Air Travel With Toddlers

If you have the opportunity to go on a fantastic trip, the first thing to cross you mind is probably not the logistics of traveling with your toddler. But once you've got your reservations made and have requested time off work, the reality sets in: You will be stuck in a closed space for hours with a ball of energy and must find a way to not only survive yourself, but keep a couple hundred other passengers from voting you off the island.

Don't worry! There are some tried and true ways that you and your toddler can survive even a long international flight. While you can't expect perfection from a little one, you can definitely make the trip easier on both of you if you use these tips:

Have a Plan

It sounds obvious, but you'd be surprised how many parents just try to "wing it" (no pun intended) when traveling with their kids. Ideally you'll know beforehand out how long your flight will be, when to expect layovers, and how likely your child is to take a nap during the flight. Write down a loose time line for yourself. Also, pack activities but don't throw them all at your toddler at once. Administer each one and keep track of the time, rationing the activities so that there is something new and fun to do throughout the entire flight.

Practice Sitting

It might feel like a pain to do this before your flight, but once you're in the air you'll be glad you practiced sitting. Start out having your child sit for five minutes at home with a book or a quiet activity, and work them up to longer periods. This is particularly beneficial if your child has not been to preschool or has any other experience being still for extended periods of time.

Pack Comfort Items

Be sure to pack comfort items for your child, particularly if you'll be flying internationally and they'll need to sleep on the flight. Change them into their favorite pajamas, bring their special blanket or stuffy toy. You can also pack their favorite snacks, bedtime books or other items that will help them feel cozy in a strange environment.

Don't Be Afraid to Ask For Help

If you're struggling with keeping your child calm or comfortable and you are at your wit's end, it's okay to ask the flight attendants or even other parents sitting close by for their help or advice. These individuals may have experience that you don't have, and you don't need to spend the entire flight in a panic because your child is stressed and acting out.

There's no such thing as a perfect trip, and every child is different. Not only that, but there really is only so much you can expect from a very young child. Your best defense against any kind of meltdown is to be prepared, but remember, it may not be avoidable. You can just do your best, hope things go your way, and ignore the stares of non-parents who haven't been in your shoes.

Spring Fashions For Toddlers

Even moms who aren't that interested in kiddie fashion pull out all the stops when it comes to spring style. Those who celebrate Easter and Passover often have special holiday occasions that require light, fresh clothing that celebrates the season. But even if you're not dressing your little one for a special day, it's so fun to see them in sweet pastels, florals, and seersucker pinstripes.

But in your excitement to find the perfect frock or shorts set, don't forget a most important element: Shoes!

Katie Bug Shoes offers adorable toddler shoes to suit even the most sprite. As the exclusive retailer of Pickles brand shoes, we are proud to say you won't find cuter shoes anywhere. Well-made, beautifully designed and fun to wear (many of them have squeakers!) your little one will not want to take them off.

Remember to measure your child's foot to make sure you're getting the right size before you place your order. Developing little feet need room to spread out along with good support. If you have any questions about shoe sizing or want to talk to us about our shoes and service, we invite you to call 913.206.7505 or email us with our form on our main website.

Have fun dolling up your wee ones this season in spring-inspired kids' fashion--and don't forget the shoes!

Ten Great Books For Your Preschooler

1. One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish



Short, sing-songy rhymes about funny creatures from the imagination of one of the greatest childrens' writers in history. This is my go-to book for almost any occasion that I have to read to young children.

2. Goodnight Moon



Short, sweet, and dreamy--Good Night Moon is a standard in millions of households around bedtime. Make it a part of your nighttime ritual, too.

3. Where the Wild Things Are



This is an intoxicating story for children of all ages. A fantasy about running away after being sent to your room and romping through the forest as the King of the Wild Things--only to come home in time for dinner and snuggles.

4. Curious George Flies a Kite



George the monkey is naughty but he's so lovable and innocent, you can't help but fall in love with his antics. Kids will laugh with glee as George finds a way to get into and out of trouble with every page.

5. Chicka Chicka Boom Boom



You won't be able to keep still when you ready this sassy rhyming alphabet book. And the best part is when all the letters get to the top of the tree and fall down! Chicka Chicka Boom Boom is just as much fun to read as it is for your kids to listen to.

6. The Very Hungry Caterpillar



A colorful, interactive story about growing up and changing. Little kids adore the watching the caterpillar eat his way to being a butterfly.

7. Are You My Mother?



The poor baby bird is on the search for his mother--and children love watching as he mistakes everything from an airplane to a sleeping dog--only to finally be reunited with his real mother much to everyone's relief!

8. The Rainbow Fish



Learning how to share your gifts is the lesson of this beautiful, colorful book. Follow along as Rainbow Fish gives away his treasured, glittering scales to his friends and become happier along the way.

9. Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day



Everybody has bad days, even preschoolers. Your little one will learn how misery loves company when he reads about Alexander's bad day. This book has been a favorite among youngsters since it was first published in 1972.

10. Stellaluna



Stellaluna is a baby fruit bat who gets separated from her mother and taken in by a family of owls where she feels like the odd one out. Eventually she's reunited with her mother and realizes she's perfectly perfect--for a fruit bat!

Does your preschooler have a favorite book that is not on our list? Leave a comment and let us know!

Eat the Rainbow!

Some parents are lucky enough to have kids who will eat anything. Others need to get creative in order to assure their little ones are getting all the nutrition they need. While most kids would rather eat macaroni & cheese than salads, you might try convincing them to "eat a rainbow." That is, serving them foods that represent all the colors of the rainbow. The more vividly a fruit or vegetable is colored, the more powerful its phytonutrients are.

Make it a point to go shopping with your little one and ask them to help you pick out colors from the rainbow from the produce aisle. When you get home, wash the veggies and fruits together and slice them up and arrange them in a sampling tray so you can try everything.

Need suggestions for fruits and veggies to make your own rainbow? Try these:

Red: Cherry tomatoes, strawberries, raspberries, and red bell pepper.

Orange: Oranges (of course!), carrots, cantaloupe, orange bell pepper, and sweet potatoes.

Yellow: Bananas, lemons, squash, yellow bell pepper, pineapple, and corn.

Green: Spinach leaves, green grapes, celery, avocado, broccoli, peas and zucchini.

Blue & Purple: Blueberries, blackberries, eggplant, grapes, and plums.

Choosing a Baby Sitter

In centuries past, families lived together in large groups and children were cared for communally. But today's nuclear families often live isolated from their relatives and the child care rests solely on the shoulders of the mother and father. With so many demands on their time, parents may find themselves in a situation where they need an extra set of hands.

Furthermore, it is important for moms and dads to spend time together as a couple, and an occasional date night means someone has to be available to help watch the kids. That's why it is so important to have babysitters you can trust and rely on.

There are professional child care services which can provide you with home child care on a regular basis, but these can be expensive and you might find that you only need someone occasionally. In that case the best place to find a babysitter is through referrals of people you trust. If your neighbors or co-workers can recommend someone, you will have at least some assurance of the professionalism and reliability of the person you are considering. If no one close to your can refer any options, consider asking at your local church, community college or other institutions where people can be reliably located.

Regardless of how you find your candidate, you want to sit down and talk to them in person before you agree to hire them. Ask questions about how they might handle certain situations; be sure they are mature, understand your needs and are willing to be flexible with your schedule. You also want to be sure that the payment is discussed beforehand to prevent any misunderstandings.

It is a good idea to look for two or three babysitters that you can alternate or call on if one of them is already engaged or unavailable when you need them.

Finding a babysitter can be a project that takes a little time, but the alternative is completely unacceptable. You must have help when you need it, so sit down and talk to your spouse or partner about what you are willing to pay, and what requirements you both have for a sitter. Once you've found the support you need, you'll be amazed how relieved you'll feel.

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Babies: The Movie

Grow Your Own Treehugger

I was lucky enough to get a copy of this book last month and I've spent several days leafing through it. Grow Your Own Treehugger by Wendy Rosenoff is actually more of a workbook and is meant to be used as a jumping off point for more than a hundred activities that are suitable for kids ranging from toddler hood to pre-adolescence.

Grow Your Own Treehugger combines two things that young kids love: interactive fun and learning about the planet. The projects are simple enough that young children can grasp them and can be done with common items from around the house. Each project has step-by-step instructions which make it fool-proof even for parents who may not be "crafty."

The book is large, colorful and easy to read. It is a perfect tool for parents and teachers alike who want to encourage environmental awareness and teach science in a fun way. Check it out and grown YOUR own Treehugger!