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As a mother of three, a friend recently asked me for some  tips while traveling with her two year old.  This can be a challenging, yet a fun adventure as a mother.  Here are a few traveling options and ideas below.  Please feel free to share with us some of your tips and adventures while traveling with your children.

Traveling by Car:

1.  Pack a travel bag.  Include quiet toys that your child enjoys such as light up toys, books, Crayola crayons or better yet, Color Wonder products.

2.  Electronics can be a blessing if you have them such as an Ipod Touch or V-Teck, Leap Frog devices.  I tend to use these if boredom sets in and I pull them out as a special treat.

2.  Pack non-messy snacks!  Yes, I did make the mistake of allowing popcorn on our last trip, but never again!  It was everywhere.  Snacks do cut down on the stops needed.  You may even consider packing a small cooler with drinks etc.

3.  Pack a plastic shopping bag or two.  This has come in handy on more than one occasion for motion sickness.  It also works as a garbage bag and believe me, you will need it:-)

Traveling by Plane:

1.  All of the above items can still apply.  The activities and snacks are great for the plane ride and while you wait to load.  I would just hold out on some of your child’s favorite items when they begin to get antsy.

2.  Bring a bottle, sippy cup or even a chewy snack to give your child on take off or landing to avoid your child’s ears from popping.  As adults, we chew gum to aviod ear pain, but for young children, they feel the pain and cry.  (When all else fails….hand out gift cards or buy the people around you beverages so they won’t complain when your child cries:-)

Lastly, relax and  enjoy the trip with your family!  Your child will pick up on your anxiety and stress while you travel so try to stay calm and breath.

Please post your brilliant ideas!  We would love to read them.

Written By:

Dennine Leschinsky M.Ed- Early Interventionist and Mother of Three

Reflux:  Signs and Symptoms, to treat or not to treat

Reflux is a condition where the valve at the top of your babies stomach does not close all of the way, allowing the child’s stomach contents to be regurgitated from the stomach back into the esophagus ( or eating tube).  Some children present with reflux as a result of intolerance to their formula.  The child may present as fussy after feedings or may not enjoy being place on their stomachs.  Children with reflux may show signs of developmental delay, arch their backs or remain fussy even after all attempts to calm them have been made.

There are special formula’s that may be gentler and more easily digested for your baby, so consider this as a first option.  Most infants “grow out”  of their reflux as they develop.  Parents debate the benefits of putting their child on reflux medication.  It is always important to listen to your Pediatrician’s input when making this decision., and provide them with all of the information they need: the type of formula your baby eats, quantity of formula being regurgitated and frequency, dislikes for handling or tummy time, as this will impact your collective course of action.  Medication is viewed as a short term solution, but may be necessary if dietary changes have been made, and there is no improvement in your child’s fussiness or tummy time tolerance.

Dependent on your comfort level for considering alternative modalities you might pursue Chiropractic manipulation.  The Chiropractor “ taps” on babies spine and the end result (in a nutshell), is resolution of reflux symptoms.

Parents may try and thicken milk with rice cereal to help it become more dense and less likely to be regurgitated.

In summary, there are many options for addressing your child’s reflux.  I encourage you to make an informed decision with your Pediatrician.  Rest assured, most cases resolve by the time baby turns 1, but until then, I wish you patience and perseverance.

Sonja Burmeister MSPA-C, OTR/L, EICP-OT

Tell us your experiences with Potty Training. What worked for you? What doesn’t work at all?  Click below and post a comment.

Fall is here.  There are so many activities to do in the Lehigh Valley.  Check out our local events to see just a few.  Do you have a family  activity in the Lehigh Valley you enjoy doing with family members? Blog with us!

Feel free to post a response on any of our webpages or register on our site and create your own blog post to ask other parents in the Lehigh Valley some of your burning questions.  It is easy!  Just click on the right of this site, register with an email and login.  It is that easy and it’s free.  Connect with other moms with just a click of the mouse.

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Hi- I know summer is almost over, but fall is just around the corner.  Does anyone have summer or fall activities in the Lehigh Valley they enjoy doing with children/family members? I have a 12 year old, 10 year old and a six year old.  They enjoy being outdoors.

I do know about the Tuesday free movies during the summer moths at the Rave at 10:00AM.  Is there any other free or close to free activities to do in August?

Feel free to post a response or register on our site and create your own Blog Post to ask other parents in the Lehigh Valley.

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