Building excitement with books!

One of my favorite ways to get prepared and build excitement about an upcoming trip with B is to read books together about our destination.  Thankfully there are some wonderful book series available for preschoolers. Here are our favorites!

The Sasha Series by Shamini Flint - This series is our favorite!  Ms. Flint writes her stories through the eyes of her daughter Sasha as the pair visits a variety of destinations in Asia and around the world.  Alpana Ahuja supplies the delightful illustrations.  The Sasha series includes visits to the Maldives, Mumbai, Bali, Kuala Lumpur, Hong Kong, Bangkok, Beijing and London as well as 7 titles dedicated to the city and attractions of Singapore.  (Parents might enjoy her Inspector Singh mystery series which sees her detective solving cases in Hong Kong and Bali, amongst others.)


This is...  Series by Miroslav Sasek.  Mr. Sasek (1916 – 1980) was a Czech author and illustrator who wrote a number of charming books for kids to help them learn about destinations such as Paris, London, New York, Rome, Venice, Edinburgh, Australia and Hong Kong to name only a few.  The books are jammed with lovely illustrations, facts and observations about the location in question. I will never forget the delight B expressed upon seeing the Mona Lisa in the Louvre, after having seen and read about the painting prior to our visit in Sakek's "This is Paris".

Hello...!  Series by Martha Zschock.  Ms. Zschock's series of board books focuses on U.S. destinations including Boston, New Orleans, Maine, Cape Cod, San Francisco, Chicago and Washington.  Cute illustrations and clever rhyming text make these books a delight to read.  Since B and I travel frequently together without Daddy along, I am especially fond of these books because the illustrations are of a solo parent and child exploring together.  Ms. Zschock is also the author of the Journey Around... From A to Z series of books which include New York, Boston and Cape Cod among others. 

The Adventures of Bella and Harry Series by Lisa Manzione

offers kids the opportunity to read about the adventures of sibling Chihuahuas Bella and Harry in ten of the world's most iconic cities including Paris, Venice and Cairo.  Four new titles including St. Petersburg and Vancouver will be available in 2014.

For older kids, there are a number of other excellent book series:

Lonely Planet's Not for Parents Series offers kids the inside story about many of the world's most famous cities and continents including Rome, London and New York and Asia.

The Recipe for Adventure Series by Giada De Laurentiis follow the adventures of Zia, Alphie and Emelia in some of the world's great food cities.  Titles to date include Naples, Paris and Hong Kong.  Her fourth book highlighting the foods of New Orleans is due to be published in June 2014.

Cooper's Pack Travel Guides allow kids to follow Cooper and his pals as they have adventures around the world, including destinations such as Alaska and Seattle. Upcoming titles include Athens and Bangkok.

The Geronimo Stilton and Thea Stilton Series follow mouse siblings Geronimo and Thea as they solve mysteries and have adventures around the world.  Some of the more intriguing titles include Geronimo Stilton and Mighty Mount Kilimanjaro and Thea Stilton and the Mystery on the Orient Express.  There are literally dozens of titles so you are bound to find something of interest touching on the area in the world you are traveling to.

Do you have favorite travel books you read with your kids when preparing for a trip?

20 Things I've Learned Traveling with a Baby

This month marks the third anniversary of our travels with B.  As a nervous first-time parent, our first trip was to my parents’ house in Orlando, Florida when B was 3 1/2 months old.  Even though I would be staying at a house that was already pretty baby-equipped from my two nephews, I packed way too much stuff.  Hot and cranky seated on my lap, B spent a lot of time fussing and crying, making a just-under-3-hour flight seem like forever.  At our absolute low point, he spit up all over me when landing.  Seated in the bulkhead, I had no access to my wipes and had to wait soaked and humiliated to get to the gate while the male flight attendant looked at me with disdain.  I had read about the benefits of nursing while taking off and landing, but I had nursed him way too much.

That could have been my last flight with B.  At the time, traveling with a small baby seemed like an awful lot of work and an awful lot of trouble.  Over the next several months, the opportunity came up for us to take B to Florida again and to take a couple of cruises and what do you know?  Every trip became easier and more enjoyable!

Our travels definitely started out in earnest.  But B is now 3, and we have traveled with him to over 20 countries, traveling as close as the U.S. and as far-flung as India.  This winter, we will be traveling through Vietnam and Cambodia.  My husband and have spent lots of time traveling through Asia, and we can’t wait to do it with B!

20 Things I’ve Learned Traveling with B:

1.  Practice makes perfect!  The more you travel with a child, the easier it gets! As a first time parent, the thing I found more stressful than sleepless nights and midnight feedings, was trying to figure out all the gear.  So, prior to flying with my son for the first time, I practiced going through security in my living room - folding the stroller while holding my son and getting everything (including shoes and a small Ziploc with liquids) onto the x-ray belt with only one available hand.  Boy, am I glad I did as it made getting through security a breeze.  Each new trip has become easier because we’ve had so much practice with packing, flying and dealing with challenges we encounter along the way.

2.  Planning ahead can save a lot of trouble.  I’ve always been a planner and to me, planning a trip is half of the fun.  I usually ‘rough’ out a day-to-day calendar throughout our trip.  We don’t have to stick to it, but it can help get us started when we are feeling tired or jet-lagged.  Speaking of jet-lag…

3.  Jet-lag isn’t a big deal.  Kids often deal better with jet-lag than their parents.  We find traveling from east to west more challenging as it usually results in B waking up a lot earlier than we’d like.  But as long as we stick to our normal routine in our destination time zone, it doesn’t take more than a day or two to get into the swing of things.

4.  Get your child involved and excited about the destination.  Prior to traveling to Paris, I bought B the book “This is Paris” by Miraslav Vasek.  When we visited the Louvre, B was SO excited to see the Mona Lisa, as he had seen and read about her many times in his book.  Before we travel anywhere, B and I read and talk about some of the things we will see, eat and do there.  What kid wouldn’t be excited about an upcoming trip knowing they will have a chance to eat waffles in Belgium or ride an elephant in Cambodia?

5.  Slow down.  Prior to being parents, Mark and I covered a lot of ground trying to see and do as much as possible during our travels.  Traveling with B has made us slow down, spend more time in each place.  With a toddler, we often head off first to the local playground.  These playgrounds often turn out to be highlights of our trips – not only does B get to blow off steam, but we has the opportunity to meet local kids and we get to chat with fellow parents.  And when we can’t find a playground, we find a grassy park for B to run around.  Our O-Ball takes up no room in my backpack, and it turns any open space into an impromptu soccer pitch.

6.  Keep it simple.  Where possible, choose direct flights over connecting - each connection not required is one less connection that can be missed.  Do you really need to visit five European countries or would visiting just one or two let you savor the location and relax?

7.  Renting a condo can be WAY more fun and convenient than staying in a hotel.  When visiting Maui, most of our time was spent at our condo rental but we splurged for a few nights at a large resort.  At the resort, we had to walk a half mile just to get to our car, restaurant charges were extortionate ($8 for a half grapefruit?) and there was a large fee to use a shaded lounger at the kiddy pool.  At our condo, we had plenty of space, two bedrooms and a large garden where B could play right outside our lanai. We could prepare our own meals when we wanted to but had a variety of restaurants just a few minutes walk away. 

8.  Don’t expect traveling with a child to be the same as before you had kids.  Traveling with a young child, we do different things than we did before.  We spend more time visiting parks than night clubs and see even places we’ve been to before with a new set of eyes.  And although Mark and I would never have considered a cruise pre-baby, we’ve discovered that cruises can be a fun, low-hassle way to travel with kids.

9.  Make sure you have all the required documentation.  In addition to passports and any necessary visas, travel with kids may require additional documentation particularly if they are traveling with only one parent.  Read more: Traveling with a child who doesn't share your last name, Traveling as a solo parent

10.  Don’t restrict yourself to theme parks and other child-specific attractions.  In B’s travels, I am frequently surprised at how much he has enjoyed places which I wouldn’t think of necessarily visiting with a child.  In Amsterdam, B wasn’t interested in the paintings at the Van Gogh Museum, but what he did enjoy was our game of ‘I Spy’ where he was called upon to spot the man with the yellow hat, or to count the windmills in a painting.  As a toddler at the Panama Canal, B wasn’t interested in watching ships go through the locks, but the huge viewing area was a great place to play with his ball and to run around.  Using a bit of creativity can make almost any destination fun.

11.  Don’t mess with nap time.  We learned long ago that messing with B’s nap time can lead to disaster, so we plan our days to make sure we always incorporate nap time.  Sometimes this means a few hours of down time in our hotel room, giving us time to plan for the next day, or have a nap ourselves.  Thankfully B sleeps well in his stroller so when we want to do a bit of uninterrupted shopping or visit an obscure museum, we time our visits for when we know B will be asleep.

12.  Trade off with your partner if you are traveling with one.  Sure it is nice to do everything together as a family, but when traveling with babies and toddlers, this is not always possible.  On our recent bike and barge adventure in Europe, the weather wasn’t cooperating for the long days with B out in the bike trailer.  Mark and I ended up taking turns cycling for the day with the group, while the other enjoyed a day on board the barge with B.  And at times when B napped in the hotel room, we took turns exploring the area around our hotel.

13.  Busy kids are usually happy kids.  Aside from wipes and a change of clothes for B, the most important thing in my backpack is a pencil case full of crayons, small puzzles, stickers, pipe cleaners, small sheets of colored paper and other craft supplies.  This helps keep B occupied while we are waiting for our food at restaurants, and for flights and train rides.

14.  There is lots of travel gear and handy gadgets out there, but you can do without most of them.  Over the years, we’ve used a lot of travel gear but the things I almost always travel with include an inflatable bath tub (to keep up B’s bath routine on cruises and rooms without tubs), our stroller, our CARES harness and our Boba carrier for those times when a stroller just won’t do.  We also find a baby monitor handy for times when we plan to enjoy our terrace/balcony/other room after B has gone to bed.

15.  There are lots of other intrepid families and plenty of good advice available.  From families who have done their first road trip to Disney World to the intrepid family at Going Anyway, who are traveling the world with 5 kids in tow, there are plenty of people out there sharing valuable travel advice.

16.  Take the ‘haters’ with a grain of salt.  For every person who says you shouldn’t travel to this place or that or fly with a child, there are plenty of others who have already done it, and had a great time!  Prior to traveling to Paris with B, I had read a lot of articles about how unfriendly Paris is for kids but we found it to be the complete opposite! 

17.  How to pack lean and mean.  After many trips and flights, we have learned the difference between what we really need to pack and what we’d like to pack.  With all the baggage charges airlines are charging extra for these days, I’ve figured out how to pack all of B’s stuff and all of my stuff together in one small suitcase - and still have some room for souvenirs.

18.  Be self-sufficient when flying.  Sure, many airlines offer special kids meals but more often than not, your child will get some soggy rendition of chicken nuggets and fries, if they get anything at all.  We learned long ago to bring our own food, snacks and drinks on board.  Most airlines no longer carry enough milk to refill a sippy cup, so if your child is partial to milk, bring your own on board.  Similarly, don’t rely on having a seat back entertainment system.  Not all airlines have them and even when they do, sometimes they just don’t work.

19.  Just because they won't remember, doesn't mean you shouldn't do it.  While B probably won’t remember all the details from his travels as a baby, he is still learning an awful lot along the way.  He does remember a lot though, but more importantly, he is learning about other countries and experiencing new cultures, foods and experiences.

20.  Just do it!

What has travel with your own children taught you?

Flying with Kids - The Unending War

The more I read online about family travel, the more often I come across tirades from travelers wanting to ban kids from air travel.  I've been on both sides of the equation:  Prior to having a child, I had been on plenty of flights where babies have cried for hours on end; I've had a child behind me pull my hair; I've sat next to a woman who had a very big and squirmy toddler on her lap for a long overseas flight.  Now that I am a Mom myself, I have flown many times with my now 3 year old and I know first-hand the challenges of traveling with a baby and toddler.

Air travel can be tiring and aggravating to all travelers, whether they are traveling with children or not.  But there are things all of us can do to make the experience a little less unpleasant for our fellow passengers.

Dear travelers WITHOUT kids:

• Parents of crying babies would like nothing more than for their babies to stop crying - probably even more than you do
• Glaring at parents and making snide comments will not make a child stop crying, and will more likely aggrevate the situation
• FAA regulations require children under the age of 2 (who have their own seats) to be seated in an approved car seat.  Logistically, this raises the child's feet up - if they are seated behind you, they will probably kick your seat.  Sometimes you may not even be able to recline your seat.  It sucks, but flights don't last forever.  Despite what you may think, the child's parents are NOT doing this to you on purpose.
• No matter how much you paid for your ticket, the fact is air travel is public transportation, just like a bus.  No airline can afford to institute a no-child policy.  If you don't like flying with kids, it's probably best to charter your own plane.

Dear travelers WITH kids:

• Be prepared with lots of activities and snacks to keep your kids entertained.  Many airlines don't have individual seat back entertainment systems, and even those sometimes don't work.  And we all know what airline food is like.  Pack your own!
• It is not always possible to select your ideal seat, but if you are able, try to select seats which will work best for your brood.  Are Bulkhead Seats Worth It?  Because the plane is bowed out at the window seat, this often gives you and your child(ren) a little extra space if they are seated there.
• Similarly, it is not always possible to pick your ideal flight time, but if you can, book flights during your child's typical sleep times. 
• Most planes have at least one washroom with a baby change table.  Use it.  Please don't use the seat or tray table.
• If your kids are watching movies or playing games on an iPod or other personal device, make sure they wear earphones so they don't disturb other passengers
• An airplane poses many dangers to children if they are wandering along the aisle or playing at your feet - hot drinks, heavy carts and the possibility of turbulence.  Children are safest buckled in their seats.
• Keep your kids off the seat in front of them.  It is not always possible, but it is your responsibility to try to keep your kids from kicking the seat, leaning on the tray table and grabbing onto the head rest.  I know from experience this is not always possible, but at least try!  The day you fly is NOT the day to use the word 'no' for the first time.

Read more:

Reclining Airline Seats - Love them or hate them
Are Bulkhead Seats Worth It?

What tactics do you use to keep your kids from disturbing other passengers?

Sigh. No European River Cruising for us. Yet!

In my 30s, most of my European travels were on two wheels.  I loved the freedom to explore all the small villages and stop whenever I wanted.  I have enjoyed island-hopping in Denmark, beautiful towns in the Czech Republic and eaten more cakes and pastries than I care to admit in Austria.  Thank goodness I covered enough distance to work those off!

I must admit, now that I'm older and with a toddler-in-tow, I am not quite as gung ho on independent bike touring.  Plenty of families do it and have a great time, but honestly, I am feeling less ambitious these days and am looking for more relaxation on vacation.  I love Europe and a river cruise sounds like a good trade-off.  The ability to discover a new place each day (and most river cruises have bikes available for use), without having to pack and unpack numerous times or live out of a panier. 

Traveling so much with B, I am starting to feel as if there are no limits (bike touring aside) to the places we can travel with him.  So I was a little surprised to find traditional river cruising off the table.  Here are four of the largest and longest-running European river cruise companies, and the minimum ages for travel:

AMAWaterways - 4 years and up

Avalon Waterways - 8 years and up

Uniworld - 4 years and up

Viking River Cruises - 8 years and up

I guess I shouldn't really be surprised... the traditional demographic of river cruisers tends to be empty-nesters and seniors, and they probably don't want to be surrounded by a bunch of noisy kids.  Frankly neither do I.  I should also note that none of these lines caters to kids, so if child care, kids meals and kid-specific activities are on your agenda, it would be best to steer towards more traditional cruises.  Another thing to keep in mind if you are considering a European river cruise, is none of these companies allow more than two people in a cabin.  For many families this means having to book multiple cabins which can be a costly proposition.

Read about Cruising with a Baby and Frommer's Best Cruise Ships for Kids.

So I guess a European Christmas Market cruise will have to wait until B is in college.  In the meantime, we DO have a bike and barge adventure planned for this coming fall.  More on that later...

Renting a Car Seat in Dubai

On our recent visit to Dubai and 12-day cruise to India, I hummed and hawed for weeks about whether or not to take our own car seat with us.

Pros for bringing our own seat:

• A clean, comfy car seat that B is familiar with
• A car seat that I am familiar with, know how to properly install and properly use

Cons to bringing our own seat:

• On our flights, I was planning to use our CARES Restraint, so the car seat would travel as baggage which always carries a risk for damage
• Even if I used our handy GoGo Kidz Travelmate car seat handle, the car seat would be one more item to travel with - when traveling solo with B, this would be one item too many

In the end, I decided against taking our own car seat.  With my backpack, a small travel purse, and our awesome Heys rolling suitcase, that left me with one hand free to push B's stroller (or folding up the stroller and carrying on my shoulder, a hand free to hold his).  This worked perfectly for getting through the airport and through security, but a little voice in the back of my head kept asking if I had made the right decision.

A few weeks prior to our trip, I arranged a car seat rental from Rentacrib, a Dubai-based baby gear rental company.  In addition to being a safety essential, car seats are required in all vehicles (except taxis) by law for all children under 6 years of age, so I knew it was important to have a car seat for each ride on our journey.  In addition to our travels within Dubai, we would also need a car seat for cruise stops, so I arranged the rental for the entire duration of the holiday.

Unlike a number of things on this trip which did NOT go to plan, I was thrilled to arrive in Dubai to find a representative from our hotel (The Qamardeen) waiting for us with the hotel shuttle - and even better still, with our rental car seat installed and ready to go!  Realizing the hotel's own car seat might be too small for a toddler, The Qamardeen's clever concierge brought along our rented car seat (which had been delivered as scheduled to the hotel that morning) installed and ready to go in the shuttle.  Hurray!

The car seat provided was a light-weight Safety 1st brand seat in pristeen condition, and fully equipped with the LATCH system and belt clip for securing with a seat belt.  The lightness of the model was a blessing throughout the trip, as I needed to carry it on and off the cruise ship at each port (often with one arm, and B in the other after a long, tiring day out and about).  Through the course of our travels, I didn't encounter a single vehicle with LATCH anchors, so in each case, I secured the seat using the seat belt and belt clip.

At the end of the cruise, B and I spent four nights at the Sofitel Jumeirah Beach Walk, and Rentacrib had no problem picking up the car seat from a different location at the end of our holiday.

The rental for 17 days ended up being approximately $75 CDN (including delivery and pick up!), far less than it would cost to purchase a seat locally, and far less than it would cost for me to replace our own car seat had it been damaged in transit.

Rentacrib is based out of Dubai and serves the Dubai and Abu Dhabi areas.  They offer rentals of car seats, booster seats, travel cots and strollers, plus safety items such as baby gates and monitors.  I highly recommend them!

Flying the Emirates A380 to Dubai

As soon as we boarded, I knew this wouldn't be like other flights.  We were flying to Dubai on the Emirates A380, one of the new double-decker jets with the first class private suites and showers.

I admit it, though excited about our Mom and son adventure, I was a bit nervous about flying solo with B for the 14 hour flight from Toronto to Dubai.  Would he sleep?  Would he get really unruly being cooped up in an airline seat for so long?

Though we've flown together many times, this was going to be our longest flight, so I made sure to set B's expectations well in advance.  Though it is not always possible to choose, our flight thankfully began at B's regular bedtime.  On previous overnight flights, I've found it helpful to keep with our regular bedtime routine as much as possible, and we talked about what to expect many times leading up to our flight:  "Once the airplane has taken off, we will read stories and then it is bedtime.  After bedtime, we can do crafts and watch lots of movies together."  

Prior to boarding, B got into his pyjamas, and once on board, we read all of his favorite bedtime stories (or at least the compact ones that fit into my backpack).  All the preparation worked like a charm, because as soon as I closed the last book, B declared it to be 'nap time' and went off to sleep.

After a good sleep, B was up again so we kept with his normal morning routine - potty time, getting changed out of his pyjamas, and breakfast.  With all the sounds and activity in the airplane, neither of us got the same amount of sleep as we would in our own beds; but this slight fatigue, temporarily counteracted by the excitement of travel, made it is easier for us both to fall asleep at our destination even when bed-time came 8 hours earlier than normal with the time change.

It would be untruthful to say B did not have his 'moments', but all in all, both our outgoing and return flights went really well.  I came armed with lots of toys, books and stickers, and taking in naps, meals and the wide range of family movies, there was lots to keep B occupied for the long flights.

Here are some features of the Emirates A380 (and Emirates Airlines) that I really appreciated, particularly when flying with a toddler:

• With the steadily decreasing weight limits for luggage these days, I often find it hard to keep even my small suitcase under the limit.   On both our outbound and inbound flights, my suitcase was slightly over the limit - but rather than making me pay a hefty fee, the check-in agent let it go since B and I had only one small suitcase between us.  Not sure if this happens in all cases, but I really appreciated it!
• Economy seating on the A380 is surprisingly roomy, and there was lots of space under the seats ahead of us for all of our belongings, meaning no jockeying for overhead bin space and our things were accessible at all times.  On our outbound flight, we were fortunate to have all three seats to ourselves so we had lots of space to spread out, but even on our return flight (and with a pleasant gentleman in the third seat, hurray!), I found we had plenty of space to be comfortable.
• The A380's entertainment system works even during take-off and landing - the system is paused during announcements and safety videos, but otherwise is available from the moment you board to the moment you get off the plane.  You can also forward through the commercials that appear before the start of movies.  If you've ever had to sit through 10 minutes of ads with a toddler before 'Toy Story' begins, you will know why this is a blessing.
• There are a couple of washrooms tucked a few steps up next to the cockpit - because they were less obvious to other passengers, there were minimally used and stayed quite clean even after many hours in flight.  This is glorious, particularly when traveling with a potty-training toddler!
• Even in economy, passengers have the ability to help themselves to water, juice, chocolate bars and (gasp!) fresh fruit in the galleys throughout the flight.

Handy child safety seats in Bergen shuttle buses

When I'm planning a new trip, I inevitably end up spending a lot of time planning and trying to decide whether or not to bring our own car seat.  In Bergen, Norway, the Flybussen shuttle from our hotel to and from the airport had us covered.  Check out these great built-in child car seats, which fold down from the seat back - there are two of them in each bus.

My Travel Essentials for a Trip to Mexico with a Baby

I was recently asked by a friend for advice on packing for a trip to the Riviera Maya with a baby.  Having just returned from this area ourselves, I thought I would share my must-haves for a trip to Mexico with a baby:

• Duct tape or masking tape - to keep drawers and cabinets shut, cover electrical outlets, fix stuff that breaks (if you want to save room in your luggage, saw a roll in two and just pack one half)
• Car seat – a must if you are planning on renting a car or taking long car trips or rent one down there 
• A travel crib and sheets - if you are staying in a hotel that provides cribs or pack n' plays, it is still a good idea to bring your own sheets since most hotels use standard twin or queen sheets which are easy for an active baby to get tangled up in. Read my review of the Baby Bjorn Travel Crib 
• Stroller - though you may occasionally have to carry the stroller up or down a few stairs or over a puddle, most sights (even archaeological sights like El Rey, Tulum and Chichen Itza) are for the most part, pretty stroller friendly.
• White noise - always a winner for helping a baby sleep particularly in an environment where there might be more noise than he is accustomed to, there are a number of phone apps (we are regular users of Sleep Fan, which can help to drone out the occasional noisy passersby in the hallway, and the inevitable pool-side party)
• Baby monitor – if you plan on using your balcony/terrace after baby has gone to bed
• A wide-brimmed hat, UV protective swim suit (I am a big fan of Baby Banz swimsuits), sunglasses and serious sunscreen

Don't worry if you arrive at your resort and find you have forgotten something.  Pharmacies and shops are abundant and well-stocked, so you will likely have no trouble buying what you need there.

Alternatives to Toronto Pearson Airport

On a recent flight out of Toronto Pearson Airport's Terminal 3, we were disappointed to find that the terminal's sole play area (still listed on the airport website as a saviour to parents) no longer existed.

Thankfully there ARE some family-friendly alternatives to Toronto Pearson for many destinations.  I posted an article about alternative airports back in November but I thought I would repost the information particularly with so many families planning last minute March break holidays.  Here four alternative airports which are convenient to the Toronto area.

Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport

Website:

http://www.torontoport.com/airport.aspx

Proximity/drive to downtown Toronto: 

4 km (approx 30 minutes including ferry ride)

Airlines serviced:

Porter Airlines (to/from over a dozen cities in Canada and the U.S.)

Air Canada (to/from Montreal)

You will appreciate:

• Short check-in and security screening lines
• Family washrooms and change tables in select men’s and women’s washrooms
• Free wi-fi
• Easily accessible by foot, bike, TTC and free shuttle bus from the Royal York Hotel

Kids will enjoy:

• The 2 minute ferry ride from the foot of Bathurst St. to the airport (free for pedestrians, $11 return for vehicles)
• Complimentary water, juice and cookies in Porter’s passenger lounges

Parking:

Limited on-site parking, but pick up/drop off parking is available at the Bathurst Street and Stadium Road lots

Waterloo International Airport

Website:

www.waterlooairport.ca

Proximity/drive to downtown Toronto: 

104 km (1 hour, 20 minute drive)

Adjust your drive times accordingly during rush hours and inclement weather

Airlines serviced:

Westjet (to/from Calgary)

Sunwing (to/from Punta Cana, Dominican Republic)

Bearskin (to/from Ottawa, Montreal)

You will appreciate:

• Short lines for check-in and security
• The Aviator Café in the gate area sells milk and other healthy items (e.g. fruit and cheese, granola, yogurt)
• Family washroom in the main airport lobby and change tables in men's and women's washrooms
• Free wi-fi
• Free use of baggage carts

Kids will enjoy:

• Charging stations in the departure lounge mean you they won’t run out of juice on portable DVD players or other electronics

Parking:

On site $6/day.

Hamilton International Airport

Website:

www.flyhi.ca

Proximity/drive to downtown Toronto: 

84 km (1 hour, 7 minute drive)

Adjust your drive times accordingly during rush hours and inclement weather.

Airlines serviced:

Hola Sun (seasonal flights to/from Cuba)

Westjet (to/from Calgary, seasonally to/from Moncton, Halifax, Winnipeg, Edmonton, Las Vegas, Orlando and Punta Cana)

You will appreciate:

• Short lines for check-in and security
• Tim Hortons for milk, juice and snacks
• Change tables in men's and women's washrooms

Kids will enjoy:

• The children’s play area with tables, chairs, colouring books and games

Parking:

On site economy $14/day ($59/week), premium $19/day ($79/week)

Buffalo Niagara International Airport

Website:

http://www.buffaloairport.com/

Proximity/drive to downtown Toronto: 

175 km  (2 hour drive)

Adjust your drive times accordingly during rush hours and inclement weather.

Allow extra time for the US border crossing particularly on summer weekends and holidays and for roadway construction at the airport.

Airlines serviced:

8 airlines serving 23 destinations in the U.S.

You will appreciate:

• Short lines for check-in and security
• "Companion Care" rest rooms in several locations, change tables in men’s and women’s washrooms
• Numerous restaurant options (milk available) – there is even a branch of the Anchor Bar, the originator of Buffalo chicken wings
• Since you have already crossed the US border on the way to the airport, no further customs screening is required

Kids will enjoy:

• The Fisher Price Play Gate near Gate 16

Parking:

Variety of options with cost ranging from $10 to $24 per day.  Many travelers stay near the airport the evening before their flight.  Not only does this help ensure you don’t miss your flight, but most airport hotels offer free parking for the duration of your holiday.

Traveling with a child who doesn't share your last name

Although in many places around the world, it is unusual for a mother to share the same last name as her child(ren), I find it is still a novelty for some immigration officials when traveling between Canada and the U.S. (Indeed we've also encountered reaction to the fact I don't share my husband's last name).

If you and your child(ren) do not share the same last names on your passports, it is always a good idea to carry a copy of your child's long-form birth certificate which lists both parents’ names.

For children born in Ontario, if you don't already have a copy of your child's long-form birth certificate, you can order one online at Service Ontario.  If this is your first request for a long-form version, the cost is $25.  If you are requesting a replacement copy, it is $35.  Admittedly my home filing system leaves a lot to be desired, so I've had to order replacements a few times, and each time I received it within just a few business days.

In our travels, I’ve been asked for B's birth certificate by U.S. immigration a couple of times, and I’ve been asked a few times by Canadian immigration coming home.  I'm not sure what the result would be if asked and we didn't have it (they will probably just ask a lot more questions) but $25/35 seems a small one-time price to pay to smooth the immigration process.

Here are some tips for Traveling with Children as a Solo Parent

Preparing Yourself (and your kids) for Airport Security

At this time of year, I can’t help but think back to Boxing Day 2009, the day after the botched attack on a Northwest Airlines flight where a passenger on a flight from Amsterdam to Detroit concealed plastic explosives in his underwear.  Thankfully the explosives failed to detonate properly and the culprit was tackled and arrested on landing.  As a result of the attempt, airport security measures at many airports went into overdrive and we were booked on an early morning flight to Florida.  Departing Toronto, each passenger (including our 6 month old son) was subject to a secondary search by the RCMP.  Even in the early morning hours, we endured a 2 hour wait to get through security but we came prepared and thankfully our son was a good sport and too young to question or remember being frisked by a Mountie.

Thankfully this measure lasted only a few weeks, but there’s no doubt that going through security is a maze of constantly evolving rules and practices.  The individual traveler will be challenged to change these practices, but there are ways parents can make it easier on themselves and their children, regardless of the rules of the moment:

Be Prepared

As a first time parent, the thing I found more stressful than sleepless nights and midnight feedings during the first year, was trying to figure out how to use all the gear.  So, prior to flying with my son for the first time (and on my own), I practiced going through security in my living room.  Keeping mind I was traveling with an infant in a car seat clipped to a stroller frame, plus a backpack, but only two hands, I practiced time and time again folding the stroller while holding my son and getting everything (including shoes and a small Ziploc with liquids) onto the x-ray belt with only one available hand.  Boy, am I glad I did as it made getting through security a breeze.  Dry runs also help me to realize when I’ve packed too many things to bring on board, and either leave a few more things at home or pack items in our checked bags.  Our son is now 2 ½ and we’ve been through security screening over two dozen times, but I still do dry runs, even if it is only in my head.

Remember the 3-1-1 Rule

All liquids, gels and aerosols must be in 3.4 ounce (100 ml) or smaller containers. Larger containers that are partly-full are not allowed. That means don't bring along a 6 oz tube of diaper cream, even with only a smidgen left.  All liquids, gels and aerosols must be placed in a single, quart-size, zip-top, clear plastic bag. Gallon size bags or bags that are not zip-top such as fold-over sandwich bags are not allowed. Each traveler can use only one, quart-size, zip-top, clear plastic bag.  Each traveler must remove their quart-sized plastic, zip-top bag from their carry-on and place it in a bin or on the conveyor belt for X-ray screening.

Plan What You Are Going to Wear

Kids under 12 no longer have to remove their shoes going through security but you will probably have to.  Save yourself time by wearing shoes that are easy to slip on and off.  Tuck watches, pocket change, hats, necklaces and belts into your carry-on before getting to security or pack them in your checked bag to wear another day.  I’ve found it most convenient to carry my wallet, passports, camera and wipes in a waist pack.  It keeps my important items easily accessible, my hands free, and I just shove it into my backpack before putting it on the x-ray belt so it is one less thing to claim on the other side.  Security screeners will often ask you and/or your children to remove a zip-up sweater they perceive to be a ‘jacket’ so it can be helpful to wear zipper-free sweaters or sweatshirts instead.

Prepare Your Child

Children must be taken out of strollers and other carriers prior to going through security screening.  If your child is old enough, it is always helpful to explain in advance what to expect.  It is usually less distressing for kids to have their prized blanket or toy placed in Mom’s carry-on just before going through the x-ray machine, than having it go through by itself.  And, going through in a carry-on will keep it cleaner.  Dr. Pat McGrath of Toronto’s Hospital for Sick Children offers helpful advice for preparing children to go through security.

You CAN:

Ask for help.  A security screener cannot hold your child while you put your shoes back on, but they can usually help you get your belongings on and off the x-ray belt if you are traveling with a child on your own and need a hand.

Ask your screener to put on clean gloves.  When my son was an infant, my carry-on was full of teethers and other things that would probably end up in his mouth.  On the occasion a security screener wants to do a hand search of my bag, I always ask them to put on a new set of gloves.  That way, I knew the same gloves that were handling a pair of shoes the moment before would not be the same ones inspecting my son’s belongings.

Remain with your child at all times.  You will never be asked to be separated from your child.

Follow these tips and give yourself plenty of time, and your trip through airport security will be greatly improved.  Happy flying!

Resources:

U.S. Transportation Security Administration

Canadian Air TransportSecurity Authority