New regulations for flying with kids in/out of the US

Following the recent security breach on a US plane, there are some new regulations that affect families flying in or out of the US. The main change seems to be a ban on holding any personal items or leaving your seat for the last 60 minutes of a long-haul flight. This is a daunting prospect if you have have young children. Check out the latest posting from Delicious Baby for ideas on how to keep your little ones occupied.

Here's the link to the US Transportation Security Administration that is responsible for airline security regulations. And here's their information page on travelling with kids.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

Little Traveller would like to wish everyone a very merry Christmas, a happy holiday season, and a prosperous and healthy New Year.

Babies and balancing on the internet

I came across a couple of gems on the internet this week.

Set aside a few minutes to watch this trailer for a documentary called Babies that will be released in April. It follows four babies born in four very different cultures for their first year of life. It's guaranteed to put a smile on your face for the rest of the day.

I also watched this clip on YouTube and was amazed! Check out the balancing skills on display in this clip from Bangladesh.

Give the gift of music

My life has a soundtrack these days -- one that involves a lot of Sharon, Lois and Bram. I don't go far in the car without that familiar refrain: "music, please!" This is from an article I wrote recently for Calgary's Child magazine. Here are my top 10 picks for best music CDs for young kids. They make great gifts and are easy to mail, too.

1: Mainly Mother Goose by Sharon, Lois and Bram
This collection by the talented Canadian trio should be in every family's music collection.

2. Here Come the 123s by They Might be Giants
This CD won the best musical album for children at the 2009 Grammy Awards and the catchy tunes will appeal to kids of all ages.

3. Putamayo Kids Present: Sing Along with Putamayo
Folk and blues inspired high calibre songwriting

4. The Backyardigans: Groove to the Music
Eighteen original tracks from the TV show, sung by children. The wide variety of musical styles make for a fun listening experience for 2-4 year olds.

5. You are My Little Bird by Elizabeth Mitchell
The 17 mellow folk melodies are calming but never boring. This is one of my favourite CDs at the moment.

6. Family Time by Ziggy Marley
A strong and uplifting message about love and family thread through this CD which features collaborations with many other artists.

7. Putamayo Kids Present: World PlaygroundAnother highly accessible anthology that is a great CD to dance to.

8. The Carnival of the Animals by Camille Saint-Saens
A great introduction to classical music, this is a rousing suite of 14 animal-themed movements. Buy the accompanying book by Barrie C. Turner and Sue Williams to add context.

9. The World's Very Best Opera for Kids (in English) by The Budapest Concert Orchestra
Nineteen classic tracks from Carmen, La Boheme, Madame Butterfly and six other operas. Sung in English, this is opera without the usual language barrier.

10. On a Starry Night by various artists
Soft and gentle, but never boring, lullabies to get your little one off to sleep.

CARES harness wins new award

The CARES child aviation restraint just won another award. The Mom's Choice Award named CARES among the best in family friendly products for 2009. It won a Gold Award (their highest accolade) in the Gear and Accessories/Safety category.

Word is slowly spreading about this innovative product that helps keep young children safe and secure when flying. For more info, visit the CARES page on our website.

CARES harnesses are available to rent or purchase through Little Traveller in Calgary, Alberta.

Fireproofing your Christmas tree

I was shocked and more than a little terrified when I saw this fire safety video on YouTube today. Take a look at how few seconds it takes for a Christmas tree to become engulfed in flames and how quickly the fire spreads around the room: Christmas Tree Fire Safety video

But apparently there's a solution... you can fireproof your Christmas tree by feeding it a special concoction. The tree will be able to hold up to seven times its weight in water. Here's the recipe:

Christmas Tree Solution
8 qts / 2 gallons hot water
1 pint / 2 cups Karo (corn) syrup
2 oz. / 1/4 cup liquid bleach
pinch Epsom salts
1/2 tsp. Borax

Strip 3 in (7.5 cm) of bark of the bottom of the tree trunk to help it absorb the solution. Mix all the ingredients in the hot water. Pour as much of the hot liquid into the tree stand as it will comfortably hold. Save the remaining solution and top up the tree stand every day.

Haven't tried it yet but it's on my to do list...

Organic grocery delivery

I've been using Spud.ca for a while now -- since my first child was born and getting out to the grocery store on a regular basis became more of a challenge. This online grocery company delivers fresh, local, organic produce to my door every Wednesday.

Little Traveller has teamed up with Spud to provide organic/green baby essentials for families travelling to Calgary. If you'd like formula, baby food, diapers or anything else delivered to your hotel or grandma's house or added to your equipment rental order through Little Traveller, drop us a line and we'll arrange for it to be delivered on time through Spud.ca. Visit their website for more product information or send Little Traveller a list of what you need.

Little Traveller baby equipment rentals is featured in the Garlic Press newsletter this week that goes out to all Spud customers and on the Spudfan blog site.

As well as Calgary, Spud delivers to the metro Vancouver area and Vancouver Island (as well as a number of locations in the US).