What used to be the cry of children, may now be the plea of overstressed parents traveling to that wonderful vacation destination. When you travel with small infants or children, getting there may not be half the fun. But with a little advanced planning and some creativity, you can put fun back in the ride. So whether you are traveling by planes, trains, or automobiles, here are some age related tips for traveling with your family.

If you are traveling with a small infant or toddler:

When traveling with infants or toddlers by car, make sure to have the baby fed before you leave the house. Plan stops for feeding and diaper changes along the way. If you rent a car: make sure you have an appropriate car seat.

Toddlers require more attention, especially in long rides when they may get restless. To help your toddler burn off some pent up energy, make frequent stops for feeding and some running around. If a child is very restless and unhappy in car rides, make sure one parent sits next to the child in the back seat to attend to the needs of the toddler.

By plane: Have infant toys in your carry on that your baby can hold or chew on for entertainment. Toddlers can be interested in everything around them. But have some favorite (and a few new) toys to distract them with. A good rule of thumb for toddlers, have one toy hidden in your bag for each one half hour of the trip. Don't offer a new toy or activity if your child is not being restless, even if they are fascinated by the food tray.

If you know your babies or toddlers ears are sensitive to flying, speak to your pediatrician about using a decongestant one hour before landing. Breast or bottle feed your baby on the way up or down (if not secured in a car seat) to help ease the pressure on the eardrums. Also have a pain reliever on hand just in case.

By Train: Travel by train can be easier because you can move around with an infant or toddler. And the seats are wide enough for a toddler to crawl about. Looking out the window and pointing out trucks, cars, trains, and houses can be a fun language game.

The good news is that most babies and even active toddlers will sleep for a good part of any long car, plane or train ride.

No matter how you travel with a Preschool child, they may be more demanding in long trips. So it's a good idea to speak with your child before you begin. Let them know what you expect of them. Give them the rules: no screaming, no whining, no getting out of their seats. Plan for bathroom breaks and snacks and some time to run around. Bring favorite activities or toys, but have some new ones that they can earn with good behavior. A travel reward chart is a good incentive. They can earn stars for good behavior (15 minute intervals) and a new toy or activity can be produced for earning a number of stars. Use video if available, but let them have some time without watching a screen. Traveling is a good time for children to learn some self control and how to entertain themselves.

About Dr. LoFrumento
Dr. Mary Ann LoFrumento, MD, F.A.A.P., pediatrician, mother and author, has more than 20 years experience answering parents' questions about how to raise their children. After attending Barnard College, where she received her medical degree, and after her pediatric residency at Babies Hospital Columbia Presbyterian, she started Franklin Pediatrics, in Morristown, NJ. For 17 years, she was the managing partner of this group, one of the largest pediatric groups in the state. She recently launched Simply Parenting (www.simplyparenting.com), a book and DVD series designed to end parents' anxiety and insecurity and bring parenting back to basics. The Simply Parenting series includes Understanding Your Newborn & Infant and Understanding Your Toddler. Among her numerous accolades are the selection by her peers as one of the Best Doctors in America from 1996 to 2003, inclusion annually in Castle Connolly's America's Top Doctors and listings in New Jersey Monthly's Top Docs. Previously a Clinical Assistant Professor at Columbia University's College of Physicians and Surgeons, Dr. LoFrumento is currently an educator and attending physician at Goryeb's Children's Hospital in Morristown. Dr. LoFrumento resides in Chatham, New Jersey with her husband and daughter.   For more on Dr. LoFrumento and Simply Parenting click on www.childsplaypr.com/cpc-press/index.htm www.childsplaypr.com/cpc-press/index/htm and go to Simply Parenting.

Picky Eater Coping Needs To Be a Family Affair
by Jason Katzenback

Why does it seem that the pickiest of eaters always try to pass themselves off as the latest upcoming culinary critic?

It is especially annoying when you have spent a couple of hours on a special Sunday dinner, only to have your six-year-old son tromp the kitchen loudly declaring...

"Something stinks and I'm not eating it!"

Trisha, from England, said that her son is still her pickiest eater and although he does not do it so much now, he used to be famous for turning up his nose at her home-cooked meals and insisting on eating prepackaged foods that were just made with water.

On the other hand, some children have been known to prefer instant macaroni and cheese because they can fix it themselves, which gives them a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction.

That is why I highly recommend letting your children help you in the kitchen with meal preparation. You see the more familiar your picky eater becomes with handling the food the more inclined they will be to taste it.

"Get a stepstool and ask your kids to lend a hand in the kitchen with easy tasks," says Sal Severe, PhD, author of the book, How to Behave So Your Children Will, Too. "If they participate in helping to make the meal, they are more likely to want to try it," he says. This can include pouring ingredients into a bowl, draining the liquid from the corn, washing vegetables, or stirring the contents of a dish.

In addition, encourage your child to help with mealtime preparations by setting the table, folding napkins, clearing the table after dinner, washing the dishes, or other age-appropriate tasks.

Plan weekly menus together with your children, allowing them to be involved in the decision making process. That does not mean that mealtimes are planned around their expectations, but at least they will have a heads up if you are going to serve something new or different. You might even let your child pick one night where he can decide what the menu will be. Even if he just wants buttered pasta noodles and nothing else, you can still serve sauce on the side along with a salad.

Most important of all...

Do Not Make Food a Major issue!

This will only lead to more serious problems in the future. As children get older they want independence, they want to be able to make their own decisions. If they start to feel that food is an area they have no control over then they will often try to take control, usually by becoming less open to new foods which can lead to more problems in the future.

Allow your picky eater to make their own decisions and allow them to be part of the solution!

About The Author
Jason Katzenback shows you step-by-step how to handle Picky Eaters with his highly praised resource 'Help There is a Picky Eater in The House!' Full of Proven Strategies & Simple Recipes that are 100% Guaranteed to Work. www.mypickyeater.com.