Why

Taking baby swimming is as much about them as you! It is the perfect moment out of a busy day when you and baby can relax together, supported in the water and enjoy each other.

The earlier you start the better. Baby had 9 months cocooned in water so knows and likes the environment.
In baby swim classes babies are taught to not only enjoy and feel confident in water but also if they do fall into water they will have the knowledge and instinct to rise to the surface and float or move to the side or to an object and hold on.

A child who is comfortable in water is safer if they ever have a water accident, a child who loves playing in water regularly will be fitter, healthier and better co-ordinated than one who just sits in front of the television or computer! If you watch children in a pool or the sea they are likely to be smiling and laughing, jumping and moving around, having fun, exercising their muscles, lungs and heart and using both sides of their brain – a great plus for the years ahead!

Is it Safe?

Yes, supervised baby swim classes by qualified teachers is safe and fun. Taking baby swimming yourself in the right conditions and playing in the water with your little one is also safe; Submersion’s should only ever be carried out under the supervision of a qualifies teacher.

What do I need to consider?

You need to consider hygiene, health, comfort so make sure you and your baby are healthy, if either of you feel unwell it will not be pleasurable and is not healthy for anyone. Use a swim nappy that doesn’t leak and check that the pool or class ensures those in the pool with you do too. Faeces in the pool is a serious health risk. Look at the temperature of the pool, ideally it should be 32° or over, use a baby wetsuit if needed in these temperature and especially if the pool is cooler. Check the qualifications of the swim teacher and make sure they are insured.

Where can I find a school?

You can look at the list or reputable swim classes on our site, or do an Internet search for “baby swim schools” in your area, ask around, recommendations are always helpful.

What equipment do I need?

You need a swim nappy that works. Most swim schools insist upon our Happy Nappy or Happy Nappy system. A BabyWrap, BabySnug or WarmInOne are ideal to keep baby warm and make them easier to grip, they also deal with pool to changing room chills. A big absorbent towel. Water (warm pools cause dehydration) and a feed for baby to have afterwards. If your baby has eczema a barrier cream will be needed and the BabyGrip will keep the cream in place and gives a better grip – barrier cream on skin means slippery baby!

At both Disney World and Disneyland, special attention is paid to families with infants, toddlers, and preschoolers. Parents can head to the Disney World website to find the best attractions and entertainment for wee visitors.

Parents will also find amenities at the theme parks to make travel with tots easier. For ex., at Disney World, single and multi-day stroller rental is available, and parents will find Baby Care Centers in all four theme parks, with rocking chairs for nursing mothers, diaper-changing rooms, feeding rooms with highchairs and bibs, and even diapers and formula for sale.*

Parents can use the “baby swap” to ride a ride: stand in the line-up only once; first one parent rides, while the other holds the baby, then the other parent goes.

Bargains after kids go back to school: parents of wee kids are likely to find Special Rates at Disney Resorts after the older kids head back to class. And even at Disney’s four low-priced Value Resorts, guests get all the perks of staying at a Disney Resort, such as Magical Express bus service from the airport, and Extra Magic Hours in the theme parks.

More Goodies for Under-Fives Year-Round at Disney World

• Character dining with celebs like Pooh Bear
• Kiddie pools, kids clubs, and playgrounds at Disney resorts
• Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, at World of Disney in Downtown Disney, has fancy hairstyles, costumes, glittery nails… Meanwhile,in an interactive Adventure Room, boys and girls can fill treasure chests and generally act pirate-like.

Tip: When traveling with preschoolers, it’s a great idea to stay at a Disney Resort near Magic Kingdom: Disney World is huge, and travel time between an on-property resort and Magic Kingdom — the favorite park, with little kids — can take 20 minutes. Several resorts are connected to the Magic Kingdom by monorail or a short boat ride. Guests are well-positioned to see the nightly fireworks at Cinderella’s Castle, to watch the Electrical Water Pageant, and to return to their resort for a mid-afternoon nap.

*Always check destination web sites for updates!

Our multi award-winning Pop-Up UV Playshade provides the ultimate in sun and wind protection for children providing the ultimate 50+ UPF. Includes large sand pockets to weigh down the tent on the beach and mesh windows for ventilation, storage bag and ground stakes.

Dimensions (inches)

35 x 51 x 39

Dimensions (cm)

90 x 130 x 100

Note: Fold flat into a small round carry bag a little bigger than a dinner plate.

Phil & Ted’s introduces the ultimate on-the-go solution for parents to combine their baby gear and travel bed all in one lightweight, portable pack. The phil & teds nest features a bassinet-shaped travel bed and a removable duffel-like bag, making it an ultra portable sleep and storage solution. The travel bed is for use with newborns up to 9 months, or 9kgs; and the pop-out storage bag can hold up to 40 litres of gear.

The contoured shaped of the nest gives baby a snug place to rest when you’re on the go! The firm mattress offers comfort and support, perfect for newborns. The strong and sturdy base of the nest is perforated for added ventilation and to avoid moisture build up. The breathable, sheer zip cover provides your little one protection from the sun and those pestering insects!

Weighing only 2kgs, the nest is a great travel companion and can be stowed in the overhead luggage compartments on an airplane. The roomy zip-open gear compartment has enough storage space for a weekend away!

Dimensions – 80cm x 42cm x 12cm

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tJtxofWNrDo

By choosing the right destination and accommodation you can have an unforgettable family holiday. If you’re travelling with very young children, the journey will often be the most stressful part and can put a dampener on the start of your holiday. Take this into consideration when looking at the destination options, maybe think short-hall for your first family trip!

Prepare Your Holiday Budget:

* Review last year’s costs
* Determine whether last year was on target or are you still paying for it?
* Create expectations and get the family on side
* Make a list to include daily allowances for the kids spending money, food etc.
* Decide how you are going to pay for it and stick to that, use savings not credit cards where possible.

Make sure you have a clear idea of where you want to stay and the kind of itinerary you want. Make your bookings well in advance and confirm them before departure. Make sure you schedule in time for unforeseeable delays or schedule alterations.

Make sure children are welcome at your chosen destination, you don’t want to be stressed out by other holiday makers seeking peace and tranquillity while your kids are dive-bombing the pool!

Types of holiday to consider:

* Beach Holiday
* Camping and holiday parks
* City breaks
* Adventure holidays
* Skiing holidays
* Long haul family holidays
* Cruise
* Self Catering

Wherever you choose to go, be flexible and as relaxed as possible. Weather is unpredictable, transport does get cancelled and schedules can go out the window. The more you go with the flow, the more your kids will too. Enjoy!

Visit www.babytravelshop.ie for more Travel Tips and Products!

From Aisling O’Donoghue at Baby Travel Shop

Everything you take should be expendable and also factor in that toys get dirty so the easier they are to clean the better.

A bag of balloons is one of the best travel tricks I’ve learned, you can share them with new friends and they provide endless entertainment. Consider balls made from sponge and small hacky sacks, these are light and can be used indoors.
There are lots of games you can play without props, from memory, counting and clapping games to drawing noughts and crosses and hangman. Travel is time for spending together so do talk and read to your children.

Travel toys for babies:
Look for a selection of teething toys that are fun to hold, rattle and bright, anything that plays lullabies or music can help distract them from getting upset or help them sleep.

Toddler entertainment:
Collect a supply of goodies that you wouldn’t mind losing eg. Plastic cups for filling with water, plastic spoons, beer mats etc.. and keep collecting as you go. Also take books with flaps to open and sounds when pressed and some music too.

Under-five entertainment:
Colouring supplies like pencils and crayons, avoid markers. A blank notebook, sticky tape, stickers, small toys like cars and small animals. A portable DVD player with headphones! Keep new toys hidden and wrapped up, introduce them one at a time – as you pass one new toy on, take another away to re-introduce at a later time. New books to read together, one or two per child should be plenty.

Checklist:
Babies
Things to grip: rattles, paper cups
Teething rings or keys
Plastic mirrors
Wrist rattles
Toys that play lullabies

Toddlers
Textured toys: cloth books, pay centres with different knobs and sounds
Things to stack and rearrange: plastic spoons, paper cups
Plastic play mat
Music

Under-fives
Colours, paper, sticky tape, cards
Colouring and storybooks
Small imagination toys, cars, dolls
Balloons
Balls
Music, recorded stories and films

Other kids, this is the number one childrens entertainment, if you spot another family, watch for a little while, if you’re happy with the way they are interacting then make it easy for your kids to meet their kids, once they hook up it will make your trip much much easier.

Charter flights
If you are going on a package holiday with a tour operator, a charter flight is generally included in the price. Charter flights are organised by tour operators and they sometimes get highlighted for overcrowding, discomfort and delays.

However, they are usually cheaper than scheduled flights and can be better for families as they offer a variety of extras. If you have a query about your flight contact your tour operator first. Some charter airlines offer flight-only tickets which you can book without paying for a whole holiday package.

Scheduled flights
If you decide to book your flights and accommodation separately, you will probably find yourself on a scheduled flight. These are organised by scheduled airlines and fly throughout the year at scheduled departure times. They tend to be more comfortable and cost a bit more than charter flights.

You don’t usually have to pay extra for meals and services but seats together, bulkhead seats and bottle warming cannot always be guaranteed. Make sure to contact the airline if you have any queries, some tour operators offer you the choice of charter or scheduled flights (go scheduled if the price and time difference is not too much).

Flight tips
A couple of things you should consider to make the journey more enjoyable.

Explain you have a child when you book and opt for all the extras you can. Note down any reference numbers and call at least 24 hours befre departure to check your requests are ‘in your booking’.

Prepare individual nappy packs that include wipes and a nappy bag so you don’t have to bring your entire hand luggage to the loo.
Night flights are good for long-haul journeys. Look for flights that fit into your babies routine.
Avoid ‘drowsey’ medications as they can have the opposite effect. Some forum board mums do try these out in advance to see if they have the desired effect on your little one, consult the doctor if it’s a major concern.
Expect delays. Bring extra food, change of clothes and nappies in your hand luggage.
Ask for extra leg room.
Feed your baby during take-off and landing to help with their ears and to settle them.
Ask early to be moved to a spare row of seats if the flight isn’t full.

It’s all about planning and managing expectations. Take some time to figure out what you want from the holiday; by getting what you want from the holiday, it will make it more enjoyable for everyone else. Talk to your family about what they might like and make sure everyone is considered.

Making The Most Of Your Holiday Time Together
Forget the stress of planning; most of us really enjoy our holidays once we are there. A holiday together is a rare chance to spend some quality time with your family away from the day-to-day hassles of everyday life. You only get to do this once or twice each year, so make the most of it!

Take it in turns to decide what to do – One way to make sure that everyone enjoys their holiday is to let a different person have their own ‘day’, where they get to decide an activity for that day.

Take time to play – on average we get under two hours of quality time together as a family each day when at home. So make the most of the extra time on holiday to be daft together and make those funny holiday memories you can look back on and laugh about. This could be as simple as splashing about in the pool with a beach ball, or could involve something altogether more imaginative!

If you are concerned with the limited number of activities that your young children may be able to participate in, you could teach them an activity like Tennis or Swimming, it could become a part of everyday away and special bonding time for you too!

Relax the rules! One of the benefits of being on holiday is the lack of a set routine. As long as your children are safe and sound, relax the usual rules. Holidays are meant to be a break from your routine and the more relaxed everyone is, the more you’ll enjoy your time together. If you’re staying in your own villa or holiday home, it’s much easier to let the whole family amuse themselves without having to worry about who’s doing what all of the time.

Points to remember:
- Get a guide to the area you are visiting and let everyone put forward what they would like to do.
- Have fun together, relax, unwind, take it easy and remember time is precious.
- Don’t worry if your children want to eat chips at every mealtime or stay up late. It is a holiday for all the family not just the parents, kids are so much fun!