-Tracey Frost Rensky, CEO and Co-founder, Citibabes

I feel very fortunate that I have a fair amount of control over my work schedule (just one of the perks of owning my own business!). I decided that at 37 weeks pregnant I would slow my schedule down and stop teaching my regularly scheduled prenatal and postnatal classes. This has been a very hard decision since I enjoy my work and also feel the pressure and responsibility to stay involved. I consider myself one of the lucky ones to even have a say in this matter. For many women, choosing their work schedule is not an option, and the majority of students that come through the PYC work right up until they give birth. This common occurrence in our work-driven culture often leaves women fatigued and stressed right before the grand act of giving birth.

Why is this a problem?
If the body is in a state of stress and sustained fatigue, adrenaline levels will be high, therefore not allowing for the natural, uninhibited flow of oxytocin – the hormone responsible for creating uterine contractions. This can result in inadequate contractions leading to a longer labor. Starting labor feeling stressed and fatigued also puts the mother at a disadvantage since laboring and delivering a baby takes a lot of energy and hard work. For those moms that are just finishing a tough day and hoping for a good night sleep (and let’s face it – at the end of the 3rd trimester, is there really such a thing as a good night’s sleep?), you may be slightly unhappy to learn that the most common time for labor to start is in the middle of the night. This is when the mother is most relaxed, in a place where she feels safe and comfortable, and oxytocin levels are at their peak.

What to do if you don’t have a choice with work schedule?
If your schedule is not flexible towards the end of your pregnancy and does not allow for time off, here are a few ideas that will only take a short amount of time, but can still offer you the benefit of rest, relaxation and rejuvenation.

• Take a prenatal yoga class, which promotes relaxation. Prenatal yoga classes typically include an active section as well as restorative poses that can help you relax. If prenatal yoga classes are not available in your area, online videos or dvds can be a good option. (The PYC site has 3 free videos you can watch!)
• Schedule down time. Even if that means just a 20 min bath or getting a relaxing massage or pedicure.
• Try meditating or deep breathing relaxation. Meditation is different than just “relaxing” in that it focuses more specifically on training the mind into stillness through contemplation, concentration, and mindfulness. This “stilling” of the mind can help the meditator step away from the nagging thoughts and “to-do” lists that accumulate in our minds.

Deep-belly breathing promotes the function of the parasympathetic nervous system. The autonomic nervous system (ANS) is divided into two parts: the sympathetic nervous system (the fight-or-flight response), and the parasympathetic nervous system (the rest-and-relax response). The body responds to the parasympathetic nervous system by slowing the heart rate, decreasing blood pressure while increasing the release of endorphins, which cultivates relaxation and strength.

• Plan about 10-20 minutes a day to reconnect with your partner. During this time you can work on relaxation techniques or visualizations that you may want to use in labor. Or, simply spend this time just cuddling or lying down together. It’s unlikely that you’ll have this kind of time after the baby is born.
• Step away from the computer and phone at night so you are well rested.
• Enjoy activities that release oxytocin. Oxytocin eases stress and anxiety. The oxytocin response can also prime the brain to react more calmly to future stress just by thinking of those we love, scientists say. According to researcher Phil Shaver of the University of California-Davis, the chemical release in the brain that this simple action causes acts as a stress buffer before it even occurs.

So make plans to hang out with friends or your partner. Don’t forget, oxytocin is also known as the “love hormone” since it is at a very high level during orgasm.

Hopefully this list of ideas for how to bring some relaxation into your days leading up to the birth of your child has at least one option that is doable. My personal theory is, I better get some rest before the baby comes, because it is unlikely that I will get much rest afterwards.

Sources
Encyclopedia of Stress, Volume 3 by Academic Press
Varney’s Midwifery 4th Edition by Helen Varney, Jan M Kriebs, Carolyn L Gegor
http://oxytocincentral.com/2011/03/oxytocin-eases-stress-and-anxiety/#more-913

By Debra Flashenberg, CD(DONA), LCCE and CitiScoop’s Support Doula and Prenatal Yoga Expert

With 16 note cards, 16 envelopes, 2 sheets of stickers, and 1 rubber stamp, Elum’s My First Thank You Notes are a perfect (and fun) way to teach your children the art of writing thank you cards. With easy fill in the blank cards – printed on wood-free paper with soy based links – these thank you cards are great for little ones who are just learning how to write. $20.00 (available at elumdesigns.com).

I am pretty good about sharing healthy eating tips with my family overall, but I can’t help but let my girls enjoy a mini cupcake every once in a while. Another thing they enjoy is macaroni and cheese which is why I’m thankful that Citibabes’ director of children’s programming, Keri Snyder, has shared a wonderful recipe for vegan macaroni and cheese. 

-Tracey Frost Rensky, CEO and Co-founder, Citibabes

Since I became a vegetarian, I have been searching for that one fantastic comfort food that is not only delicious, but also fun to make. As a vegetarian, this search became difficult as I found myself craving things like chicken soup and chicken fingers – both off the list for vegetarians.

When I finally found this amazing recipe for vegan mac & cheese I was so excited and my roommates and I couldn’t wait to make it! It is delicious and the best part is that this recipe can be enjoyed by the whole family! Every child loves mac & cheese, so why not try it with a vegan spin?

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 pounds of elbow macaroni (or whatever pasta you prefer)
• 1/2 cup vegan butter (I use Earth Balance)
• 1/2 cup whole wheat flour
• 1 cup nutritional yeast
• 3 1/2 cups boiling water
• 1 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1 1/2 tsp. garlic powder
• Onion powder (just a pinch)
• Turmeric (just a pinch)
• Cayenne pepper (just a pinch – unless you like it spicy)
• 1 tbsp. red pepper flakes
• 2 tbsp. soy sauce
• 1/2 tbsp. mustard

Directions:

1. Boil water and add the macaroni.
2. Melt the vegan butter over low heat. Beat in the whole wheat flour with a wire whisk.  Continue to beat over medium heat until mixture is smooth and bubbly.
3. Whip in the boiling water. Add salt, garlic powder, onion powder, turmeric, cayenne, pepper flakes, soy sauce, and mustard to the liquid.
4. Let the sauce cook until it thickens and bubbles. Once thickened, beat in the nutritional yeast. If the sauce is too thick, you can add more water. Sometimes I add a bit of soy milk instead of water.
5. When the macaroni is cooked, drain and add the sauce. Serve immediately.

Original recipe from Rootielicious.com.

By Keri Snyder, Director of Children’s Programming, Citibabes

There are so many options when it comes to giving your children allowance and some ways may work for one family but not for another. The key is to find what works best for you and your family. Aaron Goldschmidt, Citibabes’ Head Teacher and CitiCamp Director, shares some tips for setting up allowance guidelines with your children.

-Tracey Frost Rensky, CEO and Co-founder, Citibabes

There is a lot of discourse as to when to start allowance with children. As an educator, I believe that as soon as a child is old enough to start asking for things at the store, they are old enough to earn an allowance and begin to lean about money management.

There are two different schools of thought on allowance. The first is that children earn a base amount that is handed over each week, on time, no questions asked. It says that you should not make allowance behavior based or use it as a reward or punishment. This school of thought suggests that in addition to the base allowance, each job or chore asked of the child has a price attached to it and this gets accumulated and paid out on a set schedule.

The other side believes that money earned by a child is based on the completion of daily household responsibilities and the maintaining of an appropriate attitude. Allowance is or is not paid out each week based on completion of set rules and responsibilities as denoted on a responsibility calendar.

The system I have created for families is somewhere in between and I believe meshes with the lifestyle and family dynamics of our community. It consists of a Monday through Friday based allowance schedule where the children will earn money each day as if being paid out on a job. The job is based on a combination of household responsibilities and general expectations of behavior and attitude.

It can be up to individual families how much each child should earn per day or week. One suggestion is to give them an amount in dollars per week that equals their age. Each evening before bed it will be noted with a sticker on a responsibility calendar whether or not the child, ultimately based on the decision of the parents, earned their daily allowance. Of course, this can be discussed if the children disagree. Constructive dialogue is encouraged but it cannot be fought. If the children do not receive allowance, the reason will be noted on their calendar in lieu of a sticker.

Responsibilities are expected to be completed every day of the week, including the weekends as determined by parents. On weekends, certain expectations can be slightly different than those of the school week. The same goes for vacation although it is important to make understood that certain rules and responsibilities apply everywhere, all the time. If there was particularly positive or negative behavior over the weekend, it should be noted on the calendar and will affect long-term rewards and consequences.

It is important to note that allowance doesn’t mean you can’t buy things for your children. It also doesn’t mean they can’t earn extra money for specialty jobs asked of them. As children start to want big ticket items or become more motivated by money, it is ok to use it as an incentive to take on additional responsibilities. If they earn extra money from a job, that can be noted on the calendar and paid out in addition to allowance on payday.

But in order for this to work it is crucial that you hand over a thoughtful, realistic list of things for which you will no longer be paying and what you expect your child to pay for. Additionally, it is very important to pay on time every week. By not paying on time, you teach your children that we can be late paying our bills. In order to teach them to value and be responsible with money, you must do the same. I suggest tallying up the daily stickers and paying every Friday before bed or Saturday before you leave the house for the day.

In this system, I encourage families to set-up three banks: one for spending, one for saving, and one for giving (charity). Usually 10-20% of their allowance should be contributed to saving (for items more expensive than their weekly allowance) and another 10-20% for giving. I believe that children must contribute money to charity whether they earned $25, $5, or no money over the week. A helpful website that can help you keep track of these three bank balances is threejars.com. Once the monetary amount of what is in the charity bank is significant, each child can help to determine how it gets used with the help of an adult.

Remember to gently remind children about a rule if it is being broken or a responsibility that isn’t being fulfilled, but don’t threaten with allowance money or what they will or won’t get.  Children are children and forgetfulness, emotional outbursts, and disagreements will happen. It is our job to teach them to be open to discussing things in a mature and proactive manner. We must lead by example.

By Aaron Goldschmidt, Head Teacher & CitiCamp Director, Citibabes

As Jacoba Urist, Esq., Citibabes member and “The Happiest Parent” explains, you can start with something as small as being aware that your spending is setting an example for your children. Follow some of the tips from last week’s CitiScoop article “Saving Green by Going Green,” and explain to your children how the things you buy can affect your environment as well as your bank account. You can also work on explaining the difference between “needing” and “wanting” something. This is also a good practice for you as a parent to work on. Do you really “need” that afternoon cup of coffee or do you simply “want” it?

Remember that the topic of money and finances doesn’t have to be verboten in your family. Sharing stories and simple age-appropriate information with your children are some of the best ways to teach your little ones about money.  

-Tracey Frost Rensky, CEO and Co-founder, Citibabes

Well here we are, on the other side of all the holiday fun and festivities, and it’s back to life as normal. Or is it? For many of us January is the perfect opportunity for a fresh start – and what better time than right now, to start really teaching your children the value of a saving for the future, especially in today’s topsy-turvy climate.

Know how children will quickly mimic any slightly off-color word or funny phrase that slips out of your mouth? Well, the way you handle your finances makes an equally strong impression on them too, and it’s never too early to start raising your child to be a financially fluent, healthy and well-balanced teenager and young adult.

1. Spend Like You’re Setting An Example

Because, you are.

Your children may inherit your eyes, your laugh, even your fondness for techno music – but they’ll also get a lot of the hang-ups and unresolved issues you may have about money if you don’t get a handle on your spending now.

Every time you place too much emotional weight on something you pick up at a department store or order online, you’re teaching them how to be a happy person – and that a material good can fill an internal void. If you “have to have” a new dress for every wedding or event you attend, or constantly need the latest gadget every time something new hits the market or generally spend a lot of your energy and resources “redoing” and “upgrading,” they’ll get the message. Actions speak way louder than words, so show your children what a responsible relationship with money looks every time you whip out that wallet or talk about something you absolutely need.

Speaking of, if you want to raise a financially healthy and happy child you have to make sure they start understanding the difference between want and need, as soon as possible. Adults who have the most spending problems often have tremendous trouble separating the two, and no parent would ever want their grown-up son or daughter to be buried under credit card debt.

We have a toddler, Wilson, and we’ve already started drawing the distinction in concrete, real-time applications whenever we can. For example, last week on vacation, we explained that you might like an ice cream cone, Wilson, but we need to stop and fill up the tank right now or we will run out of gas.

2. Tell Good Stories

As soon as your children get a little older, I recommend telling meaningful stories about working and saving – the funnier or more detailed the better. Stay away from life lesson-type lectures about the value of a dollar (I even remember tuning out as soon as my mom or dad employed a certain tone about something). What did make a lasting impression: the stories my dad told us about arriving at his Yale dorm with only a small duffle while so many other students had cars full of new stuff, and how he no money for any of his required textbooks. He’d stay at the library until the last possible minute to use their copies for his reading – and all he wanted for his four children was the luxury of “fresh books” as he called them, so we could highlight with reckless abandon.

I won’t be able to tell Wilson the same stories (my father did provide each of us with “fresh books” and then some), but I can tell him about my numerous part-time jobs (or his father’s at Taco Bell and one super hot summer on the back of a Coca-Cola truck). We were both expected to earn a decent chunk of our “spending money” – a lesson that taught me what it really means to save up for something.  And stories about what a bad barista I was (I could never keep the decaf and caf straight!) or how many orders my husband messed up at the drive-thru are much more powerful ways to teach Wilson about money than periodic, formal sit-downs about what it means to work towards a financial goal.

3. Break the Big Taboo

Last but not least, don’t make money a taboo subject in your family. Talk about how much things cost. If you think a toy or a restaurant or a ski trip is too expensive, it’s okay to say so. Engage your children about money in a practical, honest, and age-appropriate way. We often have Wilson count out dollar bills or change with us to pay for small items when we’re out doing errands together. Money truly is a fact of life and the sooner a child develops an understanding of it in their daily routine, the more on track he or she will be for a healthy long-term relationship with their finances.

By Jacoba Urist, Esq., Citibabes Member, and “The Happiest Parent”

One resolution that can be shared with the whole family is striving to be more “green.” Amanda Moore, eco-friendly interior designer at Baby Green, shares a few ways to help you get started and shows that being green is not only better for the environment but better for your bank account as well.

-Tracey Frost Rensky, CEO and Co-founder, Citibabes

Sure, some eco-friendly choices still carry a premium (e.g.: a can of zero VOC paint has a slightly higher price tag than its conventional latex counterpart), but there is also a growing list of green choices that us parents can make daily that actually save money. As a mom and green living advocate, here are my trusted top 5 penny savers, proving that ecological and economical can go hand-in-hand.

Reusable Snack Bags

If I used a Ziploc baggie every time I packed up a snack for an outing or my son’s school lunch, I estimate that I’d be using 400+ bags per year. A 50-count box of Ziploc bags goes for around $3 and that adds up fast! Itzy Ritzy’s zippered cloth snack bags come in adorable patterns, are washable and cost $9.99 each, affording years of reuse (not to mention the plastic waste they keep out of landfills). (Note: we also use a lot of lidded glass containers for lunch and snacks which last longer than their plastic counterparts but tend to cost more upfront.)

Refillable Water Bottles

Since I make my son’s lunch and afternoon snack every day, it’s tempting to rely on the convenience of juice boxes. But when I considered that those clever boxes were costing me as much as 5¢ more per ounce, I quickly realized the advantage of using bottles like those in SIGG’s kid collection. I pack one with water in the lunch box and one with juice for snack time, saving at least a dollar a day!

Filtered Water vs. Bottled Water

Drinking filtered water over tap water is undoubtedly the healthier choice, but some households opt for the ease of bottled water which carries a pricey premium (on your wallet and the on planet’s resources). Using drinking glasses and refillable bottles with a filtration pitcher like Shaklee’s Get Clean Water system saves hundreds! (If a 24 pack of 16.9 fl oz bottles costs $15.99, one $22.35 filter would purify $399 worth of bottled water!)

Ban Wrapping Paper

One of the most wasteful traditions out there, beautiful papers adorn thoughtful gifts and get ripped off in seconds by the recipient, going right into the trash. In my household, we save the craft paper bunched up in our monthly vitamin shipment, magazines, newspapers, and anything that can be colored, stamped, glittered, or painted and we make our own wrapping paper for all gifts. I haven’t bought wrapping paper in years so I don’t even know what it costs or what I’m saving, but I’m sure it’s a pretty penny (pun intended!). If you can’t fathom the DIY route, there are many beautiful recycled wrapping paper options out there, although they won’t save you as much money. Either way, if you have a paper shredder, old wrappings can be transformed into box packing materials in an instant which keeps them out of landfills for a little longer and saves on the expense of other less desirable shipping materials.

Reduce

The keystone of the “reduce, reuse, recycle” mantra, we all know that reduction is certainly a powerful money saver. And it all starts in our everyday lives: driving less, turning electronics off when not in use, running dish and laundry loads only when full, shorter showers and turning faucets off while brushing teeth are all easy way to save on utility and transportation bills every year.

By Amanda Moore, Eco-friendly Interior Designer, Baby Green

Amanda Moore has been an eco-friendly interior designer since opening the doors of her own Manhattan studio in 2001, working with celebrities and private clients from coast to coast, helping clients achieve their own innate style in spaces that are as harmonious with nature as possible. When her own son was born in 2005, she renewed her desire to specialize in healthy spaces for families and continues with this specialty through Baby Green, based in Long Beach, NY.  Moore is also a writer and professional home organizer.

On behalf of Citibabes, I would like to wish you a happy new year filled with enriching experiences and special moments with your family. Happy New Year!

-Tracey Frost Rensky, CEO and Co-founder, Citibabes

Materials

• Small paper plate
• Feathers (various colors)
• Jewels or stickers (various shapes and sizes)
• Paint, markers, and/or crayons
• Glue
• Scissors
• Rice, beads, dried beans, or popcorn kernels

Instructions

1. Have your child decorate the paper plate with paint, markers, or crayons and let it dry.
2. Once the paint has dried, fold the paper plate in half so you can see where the center is and then unfold.
3. Let your child glue the feathers to the rim of the plate (only on one side) leaving most of the feather sticking out. The glued end of the feathers should be on the inside of the plate once it has been folded.
4. Fold the plate and place some rice, beads, beans, or popcorn kernels inside. Then glue the plate closed.
5. Give your child jewels and/or stickers to decorate the outside of the plate.
6. As the countdown ends: 3….2….1…. Happy New Year! Shake your noise makers and celebrate the new year!

Craft adapted from Kaboose.com (http://crafts.kaboose.com/paper-plate-noise-maker.html).

By Citibabes’ Teachers

So what can you do when you live in an area where snow is rare, non-existent, or if it just hasn’t snowed in time for the holidays? Last week at Citibabes, we had our December storytime where we read The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats. After the story the children shared their favorite snowy day activity and hunted for snowflakes in the playground! Here, CitiSchool teacher Sarah Rinaldi shares how you can bring this snowy storyime home to your family.

-Tracey Frost Rensky, CEO and Co-founder, Citibabes

BOOK:  The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats (author and illustrator)

AGES: 2-5 years

MATERIALS:

• Book
• Snowflakes of various shapes and sizes (paper of course)
• Variety of art supplies for drawing activity

DESCRIPTION: A little boy named Peter awakes one morning to discover a snow-filled world. Take a journey with Peter as he explores the newly discovered world of snow by making snowmen, snow angels, watching a snowball fight, and more!

BEFORE YOU READ:  Set the stage for this story by talking a little about snow and some fun activities and games that you can play in the snow. This can include activities such as making snow balls, snowmen, and snow angels and even playing snow tag or snow hide-and-seek!

DURING THE READING:

• Present the cover of the book to your children. Point to the title of the story and read it aloud as your finger follows the print. Do the same with the author and the illustrator.  Explain that the author writes the words in a book and the illustrator draws the pictures.  In this case, the author is a boy (Ezra). You can also explain that this book was a winner of the Caldecott Medal which was named in honor of nineteenth-century English illustrator Randolph Caldecott. The Caldecott Medal is awarded each year by the Association for Library Service to Children to the artist of the most distinguished American picture book for children.
• Ask your children to look at the illustrations/pictures on the cover. What do they think the story might be about? Allow them to make several predictions and ask them why they think that. Use positive reinforcement techniques by saying: “Yes, I like how you use the title, The Snowy Day, and the picture on the cover to guess that this book might be about playing in the snow.” This develops children’s awareness that titles and illustrations are important cues to note when trying to comprehend a story.
• Begin reading the story to your children. Pause at appropriate points in the story and engage them in the illustrations or what they think might happen next. Ask them questions that might help them relate to how the characters are feeling or if they have experienced similar things in their own lives. Making these personal connections as they listen and read stories is very important in developing a life-long love of reading!
• As you read, your children may recall additional experiences they have had on snowy days or share things they like (or dislike) about snow.

AFTER YOU READ:  

• Ask your children to recall who the characters (people or animals in the story) were.
• Ask your children to retell what happens in the beginning, middle, and end of the story.
• Review the experiences shared by the children before and during the reading of the story.
• Engage your children in drawing pictures of an activity they have engaged in or would like to engage in on a snowy day and invite them to share their reason for drawing a specific image. Encourage them to keep their drawings for the holidays and share them with your entire family!
• You can also hide snowflakes around the room and invite your children to “hunt for snowflakes”! Let them gather as many as they can and then invite them to show you which snowflakes are different and which look similar. By sorting items, your children learn valuable visual discrimination skills as well as basic sorting concepts. And don’t worry, if your children don’t find all the hidden snowflakes they won’t melt!

-Tracey Frost Rensky, CEO and Co-founder, Citibabes

As the holidays are upon us, it seems like everyone is traveling to spend time with loved ones or hosting people for festivities. All of the holiday hubbub can get little ones rather excited. To instill a sense of peace in your kids and maintain the fun factor of the holidays, the following are some poses to enjoy as a family.

Shine Like a Star. This is an enjoyable pose you can do lying down or standing up. Extend each limb to make the body like a star, reaching the arms and legs out in different directions. Tell youngsters to try and touch the clouds or reach for the walls. Then have children take a deep breath and sigh. While continuing to hold the pose, lead a song of “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” or recite together the Star Light, Star Bright nursery rhyme. Encouraging a few final breaths, tell children to imagine they are bright shining stars with each breath, and as they sigh they get brighter and shinier for everyone to admire.

Go Over the River and Through the Woods. Another pose to ground and comfort children is mountain pose. Have kids stand with their hands by their side and feet about one inch apart. Ask them to close their eyes, feel the sway of their bodies and picture taking a journey to a favorite place. If you’re headed to a destination, before getting in the car or boarding a plane, try the pose and remind kids they can always close their eyes and think of a beautiful place they once enjoyed visiting or look forward to exploring. While traveling, I tell my daughter that the faster she gets to sleep, the quicker we get there. It works! She always falls asleep quickly.

Slide Away. As the snow appeals to the kid in all of us during the holidays, try sled pose. Sit on the floor with your legs extended out and your toes flexed up, forming a sled. Reach out your arms like you are holding onto the sled to maneuver it. Try to grab your toes for a greater stretch and then have your munchkin sit on your lap and go for a ride. Venture together on a playful pretend sled ride. Wrap your arms around your child as if to form a seatbelt – and to show affection. Make believe you are going down a hill and making turns along the way. Whether you make it a smooth or a bumpy a ride, enjoy the cuddling time with your child. At the end of the ride, take a big breath and sigh with your child.

Have fun with these poses and cherish the rest of your holidays. Wherever you travel or go in your imagination, take pictures of your beautiful journeys.

By Kami Evans, Founder, Elahi Yoga

-Tracey Frost Rensky, CEO and Co-founder, Citibabes

You’ve made it through the Thanksgiving madness and now it’s time to gear up for more holiday travel fun. Joy to the world, as they say! If you’re feeling like the trek to Grandma’s involves a bit more over the (Hudson) river, and less through the bucolic woods, then adopt some of these strategies to stay sane as you get from Point A to Point B (and beyond) this merry season…

ALLOW EXTRA TIME

Okay, this sounds so basic and really you do mean to leave earlier when heading for the airport, train, or even the Holland Tunnel. And yet, time always seems to slip away and you inevitably find yourself in bumper to bumper traffic trying to cross the George Washington Bridge at rush hour. Eliminate the added stress of potentially missing a flight (you can get stuck for days at peak holiday times) by building in an extra hour – on top of the 1 1/2 – 2 hours required by the TSA. Who cares if you hang out in the food court, read your weight in magazines, or allow your child to play endless games on an iPad? It’s one day so just go with it and remember your travel mantra: the journey is half the fun. Riiiight….

USE SECONDARY AIRPORTS

It might seem counterintuitive to drive further to fly from a smaller airport but this often means both a time and cost savings. For New Yorkers living on the west side, Newark Liberty beats JFK any day of the week. Westchester County Airport and Newburgh Airport both offer JetBlue flights to popular sun and ski destinations, and at peak holiday times, this can be a less nerve-shattering environment than say, La Guardia Airport.

FLIGHT PLANS

Avoid an airport meltdown (yours) by insuring a few things before you hit the airport. Confirm your seats the week before you fly because you never want to be in an oversold situation and lose unconfirmed seats. You can also jostle for the best seating for families by speaking with a live agent. Don’t let said agent convince you that bulkheads are best for baby – the opposite is true as you’ll have to part with your carry-ons, toys, and snacks for some period of time which adds to the stress. Always check in the day before departure and monitor your flights via Flight Update (available on iTunes) which allows you to follow over 1400 airlines, around the globe, in real time. Weather delays, gate information, and baggage carousel numbers will help speed your arrival on the other end.

MURPHY’S LAW: ANYTHING THAT CAN GO WRONG, WILL GO WRONG

If you go at with this approach, you’ll be pleasantly surprised when your travel plans go smoothly. If bad weather crops up, or you lose a passport, it’s just better to have contingency plans in place. I always write everything down – contact numbers, flight info, passport numbers – because if you’ve ever had your PDA battery go out on you, you’ve felt utterly disconnected and will never let it happen again. Ditto on copies of passports and other important tickets – they are much easier to replace if they are lost or stolen if you have all of the issue numbers, Visa info, and so forth. Have maps in addition to GPS systems in the event of road closures. And always have the airline numbers pre-programmed into your phone in the event that you need to rebook quickly or find alternate airports. If you are stuck on a tarmac and they cancel your flight, there will be bedlam at the ticket counter, so you’re better served by calling the airline as quickly as possible for alternate arrangements.

*Note: As part of the Murphy’s Law scenario, be prepared for the sudden onset of Strep throat, fever, upset stomach or all of the above. If at all possible, travel with a dry powder supply of antibiotics to be made liquid in an emergency, Children’s Tylenol (or similar), chewable antacids, Benadryl, Band-Aids and Bacitracin disinfectant. All of this will fit in a handy Ziploc and won’t slow you down at security.

PACK LIGHT… BUT NOT TOO LIGHT

Best case scenario you are headed someplace with a washer/dryer. If so, pack lightly as kids will wear the same two outfits – quite happily – for days on end. If you are headed on a lengthier journey, however, or one that involves a lot of gear – skiing, for example – then consider shipping it all ahead. FedEx Ground is relatively affordable and services such as Luggage Forward and the Luggage Club specialize in sending bags of all sizes, skis, and unwieldy golf clubs in advance of your arrival. Trust me when I say this is some of the best money you will ever spend and you’ll be thanking your lucky stars when you skip the baggage carousel after 6+ hours in transit.

MAKE THE CARRY ON COUNT

This is the key piece for any successful plane, train, or car ride. Pick your pouch – I find waterproof nylon varieties or LL Bean Boat Bags with zippers work well as everything stays in its place – and fill it with entertaining essentials. These may include (but are certainly not limited to) an iPad or similar electronic device that is fully charged. In addition, bring the power cord in the event that you get re-routed or delayed. Include several plastic grocery bags (these work well for everything from garbage to throw up) and can be filled and tossed throughout the journey, thereby lightening your load. Great snacks are key, and I opt for a mix of healthy, non-sticky ones – Graham Crackers, fruit flats or roll-ups, pita sandwiches that won’t get soggy, as well as apples and carrots that won’t get squashed. Avoid berries, exploding juice boxes, and anything with what I refer to as “Cheeto dust” – fake orange powder that gets all over fingers and clothes. For a fun snack treat, I opt for M&Ms (won’t melt in warm little hands) or a pack of Lifesavers picked from the airport shop. Antibacterial hand wipes are essential for cleaning tray tables and disinfecting fingers in between snacks and bathroom breaks. Lastly, pack at least a spare t-shirt for junior – there’s nothing like a long haul flight with a kid in soggy, cold clothes and a dry top can work wonders…not to mention allow the child to show up looking presentable at his/her destination.

BACKPACKS FOR ALL

If your child is able to walk, then I am all for the individual carry-on.  Nylon, waterproof backpacks (try Jansport’s utilitarian varieties) work best as they can be strapped on in the event that you need to move fast. Pick favorite playthings and paperback books (TinTin, word searches, coloring books with cool colored pencils), as well as a few surprises that your child can unpack along the way. Everyone loves a special treat and the discovery of a new mini Lego set (to be built), small erasers, sheets of puffy stickers, or unexpected snacks can make an endless journey just a bit shorter. For an imaginative answer to screens, pack an Eye Q Picture Puzzler. Twenty-four colorful photo collages printed on wipe-off board with a dry erase marker will keep kids busy counting, comparing, and completing other challenges. Always make sure that whatever your child’s favorite comfort toy is – threadbare teddy bear, blankie, pacifier, whatever – makes it into the bag. Stressful travel days are not the times to wean a kid from these objects!

AN ARMY MARCHES ON ITS STOMACH

Somehow this is even more true on busy travel days. If you’re flying, pack plenty of extras that will last through traffic jams and flight delays.  Better yet, map out your strategy ahead of time and feed everyone a good, solid meal before hitting the road or boarding. Flying out of JFK? The JetBlue Terminal offers a great food options including hot breakfast courtesy of Cibo, plus plane snacks galore (sushi rolls and yogurt covered pretzels are always hits). La Guardia’s Central Terminal offers Todd English’s Figs Cafe where thin crust pizzas please parents and kids alike. If you find yourself in the Delta Terminal, head straight for a Taste of Pat LaFrieda for killer burgers and dogs before boarding. And if but once in their little lives, allow them to taste a Cinnabon – so bad, they’re good! Whatever the case, think protein which often gets lost in the carb-laden snack mix on travel days. Zone Bars, hard-boiled eggs, peanut butter and crackers, and nuts (for those who are tolerant) are all good, portable options.

PRESENTS PERFECT

Whether you’re traveling by car and can pack gifts to the ceiling, or by plane where you have a limited baggage allowance, you’ll want to pack kid gifts that travel well and can be used at your destination. Depending on ages and stages of children, I find that paperback picture books, puzzles, DVDs for use in hotel rooms, and great pajama sets all make fun, functional presents. Avoid anything electronic that requires assembly or a screwdriver as you’ll tear your air out if it’s a mad scramble on Christmas Eve. Best case scenario, shop Amazon (great gift guides by age), Pottery Barn Kids for their festive lunch bags which can be used for the return journey, and niche stores such as NYC’s Sweet William that will all ship to your destination. And remember the TSA guidelines regarding gifts brought on board: they must be unwrapped so be sure to pack tissue and tags to play Santa at your destination.

Wherever your travels may take you this season, try to remain calm as your kids will pick up on your high-cortisol-level vibes. I am living in London and will be traveling back to the US with my children for the holidays. I know there will be enormous lines at Security and Customs, numerous packed planes involved, and plenty of junk food to go all the way around. And you know what?  I will smile through it all, tell my kids to do the same, because it’s just what is done and the other end will just be so much fun…

By Christina Ohly Evans, CitiScoop Travel Expert