Baby Safety - Traveling Safely with Your Child

Are you taking your baby along with you while travel or you feel that travel with baby is very troublesome because you need to take care of them during the whole journey? It can be a relax and fun trip if you know how to plan your travel activities and travel safely with your child.

While travel by car, there are some tips that parents should take note:

• If your child is prone to car sickness, don't plan for longer car trip.
• Don't allow the children to touch the door handles and make sure the doors are locked all the time.
• Never leave your children to play in the car while you go for a quick errand.
• It is not safety and by doing this, you have actually put your child at risk.
• Children are normally excited when they have chance to travel and they normally overacting. As a parent, we should advise them not to yell, hit or loud noisemaking in the car.
• Always keep a variety of picture books and small toys in the car within reach of your children's car seat.
• Let them read the picture book or play with the toys when they feel bored.
• Play the children's songs or stories in the car.
• Children normally have their favourite tunes and make sure you bring along the CDs and play it in the car. Encourage your toddler to sing along and he or she will be very happy.
• If you are not the driver, you can always talk about the passing sights with your child. Point out some interesting sights and ask them what she sees out her window.
• This is also a good chance for your child to learn colours, letters and numbers from the road signs and billboards.
• You can also prepare some activity materials such as coloring books, stickers or paper dolls if you have a longer journey.
• For longer trips, stop several times to break up the trip. Your child might need to have a chance to stretch, perhaps eat a snack, have a diaper change or use the toilet.
• Show your toddler books and pictures with safety messages and explain in simple words about the importance of safety on road.
• Always wear your seat belt and show your child an good example by yourself.
• Talk about safety as "grown-up" behaviour and praise your child whenever he voluntarily buckles up.

Explain to your toddler why the safety seat is important, such as by telling him that "If we have to stop suddenly, the straps keep you from bumping your head". One way to encourage your child to accept the seat belts is to suggest make-believe roles such as pilot or astronaut.

If you are travel by flight, some of the above tips can be taken into consideration. But you have to think in advance about making your toddler comfortable for her plane ride.

• During takeoff and landing, the air pressure in the cabin is changing and some children might have problems with their ears on flights. Babies have narrower Eustachian tubes and sometimes they don't open up as easily to equalize the pressure. This can cause pain for the baby and lead to fussiness and crying. A good way to help prevent ear pain is to have your baby drink some liquid during takeoff and landing.
• Prepare enough snacks and drinks for your baby.
• Think about diaper supplies if the flight is too long. Bring along their favourite blankets, toys or books.
• Parents often have to walk them up and down the aisle when babies get bored on flights.
• Consider to take night flight so that baby can sleep through the flight.
• Arrange for assistance in advance if you need to change planes to make a connecting flight.

With well planning and thinking in advance about your child's safety, I'm sure your trip is a pleasant and comfortable one.