FLYING WITH OUR 13 MO FOR THE FIRST TIME
February 27, 2016Traveling has always been one of my (and my hubby's) passions; love to see the different cultures, architectures, sceneries, people, food etc, and my hubby loves photography. To me, travel is a journey, be it long or short, near or far, to somewhere that is new, which makes me sit up and take notice. My hubby and I used to travel overseas quite a bit before our baby princess came along. We took a break from this when we found out I was pregnant - only went for a few short local trips during the whole pregnancy and when she was still an infant. When she turned 1, we decided that it was about time to share this passion for the world with her, but at the same time, we were consumed with hearsay: "Life will change beyond all recognition once you have a baby” and that we would no longer be able to travel independently and freely. My take: Don't listen to naysayers.
Picture taken from realmumreview.com |
Why Ho Chi Minh?
Simple because this was her first trip and also our first time bringing a toddler to another country, we didn't know what to expect and if we could handle it well, so we chose somewhere not too far (an hour plus flight), somewhere not too fast-paced and somewhere we've never been to. You can read more about the trip here.
1. KNOW THE RULES.
2. PACK IT UP, WITH EXTRAS.
3. EASE THE EAR PRESSURE.
During descent and takeoff, let your baby/toddler suck on something to relieve ear pressure - a bottle or a pacifier. Let your baby nurse if you are still breastfeeding. In my case, my milk supply had already dried off and she doesn't take pacifier, so I let her suck and chewed on the steamed carrots and potatoes which I prepared that morning. She also drank from her sippy cup. She didn't encounter any problem or ear discomfort though, to and fro (*Touch wood*).4. SLING CARRIER VS STROLLER.
5. SETTLING HER MEALS.
Thermos Stainless Steel King Food Jar 0.47L. Exactly the one I have at home!! |
This is from the 2nd time, with meat and veggie. 1st time was just plain white porridge. Looks pretty good, isn't it? :D |
- Soak the rice overnight.
- Put the rice into the jar the next morning together with the meat (cut into real small pieces). Add hot boiling water til almost full, cover and leave for about 10 mins.
- After 10 mins, pour away the water. Add in the vegetables (also cut into small pieces) and add adequate hot boiling water for making porridge.
- Cover and after 2.5 - 3 hours, voila!! Ready to eat porridge!
I read that these are also suitable for thermos cooking:
- Noodles or spaghetti
- Cubed potatoes
- Soups, stews and chilli
- Spaghetti sauce
- Meats like Beef and Chicken cut into cubes
- Eggs in their shells
Note: Do not try cooking the following in a Thermos:
- food that are easily overcooked
- dishes that require many additions of ingredients, which causes heat to escape each time
- dishes with cheese in them - it sticks to the inside of the Thermos and it's hard to get out
- Get baby used to room temperature bottles and food, so you don’t have the additional hassle of heating.
- Make sure you carefully consider your own needs when planning a trip. What might have been a simple nighttime adventure when you were single could be exhausting with a baby. There was no exact itinerary planned for this trip. We had a few places in mind and we just went with the 'flow'.
- The one thing you need to worry about least is your child. If they are young, they will surprise you with their acceptance of new routines and new surroundings. I would say our baby did well, with all the walking and taking naps whenever she was tired, all under the scorching hot weather.
0 comments