I recently stumbled onto a video about the BedBox by JetKids—a ride-on suitcase for kids up to 7 years old that also helps convert a regular airplane seat into a small bed. What a concept! If you haven’t heard about (or seen) the BedBox yet, here are some points to consider in deciding if it might be helpful for your family.

Pros of the BedBox:

Keeps little legs from dangling restlessly—or kicking the forward seat—by providing support even during waking hours.

Can be used with the safety belt when sitting upright, using as leg support.

Provides a clean, lie-flat sleeping surface in flight for babies through kindergartners with their own seats.

Gets kids moving through the airport whether pulled or self-propelled.

Cons of the BedBox:

Not to be used during taxiing, take-off, or landing, and must be stowed like carry-on at those times.

May not fit beneath seats in smaller, regional airplanes like Spirit or Horizon.

Might interfere with forward passenger’s seat recline in some situations—but may not be a concern if used on the bulkhead row.

At $170 U.S. retail, the BedBox may not be a worthwhile investment for everyone, but for a some family travelers it may be well worth that (or even more—what price would you pay for sleeping toddlers in flight?! Especially on an overseas flight?). A global directory of BedBox retailers is available here.

Conversation:

Some parents have already shared their thoughts and questions about the BedBox on our Facebook page if you’d like to join the conversation.

And here’s that video where you can see the BedBox in action:

Click here for more Pack This! recommendations for travel with kids under 5, and don’t miss our Great Products & Gear recommendations  of the best car seats, strollers, travel beds, travel childproofing solutions and more at TravelswithBaby.com.

Have you subscribed to Travels with Baby Tips?

More tips and advice are on the way! For help for planning travel of every kind–with babies and children of every temperament–in Travels with Baby: The Ultimate Guide for Planning Travel with Your Baby, Toddler, and Preschooler.

Have you seen the latest features at our sister site, Family Travel 411?

The 411 on Bruges with Kids

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The 411 on Carlsbad with Kids

The 411 on County Cork with Kids

The 411 on Dallas-Fort Worth with Kids

The 411 on Cape Cod with Kids

Safe journeys,

Shelly Rivoli, author of the award-winning Travels with Baby guidebooks

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Hello Ma’am,

I’m currently stationed in Kodiak, Alaska with the Coast Guard and will be trying to fly home to Michigan with my husband and now 15 month old twins. By the time we go home for Christmas, they will be just shy of 2. One loves to climb and the other loves to figure out how things work like doors, locks, zippers, etc. We are trying to find an item that is twin friendly (or wallet friendly, if we have to buy two) that we can fly with to save on having to buy a pack and play or two while we are in Michigan for 1.5-2 weeks. We will already be traveling with both of their car seats, luggage, and a stroller. We fear for them sleeping on a bed as they are still exploring the quick exit off of tall furniture. I thank you very much in advance and am looking forward to hearing from you and any advice that you might have.

Sincerely,

Felicia

I think there is one very simple solution that I hope fits with your plans, Felicia–rent the travel beds/pack ‘n plays you want for your twins at your destination because:

1) You’ll have two less things to haul on your journey (and airlines typically charge for checking travel cribs/beds, but not for car seats or strollers),

2) You should be able to get a low weekly rental rate–and possibly a special package rate for twins (you might get some other helpful things thrown in), and

3) You’ll have the secure sleeping arrangements for them that will help *YOU* get the rest you need as well (I know what it’s like to spend the night reaching out to make sure pillows and chairs are still where you left them beside someone’s bed!).

I see I currently have listings for Michigan Baby Gear Rentals in the Detroit/Ann Arbor area as well as Traverse City/Northern Michigan, and the West Michigan/Lakeshore area–and I believe at least one of these companies will even MEET YOU AT THE AIRPORT in case the service areas are not a good fit. (Note: We’re in the middle of a HUGE overhaul on the website–I’ll keep an eye out if there are additions to that part of the directory.)

For anyone else needing an inexpensive travel bed for twin toddlers solution, a couple of lighter weight/lighter budget options that might help are:

Inflatable bed rails:

When another bed is available (as it sounds like it might be for you, Felicia), these bed rails inflate quickly and tuck under the fitted sheet. They work especially well when you can push the bed against a wall on one side, but here they come as a $-saving 2-pack, so you’ll be hotel-ready wherever you roam. We tested an earlier version and found them helpful.

Inflatable toddler travel beds:

I’ll say up front I don’t recommend trying to fly with a pair of these domestically on a regular basis, but since I found these available as a “twin set” (price break) on Amazon, and thought you could ship them directly to your destination ahead of time, that would at least save you on flying with them one way. If your destination–or that of anyone reading this–happens to be a relative’s home you will return to over the next couple of years, they could be waiting for a second or even third use!

Hope this helps! Best of luck, and if you get a chance, let us know what you decide! Here are a couple of other pages that might be of interest:

Flying with twins on separate rows (and why you might want to)

Best travel strollers for twins

Previous post: Checklist for getting an airplane bassinet

Recent work elsewhere: When are kids old enough for kayak adventures? and Take Two: A review of Columbia Silver Ridge III convertible pants for kids

Safe journeys,

Shelly Rivoli, author of the award-winning Travels with Baby guidebooks

Twitter     Facebook     Travels with Baby on Facebook     Pinterest

Curious about this content? See my editorial content disclosure.

The post Ask Shelly: Advice on travel beds for twins? appeared first on Travels With Baby.

Here is one of those “million dollar” questions I know many of us face at one time or another, recently posted to the Travels with Baby wall on Facebook:

Hey there – We are flying to Brazil in May. The flight will be from 8pm to 10:30am. Prime sleep time. I’m trying to figure out if our son will get better in sleep in his car seat or lying down with his head in my lap. I think the prior will be more comfortable for me. What’s your experience with this? Trying to survey some seasoned travelers. ;P

In my experience flying redeyes with 3 different kids at different young ages and stages I can say without blushing that, unless you have a crystal ball, there is really no easy answer to this. Sure, your child will be safest flying in his car seat, and you’ll inevitably rest better knowing he’s buckled in and not about to roll off of your lap onto the floor. And I’ve been on flights where it was such a blessing that my child was used to traveling in the car seat and did not think twice about the need to be buckled in during the flight. But I’ve also been on flights where they could settle in to no avail without sprawling over me.

There are, however, some important points to keep in mind that may help you make your “best bet” decision about flying with the car seat for overnight flights—or reserving that precious space for more luxuriant snoozing (at least for your child, but probably not for you as the parent pillow).

Consider your history.

Have you used the car seat in previous flights, and will your child remember and have that expectation of being safely buckled into his seat as you will be to yours? Or has it been long enough in his young life that he won’t remember that detail—or rather, might he remember flying without the expectation of being in a car seat?

Consider the car seat.

Some car seats are simply easier for children to sleep in than others—especially when it comes to forward-facing car seats for toddlers. Does it have a slight recline option when installed facing forward (such as some Britax models, as an example—see other recommended car seats for travel here)? If it doesn’t, might you be able to install the car seat rear-facing for your flight, to allow a little more recline than the upright airplane seat will allow (see “Turn Around Testy Flights with Your Toddler” for more on this concept)? You can also add extra cushioning or a head cradling pillow pre-spritzed with lavender essential oil (see Recommended Car Seat Travel Accessories for more ideas).

Consider your bedtime routine.

One of the easiest ways to get young toddlers to (finally) go to sleep on overnight flights is to mimic the bedtime routine of home as much as possible. Reading books together and snuggling a beloved blanket or lovey translates easily to overnight air travel. For some breastfeeding moms of babies and toddlers, however, the maternal nightcap may be the final sendoff—which may make a much more abrupt transition from lap to car seat and straps, depending on the child’s sensitivity to his surroundings.

The good news is that, whatever your current bedtime routine at home, you have some time to evolve it to one that is more travel-friendly before your May takeoff. Heck, you can even experiment with the car seat during bedtime drives and see how it works out!

Don’t forget the “At the Airport and On the Plane” tips in Travels with  Baby and keep your Take-Along Travels with Baby handy for the “Tips for Helping Babies and Toddlers Sleep on the Airplane” in case you need some ideas to try in flight–and best of luck to you all! [Click here for more posts related to sleep.]

Safe journeys,

Shelly Rivoli, author of the award-winning Travels with Baby guidebooks

Twitter     Facebook     Travels with Baby on Facebook     Pinterest

PSSST! Have you seen my new blog yet? Visit FamilyTravel411.com!

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I was chatting with a mom just the other day and, before I knew it, I’d come out with at least 3 reasons I loved to use a Halo Sleepsack during travel with a baby-through-early-toddler. Here’s the top one.

You might already know it as a safe solution to blankets for back-sleeping babies, but during travel, when cribs can be smaller than yours at home and resort rooms tiled to potentially painful perfection, he won’t be able to clear the rail of the travel crib before you rise and shine. And if he’s old enough to get curious about the zipper, you can always put it on with the zipper in the back to give you more lead time.

Plus, instead of leaving it up to the hotel to decide which detergents will be on blankets right next to her skin (especially in hot weather when just a cotton blanket will do), you’ll have your trusty Sleepsack laundered with your own familiar detergent at home.

Halo Sleepsacks are available in fabrics for every season, from light cotton for summer vacation snoozes to cozy fleece for a long winter’s nap. Sizes range from Preemie to XL, which can fit some children up to 36 lbs.

TIP: I recommend ordering a size larger for longevity and packing two for each trip so you’ll have a backup if needed while the other drips dry after a sink washing (the fleece dries especially fast).

Click here to see all available Sleepsack Sizes and Colors at Amazon. Do you use a Halo Sleepsack at home? Have you taken yours on a trip yet?

Related posts and pages:

Best Baby & Toddler Travel Beds and Sleeping Solutions

Safety & Childproofing Products for Travel

Ask Shelly: How to help a baby adjust to a 9-hour time change?

See all Pack This! recommendations from Travels with Baby

Safe journeys,

Shelly Rivoli, author of the award-winning Travels with Baby guidebooks

Twitter     Facebook     Travels with Baby on Facebook     Pinterest

PSSST! Have you seen my new blog yet? Visit FamilyTravel411.com

Curious about this content? See my editorial content disclosure.

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Advice for helping a baby sleep on an airplane? This is the million-dollar question of most parents flying with a baby – right along with how to keep them sleeping once you are lucky enough to get them there… Here is a recent reader question I’m sure many of you will appreciate.

Hi Shelly:

Do you have any tricks for helping a baby sleep on an airplane…and stay that way? I will be going to France with my almost 3-year-old and 5-months old baby. My first one had managed to fall asleep but woke up with the sudden noises of the plane: ice, overhead bins opening and closing… and was REALLY not happy after that… making the rest of the plane unhappy as well overall: any trick to get baby and toddler to fall asleep and stay that way?

Catherine

I’m thinking my advice here comes down to three critical points.

Timing

First, I recommend booking a red-eye/overnight flight with your baby and toddler if possible to help your toddler as well as your baby sleep on the airplane. They may not settle in right away with the excitement of the new surroundings, but once it’s sleep time for the rest of the passengers, the crew will dim the lights, passengers will settle in, constant drink cart service should subside, and on overnight flights it is far less likely that the captain will come on the (loud) speakers, announcing, “If you look out your window right now, you can see Greenland!!!” which has never been helpful for sleeping children onboard in my experience.

Sounds

You might also want to bring aboard a portable white noise machine, such as the baby-friendly Cloud B Sleep Sheep. You can place it right next to your baby for a calm, constant soundtrack to help muffle out other sudden noises in flight. If you aren’t using something like this already, start using it at bedtime at home now so that your baby will also associate it with sleepy time during travel.

Seats

Since this is an overseas flight (I assume), and you are likely planning to have an airplane bassinet, you might want to rethink those bulkhead row seats. Since these are usually positioned right where the lavatories are, with frequent traffic, flushings, and door slamming (and I won’t mention other unpleasant effects), the extra people coming and going and smiling at your children can make it very difficult to get them to sleep, or keep them that way. It could also put you right next to a central galley, with flight attendants banging meal trays and sharing war tales with each other, and dumping ice as you describe.

If you do want bulkhead row seats with a bassinet, and I can understand why you would(!), do everything you can to get the window seat and neigbhoring seats to the side and not on the center row of your wide-body aircraft. You will be a little less exposed there to traffic. Also, anyone planning to use an airplane bassinet for baby, be sure to read this post on age / height / weight limits for airplane bassinets.

However, you might prefer quieter seats toward the middle-back of the airplane, where you should experience less traffic, and there may be a few extra seats (especially on the red-eye) that you can snatch up after reaching cruising altitude. In fact, when you check in, see if your agent is sympathetic and might reseat your family next to an empty seat or two. This doesn’t always work, but once we actually ended up with two consecutive rows of four seats for the 5 of us just because a savvy agent with kids reseated us at check in!

If your baby is flying on your lap, consider the FlyeBaby airplane hammock for babies to help give your arms a rest. The photo above is my guy in the prototype – you can read all about how to use it and see the recent improvements to the FlyeBaby airplane hammock for babies in my review here.

If your baby will be flying in her own seat and infant car seat, you’re in luck. You can choose whichever part of the plane you want, have your hands (and lap) free during meal service, and have the advantage of the infant car seat canopy to help block distracting lights and blowing air from overhead vents, which can really help a baby sleep on an airplane!

One more thought on seats: Your toddler! If your toddler is likely to get antsy at some point in your flight, it could possibly negate any other good decisions you’ve made to help your baby sleep on the airplane. (Doh!) For this journey, you might also consider sitting in consecutive rows with your children instead of side-by-side. Sometimes being away from big brother or big sister can do more toward helping a baby sleep on an airplane than anything else you might try!

Need more tips for helping a baby sleep on an airplane – or during travel in general? In addition to the links below, be sure to read the sections on Naptime and Nighttime Sleeping on the Go in Travels with Baby, and pack along (or upload) your Take-Along Travels with Baby to keep those tips handy to help baby sleep on an airplane and stay happy, healthy and safe during your travels (and help keep you sane during travel with your baby and toddler!).

Whatever you decide, I hope you’ll let us know how it goes! Does anyone else have a tip to share? Do you have a secret for helping a baby sleep on an airplane?

Here are more online posts and articles on sleep during travel with babies and toddlers:

• How to help a baby adjust to a 9-hour time zone change?
• Would you give your child Benedrly to help him sleep on an airplane?
• Index of online tips and advice for Flying with Baby and Toddler

Safe journeys,

Shelly Rivoli, author of the award-winning Travels with Baby and Take-Along Travels with Baby

travelswithbaby.com   facebook   twitter   about the author  

Curious about this content? See my editorial content disclosure.

The post Ask Shelly: Tips for helping a baby sleep on an airplane – and stay asleep? appeared first on Travels With Baby.

One of my favorite activities during our visit to Kauai last year was one of the simplest and easiest things I did there: Drink coffee on the beach at sunrise while the kids played on the beach.

Easy, indeed, with this small beach just a brief stroll across the lawn behind our condo at Castle Kaha Lani, and such fantastic driftwood to keep the kids entertained building sculptures and forts, and writing names in the sand.

And easier, still, with mainland jetlag on our sides.

I hear a lot of concerns about jetlag from parents preparing to travel with a baby or young child (click here if that’s you), but let’s not forget that it can sometimes work to our advantage–as I hope it will in getting us up to the top of Haleakala before the sunrise on our upcoming trip to Maui! (Crossing fingers.)

If you’re planning–or even contemplating a trip to Kauai with your kids, check out my Kauai with Little Kids board on Pinterest, and see all Travels with Baby Hawaii family travel tips and recommendations in Destinations. More posts, tips and pins to come!

Related posts and pages:

• • Review of Castle Kaha Lani
  • Review of Aqua Kauai Beach Resort
  • Kauai’s Best Beach for Babies and Toddlers

>>> More Kauai travel tips and recommendations

Have you seen the latest features at our sister site, Family Travel 411?

The 411 on Guatemala’s Lake Atitlán with Kids

Great Maui Vacation Rentals for Multi-Gen Family Vacations

The 411 on North Carolina’s Crystal Coast with Kids

The 411 on Santiago with Kids

The 411 on Morzine (France) with Kids

The 411 on Morro Bay (California) with Kids 

Safe journeys,

Shelly Rivoli, author of the award-winning Travels with Baby guidebooks

Twitter     Facebook     Travels with Baby on Facebook     Pinterest

What?! Your kids aren’t babies anymore? Head over to Family Travel 411

Curious about this content? See my editorial content disclosure.

The post Photo Fave: The upside of jetlag in Kauai? appeared first on Travels With Baby.