Parenting Archive

My thoughts on parenthood, and what it's like to be a mom in the Philippines.

Baby On Board: Tips for Flying With A Baby

We love travelling but never tried flying, yet. I don’t think I can handle flying with 4 kids haha maybe a few more years from now,or maybe next year (*wink). For sure flying with an infant is a lot more difficult than flying with kids. So if you have plans on travelling by plane this summer or any time soon, this helpful tips from Mommy PRO can save you a lot! (Italics are my opinions)

1. Travel light.You’d be surprised at how laborious it will be to pass through security gates with a baby and heavy luggage in tow, especially if traveling without help. By packing lightly, your transitions from door-to-door or gate-to-gate can become breezier.

Travel light? with an infant? sound impossible no? When we travel, it helps that I am breastfeeding, we don’t have to bring cans of milk, feeding bottles and sterilizer. But for those on formula, limit your feeding bottle to 3 or 4, and use milk dispensers instead of bringing the whole. Bringing a few diaper change will also lessen your baggage, for sure you can more diapers to your area of destination.

2. Bring a travel and space-friendly baby stroller.Your top three considerations when buying one should be: portability, ease of folding, and storage space. If it ain’t all three, then re-consider bringing one.

My sister traveled with his a few years back, alone. I can’t imagine how she did it but she said that her portable and light weight stroller made it possible. I’d go for sling instead of stroller.

3. Always ask for help.Flight attendants are trained individuals and would be more than glad to help. Seeking assistance can range from having them help you with your hand-carry, grab something from your baby bag, or even carry/supervise your baby so you can take a bathroom break.

And ask nicely, having a cranky baby does not mean, you have a ticket to crankiness too.

3. Get breastfeeding information ahead.Inquire in advance on the breastfeeding policies of the airline you are taking. There never seems to be a consistent “policy” when it comes to breastfeeding even if it is generally allowed. Discussions remain torn on whether breastfeeding moms should apply full discretion or go about her nursing duties unabashedly. Wear clothes that make it extra easy for you to breastfeed (like buttoned or zipped blouses) or have a thin blanket to cover up if you are uncomfortable nursing in public.

Here’s a tip: Wear a tube inside your blouse, it makes breastfeeding easier without exposing too much (specially the tummy area).

4. Bring a pacifier.With the root word being “pacify,” they are perfect when it comes to avoiding that dreaded crying fit inside the plane. They minimize the pressure in the ears, too, which could be bothersome for infants (and we don’t want bothersome!) during take off and landing.

I don’t use pacifier, never tried using it but it works to some, so go ahead bring one (as I have mentioned before, I breastfeed, that’s a good “pacifier” too)

5. Choose front seats.You can request for front seats when you check-in at the airport. You and your baby might move a lot during the trip – shifting positions to be more comfortable, standing up to reach the overhead cabin, and rummaging through the baby bag. Having ample space to stir around will give you less stress during the flight.

I don’t know you can request for a front seat but I am sure when nicely asked, a airline attendant will gladly oblige.

Have you tried flying with an infant? How do you prepare for the flight? How was the flight? Please do share your expereince with us so we can learn a thing or two from you. 🙂

What Kind Of Parent Are You? Crunchy or Silky?

In my blog hopping activity, I encountered these two words: crunchy and silky. Well, these two words are the big thing when it comes to parenting styles. There are 4 styles of parenting; Authoritarian Parenting, Authoritative Parenting, Permissive Parenting, Uninvolved Parenting and you can read more about it HERE. And based on that link, I would like to believe that my parenting style is Authoritative Parenting:

Like authoritarian parents, those with an authoritative parenting style establish rules and guidelines that their children are expected to follow. However, this parenting style is much more democratic. Authoritative parents are responsive to their children and willing to listen to questions. When children fail to meet the expectations, these parents are more nurturing and forgiving rather than punishing. Baumrind suggests that these parents “monitor and impart clear standards for their children’s conduct. They are assertive, but not intrusive and restrictive. Their disciplinary methods are supportive, rather than punitive. They want their children to be assertive as well as socially responsible, and self-regulated as well as cooperative” (1991).

So where does being a crunchy or silky parent falls? Er, honestly, I have no idea! Well, based on this QUIZ, I am 70% silky, does it make make me a better mom? or a bad mom?

And still based on that quiz and this one, here’s my conclusion on what crunchy and silky parenting are:

I am a little crunchy because I breastfed my kids, actually still breastfeeding my youngest. We co-sleep and I baby wear. I think the result is very accurate, yes, I am more of a silky mom. I can’t leave the house without makeup! hahaha and I can’t live without disposable diapers. Another thing, I can’t live without contraceptives, because if I don’t use one, I’ll end having more kids than I can handle. We’re too compatible that even a touch from husband will make me pregnant! wahaha In all honesty, I do have high respect for people who were able to maintain being crunchy, that takes a lot time! And I have high respect for people who are silky mom like me. At the end of the day, it doesn’t really matter at all, crunchy and silky are just labels. In the end, it’s all about you and how happy and contented you are as a mom, of course happiness and contentment of your kids follows.

But I know, it’s fun to see what kind of mom you are no? So go ahead take the quiz but never let that label define you 🙂 Crunchy or Silky, I am sure, for your kids, you’re the BEST MOM in the world. Cheers to us all moms!

One Happy Weekend At Costa Villa, La Union

He said he needs to unwind, to relax.. and there’s only one place that relaxes him.. La Union..

So, one Saturday morning, we packed our bags and head North..

The road was not easy.. we had a few stops along the way (first, to replace/ repair the radiator and second, to repair the transmission) so our plan of resort hopping before checking in didn’t push through. Good thing, a few weeks before that impromptu vacay, I already asked Costa Villa if they have a vacant room for some dates (na foresee ko na ang lakad na ito haha) and luckily, there is a room available on that weekend.

Why Costa Villa? Out of all the resorts in Urbiztondo, La Union (surfing area in San Juan), it is the only one with cooking facilities (except for Kahuna, which is like waaah too expensive!).. and I already booked some rooms for the Holy Week.

I was a bit disappointed (kaunting kaunti lang naman) with the place. It was smaller than I expected, looks more like an apartelle than a resort (and a bit not beach front, I will explain later). Accommodation wise and the size of the rooms, I am more than pleased.

Costa VIlla Beach Resort — Costa Villa Beach Resort Facade

This is the facade of the resort and that’s all. That’s why I told you it looks more like an apartelle than a resort. There is a reception area but really small.. I was imagining it to have a big reception area at the back of these rooms.. sadly it has none. The pool is small too but I see it as an advantage on my part. I don’t have to worry that much! hahaha

The first photo is the front of the resort, road in front of that, the road takes a turn and the point where it takes the turn is where the way to the beach is.. argh ang hirap i explain.. basta hindi sya ganun ka beach front.. gets? Beach front sya.. pero hindi ganun ka- front, gets nyo ba? teka nga makahanap ng mapa haha

o ayan na map, gets nyo na ba ako? hehe

No question about the beach.. San Juan beach is the best!

Costa Villa is just a few meters (around 500) from the surfing area (where Kahuna, Little Surfmaid, San Juan Surf is located). That’s one of the things I liked about Costa Villa, secluded in a way that the shore is almost empty.. and yet you are near to the surfing area (which can be very crowded, specially during Holy Week).

For that weekend, we got a family room (good for 6) with cooking facilities (3k+ higher during Holy Week). There was 3 queen size bed on the room, a small dinning table attached to the wall. The kitchen was complete.. as in pati kutsara at tinidor meron.. major plus points yan!

We had fun during our stay at Costa Villa and I don’t regret that I booked 4 rooms for the Holy Week (2 apartelle and 2 family room). Kase naman, the hotel staff and the owners are very accommodating… and they’re not strict on the number of people staying on the room (malamang ito maging suki namin every Holy Week)..sana lang they would extend pa so there would be a bigger holding/ reception area.

During our stay pala I took a photo of the apartelle (two story, one bedroom):

Costa Villa Beach Resort Apartelle (1st floor)

Wala pala akong picture nung 2nd floor, but it’s a big room with one king sized bed and mattress (I think it can accommodate more than 5 people, baka nga kasya pa ang sampu eh)

Look how happy ang mga bagets: