Becoming Momma

I have had more experience in travelling with my baby. I think it would be useful to set out a few pointers - a lot of it can seem obvious - yet I see people around me making these avoidable mistakes all the time. Plan ahead. At the very least, having a mental checklist 24 hours before travel is useful to give youself time to plug loopholes (wash that extra set of night wear, buy baby a hat, get food bags to store meals, decide whether to carry a steriliser etc). If you don't already own one, invest in four wheel bags. I cannot emphasis just how important this is, irrespective of whether you are travelling alone or in a group with a baby. Once out of the airport, if you do not have a partner (or even if you do actually), it can be very tricky to handle luggage and baby at the same time. Carrier/ pram/ stroller is a must. I have realised this the hard way when travelling alone with my baby as well as when I was travelling with my husband. You need all hands on deck and sans carrier ...

She walks now. And with fierce determination indicates her wants deploying all means of communication known to her - tears, smiles, jerks of her head, low grunts and soft purrs. Many an hour in the dull work day is spent watching videos of her running up and down on  tiny feet on Marine Drive and pointing at the sun dipping into the horizon. She is a keen observer and cries till we let her have her tooth brush so she can brush her teeth like the grown-ups do. Not much gives her as much joy as scraping up plates and bowls with a spoon and 'feeding' everyone in the room (or the kind gentleman in the seat next to us on the flight!)  And she loves to dance! Any  music evokes squeals of laughter accompanied with careful swaying on unsteady feet - her moves are so spontaneous and so full of joy, a roomful of adults will get on their feet to join her. She is growing into a fine young lady, with many more demands on my time and attention. Yet she no longer cries when I drop her o...