Go Go Kidz TravelMate

By Travel Toddler on March 23, 2012

Its been redesigned and re-badged for our local market…welcome Aussie Kidz Travel Mate!

Anyone who has ever travelled with kids has had to consider – will I need the car seat? At Little Gulliver, we’ve been asked about the Go Go Kidz TravelMate many times over the years and we are thrilled that the product is now available in Australia. See all our Go Go Kidz products here. Redesigned and approved for Australian / New Zealand carseats and renamed the ‘Aussie Kidz Travel Mate’, its the same quality and style of product that has been popular in the US and Europe for many years.

When travelling, either being picked up from your destination or hiring a car you will need a car seat for your child. The Aussie Kidz Travel Mate makes your car seat easy to transport and acts as a travel stroller to boot!

And you can accessorise it…the handle pouch makes the Aussie Kidz Travel Mate even more convenient, its attaches easily with velcro and had 3 large compartments to store anything from spare nappies to spare change. It also fits on most extendable luggage handles.

Previously, buying a Go Go Kidz TravelMate meant buying a product from overseas, which was designed to fit overseas car seats. A US mum, after moving to QLD, loved her Go Go Kidz so much she bought the license and had the product redesigned to fit our car seats. Thanks Abby!

Kids love them…

Mum and Dads love them too! Check out this this testimonial, from the Go Go Babyz Website;

“I recently purchased 2 of your gogobabyz travelmates for a trip we took to San Diego from Chicago.  I have two sons, 3 years old and 9 months old.  We hemmed and hawed over whether or not to lug the car seats with us on the trip or to rent them from the car rental place.  I had seen your product in a few different catalogs and thought, why not give it a shot.  The cost of checking the car seats or renting them from Hertz for the week was pretty close to the cost of the actual travelmate plus I could use it over and over again so it would be less expensive in the long run.  I found the travelmate very easy to use (although I did struggle with unlatching it at the first couple of time but I got better at it).   I used them to tote both of them through the airport and then unlatched my 3 year olds car seat to put it on the plane and checked the other one at the gate.  During the trip it was a space saver because we didn’t have to bring a stroller and when we went to the zoo and other places we just attached the car seats again and away we went!  I wanted to tell you how much I loved this product!  I got so many complements and inquiries from people throughout our trip that I wouldn’t be surprised if you get a rush of orders coming in!!  Thank you so much for inventing such a great product!!” 

Wendy Cimino, Chicago, IL, USA

Please contact us at Little Gulliver for any information about this great product.

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Quicksmart 3-in-1 Carry Cot

By Travel Toddler on October 3, 2011

The Quicksmart 3 in 1 Carry Cot is the ideal travel bag for babies. Everything you need, all together - in one convenient place. We love things that make life easier and this one has it all – great for airports, motels or anywhere baby needs a comfortable bed – even home!

  • Easily converts into comfortable carry cot
  • Includes a change mat and plastic wipes container, making changing easy.
  • Magnetised wipes pocket and plenty of places for parents’ essentials
  • Heavy duty, easy care fabric
  • Suitable from birth to 8.9kg
  • A Nappy Bag, Change station and Cot all in one.
  • Includes Mattress, sheet and Change mat
  • Carry strap with extra padding for carrying comfort.
  • Cot; 6.7 in H x 28.3 in L x 16.5 in W,
  • Diaper Bag; 14.2 in H x 3.9 in L x 16.5 in W
  • Cot Weight – 2.3kgs

Available now at Little Gulliver in black/grey.

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‘Daily Gromett’ reviews Cares

By Travel Toddler on September 5, 2011

Watch here for a close-up look of the CARES and how it works (a review by ‘Daily Gromett’). CARES is available now at www.LittleGulliver.com.au.

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Dad’s Malaysian trip with his 16 month old daughter

By Travel Toddler on June 8, 2011

Gavin said: June 6 2011 4:55 PM
My 16 month old and I are flying from Australia to Malaysia to meet up with mum who is already there for a holiday.

I am stressing out mainly over checking in, going through customs and boarding the aircraft.  As I figure it, I will be trying to man handle an active child (who only knows how to run and not walk), large suitcase and carry on luggage. I am not sure whether my daughter should be sedated or me? I am flying from Brisbane with Malaysian airlines.

I have read your top ten tips and, although helpful I was hoping for something a little more specific to my circumstances.

Donna @ Travel Toddler said: June 8 2011 5:33 PM

Hi Gavin,

2-in-1 Harness Buddy

thanks for your question. It is understandable that travelling with the little one can seem a bit daunting, especially doing it on your own for the first time. There are a few things that you can think about which may help make things easier. Check out our business www.LittleGulliver.com.au we may have some products of interest to you…travelling with our first born is how the business came about.

Check in

Try to think of it as a holiday, even the airport! If you’re checking in on your own, consider hiring a trolley from outside the airport. That way you can have all your gear on it and a spare hand for the little one prior to check in. If you have some close friend or family who’s happy to help – bring them along to the airport. They could be an extra hand, up to the International Gate at least (and probably wouldn’t mind at all)!

Airport

  • Consider use of a harness. For a 16 month old a 2-in-1 Harness Buddy could be a good option - as it’s cute, cuddly and has a harness for a tail!
  • Also look at a popular backpack stroller called a ‘quicksmart’ it folds up small enough to go in the overhead locker on planes, so may help  you move the child through the airport and allow for a nap etc if neccessary. It might be handy too at your destination.
  • Another option could be a baby carrier, this keeps the baby close while you have your hands free. Only thought here is, that your daughter may be starting to be a bit heavy and you’ve mentioned she’s really active…

Activities

Look at things you will both be enthusiastic about during the trip. Would you like to do some colouring together or reading? For this age group, maybe consider things to chew and feel and maybe a board book. A favourite story book? A teddy? A Car? I really like the ‘chubbies’ range for smaller kids as they’re big and robust. Some might like a new cuddly toy with different textures they can touch. Don’t forget the simple things, singing ‘Twinkle Twinkle’ (you don’t have to belt it out -

Drop Buddy

maybe just sing it quietly in her ear), playing peek a boo, tickling – things you know she enjoys. Doodle Pro’s are really popular. And I think I’ve mentioned (in an earlier post) one time where my daughter and I spent a long time taking her shoes and socs on and off!

Eating

Consider if your child has any food requirements. It can be good to take more snacks than you think you might need. I have had experiences where we have been stuck on the tarmac or unable to land and had run out of food! At 16 months, those squeezIe fruit and vegetable packs are great (such as Rafferty’s Garden). Bananas and rusks are great. Does she have a favourite bakery item? Will you need bottles? Also, look at our Drop Buddy, Groovy Gripper and Disposable Bibs. See our mealtime category.

Nappies

 

Diaper Buds travel nappies

Our range of ‘Diaper Buds’ have been hugely popular. Each nappy is vacuum sealed so it takes up less space – great for travel (you can fit 3 Diaper Buds in the space of 1 normal nappy).

Sleeping.

Think about something cute like a Zoobie, its a soft cuddly toy which opens up to reveal a pillow and a blanket - all in one. Think about a neck roll (the monkey animal neck rolls are really cute). Also, do you have bedding organised at the other end? Can you hire a cot?

Seating

At this age your child is likely to be over 10 kilos. You could consider a CARES harness if you have booked or are allocated your own seat (for more see Little

The CARES in use

Gulliver’s Travel Help Desk). While the CARES is great for safety, (protecting the child’s upper torso, much like a car seat does in cars) – it does add the bonus of being difficult for a child to undo. Airline seat belts are, as you know, childs play to unbuckle! Also, I like to sit near the aisle, its easier to get in and out for the inevitable nappy changes. If you get 2 seats, I prefer the child in the middle, as on the aisle their heads, hands and feet are prone to hanging out and getting knocked by other passengers and trolleys.

On board

Don’t hesitate to contact your airline if you have any questions about onboard facilities. (Don’t expect great answers though, sometimes it pays to ring a few times). If you haven’t already looked the Malaysian Airlines flying with children section (kids corner) it’s here. If you know which aircraft you will be flying on check www.seatguru.com, you may like to be near toilets with change tables or located in a particular part of the aircraft.

Other blogs say…

http://www.minti.com/questions-and-answers/discussion/533657/flying-with-a-16-month-old/#

http://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/thread.jspa?threadID=548067

http://parents.berkeley.edu/advice/going/long-flights.html

 

Anyway, these are just a few ideas. I think its good that you are thinking about it now, but once you leave, just relax and enjoy. Ask for and accept help when you are comfortable doing so, watch a movie, cuddle and do some people watching. Most of all I hope the 2 of you enjoy some great daughter and dad time!

Also, let me know if you have any other thoughts and enjoy the trip!

Regards,

Donna

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Diaper Buds; space saving, full sized nappies!

By Travel Toddler on May 19, 2011

All sizes of Diaper Buds now available at Little Gulliver.

Diaper Buds are tiny!

Always looking to make travelling with kids easier, we were thrilled to welcome ‘Diaper Buds’ into our range.

They are an individually wrapped nappy that has been vacuum-packed to make them more compact! In fact, the overall size is decreased by 70%, making them perfect for long haul flights – more room in your carry on luggage and less chance of running out. Three Buds fit in the place of one nappy and are kept clean and fresh until you open the package. Then they ‘bloom’ into a full size super absorbent nappy!

 

About Diaper Buds

  1. comparable to any leading nappy on the market today
  2. easy to open, don’t leak, have a wide, soft-stretch waist, secure-grip stretch tabs and ultra-soft cover.
  3. dermatologist tested for sensitive skin, fragrance and chemical free and that the packaging is recyclable.

“Fits in your purse, bag or pocket”

Available now at Little Gulliver.

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Use of the Infant Lap Belt

By Travel Toddler on April 14, 2011

Check this great post on Amelia Kelly’s blog, Tray Table. She does a great explanation of the “supplementary loop belt” in her post “Babies on the Plane”. This is the lap belt which fixes onto the adults seat belt, it is for infants to age 2 without their own seat, on planes in Australia. 

Babies on the Plane

Amelia is an Australian flight attendant for an international airline and wrote this great post in January 2010. If you’ve never flown with a baby before or are uncertain of the regulations relating to restraints for children on board Australian aircraft, this post is certainly worth a look.

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Child safety on board light aircraft

By Travel Toddler on March 8, 2011

Phone query from Doug: March 1st 2011 

Little Gulliver had a lovely phone call from Doug, who pilots his own light aircraft. He is looking into safety on board when he takes his grandchildren on a trip. The CARES will be used for the older children, but what are the best options for the baby (then aged approximately 3 months old)? The aircraft does not have bassinets installed. 

Ben @ Little Gulliver said: March 3 2011 1:18 PM

Hello Doug,

Thanks for visiting Little Gulliver and your query on Tuesday.  I spoke to Donna, our chief researcher, and your findings are in line with our understanding.   

For children over 1, the only two child restraint options for use in all phases of flight are an Australian standard car seat (AS 1754) or CARES restraint.  Although, for an Aust. car seat to comply, the airline must be willing to provide the 3rd overhead tether belt which may then restrict the use of any tray table directly behind the child’s seat and also limit feet rest area for the passenger behind.  Each car seat will carry a different height and width dimension and this is why the airlines still have a policy of needing the exact make and model of the seat to cross check with the type of airline seat the child will most likely use. 

We do not have access to any lists of which carseat is suitable for which airline seat unfortunately.  For your particular aircraft, any Australian approved car seat that fits your seat configuration should provide a compliant seat for your baby passengers who are too young for a CARES.  It will need to be setup in the window seat or bulkhead seat so it does not impede other passenger’s ability to move about.  One brand we’ve seen mentioned is the Britax Safe N Sound Compaq car seat.  The other brands I’d seen mentioned are US standard only so not available for use out here.

Britax Compaq Safe n Sound

Additionally, airlines traditionally only recognise the car seat safety standard requirements of the country they are registered in, so US airlines will be OK with US standard car seats but not allow Aust standard ones on board.  This makes it very difficult if travelling across multiple airlines for any overseas travel.

For a baby flyer, the options are even more limited.  The infant lap belt is common on Australian airlines but banned in other parts of the world.  Evidence appears to show them as relatively ineffective in certain circumstances too.  A baby can be in a bassinet arrangement if under 3 months old, but you indicated this isn’t relevant for your charter craft.  A suitable car seat or the infant lap belt are the only approved item for such young flyers.

Here’s a couple of articles that may be of interest, apologies if you’ve come across them already.  Flying with babies – this is an article Donna published on our TravelToddler travel blog.  This article also links to a Flight Safety Australia article discussing babies on board (it was published in 2004, but there appears to have been little progress on the issue since).  We also list the links to the latest child restraint policies for most local airlines here.

I hope this helps, please let me know if I can assist with any other queries.

Kind regards

Ben

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As seen in Mother & Baby magazine

By Travel Toddler on November 24, 2010

If you’re flicking through the *Dec/Jan2011 ‘Mother & Baby’ you might notice our great travel bed…

“Travelling with your bub is challenging enough without the added worry of transporting baby paraphernalia from one location to another! Lightweight and easy to asssemble, a travel cot is a sanity-saving essential, especially for parents constantly on the go.”

 

Goldbug Pea Pod Travel Bed, 4kg, $84.95

The brightly coloured Pea Pod fits into a suitcase or the back of a car. Lightweight and compact, the collapsed Pod pops into a bed in seconds, Suitable from birth until bub can sit up unassisted.

Pea Pod Travel Bed

*See page 145 for a ’5 Minute Guide to Travel Cots’

Available now at Little Gulliver.

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The Breastfeeding Blanket – UV

By Travel Toddler on October 13, 2010

I love the Breastfeeding Blanket!

While I absolutely support breastfeeding anytime, anyplace – sometimes you may want to be a little discreet (speaking from experience). This may be because of what you are wearing or where you are. The Breastfeeding Blanket can give you peace of mind, so you only need think about your baby and yourself.

Little Gulliver stocks the UV version, as it is such a versitile option, making breastfeeding in a sunny spot less of a concern and making an ideal pram cover to boot (its nice to be prepared for anything when you’re travelling). The video shows below how easy it is to use. Available for sale now at Little Gulliver Shop with Little Gulliver – Babies only!

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Hiring Baby car seats in Sydney

By Travel Toddler on September 20, 2010

Mary said: 18 September 2010 9:07 PM

Our daughter is flying from England in November with her 7 month old son. She requires a baby safety seat for the day she arrives in Sydney, and the same again when she leaves three weeks later. She has family members at each of her other destinations who can have baby seats fitted in their cars when she arrives, but Sydney is the the problem, because it will be for such a short time. Is it possible to hire one for one or two days at a time? She will be using private transport so doesn’t need to hire a taxi. I realise that that car will have to be fitted out to take a baby seat.  It will difficult enough travelling with a baby without having to carry her own baby seat, as well.

Donna @ Travel Toddler said: 20 September 2010 2:33 PM

Hello Mary,

That sounds great. I’m surmising you’re based in Australia and no doubt you’re a bit excited about seeing your Grandson (and his mum)!

Rear Facing Baby Car Seat

Since you’ve mentioned private transport, hiring a car + seat is out. But, yes, absolutely you can hire just a seat for a day or 2 at a time. (Of course individual places may have a minimum number of days hire, so you may have to pay for some extra unused days). There are a number of businesses that hire baby equipment. You could also hire other things, like port-a-cots, strollers and the like.

I’ve listed a few below that rent baby equipment in Sydney;

http://www.babyhire.com.au/

http://www.hireforbaby.com/

http://www.phdrentals.com.au/hire-baby-products.html

And a couple of Directory’s can be found here;

Kidspot’s Sydney Baby Hire Directory

Bubhub Nursery Eqipment Hire NSW

I’m sorry I can’t personally recommend any in particular, although I have used ‘Hire for Baby’ a couple of times. (It is a franchise business though and I have not used it in the Sydney region).

As your Grandson is around 7 months, the hire company will advise which car seat option will suit him – based on his weight. Baby capsules are most likely out and it will depend on whether he would suit a rear facing car seat or face forward. At his age, rear facing is likely to be the best option. Just check his weight before you make any calls.

Other things to consider when hiring the seat is delivery and installation. Depending on circumstances, they are likely to visit the house with the car and install a day or so before the baby arrives and pick it up the day after he leaves. It will also help if you can tell them the make and model of the car when booking. (I’m not sure why, but I’ve been asked this before)!

Also, with the private car, just make sure it is baby ready. It should already have at least 1 vehicle anchor point (to attach the car seat). Newer cars have these already. Otherwise, you can easily get 1 from a baby store or even a department store. Again, the baby hire organisation you use may be able to help on this. Vehicle anchor points are described by the RACV here more about vehicle anchor points

I absolutely agree that your daughter need not bother about bringing her own seat. Apart from actually having to bother with it, I think they are better off staying in your car – where you know where it’s been. The other thing is legislation. I am uncertain as to whether UK car seats would even be approved for use in Australia and may not be worth the worry.

Here is a couple of recent posts which you may find helpful;

http://traveltoddler.com.au/2010/05/flying-with-babies/

http://traveltoddler.com.au/2010/05/choosing-an-aeroplane-seat/

Let me know if there are other things you’re wondering about that I haven’t mentioned. Also, Little Gulliver’s Baby category is here, in case you need any ideas.

Best of luck with the planning and I hope you get lots of cuddles!

Regards,

Donna

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My Packing Disaster

By Travel Toddler on July 18, 2010

I’d never thought much about packing before we had kids, it was just something to get done and often the night before a trip. Since all of our married-with-no-kids clothes were sitting in the wardrobe, all clean and ironed, there was really no challenge! Then, there was the novelty factor with baby # 1. I’d enjoy packing his ‘good’ clothes and marvel at how cute they looked in the suitcase with our things. Ahh baby makes 3. Things started to go pear shaped when baby # 2 came along though. And when did I start packing for my husband?

Our first major family trip for 4 involved multiple flights across the country. The trip was great, but the lead up to it was quite a disaster. I wanted to use up a flight $ credit for a holiday we’d cancelled (career changes, home renovation delays and unexpected baby on the way). Our cancellation policy was NO REFUND, but we could still use the $ value of the flights within 12 months of the original departure date – for 1 trip only. I found a small loophole though, it was still deemed to be the same trip, no matter how many stopovers we had before heading home. So, it was decided we would travel to an interstate Baptism, stay with family in the Hunter Valley and then head off to far north Queensland for a beach holiday. I arranged connecting flights in-between to save driving and hire cars. Sound fabulous?

Ok, so now I know – packing for multiple trips in different climates with 2 adults, a toddler and a baby is a pain. I, in fact, can’t do some things no matter how simple they may seem and yes, everything has changed since the kids came along. Apart from the travelling accessories, we needed; Baptism clothes and a gift, farm clothes and beach clothes. There were some unexpected annoyances too;
1. Shoes – too many to take, but what would we REALLY need (good shoes, heels, runners, gum boots, sandals, slippers, croc’s)?
2. Nappies and snacks. They take up more space than you’d think.
3. Presents – kind relatives showered our kids with gifts during the 1st stopover (all of which I now had to fit in the suitcase). I thought of posting some things home and probably should have.
4. Because it was our baby daughter’s 1st time meeting many of our family, I thought all the gorgeous baby girl gear was a necessity. She had so many cute outfits I couldn’t decide what she would need and I packed way too much for her.
5. Then of course my ‘dressy’ church Baptism-appropriate dress could not accommodate breastfeeding (without ripping off an arm or hiking up my skirt). It was awkward. When I look back now I wonder why I didn’t just race out and grab myself some new clothes…then I remember – no time and no inclination!

I left the final pack too late – with a slow burn that somehow led up to the night before our early flight. Nothing fit in the suitcase, the kids got sick and I couldn’t get them to sleep. I wondered why I was bothering at all. In the end, I wore the same clothes and shoes most of the trip. In a last minute (tired) effort to get the suitcase closed – I took out most of my things.

The good news is I’m fine with packing now. I think sometimes when you’re busy or tired it manifests itself into something. With me, it was packing for this trip. I think it was my way of telling myself I was a bit over everything. Even the thought of a holiday seemed exhausting! I’ve learned though, that with any family travel, we can’t expect everything to go smoothly. I love the expression “plan for the worst, expect the best”. On another note, my eldest son (now aged 4) has just asked me “why are there no pockets in underpants?” So I guess I’d better give that some thought now!

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CBS report – Safety for Lap Held Children

By Travel Toddler on June 14, 2010

When you’re watching this – remember it is a US report. Lap held children in the USA are completely unrestrained. Infants on Australian aircraft are by law required to be held in a lap belt which is attached to the parents seat belt. The report they refer to is by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). The CARES harness is suitable for children from 10 – 20 kilos and up to a metre tall.

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Flying With Babies

By Travel Toddler on May 15, 2010

Flying With Babies

Booking a Basinet
Check with your airline if you can book a bassinet. This may not be possible though, as not all airlines or planes have them. Also, there are a limited number of them available, so book early if a bassinet is really important to you.

Each basinet is quite different from each other and have different features. The one pictured here has straps to hold the infant in place, others have a stretchy netting which is pulled over the babies torso.

Also, check the weight limits of bassinettes with your airline. They vary. When planning future travel, the Child and Maternal Health graphs are handy at estimating your childs likely weight at a certain age

Lap restraints
Under 2 years, your baby is considered a “lap child”. In Australia this means the child is to be seated on your lap and a lap restraint is given to you for use by the airline. To use you must adjust your own seat belt and loop the babies belt through, then fasten and loop around your baby. Some airlines will let you purchase a seat for a child under 2 years at a reduced rate.

The lap belt provided by our airlines is not used in many overseas countries, where car seats and more recently the use of CARES is more common. Local authorities don’t see that a carseat provides adequate protection for a child on a plane, as the car seat cannot be bolted onto the seat as in cars.  

How to Help Babies Unblock their Ears?
Babies cannot intentionally pop their ears, but popping may occur if they are sucking on a bottle or pacifier. Feed your baby during the flight, and do not allow him or her to sleep during descent. Children are especially vulnerable to blockages because their Eustachian tubes are narrower than in adults.

Reference; The American Academy of Otolaryngology
http://www.entnet.org/HealthInformation/earsAltitude.cfm

A word on Baby B’Air
Some consider, in an emergency situation that this restraint is no more ‘safe’ than the restraint already provided by our airlines. Don’t be confused by o/s blogs that talk about this product, as US airlines do not provide the lap restraint we have in Australia. Also, the Baby B’Air is NOT able to be used during take-off and landing.  

CASA article
‘Baby On Board, Parents Flying with Babies Face Tough Decisions’
http://www.casa.gov.au/wcmswr/_assets/main/fsa/2004/feb/62.pdf
This article by Helen Waddington goes through the alternatives and the myriad of confusion that exists for parents. Little has changed since this article was published in ‘Flight Safety Australia’ in 2004.

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