Remember the days when you could travel like a free soul? Waking up one fine morning with the epiphany that something adventurous is in store for you in Bali, booking tickets on a whim and traveling on a shoestring budget just like that with your friends? You can’t travel and have fun once you have a baby - said no one ever! True that travelling with a baby demands planning and preparation, and a major invasion of your privacy and me-time. But once you get a hang of it and figure out what works for your baby while travelling, let me assure that it will turn out to be some of the priceless memories that you would want to relive over and again. So what does it take to make traveling the world with a baby an easy peasy adventure? Read on!

Plan, plan and do more planning.

Well, when you are a parent, you can’t pull off a Phoebe Buffay and say, ‘I don’t even have a pla!’. The key to a stress-free tour with the baby is planning. Ask yourself these questions:

• How many days do you mean to live there?
• Which all places are you going to visit? Are they baby-friendly?
• How will the weather be at the destination?
• What kind of clothes should you carry for the baby considering the weather?
• What kind of transport are you going to use there?
• Will the hotel provide a baby bassinet or should you be buying a baby bassinet before you set off?

Keep baby food in store

You may be already excited about the variety of cuisine that is in store for you at the destination, but your baby doesn’t care whatsoever. She may not really like the taste of any baby food apart from the one that you are giving her now. If you decide not to carry the baby food assuming that the same brand of baby food will be available in the country that you are traveling to, you could get disappointed. So have enough amount of baby food in hand to avoid such a situation.

Watch out and get the right vaccinations.

Doing a thorough research about the place you are travelling to is extremely important. You never know, the place could be going through a phase of outbreak of diseases. Make sure that you get the baby appropriate shots to be on the safe side. If you already have friends there, talk to them. Be updated about the place by keeping a track of the news about the place.

Carry a baby bassinet

Ideally, you should call the Hotel you have decided to stay at and check if they provide baby bassinets. Some hotel rooms may not have bassinets for the baby to sleep on. Buying a baby bassinet from the destination may be expensive and a waste of money. Considering this, it is wise that you carry your own baby bassinets. If you do not have one already, there are varieties of baby bassinets available online and you could even buy a baby bassinet online.

Entertainment for the baby

Parents, do not forget to carry her favourite toy or book before you set off. Carry enough toys to keep the baby distracted and entertained while you watch that beautiful sunset at the beach or sip a glass of wine under the stars.

Taking the baby out to the world and exploring the various wonders in the world is just beyond beautiful. You get to see the world through the baby’s eyes - the mighty mountains, the deep blue sea, the chirping birdies to crack up the fascinated little baby and much more. Let nothing hold you back from exploring the world with your baby, for these could be just beginnings to her life as a traveler who is yet to explore the world and conquer mountains!

My friend once told me - “I expected the labor pain to be the worst, only to realize that it was nothing compared to the pain and fuss that was in store for me while breastfeeding him”. Is breastfeeding as hard as rocket science? Well technically, it is not!. Every pregnancy is different, just like how you and I are different. On that note, breastfeeding may be a cakewalk for some, but may turn out to be a real nightmare for some. It all depends on how patiently you figure it out.

Birthing a child is a miracle in all its fullness. Breastfeeding is yet another magical experience, though it involves a tad bit of pain and panic in the beginning. The fact that your body all of a sudden develops the power to produce food to sustain another tiny human is nothing short of magical. How much more beautiful would it be if you enjoy the process, and figure it out along with your baby? So here are a few tips to figure it out the right way.

Be equipped

Antenatal classes give you a heads-up about what to expect throughout the pregnancy period, during the labor and even after that. It also introduces you to the technique of easy breastfeeding. Getting tips and training from professionals will help you get equipped to breastfeed like a pro with less jitters once you have the baby.

Keep calm and do it together with the baby

Some new mothers may tend to get all nervous and freak out when feeding the baby goes wrong in the first attempt. The thumb rule is, relax and be patient. You may not figure everything out on the very first day, and it’s completely okay. Your baby and you are a team here and all you need to do it is to team up and figure it out with the baby patiently, while doing away with all the panic and fuss.

Find the right position

Right position is equally important for you and your baby while breastfeeding. Make sure your hands and elbows do not feel any pressure while holding the baby. Use pillows to support the baby. A 45 degree posture may suit for an ideal posture. Raise your knee and rest your feet on the bed so that your legs make a great support for the baby and your hands. Make sure that you give enough space for the baby to move his hands and feet, hold his head facing your breast and allow him the space to explore and latch on to the nipple.

Baby’s mouth should be opened wider

If it hurts while feeding, it means the baby has not opened his mouth fully while latching on. Get the baby to open his mouth wider and cover a major portion around the nipple so that the milk ducts around your nipple can function even more actively. Do not let him to latch on only to the nipple as it will not give him a good feed and it can also cause you pain.

Have enough nursing dresses in store

As a mother, always bear in mind that comfort and convenience should come first for you. Avoid wearing clothes that cause you inconvenience while feeding the baby. Use soft nursing dresses that are front open to make it more easy and convenient. You could find nursing dresses in any maternity/baby shops or you can even buy a nursing dress online with better offers and varieties.

For babies, breastfeeding comes naturally as an instinct to latch on to his mother’s breast and start sucking. But in certain cases, he may take time to figure it out, leaving you clueless about what to do about the situation. Relax! Most of the mothers would have been there at least once. All it takes to embrace this magical experience is to take it slow and figure it out patiently with your baby, while knowing that you are amazing enough to be birthing and feeding another human! So go buy nursing dresses online to prep yourself up to have a happy breastfeeding experience.

Firsts are always special. Firsts also come with a bit of jitters. It is only natural to have first pregnancy jitters but unlike olden times, we have the antenatal classes now to help and guide us through the entire pregnancy period.

Why Antenatal Classes?

Antenatal classes are helpful if you are having your first baby, and are downright clueless about what to expect. They give you a complete understanding about labor, on how to handle the delicate newborn while teaching you how to breastfeed the right way. I have had my ready to pop friends getting all nervous about their first labor, not knowing what is in store for them. A few of my friends have had a hard time breastfeeding as well post delivery. It is normal that you have millions of questions and doubts on your mind on pregnancy, labor and post-delivery period. Well. the good news is that your help is only a call away. Get yourself enrolled for the antenatal classes and be sure to get your doubts cleared and calmed down like never before.

How does Antenatal Classes help?

First of all, antenatal classes make you realize that you are not alone in this. You will meet many other parents-to-be with the same doubts and insecurities that you carry. You get to meet other couples who are going through the same phase. It gives you a chance to interact with them and be assured of many things that were giving you sleepless nights. You get introduced to new pregnancy-friendly products in the market that you probably never knew existed. Say for example the maternity pillows that make sleeping easy. One of the main challenges that you confront during the pregnancy period is finding the right position to sleep without any difficulty. A little bit of interaction with the other mothers-to-be will help you know more about such products and have an idea about where to buy maternity pillows online from.

Apart from the interaction, antenatal classes give you the following benefits:

• You get tips on how to eat right during pregnancy by following a healthy diet. Sitting idle will not help in any way during pregnancy. So it is important that you have an idea about easy exercises that can keep you fit and active. Antenatal classes help you with that as well.
• If you are clueless about what is in store and what to expect during labor, antenatal classes give you complete information regarding the same. It also enables and empowers you to cope up with labor pain and get through it like a champion.
• Labor pain may cause a sudden panic attack in you, but with the help of antenatal classes, you get a clear understanding about what relaxation techniques to use when you are almost there.
• Breastfeeding can be a bit challenging post-delivery. But worry not! Antenatal classes have got your back and they walk you through the entire process and equips you with the knowledge to breastfeed like a mother of 10.
• Postpartum depression is quite a natural thing that can hit any new mother. Antenatal classes will help you there too, by educating you on how to deal with your emotions and feelings post delivery. Your mental and emotional health is as important as your physical health. It is inevitable that you get some help to make your mind and body stable after delivery.

In short, Antenatal classes are a must if you are looking forward to a blissful pregnancy and delivery experience. They give you a heads-up to be ready for what is in store, and helps you manage it all like a pro. So register for your antenatal classes, relax and place your order to buy a maternity pillow online to get some beauty sleep tonight without worrying about the days to come - they have been sorted already!

Road safety is important, but child safety is all the more important as they are super delicate compared to grown-ups. It’s better to be safe than sorry, and hence when you are travelling with your baby, it is inevitable that you use car seats to buckle your baby up all the way and be safe. If you are not too sure about the necessity of car seats, here are a few reasons why you should be sure about it.

 Firmest support system

Infants are delicate and highly demanding. They need our support from being fed, washed up, and carried around to being put to sleep. On this note, when there is a sudden jerk caused by an unfortunate accident, it is impossible for them to balance or hold on stronger to something solid to protect themselves from being hurt or thrown out. Their grip game is too weak as they are not there yet. This is where car seats come to rescue by holding them firmly to the seat and protecting them from being jostled.

 Because the RTA says so!

The updated rules by RTA in UAE has made the use of car seats mandatory for children under the age of four while travelling by car. This is on the ground that car seats protect the baby from fatal accidents to a large extent and is proven to have drastically cut down the chances of injuries caused by such accidents.  It is also mandatory to buckle up children below 10 years with seat belts according to the rule. No children below the age of 10 are allowed to sit in the front seat with other passengers. If you by any chance violate the rules mentioned above, be ready to pay a fine of AED 400 and get slammed with four black points.

That being said, merely getting a random car seat may not necessarily promise you the safety that you look forward to having. Ideally, it is important that you consider the quality of the car seat as well before giving it a shot. Here are a few pointers that could come in handy if you are meaning to buy car seats online in dubai

• The car seats should pass crash tests to make sure that it won’t give up at the hour of emergency.
• It should carry proper labeling and should be specifically classified according to different age groups and weight categories.
• It should be certified by the Emirates Authority for Standardization and Metrology (ESMA) that conforms to the standards set by the European Union and United States.
• The design of the seat should ensure the right posture, as neck protection is extremely important for a child. The neck of a child is prone to more injuries no matter how minor the accident is.
• Once you get the car seat, do not hesitate to ask for professional help to get it installed in your car the right way. Even if the car seat is of high quality, a shortcoming in the installation may lead your child to unnecessary danger.
• Learn how to strap the child up. Cases have been reported where strapping the child wrongly has caused great injuries.
• Opt for rear-facing infant carriers for children of age group upto 12 months, who could weigh up to 10kg and 13kg
• Get child seats for children of age group between nine months to four years who would be weighing between 9kg to 18kg
• Go for full booster seats and cushions for children of age group between three and a half years to six years whose weight would be between 15kg to 25 kg

Every child is precious. As parents, it is your responsibility to ensure that they are safe until they learn to live on their own. Parenting is a beautiful experience, and taking necessary precautions can make it even  more blissful and peaceful. So go ahead and place your order now to buy a car seat online to be on the safe side.