Menopausal Mother

     Today on the blog I have some terrific information about traveling with a baby. Yes, I know many of you are beyond the baby-raising stage in life but I'm guessing you might have young grandchildren by now. And perhaps you're thinking of a safe, holiday vacation with your family that includes a road trip. Or maybe you're looking for a unique holiday gift to give to the new parents in your family. If so, EliteBaby has the perfect solution! 

Tips on How an EliteBaby Baby Diaper Bag Backpack Can Help With A Fuss-Free Road Trip

The COVID-19 pandemic may have put our overseas vacation plans on hold for the foreseeable future, but that doesn’t mean that the whole family shouldn’t go out for an exciting—and safe—adventure. After all, a trusted family car can be just as comfortable as an airplane ride. And with no surprise, there are a ton of places you all can visit and enjoy in the good ole U.S. of A.

But wait, you may say, “there’s another ‘minor’ change in your collective lives that needs to be considered too” – the eight-month-old bundle of joy that has become the apple of everyone’s eye.  

A brief browse through the internet shows plenty of stories about how fussy, and especially stressful, trips can be with newborns or infants. There’s just too much to consider and prepare for - as you with older children must know by now. But that shouldn’t keep you from a family road trip that gives everyone their much-needed rest and recreational fun after being cooped up inside the house. 

As we all know, pandemic restrictions are put into place for the safety and well-being of ourselves and those around us, but we all also know the work-from-home or online schooling setup can turn into a bit of a lackluster, repetitive cycle. So let’s reduce those burdens…  

Here are a few useful tips to make your journey through the great outdoors as fuss-free as possible with a baby in tow:

By “everything,” I mean everything that the baby may need. Diapers and wipes need to be at the top of your list to make sure your little one is clean, changed, and comfortable at all times during the ride. Bottles of formula or breast milk, some of your baby’s favorite toys, and a thermometer are all also extremely important to have on hand. All of these items and more need to be in one, easily retrievable place. 

For this, a versatile baby diaper bag backpack should do the trick. Why make things harder on yourself than they need to be? Not only is this piece of baby gear functional with numerous pockets included and spaces to fit everything you will need for your baby, but it’s also stylish and durable for when you need to go on a supply run or in this case, get out of the car to appreciate the outdoors.

2.    Don’t forget the car seat

If you are buying a new car seat for your baby, make sure it’s the right fit for the height and weight of your child. Also, a rearward-facing child restraint with an inbuilt harness is advisable for 6-month-old babies or younger. Those who are older than six months can be seated in either rearward-facing or forward-facing car seats, but still, ensure that it has an inbuilt harness. Test whether the straps are pulled tight enough for your child or not. If a finger’s width can fit between the strap and your baby’s body, that means you’re good to go!

3.    Include lots of breaks in your journey

According to experts, babies should not sleep in the car seat for too long. For 1-month-old babies and below, they shouldn’t be asleep for more than 30 minutes. Infants and toddlers can only be in the car seat for two hours before they need to take a break. So, when going on longer road trips remember to make pit stops so your baby can stretch, crawl, or simply sleep better in a secure and comfortable place. 

There is also the matter of changing diapers or breastfeeding, and neither task is recommended to be done inside a moving car. Also, keep in mind that if the baby is asleep when you reach your destination, bring them with you wherever you go even if it wakes them. It is simply much safer for the baby.

4.    Be with the baby

It’s not enough for the baby to be safe and secure in the car seat. In addition, one parent/guardian/older sibling should be sitting right next to them. This guarantees that the baby’s needs are taken care of as soon as they arise, whether it be hunger pangs, boredom, or a diaper change. Everyone’s stress levels can easily spike if there is a constantly fussing baby in a long-journeyed car ride, so make your life easier by meeting your baby’s needs immediately.

5.    Get there as quickly as possible

If your road trip has a final destination, it would be better not to go through the scenic route – literally. Instead, follow the straight line that connects point A to point B.

One good reason for this is simple: Long stretches of open road usually mean there isn’t easily found help nearby, such as gasoline stations, food establishments, convenience stores, or even worse, medical clinics.

Even after precautions are taken and preparations are made to make your trip as smooth as possible, there will most likely be some hiccups along the way. Just keep in mind that most hassles are easily solved with a clear mind and a calm demeanor…even when there’s a baby bawling at the back of the car.

Today on the blog I have Heather Wright, author of the new book, What's Happening To Me Now?!: The Facts Of Life As A Woman In Your 40s. This humorous book is a delight to read and a must-have for all my lady friends entering the "change of life." I love that Heather is able to incorporate humor into menopause, something I have been preaching here on the blog for years. 

Below you will find a brief synopsis of the book, a funny clip from the introduction, and the link to purchase the book. What are you waiting for? Grab your copy today!  

What's Happening to Me NOW?!: The Facts of Life, As a Woman in Your 40s. (Straight Talk About Perimenopause.)

Written by : Heather Wright

Illustrated by: Matylda McCormack-Sharp

Synopsis:

It’s a short, comically illustrated book about perimenopause; light, accessible, honest, inclusive, and humorous. Why? Half the global population — that is one billion humans — suffers a hormonal upheaval starting in the late 30s or earlier for medical reasons, yet the subject is taboo! And 75% of them will experience life-affecting symptoms while carrying adult responsibilities. Almost no information exists to support ladies with disabilities. The choices made during this time can have a big impact on health and well-being both short and long term, making it essential to break this taboo. This book is intended as a helpful place to start. At least it's a place to get some laughter to ease through the uncomfortable bits. 

Introduction Chapter:

PERI...WHAT?!

There you are, lying with your legs spread eagle, your exposed lady parts swinging in the brisk air of your lovely obstetrician’s office for an annual exam, when BANG! The word is casually released like an advanced nuke dropped from the B-2 stealth bomber... perimenopause. Okay, breathe. All women go through it. But this idea of “going through puberty backward” (go on, whisper it...menopause) is, t a b o o. We simply don’t want to talk about it! Or we whisper together, exposing ourselves to grapevine-style misinformation. There was an array of perfectly reasonable looking books and articles on the market; but nothing like what I wanted. I was searching for a short, sweet, and humorous explanation of what the hell was going on with my body, and if there was anything I could immediately do about it. You know, now that we can finally admit that we aren’t 29-years-and-holding. I’d like to tell you that your doctor could guide you through it all. (Just wait until you find out what little data that esteemed character is operating on.) I’m not going to sugar coat this; there may be perplexing years ahead. This book cannot answer all of your questions. Hint: There aren’t always answers. It is not a substitute for medical advice or clinical research (as 

if there were much of that available, ladies). My humble aim is that you may be better positioned to find an approach that works for you, or at least that we share some good old-fashioned laughter to ease the uncomfortable bits.

Bio:

Heather Wright is a Canadian located in the San Francisco Bay 

Area and is a first-time author. She has enjoyed terrific careers that 

use her fancy Master’s degrees in Chemical Engineering and Fine 

Arts too. She has done odd things like get her name on a toner patent 

for Xerox and led a significant historical clock restoration project for 

Queen’s University. Yet her only real credentials for writing this book 

are her enviable gender (female) and age (in her 40s). She wrote this 

book because, for goodness sake, someone had to. 

www.whatshappeningtomeNOW.com

Instagram: @whatshappeningtomenow

Purchase Link (Amazon):

https://www.amazon.com/dp/1970109246/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_tai_ibAPFb8GSE802