All About Travelling Pregnant Or With Kids

[Joy]

I always bring everything extra till my luggage is overloaded all the time…


For food, I think in japan is quite easy, the sushi comes into handy.

Milk, I also bring extra.

As to how to handle baby in the aircraft, I guess just take one thing at a time…we never know what the baby is going to react.

I remember I used to worry so much about travelling , once upon a time, till I dare not take the first step in flying…lesson learnt, once u step out, u will find that you want to travel more and more…its not a nightmare…u will enjoy…afterall, its a good bonding with the child too…

[smurf]

Busymom:

So far, we have been able to get past security with water for the children, water for making milk and water in water bottle. Sometimes, security may just ask you to drink the water in front of them. It also helps if the child is still rather young. Of course, don't kick up a scene if the security officer disallows it.


We usually use hot water from the plane. As for cool water, if you didn't manage to get past security with your own water, try asking the flight attendants for water from bottled water. Also, another way is to get hot water from the plane, asked for the amount that you need for making that 200ml of milk for instance, and let the water cool down naturally. In this case, bring along a themos to store the hot water that you will need later. This is what we do before landing.

As for asking the airline, they can't really advise. It really depends on the airport security officer.

I know some would just ask you to pour away the water. regardless of reason. very mean right? but that is to protect other passengers.

[smurf]

Busymom:

Yes, certain places in Tokyo can be crowded, usually the shopping belt area e.g. Shibuya, etc. However, the other places such as parks, gardens, shrines are fine from our past experiences. A good place to go to is the Oedo-Onsen Monogatari. Of course, you have to decide if your child is old enough for the onsen.

If you avoid the train stations during the morning rush hour, I think it is not that bad.

As for the restaurants, check if they have baby chairs before you go in. Also, look around at the restaurant, its patrons, etc. before you decide whether to eat there. Most restarants do not have a smoke-free area. If you see a table of working men, best not to sit next to them.

going with toddler usually no choice, limited places that you can go...parks and parks and more parks. hahah.
I seldom see playground in Tokyo?? for train station, no, the train stations are crowded regardless of time. even at 10pm! astonishing hor? but that's Tokyo. maybe some small train stations not as crowded as those major ones. I dunno about other cities in Japan, maybe not so crowded.

I remember when I went there, I asked for baby chair, ask until I fed up, because none of them have baby chair! strange right? cos I thought it shouldn't be so, especially since they have very nice toilet with baby friendly facilities and such.
and also, sometimes when toddler want to eat, no time to go find out so many things lah. best is to do homework first before travel.



think we OT too much already.hahha



anyway, got a question to ask: how did you guys make milk in hotel? do you use the hot flask provided or bring your own travel flask? :?

and for washing leh? do you wash in the bathroom or ask for room service? I just wash them in the toilet. I dun use hot flask, I use bottled water. but DS1 complained that the milk not warm, it's cold actually. (cos was winter). so he din want to drink.

[Busymom]

smurf:

going with toddler usually no choice, limited places that you can go...parks and parks and more parks. hahah.
I seldom see playground in Tokyo??

For Tokyo, we were actually quite happy to go to their gardens, parks and shrines as both times were during the cherry blossom period. The rest of the time, we just walked around, looked for stuff to buy, spent time inside their famous department stores (e.g. Mitsukoshi, Tokyu Hand)... already time no enough for us. :lol:

By the way, think Ueno Park has a zoo and they have panda bears there. Unfortunately, DH brought the kids there on a wrong day and the zoo was closed. They subsequently went shopping nearby and found some busy streets with shops/stalls selling dried food stuff (see pic), fruits, tea leaves, clothes and seafood even, if not mistaken. It was definitely a fun day for them.

http://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=Pqcf2hr

smurf:

for train station, no, the train stations are crowded regardless of time. even at 10pm! astonishing hor? but that's Tokyo. maybe some small train stations not as crowded as those major ones. I dunno about other cities in Japan, maybe not so crowded.

Didn't have this impression last year when we were there. We were staying in Ginza area. Osaka was ok as well from what I remembered.

smurf:

I remember when I went there, I asked for baby chair, ask until I fed up, because none of them have baby chair! strange right? cos I thought it shouldn't be so, especially since they have very nice toilet with baby friendly facilities and such.
and also, sometimes when toddler want to eat, no time to go find out so many things lah. best is to do homework first before travel.

Yes, it is not easy to find a restaurant with baby chair. In case anyone is planning to go to Ueno park, there are some very nice family restaurants opposite the park (you'll see them when you walk to the park from the train station). At least one of those restaurants that we went to has a baby chair. The food was cheap, yet fantastic. We took a picture of a bowl of noodles with moving chopsticks outside one of the restaurants - it was quite a funny signt.

http://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=gxsopAJ

I did resort to carrying DD on my lap on occasions when we were eating at shops that sold only ramen. A bit pathetic indeed.

smurf:

anyway, got a question to ask: how did you guys make milk in hotel? do you use the hot flask provided or bring your own travel flask? :?

and for washing leh? do you wash in the bathroom or ask for room service? I just wash them in the toilet. I dun use hot flask, I use bottled water. but DS1 complained that the milk not warm, it's cold actually. (cos was winter). so he din want to drink.

The hotels in Japan usually has an electric water boiler/dispensing pot. We used that to make milk and cereal at night and in the morning. For cool water, we usually use bottled water. We also filled our themos flask with hot water from the hotel room before going out. So far, no issue.

As for washing, we do that ourselves in the bathroom. I would recommend using hot water from the electric pot (not from bathroom as water there would not be hot enough) to sterilise the bottles once before using them. DH was lazy and did not do that when we were in Japan the first time with DD. I sterilised them for the first few nights, but was overwhelmed by other things along the way. Lesson learnt after DD had a bad case of diarrhoea towards the end of the trip. For DS, as I had bought a portable steam steriliser, we always travel with that plus a stainless steel basin which makes sterilising other things much easier. The basin doubles up as a wash basin for the bottles too.

[Busymom]

wildboys:

I remembered once when we travelled while DS was still a very young toddler. We packed ready-made meals (like the pigeon ones) for him. Alas he didn't like ANY of them!!! It was his first time trying that, he usually had homecooked meals at home. Then I realised he didn't like any ready-made baby meals at all! So we wasted all the money buying so many there. We forgot to \"trial\" at home first. So do remember to trial with your child before the trip if he/she usually only eat homemade meals...

Yes, you are right, do check if your child is ok with the taste. Also, some flavours taste better than others. We let DD taste those food before we brought her to Japan.

[schellen]

smurf:

OT:


I dun think Japan very good for children leh. at least not Tokyo. no doubt a lot of baby changing room and nursery, and it's clean and child friendly and it's very safe for children. but it's super crowded! :shock:

You'll notice that you hardly see young kids and old folks on trains except for school-going kids. This is cos it's inconvenient to go up and down stairs for these people and the rushed and confusing schedule is difficult to keep up with when you're not very fast and mobile.

In Japan city areas, mothers with young kids and old folks prefer to travel by bus. No need to climb up and down stairs, no need to squeeze during off-peak hours (most mothers in Japan are SAHMs) and the scenery can distract young kids. Notice that Jap-made prams/strollers are rather light-weight and compact when folded? In the suburbs, most will have access to cars.

[smurf]

Hi Schellen,


yup, we were :? when we hardly see any children around when we took trains. we didn't know how to take bus and not sure if it is convenient, o we just took train throughout. but on the last day of the trip, we saw quite a number of children on train.

you mean many japanese mums are not working??

[schellen]

smurf:

Hi Schellen,


yup, we were :? when we hardly see any children around when we took trains. we didn't know how to take bus and not sure if it is convenient, o we just took train throughout. but on the last day of the trip, we saw quite a number of children on train.

you mean many japanese mums are not working??

We try to travel via trains during off-peak hours in Tokyo. In Kyoto, the buses are more accessible, and we went during tourist season so everywhere was crowded anyway.

Yes, Japanese women usually quit when they get married or get pregnant. Those who work usually are self-employed (family biz, etc) or have flexi or part-time hours. The men are the breadwinners and if their wives have to work instead of taking care of the kids, it is considered \"shameful\", as if the fathers cannot earn enough to support their families. If the mothers work, the other mothers in the neighbourhood (in Japan, community is very strong) will gossip and imply that the working mother is a bad mother. After their kids reach senior high or uni stage, then, these mothers may work part-time in small stores/shops, family restaurants, supermarkets,. etc. The work is usually basic and easily replaceable but many mothers take them up to kill time, socialise and earn some pocket money. Of course, these jobs are very easily available, and such employers usually advertise for students and housewives to fill these posts.

However, lately, a lot of women are more career-minded so they may still use daycare centres or not get married or not have children even when married.

[corneyAmber]

smurf:

I know some would just ask you to pour away the water. regardless of reason. very mean right? but that is to protect other passengers.

Actually this is a serious airport security ruling they should not make any exceptions. It is not about being mean but they are executing their job for the good of all, it is a discipline. A few times we forgot and loaded the water bottle but never failed to be asked to pour away because it exceeded the required limit. I would pour away willingly because I understood the implication and if there were any emergency to have water, I would keep some as they allowed some minimum amount. So if you want, you can carry a small quantity like 20ml or 30ml?? If need more then ask for the water on the flight.

[smurf]

schellen:

smurf:

Hi Schellen,


yup, we were :? when we hardly see any children around when we took trains. we didn't know how to take bus and not sure if it is convenient, o we just took train throughout. but on the last day of the trip, we saw quite a number of children on train.

you mean many japanese mums are not working??

We try to travel via trains during off-peak hours in Tokyo. In Kyoto, the buses are more accessible, and we went during tourist season so everywhere was crowded anyway.

Yes, Japanese women usually quit when they get married or get pregnant. Those who work usually are self-employed (family biz, etc) or have flexi or part-time hours. The men are the breadwinners and if their wives have to work instead of taking care of the kids, it is considered \"shameful\", as if the fathers cannot earn enough to support their families. If the mothers work, the other mothers in the neighbourhood (in Japan, community is very strong) will gossip and imply that the working mother is a bad mother. After their kids reach senior high or uni stage, then, these mothers may work part-time in small stores/shops, family restaurants, supermarkets,. etc. The work is usually basic and easily replaceable but many mothers take them up to kill time, socialise and earn some pocket money. Of course, these jobs are very easily available, and such employers usually advertise for students and housewives to fill these posts.

However, lately, a lot of women are more career-minded so they may still use daycare centres or not get married or not have children even when married.

I see. I thought only in the olden days then the mothers would quit to look after theird kids, dunno that there are still jap mothers doing that now.