 or 1 year old. We are taking two Ergos (one borrowed) but I think we'll try to make the 3 year old walk. We are not just forging the airport, but a taxi ride, train to a bus and then the airport. I think the airport will be the easiest!
ReplyDeleteOH I just LOVE Sheryl......she's so cute. I don't have a baby to wear so I just want to say hi to you and Sheryl.....! hahahaha
ReplyDeleteBaby wearing is SO great. We could go out anywhere with our baby snug and happy in his (or her!) sling. What a great trip, Sheryl!
ReplyDeleteIt's so true! I liked babywearing with my first child, but it was absolutely indispensable when I had a newborn baby and a toddler. Yay for slings and baby carriers!
ReplyDeleteThat is a great looking pouch! I wonder where she got it...? Tee hee. Marry Christmas!
ReplyDeleteI am a ring-sling user mostly but I have found that my MeiTai is the best bet for airport travel. I can keep my 21month on my back as I go through security and have my hands free to carry bags or load things on the conveyor belt, etc... I guess an Ergo would do the same job. The TSA people always made me take him out of the ring sling due to the metal but the MeiTai is a lifesaver!! Very timely tip! We leave for FL tomorrow. Happy Holidays.
ReplyDeletealright, things have come a long way since the snugli!!! I wish, wish, wish slings were out and popular for my children, but that dumb snugli that hurt my back and I couldn't get tight enough or in the right spot was the next best thing!! I used it more with the second and third because I needed those ten more hands!!! Great post Steph and Sheryl!! I am so jealous but happy that we keep on finding better ideas for helping with children!!
ReplyDeleteI saw people wearing their kids in slngs on our last trip to DisneyWorld. The thing I couldn't believe was how many of them were wearing them improperly. All the fabric scrunched up around their necks. They all looked so uncomfortable I finally took pity on one mom and helped her get things together. I rearranged her sling for her so that it fanned on her shoulder and supported her back. She and baby were both much more comfortable and happy after that. And then my DH reminded me that we were supposed to be on vacation and it wasn't my job to go around helping hopeful sling wearers.
ReplyDeletePeople need more baby wearing education. Slings are tricky but they are oh so wonderful when you get it on properly.
Great ideas!
ReplyDeleteI started wearing my babies when I had baby number 4. I love it and have been able to wear my last three children. My husband has his own sling beacuse he likes to wear them also.
ReplyDeleteWhen we flew to Phoenix last year we had a 5 month old and I did the same thing at the airport. I wore her and she was quiet and content.