I still have a lot of dried until crispy grape tomatoes from last year's garden. Juicy new ones will appear soon.
In an effort to use what I preserved last year, I created a pesto to spread on bread. It included a couple of handfuls of fresh basil, about a cup of dried tomatoes, some olive oil, generous amounts of garlic, a little salt, and red pepper flakes all whirred up in the food processor.
Much to my surprise the kids ate it too.
Showing posts with label kids. Show all posts
Showing posts with label kids. Show all posts
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Monday, May 9, 2011
The 1000th time camping -- new lessons learned
You may or may not know that J and I have a lot of camping experience. A lot. Between grad school and moving to SLC we took a long road trip. It began at about MLK Day and ended at Memorial Day, and we lived in a modified Astrovan for the duration. Before that he had stints as a wilderness ranger with routine 10-day backpack tours. In high school and grad school I participated in Kettering Summer Field Studies and was for some years in charge of the kitchen for 30-45 people (mostly teens) on 30-40 day camping trips.
That said, we didn't have tons of experience camping with little people, and we have learned a few things to share.
To set the stage - we do have a 1986 VW Vanagon in which we can sleep (but not cook), so I don't mention anything about tents. We don't tend to camp in campgrounds, preferring disperse camping on public lands (which means usually no toilets, and no picnic tables). We don't have campfires.
Suggestions not in order of importance.
1) Expected overnight lows above 35F are really preferable.
2) Feet jammies are a good idea.
3) If kids like to take their clothes off in cold weather, put the coat on backwards and/or confine them in a sling.
4) Especially if you are only going for a weekend or long weekend, do as much of the kitchen prep at home as you can. I mean, chop the veggies and grate the cheese before you leave home and then pack them in vessels which will not allow cooler water to seep in. I have even been known to pre-cook chicken at home.
5) Always have at least one back up meal that can be eaten cold or requires no preparation. For example, hummus and pita bread with sliced cheese. Add some fruit - canned pineapple is a good choice - for balance if desired.
6) Appetizers are a great plan. We like to eat some dip and crackers in the time after hiking and before making dinner.
7) Even if they aren't usually part of your shopping list, single serve containers can be very helpful for quick roadside snacks. I'm talking about applesauce cups, yogurts, string cheese etc.
8) Pack a 'lunch kit' that is always accessible in the passenger compartment of your vehicle or in your cooler. This should contain: small cutting board, knife, napkins (bib), sippy cups, utensils for everyone, small plastic plates, salt and pepper.
9) Sippy cups are a good idea in the car. Even for children who have outgrown sippy cups.
10) M&M's are great hiking motivators, especially if they aren't a routine part of life. Juice boxes can be just the ticket to get some liquid and calories into a hot kid on a desert hike.
11) "Wagbags" or personal sanitation devices can be really helpful when on hikes with littler kids who may or may not have the best sense of when toilets are available. It is not always feasible to dig a hole, after all, and sometimes once the hole is created, the opportunity may be missed leaving a little one with a tummy ache.
12) My most recent a-ha moment relates to packing. I like to use these packing devices from Eagle Creek to organize stuff in my bag. My usual MO is to use one color bag for each person so that it is easier to find what I am looking for. BUT then I realized how inefficient it was to open three+ bags when I was gathering clothes in the morning. Next time I will pack by day rather than by person. Using this past weekend as an example, I knew that we were doing a hike on Saturday, and I packed hiking clothes for me and the kids. Next time I will put our hiking clothes in one bag for Saturday. For Sunday we had hiking clothes and 'ride home in the car clothes'. These sets will each go in separate bags so that I only have to grab one. This of course only works because the small people for whom I pack do not much care what clothes they wear, so I can pre-determine it at home!
Edited to add:
13) Hiking snacks should be packaged into plastic containers with lids that fit well. I like the screw top ones from Ziploc which also are reliable for keeping cooler water out of cold items. Zip top bags are not a good choice for snacks in the backpack because 1) they tear, 2) zippers fail, 3) small animals can smell your food and will eat right through your backpack to get at the bag (critically important if you are stashing your pack to bag a peak or climb a route).
14) I pack all jackets and outerwear in a single duffel bag along with soft baby carrying devices. Hats and mittens go in the outside zipper pocket of the outerwear bag so that they are always in the same place with easy access.
15) Take your headlamp hiking with you. Because you never know.
That said, we didn't have tons of experience camping with little people, and we have learned a few things to share.
To set the stage - we do have a 1986 VW Vanagon in which we can sleep (but not cook), so I don't mention anything about tents. We don't tend to camp in campgrounds, preferring disperse camping on public lands (which means usually no toilets, and no picnic tables). We don't have campfires.
Suggestions not in order of importance.
1) Expected overnight lows above 35F are really preferable.
2) Feet jammies are a good idea.
3) If kids like to take their clothes off in cold weather, put the coat on backwards and/or confine them in a sling.
4) Especially if you are only going for a weekend or long weekend, do as much of the kitchen prep at home as you can. I mean, chop the veggies and grate the cheese before you leave home and then pack them in vessels which will not allow cooler water to seep in. I have even been known to pre-cook chicken at home.
5) Always have at least one back up meal that can be eaten cold or requires no preparation. For example, hummus and pita bread with sliced cheese. Add some fruit - canned pineapple is a good choice - for balance if desired.
6) Appetizers are a great plan. We like to eat some dip and crackers in the time after hiking and before making dinner.
7) Even if they aren't usually part of your shopping list, single serve containers can be very helpful for quick roadside snacks. I'm talking about applesauce cups, yogurts, string cheese etc.
8) Pack a 'lunch kit' that is always accessible in the passenger compartment of your vehicle or in your cooler. This should contain: small cutting board, knife, napkins (bib), sippy cups, utensils for everyone, small plastic plates, salt and pepper.
9) Sippy cups are a good idea in the car. Even for children who have outgrown sippy cups.
10) M&M's are great hiking motivators, especially if they aren't a routine part of life. Juice boxes can be just the ticket to get some liquid and calories into a hot kid on a desert hike.
11) "Wagbags" or personal sanitation devices can be really helpful when on hikes with littler kids who may or may not have the best sense of when toilets are available. It is not always feasible to dig a hole, after all, and sometimes once the hole is created, the opportunity may be missed leaving a little one with a tummy ache.
12) My most recent a-ha moment relates to packing. I like to use these packing devices from Eagle Creek to organize stuff in my bag. My usual MO is to use one color bag for each person so that it is easier to find what I am looking for. BUT then I realized how inefficient it was to open three+ bags when I was gathering clothes in the morning. Next time I will pack by day rather than by person. Using this past weekend as an example, I knew that we were doing a hike on Saturday, and I packed hiking clothes for me and the kids. Next time I will put our hiking clothes in one bag for Saturday. For Sunday we had hiking clothes and 'ride home in the car clothes'. These sets will each go in separate bags so that I only have to grab one. This of course only works because the small people for whom I pack do not much care what clothes they wear, so I can pre-determine it at home!
Edited to add:
13) Hiking snacks should be packaged into plastic containers with lids that fit well. I like the screw top ones from Ziploc which also are reliable for keeping cooler water out of cold items. Zip top bags are not a good choice for snacks in the backpack because 1) they tear, 2) zippers fail, 3) small animals can smell your food and will eat right through your backpack to get at the bag (critically important if you are stashing your pack to bag a peak or climb a route).
14) I pack all jackets and outerwear in a single duffel bag along with soft baby carrying devices. Hats and mittens go in the outside zipper pocket of the outerwear bag so that they are always in the same place with easy access.
15) Take your headlamp hiking with you. Because you never know.
Friday, November 12, 2010
Babywearing and traveling - update!
I have been a big proponent of babywearing as a way to make traveling easier. Recent changes in TSA policy have thrown a wrench in my travel style.
You can no longer wear a baby in a sling through security. Sigh. Here's the TSA fact sheet. And a quote (emphasis mine):
"All child-related equipment that will fit through the X-ray machine must go through the X-ray machine. Examples include: strollers, umbrella-strollers, baby carriers, car and booster seats, backpacks, and baby slings."
New routine
1. Show ID and boarding pass to TSA gatekeeper.
2. Approach screening area. Take a bin.
3. Remove laptop from carry on bag and place in bin. *Nothing can be placed atop the laptop in the bin. I can use only 1 bin because I carry a mini-laptop.
4. Remove clear 1 quart zip top bag from carry on bag and place in bin.
5. Remove (slip on) shoes and place in bin. *Baby shoes must also be removed!
6. Remove baby. If he can stand, stand him up between you and the belt. If not, you might want to have an extra bin handy to contain the baby - do not put the bin through the x ray!
7. Remove sling and put it in your carry on bag, in another bin, or on the belt - consideration is whether or not straps and buckles might become caught in the belt.
8. Walk through metal detector carrying baby - or have baby walk in front of you. I made Q walk on principle.
9. Wait for your stuff to pass through the x ray.
10. Return baby to a safe spot while you retrieve and don your sling.
11. Return baby to sling.
12. Replace your shoes.
13. Replace laptop and 1 quart zip top bag into your carry on bag.
14. Proceed with your day.
TSA website specifies that you may not ask TSA personnel to assist with your baby. In my experience, kind male officers offered to help which I politely declined.
Not making traveling easier for families.
In SLC the other day, I declined to remove Q and experienced the new enhanced pat-down search. If you are wondering how that was, let me tell you that following the pat-down I am fairly certain not to have breast cancer.
You can no longer wear a baby in a sling through security. Sigh. Here's the TSA fact sheet. And a quote (emphasis mine):
"All child-related equipment that will fit through the X-ray machine must go through the X-ray machine. Examples include: strollers, umbrella-strollers, baby carriers, car and booster seats, backpacks, and baby slings."
New routine
1. Show ID and boarding pass to TSA gatekeeper.
2. Approach screening area. Take a bin.
3. Remove laptop from carry on bag and place in bin. *Nothing can be placed atop the laptop in the bin. I can use only 1 bin because I carry a mini-laptop.
4. Remove clear 1 quart zip top bag from carry on bag and place in bin.
5. Remove (slip on) shoes and place in bin. *Baby shoes must also be removed!
6. Remove baby. If he can stand, stand him up between you and the belt. If not, you might want to have an extra bin handy to contain the baby - do not put the bin through the x ray!
7. Remove sling and put it in your carry on bag, in another bin, or on the belt - consideration is whether or not straps and buckles might become caught in the belt.
8. Walk through metal detector carrying baby - or have baby walk in front of you. I made Q walk on principle.
9. Wait for your stuff to pass through the x ray.
10. Return baby to a safe spot while you retrieve and don your sling.
11. Return baby to sling.
12. Replace your shoes.
13. Replace laptop and 1 quart zip top bag into your carry on bag.
14. Proceed with your day.
TSA website specifies that you may not ask TSA personnel to assist with your baby. In my experience, kind male officers offered to help which I politely declined.
Not making traveling easier for families.
In SLC the other day, I declined to remove Q and experienced the new enhanced pat-down search. If you are wondering how that was, let me tell you that following the pat-down I am fairly certain not to have breast cancer.
Friday, August 27, 2010
This too shall pass
Several years ago, before I had any kids, we had a visit from friend and commenter bearing and her husband who already had kids. The visiting dad noticed the giant grated air intake vent in our living room and said "You should screen this because kids are going to throw stuff down there."
We didn't do it. Our first child was a girl, and she never put anything down there. She also didn't press buttons on the stereo or the oven or bash on the glass fronted bookcases - at least she didn't do it more than once. Seriously, after we said no, she stopped. Along came this boy child, and he loves to press buttons no matter how many times we say no. He bashes on the tv and bookcases again and again. We have actually had to put up a gate to keep him away from the scary basement stairs.
A few days ago, Z screamed like she was being eaten by a monster. Q had opened Chutes and Ladders, extracted one of the pieces and dropped it down the air intake vent. Upon investigation, J discovered a bunch of other stuff down there (including a pacifier left from the last baby who lived in this house before we bought it in 2003) and fished it all out. He didn't screen it though. A couple of days ago we extracted a book. Last night it was half of the alphabet links. Today J has resolved to install a screen.
It only took 5 years, but the prediction has come true.
We didn't do it. Our first child was a girl, and she never put anything down there. She also didn't press buttons on the stereo or the oven or bash on the glass fronted bookcases - at least she didn't do it more than once. Seriously, after we said no, she stopped. Along came this boy child, and he loves to press buttons no matter how many times we say no. He bashes on the tv and bookcases again and again. We have actually had to put up a gate to keep him away from the scary basement stairs.
A few days ago, Z screamed like she was being eaten by a monster. Q had opened Chutes and Ladders, extracted one of the pieces and dropped it down the air intake vent. Upon investigation, J discovered a bunch of other stuff down there (including a pacifier left from the last baby who lived in this house before we bought it in 2003) and fished it all out. He didn't screen it though. A couple of days ago we extracted a book. Last night it was half of the alphabet links. Today J has resolved to install a screen.
It only took 5 years, but the prediction has come true.
Thursday, June 3, 2010
New (to me) back wrap
Q is getting heavy for one-shouldered carries, so I have been experimenting.
I learned from a youtube video!
Click here to view these pictures larger
I learned from a youtube video!
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
No Accounting for Taste
This morning Z asked if she could have 'doubled eggs' for breakfast. Last night we had sliced hard-boiled eggs on the salad, and there were two extras that she helped me peel and knew were in the fridge. She sliced them, popped the yolks into a bowl, watched me add the condiments, then attacked them with a fork. Then she announced that she was going to fill the white parts and lick the moosh out of them because she doesn't like the white and only wants the moosh. I suggested she eat the moosh with a spoon instead and let me take the whites for lunch. Happiness for all except J who had to leave the table. It was too early for him to watch and smell Z eating 'doubled' egg moosh for breakfast.
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Eating the sub-continent: part 2
Raita, Rice, and Curry
With the goal of cooling the potentially warm curry, I made simple raita - inspired by this recipe from the recent issue of bon appetit magazine.
It started with about 3/4 of a 1qt container of plain yogurt. I drained it in a towel lined strainer for a couple of hours and then mixed in a peeled, chopped cucumber, 1t or so of salt, and a handful of chopped cilantro. That's it.
I cooked 2 cups of basmati rice in the rice cooker and then dumped in about a cup of frozen peas at the end of the cooking time and let the heat from the rice defrost and heat the peas.
The curry began with leftover cooked veggies - carrots, celery, onion, and broccoli stems (we ate the florets the other day and I saved the stems for this). I put about 2 cups of cooked vegetables in a saucier with a couple of tablespoons of oil and 1 T of madras curry powder and stirred in about 2 peeled, chopped potatoes over medium heat until everything was nicely coated with spices. Then I added about a cup of red lentils and 3 cups of chicken broth and let everything simmer for a while until the lentils and potatoes were cooked. That was the curry. I used the stick blender to smooth it out a bit. I followed the instructions about how much curry powder to use, but we could have had it hotter.
BTW - I made another small pot of soup without the spices but with everything else for Q. He is now 9 months old, has one partial tooth and loves soup. I blended his with the stick blender before blending the one with spice.
With the goal of cooling the potentially warm curry, I made simple raita - inspired by this recipe from the recent issue of bon appetit magazine.
It started with about 3/4 of a 1qt container of plain yogurt. I drained it in a towel lined strainer for a couple of hours and then mixed in a peeled, chopped cucumber, 1t or so of salt, and a handful of chopped cilantro. That's it.
I cooked 2 cups of basmati rice in the rice cooker and then dumped in about a cup of frozen peas at the end of the cooking time and let the heat from the rice defrost and heat the peas.
The curry began with leftover cooked veggies - carrots, celery, onion, and broccoli stems (we ate the florets the other day and I saved the stems for this). I put about 2 cups of cooked vegetables in a saucier with a couple of tablespoons of oil and 1 T of madras curry powder and stirred in about 2 peeled, chopped potatoes over medium heat until everything was nicely coated with spices. Then I added about a cup of red lentils and 3 cups of chicken broth and let everything simmer for a while until the lentils and potatoes were cooked. That was the curry. I used the stick blender to smooth it out a bit. I followed the instructions about how much curry powder to use, but we could have had it hotter.
BTW - I made another small pot of soup without the spices but with everything else for Q. He is now 9 months old, has one partial tooth and loves soup. I blended his with the stick blender before blending the one with spice.
Friday, March 12, 2010
Baby transportation, continued
People ask me sometimes...
So why not use a car seat carrier or car seat that snaps into a stroller?
The answer is simple. I like to choose the path of minimal effort and cost.
With Z we didn't even have one of those infant car seats because we didn't want to pay for something that she might outgrow in a few months. Turned out that she was tiny and could have easily stayed in one for quite a long time, but we didn't mind. It was still one less thing to buy. Those carriers are heavy and awkward to tote around. We drive a small car, and I don't want to fill up the trunk space with a stroller. When we left the hospital with Z, the staff were fretty about our lack of a bucket. They insisted that we must bring the carrier into the hospital and buckle her into it to carry her out. Not possible, so one of the staff accompanied us to the car to witness Z being buckled into the seat.
Now, we have an infant car seat that we inherited from someone else, and it stays in the car.
Recently we traveled by air and planned to rent a car at our destination. That entailed bringing car seats for both kids along with our luggage. Important - car seats don't count against your luggage allowance. We did it without using a cart at the airport. Here's how - drive to the airport. Put Z in the front seat so that her car seat can be taken out and put into a bag (easier to carry and protects it a bit) while I am putting Q on my back in the Ergo. Then his seat goes into a bag. J carries Z's seat and one piece of luggage, a big duffel. I slide the handles of the bag with Q's seat over the handle of a rolling suitcase and roll them together. I hold Z's hand and have the diaper bag over my shoulder. We have never brought a stroller when traveling as a family - it would just be one more thing to carry.
You might be wondering, what carriers did you bring on your vacation? For this most recent trip, three: Maya Wrap ring sling, Maya Tie, and Ergo. Balance of comfort and utility.
See my earlier post about traveling with kids and the comments for more tips.
So why not use a car seat carrier or car seat that snaps into a stroller?
The answer is simple. I like to choose the path of minimal effort and cost.
With Z we didn't even have one of those infant car seats because we didn't want to pay for something that she might outgrow in a few months. Turned out that she was tiny and could have easily stayed in one for quite a long time, but we didn't mind. It was still one less thing to buy. Those carriers are heavy and awkward to tote around. We drive a small car, and I don't want to fill up the trunk space with a stroller. When we left the hospital with Z, the staff were fretty about our lack of a bucket. They insisted that we must bring the carrier into the hospital and buckle her into it to carry her out. Not possible, so one of the staff accompanied us to the car to witness Z being buckled into the seat.
Now, we have an infant car seat that we inherited from someone else, and it stays in the car.
Recently we traveled by air and planned to rent a car at our destination. That entailed bringing car seats for both kids along with our luggage. Important - car seats don't count against your luggage allowance. We did it without using a cart at the airport. Here's how - drive to the airport. Put Z in the front seat so that her car seat can be taken out and put into a bag (easier to carry and protects it a bit) while I am putting Q on my back in the Ergo. Then his seat goes into a bag. J carries Z's seat and one piece of luggage, a big duffel. I slide the handles of the bag with Q's seat over the handle of a rolling suitcase and roll them together. I hold Z's hand and have the diaper bag over my shoulder. We have never brought a stroller when traveling as a family - it would just be one more thing to carry.
You might be wondering, what carriers did you bring on your vacation? For this most recent trip, three: Maya Wrap ring sling, Maya Tie, and Ergo. Balance of comfort and utility.
See my earlier post about traveling with kids and the comments for more tips.
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Babywearing -- everybody's doing it (?)
Another article from the NYT has overcome my inability to blog. This time, it's about babywearing. And in the Fashion section. Who knew?
Many people ask my about babywearing, and I have helped a lot of moms and a few dads learn to wear their babies. The most frequent question is "Which carrier should I get?" To which I must reply, "Different tools for different jobs, my friend. In our house we have several."
Which do I like and why, here goes:
1. A ring sling, such as a Maya Wrap (get the lightly padded, it is much better than the original), is really useful for: brand new babies in a vertical position against your chest, bigger babies in a sitting position, breastfeeding in the sling with or without using the tail as a cover,and strapping babies into shopping carts or restaurant high chairs with broken buckles (all of them). This is not an exhaustive list. J carried Z in a ring sling until she was well over 2. It's great for the up-down stage, doesn't take up a lot of space in a bag, and is a good value for the money. Not good for carrying baby through the airport because of the metal rings. You will have to take baby out to go through security. A ring sling will always be in my stable of carriers.
2. A soft structured carrier, such as the Ergo. I really like this for putting babies old enough to have head control on either the front or the back. It has a pocket that zips, and I find it pretty comfortable. Breastfeeding is possible (with baby in front), and this is how I managed to deal with Z's tendency to switch nurse, especially when shopping. This is currently my choice for hikes up to about 3 miles. Great for travel and you do not need to remove baby to pass through security at the airport. The downside? J hates it. "I know how a backpack should fit, and that feels terrible." I recently ordered a Beco which is a similar carrier with a higher back because Q has a tendency to try and arch his way out of the Ergo. Will update once I know how I feel about it.*updated April 2012 - loved, loved, loved the Beco for Q. J never liked it. Recently acquired a Boba brand soft structured carrier, and for the first time ever both J and I can agree on a carrier. SSC are still my go to devices for a nearly 3 year old*
3. One or more wraps. For newborns, stretchy wraps such as a Moby are great. Tie them on once and pop the baby in and out all day. Some people can successfully nurse in them (I never got the hang of it). Good value, and pretty easy to learn. For bigger babies, I like a woven wrap as well. We have tried several including Didymos (our first sling!), Ellaroo, Merry Carry (made by Bebina), and Gypsy Mama Bali Baby Breeze. Woven wraps have a little more of a learning curve, but they are very supportive and comfortable. We reach for the Ellaroo in the summer and the Didy in the winter. J never uses the Merry Carry because it is red.
4. We now have two mei-tais. One was made by my mom, and the other is commercial from the Maya Wrap people. It is called the Maya Tie. This category shares many nice features of the woven wraps and soft structured carriers. Wear on the front or the back, slightly easier to learn than a wrap, and less bulky to tote around. This is J's favorite for keeping Q calm during the day and the place where Q sleeps the most (on J's back).
5. I do have a pouch sling. It is a Lucky Baby brand, and it lives in the car as an emergency backup. Not comfortable enough for me to reach for it often, but doesn't take up much space, and I am glad to have the backup.
Do it yourself-ers can have many field days with baby carriers - some great patterns are available free from the amazing Jan at SleepingBaby.net.
Never pay full price!! There is an active used market for most baby carriers, and you can find them often on Ebay, Craigslist, and on the TheBabyWearer.com, a website dedicated to babywearing. Look in the Forums (you have to register), and for the For Sale or Trade (FSOT) thread.
Do we have a stroller? Yes. Does it see much use? No. Strollers have their place. I put Z in one once when I needed to try on pants. That's hard to do effectively when wearing a baby. Lots of other things are much easier though - grocery shopping, public transit, carrying bags through the airport, cooking dinner...you get the picture. J tends to put small kids in the stroller when they are sleeping and he needs to do yardwork, gardening, or work on the car. Be sure to park them in the shade!
Many people think that it is hard to learn to wear your baby, and it does take practice, but help is available from other parents, from websites like TheBabyWearer.com, and there are even lots of demo videos on YouTube. I just finally learned to wrap a baby on my back in my Didymos yesterday after watching a couple of YouTube videos!
You may notice that I didn't mention Bjorns...we do have one but don't use it. Not very comfortable, they are spendy, and you can't breastfeed in it. Fails my tests.
In summary, different strokes for different folks, and choose the right tool for the job.
Let the questions and comments begin.
Many people ask my about babywearing, and I have helped a lot of moms and a few dads learn to wear their babies. The most frequent question is "Which carrier should I get?" To which I must reply, "Different tools for different jobs, my friend. In our house we have several."
Which do I like and why, here goes:
1. A ring sling, such as a Maya Wrap (get the lightly padded, it is much better than the original), is really useful for: brand new babies in a vertical position against your chest, bigger babies in a sitting position, breastfeeding in the sling with or without using the tail as a cover,and strapping babies into shopping carts or restaurant high chairs with broken buckles (all of them). This is not an exhaustive list. J carried Z in a ring sling until she was well over 2. It's great for the up-down stage, doesn't take up a lot of space in a bag, and is a good value for the money. Not good for carrying baby through the airport because of the metal rings. You will have to take baby out to go through security. A ring sling will always be in my stable of carriers.
2. A soft structured carrier, such as the Ergo. I really like this for putting babies old enough to have head control on either the front or the back. It has a pocket that zips, and I find it pretty comfortable. Breastfeeding is possible (with baby in front), and this is how I managed to deal with Z's tendency to switch nurse, especially when shopping. This is currently my choice for hikes up to about 3 miles. Great for travel and you do not need to remove baby to pass through security at the airport. The downside? J hates it. "I know how a backpack should fit, and that feels terrible." I recently ordered a Beco which is a similar carrier with a higher back because Q has a tendency to try and arch his way out of the Ergo. Will update once I know how I feel about it.*updated April 2012 - loved, loved, loved the Beco for Q. J never liked it. Recently acquired a Boba brand soft structured carrier, and for the first time ever both J and I can agree on a carrier. SSC are still my go to devices for a nearly 3 year old*
3. One or more wraps. For newborns, stretchy wraps such as a Moby are great. Tie them on once and pop the baby in and out all day. Some people can successfully nurse in them (I never got the hang of it). Good value, and pretty easy to learn. For bigger babies, I like a woven wrap as well. We have tried several including Didymos (our first sling!), Ellaroo, Merry Carry (made by Bebina), and Gypsy Mama Bali Baby Breeze. Woven wraps have a little more of a learning curve, but they are very supportive and comfortable. We reach for the Ellaroo in the summer and the Didy in the winter. J never uses the Merry Carry because it is red.
4. We now have two mei-tais. One was made by my mom, and the other is commercial from the Maya Wrap people. It is called the Maya Tie. This category shares many nice features of the woven wraps and soft structured carriers. Wear on the front or the back, slightly easier to learn than a wrap, and less bulky to tote around. This is J's favorite for keeping Q calm during the day and the place where Q sleeps the most (on J's back).
5. I do have a pouch sling. It is a Lucky Baby brand, and it lives in the car as an emergency backup. Not comfortable enough for me to reach for it often, but doesn't take up much space, and I am glad to have the backup.
Do it yourself-ers can have many field days with baby carriers - some great patterns are available free from the amazing Jan at SleepingBaby.net.
Never pay full price!! There is an active used market for most baby carriers, and you can find them often on Ebay, Craigslist, and on the TheBabyWearer.com, a website dedicated to babywearing. Look in the Forums (you have to register), and for the For Sale or Trade (FSOT) thread.
Do we have a stroller? Yes. Does it see much use? No. Strollers have their place. I put Z in one once when I needed to try on pants. That's hard to do effectively when wearing a baby. Lots of other things are much easier though - grocery shopping, public transit, carrying bags through the airport, cooking dinner...you get the picture. J tends to put small kids in the stroller when they are sleeping and he needs to do yardwork, gardening, or work on the car. Be sure to park them in the shade!
Many people think that it is hard to learn to wear your baby, and it does take practice, but help is available from other parents, from websites like TheBabyWearer.com, and there are even lots of demo videos on YouTube. I just finally learned to wrap a baby on my back in my Didymos yesterday after watching a couple of YouTube videos!
You may notice that I didn't mention Bjorns...we do have one but don't use it. Not very comfortable, they are spendy, and you can't breastfeed in it. Fails my tests.
In summary, different strokes for different folks, and choose the right tool for the job.
Let the questions and comments begin.
Monday, October 5, 2009
Travel Tips
This grew out of a comment thread on Facebook. Given time, I am sure that I will think of more.
Travel tips:
1) Wear a skirt - it makes taking care of your own toilet needs while wearing a baby in a sling much much easier
2) If on a plane and you can possibly do it, skip the carseat in the plane for the older child, it just puts them within kicking reach of the seat in front, prevents them from using their tray table, very hard to fasten in because the buckle is inevitably on the far side (and how will you do it while monitoring older child and wearing baby in sling?)
3) If you buckle an older child in the carseat in the plane, take their shoes off -it makes kicking the seat in front much less appealing;
4) Wear the baby through security in a metal-free sling - you don't have to take the baby off if there is no metal. ** Edited in November 2010 -- new TSA regulations prohibit wearing a baby through the metal detector in a sling. Baby and sling must be removed **
5) Overalls have enough metal to require extra screening, very cute, but what a hassle for a little one.
6) Nurse nurse nurse those children to keep them happy and quiet on the plane.
7) Airplane magazine and Sky Mall catalog = hours of amusement "find a dog" "find something green" followed by tearing said magazine to shreds
8) Wear your child as long as possible to get through the parking lot and airport. I would wear Z well-past age 2 on my back in an Ergo or MT, basically gave it up when too pregnant. Now with an infant in a sling, I hold Z's hand.
9) Test out your carry-on and sling combo at home while fully packed to make sure that you can do it. For example, Ergo + backpack doesn't work too well. Can you real deal with only a ring sling if you get stranded in an airport for 24 extra hours?
10) Pack 1.5 to 2 times as many diapers as you think you need and extra clothes for all in your carry-on. BTW - diaper bag doesn't count against your carry-on allowance.
11) If traveling with a companion adult, the male should have the job of diaper changing on the plane. He can fold down the changing table, change the baby and then take care of his own needs without moving the baby. Much harder for mom. Usually only one of the airplane lavatories has a changing table, except for Frontier Airlines that has them in all lavatories.
12) If you bring a sippy cup onto the plane, the attendants will fill it for you. No need to pour from one cup to another. Keep in mind that orange juice clogs the sippy cup. Cranberry juice cocktails stain. Apple is the correct choice. How dismayed I was the last time we flew Delta and learned that apple juice had been discontinued! Perhaps it will have returned the next time we fly.
13) If your child doesn't drink everything from the sippy cup, you should drink it before attempting to put the cup away unless you are very confident about the spill-proof nature of the cup. Frankly I take the cheap 'take and toss' variety with us so that I am not sad if it accidentally remains in some seat back pocket. Those are not very spill proof.
14) Wear slip on shoes! Makes the security line much easier. Also, you do have to take off baby's shoes.
15) If you are wearing a cardigan or jacket, they will make you remove it for security screening, even if it is under your babywearing device. My tip - take off the cardigan/jacket before you are in line or wear it over your babywearing device. **Edited in November 2010 to add that on my most recent flight I didn't have to take off my cardigan, but I did have to remove the babywearing device and baby**
My cred: flew with Z on 48 planes before she turned 2; have flown with a 3 year old and 8 week old alone
Travel tips:
1) Wear a skirt - it makes taking care of your own toilet needs while wearing a baby in a sling much much easier
2) If on a plane and you can possibly do it, skip the carseat in the plane for the older child, it just puts them within kicking reach of the seat in front, prevents them from using their tray table, very hard to fasten in because the buckle is inevitably on the far side (and how will you do it while monitoring older child and wearing baby in sling?)
3) If you buckle an older child in the carseat in the plane, take their shoes off -it makes kicking the seat in front much less appealing;
4) Wear the baby through security in a metal-free sling - you don't have to take the baby off if there is no metal. ** Edited in November 2010 -- new TSA regulations prohibit wearing a baby through the metal detector in a sling. Baby and sling must be removed **
5) Overalls have enough metal to require extra screening, very cute, but what a hassle for a little one.
6) Nurse nurse nurse those children to keep them happy and quiet on the plane.
7) Airplane magazine and Sky Mall catalog = hours of amusement "find a dog" "find something green" followed by tearing said magazine to shreds
8) Wear your child as long as possible to get through the parking lot and airport. I would wear Z well-past age 2 on my back in an Ergo or MT, basically gave it up when too pregnant. Now with an infant in a sling, I hold Z's hand.
9) Test out your carry-on and sling combo at home while fully packed to make sure that you can do it. For example, Ergo + backpack doesn't work too well. Can you real deal with only a ring sling if you get stranded in an airport for 24 extra hours?
10) Pack 1.5 to 2 times as many diapers as you think you need and extra clothes for all in your carry-on. BTW - diaper bag doesn't count against your carry-on allowance.
11) If traveling with a companion adult, the male should have the job of diaper changing on the plane. He can fold down the changing table, change the baby and then take care of his own needs without moving the baby. Much harder for mom. Usually only one of the airplane lavatories has a changing table, except for Frontier Airlines that has them in all lavatories.
12) If you bring a sippy cup onto the plane, the attendants will fill it for you. No need to pour from one cup to another. Keep in mind that orange juice clogs the sippy cup. Cranberry juice cocktails stain. Apple is the correct choice. How dismayed I was the last time we flew Delta and learned that apple juice had been discontinued! Perhaps it will have returned the next time we fly.
13) If your child doesn't drink everything from the sippy cup, you should drink it before attempting to put the cup away unless you are very confident about the spill-proof nature of the cup. Frankly I take the cheap 'take and toss' variety with us so that I am not sad if it accidentally remains in some seat back pocket. Those are not very spill proof.
14) Wear slip on shoes! Makes the security line much easier. Also, you do have to take off baby's shoes.
15) If you are wearing a cardigan or jacket, they will make you remove it for security screening, even if it is under your babywearing device. My tip - take off the cardigan/jacket before you are in line or wear it over your babywearing device. **Edited in November 2010 to add that on my most recent flight I didn't have to take off my cardigan, but I did have to remove the babywearing device and baby**
My cred: flew with Z on 48 planes before she turned 2; have flown with a 3 year old and 8 week old alone
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Postcards to Grandparents
Those of you not interested in Cute Things That Children Do, skip this post.
We just returned from a long weekend in Colorado. I helped Zoey write some postcards. I couldn't resist copying the text.
#1
We saw a different elk. There were 3 elks. There was a mommy elk, baby elk, and daddy elk. We walked through the woods. We had a picnic. Oh and let’s tell her that we hiked around a lake. I saw ducks. I found some pine cones and pine trees and that’s it. Ok. That’s it.
#2
I saw 2 elk. They had antlers and they were fighting with them and they were tangled with their antlers. They were big and a couple small ones. And we saw a bear. It was black. It was by Mr. Gibbs house. And it knocked down their bird feeder.
#3
Hmmm. I’m using the potty. We saw elk. They have antlers but they have little pointy things on their antlers. We saw 1 mommy elk, 1 baby elk, and 1 daddy elk. 3 elks. Yep and I got a pretty green rock from Mrs. Gibbs. Ok and there’s a yardstick in a holder with cherries on it. Um, let’s tell that we saw a bear. Ok, I think that’s it. Ok, now help me write my name.
We just returned from a long weekend in Colorado. I helped Zoey write some postcards. I couldn't resist copying the text.
#1
We saw a different elk. There were 3 elks. There was a mommy elk, baby elk, and daddy elk. We walked through the woods. We had a picnic. Oh and let’s tell her that we hiked around a lake. I saw ducks. I found some pine cones and pine trees and that’s it. Ok. That’s it.
#2
I saw 2 elk. They had antlers and they were fighting with them and they were tangled with their antlers. They were big and a couple small ones. And we saw a bear. It was black. It was by Mr. Gibbs house. And it knocked down their bird feeder.
#3
Hmmm. I’m using the potty. We saw elk. They have antlers but they have little pointy things on their antlers. We saw 1 mommy elk, 1 baby elk, and 1 daddy elk. 3 elks. Yep and I got a pretty green rock from Mrs. Gibbs. Ok and there’s a yardstick in a holder with cherries on it. Um, let’s tell that we saw a bear. Ok, I think that’s it. Ok, now help me write my name.
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