We're Taking Our 10 Month Old to Jamaica Next Week...

If you're worried about the flight, a portable DVD player made our first plane trip a breeze! We packed tons of toys, but only used the DVD player, a blanket and snacks. If you're not already a pro, changing diapers on your lap is a MUST!! Good luck! Things will be fine!

Have you ever been to Jamaica? Take a deep breath and prepare to relax. Take a book, go to the beach. You may want to take a few staples for your diet, peanut butter and jelly, crackers. You never know what you are craving that you can't get easily while you are there.

Have you checked the weather while you will be there? I would plan for chilly weather clothing too just in case.

The "taxi" ride to the resort (I hope it is all inclusive) will take over an hour to make. Jamaican's drive like a bat out of hell and on the opposite side of the road than you are accustomed to. There may be stops involved along the way, it is a bumpy, barely there road with cows, dogs and goats sometimes milling about. The scenery on your way to Negril is beautiful though. This might be the worst part of the trip for you but now it doesn't have to be because you have been warned.

The culture shock alone of going into a third world country is stunning. The locals all rely on tourists for their economy and are not shy about asking for it from you directly. I didn't like being touched that much by strangers when I have visited there. We usually stay at Sam Sara in Negril. My family goes for three weeks every year.

Don't forget you will have to exchange money. The airport has a place to do this but sometimes you can get a better rate at a local place for currency exchange.

I was in a wedding in Negril in 1995. The water workers went on strike in the middle of my shower before the wedding. We laugh about it now.

To calm your fears, I don't know how to help you with that. New mothers and even those of us with an older child, it is still scary to be going to a new place with your baby.

The food is wonderful, the locals are interesting, the music is fun.

I hope you have a fantastic time and take lots of pictures.

Good Luck!

Try to be one of the last people to get on the plane so the baby will not be sitting idle so long. Have your baby drink during take off, this will help the ears from popping. Bring along favorite toys and snacks to keep the bady entertained and calm. Not sure if your baby is on formula but I found that taking travel formula bottles and lots of nipples was a great help, then you won't have to worry about washing the bottles at the hotel. Make sure you only drink bottled water. Relax and have a wonderful time. The baby will be fine.

Hi, I traveled with my girls often overseas ever since they were 10-11 months. What you need to remember is that when ready to depart or land, you need to give your daughter something to drink, preferably brest milk, but anything will work. You do this so that her ears do not pop and hurt. If she will have uncomfortable ears, she will be miserable all the way. Do this when the plane gains height or looses height. Also, bring along some toys, what ever keeps her bussy when she is awake. I am against pills, but some people would use childrens' tylonol when flying. And remember to keep calm, she will pick up on your emotions as well. Good luck and have a good flight.
M.

A. -

Do you plan on renting a car? otherwise, the hotel's bus may be able to accomodate. I would recommend the hotel bus, actually - the driving down there is CRAZY. i went to Negril last July, and I was glad we chose to take the hotel bus. There is a little town on the way to Negril, called LUCY. It reminded be a bit of the movie 'Blackhawk Down' - with how narrow the streets are & traffic.

Onto the flight - if you're coming from Indy - you'll connect in Miami (and that airport is Huge. I mean, huge.). USE A STROLLER. Give yourself time. Also - make sure that you have plenty of formula or snacks for the little one to drink or chew for the beginning and the ending of the flights - this will ease any painful 'plugging / popping' of her ears.

Hopefully, you remembered that Maddie needs a passport to fly overseas.

I stayed at the Coco LaPalm, and it was fabulous! Be careful not to venture out on the beach alone, or even with others after dark. even with guards that the resorts have, The beach is not that safe (alone = ever, with others = after dark). Go to Ricks Cafe - watch the cliff divers. Amazing!

Safe travels!

H.

My husband and I traveled with our 4.5 months twin boys to Mexico and then to India when they were 7.5 months old. Both trips were quite enjoyable. Some tips -
- we arrived early at the airport and requested & got bulk head (front row) seating and portable bassinets to put them in.
- I view diaper changing, feeding, bathtime, playtime, sleeptime, etc as separate processes and accordingly packed their items in separate large zipper/freezer bags. For eg, in my handbag I put 5-10 zipper bags for diaper changing. Each contained 1 diaper, DRC, 8 wipes, 1 diaper sack, 1 changing mat and a small tube of lotion. For the flight, I put a couple of those zipper bags in the front seat pocket and carried only one to the toilet for each diaper change.
- Each complete outfit was put in a separate zipper bag, alongwith socks, undershirt, etc.
- I either nursed them or gave them a pacifier or a bottle when the plane was taking off or landing, so their ears wouldn't hurt.
- we kept them awake for a few hours before the flight so they generally slept through the flight.
- took extra blankets on the flight to keep them warm and extra set of clothing for me and for them.
- took some teething rings and tied those in a string around my neck so they wouldn't fall down and get dirty
- took some new toys to keep them busy at the airports - the doodle/scribble and stickers (on my face!) worked wonders. A simple newspaper kept them busy at the airport for an hour, as they shredded it to pieces!
- I packed extra clothes so I didn't have to wash them while on vacation.
- we checked in the stroller at the gate of the aircraft. But carried the car seat into the plane.

I hope this helps you plan & calm down before you make the trip! Enjoy yourself & your baby.

When my oldest daughter was 6 months old we flew to Jamaica for a Wedding (also in Negril). I know it seems really stressful, but they are actually pretty easy at that age. Is she walking yet? Bring a front or back carrier (like a babybjorn, ergo carrier, or sling) so you can be handsfree. Give her a bottle (or nurse her) when the plane is taking off and landing- that will help her ears, but the truth is that even if she won't drink, she will cry, and the crying will help her ears pop (even if it makes you crazy). bring a new toy or soemthing fun that is new to her to distract her on the plane. Is it the airplane you are most worried about, or Jamaica itself? I found the people there to be VERY nice and friendly and they all spoke english. Negril is a major city where you can find most things that you need for babycare. The airport is a little hot and stuffy (ok really hot and stuffy in July when we were there), but we got through customs when we arrived there in about 1/2 and hour. If you have any more specific questions- you can email me at ____@____.com. I know how stressful travelling with infants can be- my two kids have been on airplanes about a dozen times each (22 months and 7 months) and have been everywhere you can imagine.

A. Rosenblum

i have done a few international trips with my little sweetie and she has been great each time. I nurse her at take off and landing to help her ears and she often falls asleep for a while. i bring her car seat/stroller for the airport. Then for the rest of the time we play games. She is too young for TV or a DVD. I think the American Academy of Pediatrics advises against 2 -D (TV or DVD) viewing before 2, so we play peek a boo, read books and other stuff. To date, it hasn't been too hard. Now to spite me, I am going home to ireland for christmas and since I just said she was a great traveller, she will likely act up all the way over there.

Talk to your doctor about benadryl. It worked for us when we went to California with our seven month old. Good luck.

The best thing I can tell you, is to accept that your baby will not be perfect. Accept that Sweet Maddie will do the best she can, but she will cry and she will fuss and that's ok--because babies do that. She will only be that way for a short time. And though some may be irritated by her cries and though, as a good, respectful woman you do not want to inconvenience anyone with her cries, it is a short time. Also, I have found just as many sympathetic people as I have the other kind, and you may have warm glances of "Been there, done that." Bless your husband for his calm demeanor, and when things are overwhelming for you, give Maddie to him. Close your eyes and breathe. If you have music you can listen to, great. If you have aportable DVD player that can entertain Maddie ( at this age, it may do some good) to play NEMO or Baby Einstein movies. Bring snacks ( and a paci is ideal--if she uses one). Accept that all of the bells and whistles may have no effect, because Maddie is 10 months old. You have no control. And that's OK. Really. Hard to say that, but true. And I'm rooting for you; I am.

You got lots of great advice. Here is one more. Take the carseat. There may be extra seats on the plane so you won't have to pay for the baby to sit in her carseat. Not only is it safer for her to be in the seat, being secured usually helps babies feel more content and they sleep. It's like being in a car. I loosened the straps and carried a huge convertible carseat on my back, strapped the carry on to the suitcase and wheeled the suitcase down the airport while hubby had baby in the stroller.

Remember that if you have a sling or baby carrier the baby has to be out before you go through security.

Have a great trip!