Just after Christmas, we flew from Perth to Brisbane (roughly a 5 hour journey). We tried to find a flight that included her nap time to take up some of the flight time. We packed Lucy her own backpack with all the tricks that we knew might work to keep her entertained. She was only just 18 months and was too little to appreciate her “own” bag, but was amused nonetheless at having a Hoot backpack.

Contents of the backpack:

• notebook and pencil case (she loves drawing)
• a favourite lift the flap book
• finger puppets
• plastic slinky
• two toy cars
• Comfort blankie (or Bee Bee as she calls it!)

We also packed in our carry on:

• a container of yoghurt covered sultanas
• frozen yoghurts and frozen fruit purees
• cheese and crackers
• bottle of milk
• bottle of water
• PLENTY of baby wipes
• Spare clothes
• 4 nappies
• and the biggest trick up our sleeves…..our new iPad.

We decided to pretty much over pack for the plane because we did not want to deal with a stroppy toddler at any stage of the game, and we felt that a plane trip is NOT a regular day-to-day activity and therefore spoiling her to keep her happy on the 5 hour flight was in our (and everyone else’s) best interest. Also, who doesn’t want to distract themselves on a plane flight with yummy snacks and cool entertainment?!

Our flight was at 12:30pm so we had eaten a snack and had a fresh nappy in the terminal before boarding. When we got on the plane we had a little “look around” time from our seat, then it was time for a nap. I sat Lucy on my knee, gave her Bee Bee and bounced her for a bit to kind of jiggle her off to sleep. Which she did only for 40 minutes but it was better than nothing and she woke up feeling refreshed. We gave her some snacks which went down well, and then tried some drawing and other toys. What really worked of course, was the iPad. We had loaded it up with Wiggles episodes and she sat on my knee for the last two hours of the flight eating her cheese and crackers and watching those crazy four Wiggles.

We landed at 7pm local time which was great because by the time we got to my folks’ house, had dinner and got settled, it was 9pm local time (or 7pm Perth time!). We got Lucy bathed and into her travel cot (we brought her usual sleeping bags, baby monitor and night time music) where she slept until 8:30am. Bliss! We actually considered keeping her on Perth time but unfortunately her body clock adjusted and she had a midday nap.

We kept to Lucy’s usual nap time and night time routines as best we could – there were more naps in the pram as we were out and about, and we extended her bedtime at night to 7:30/8pm. As we stayed at my parents’ house, it was easy for us to put her in her room at night and come downstairs and watch tv etc. We also spent 5 days at a resort on the Sunshine Coast. This involved a little more jiggling about of the routine as we had to eat dinner at the restaurant each evening and only had one room.

It was tricky at first having a toddler-suitable dinner time meal, until I realised that just ordering something myself (that she would eat) and sharing was easier. So a couple of nights I ordered the fettuccine, Damien ordered the steak sandwich and broke bits off for her etc. And we bought a fruit salad for her to eat for dessert whilst we finished up our meals. We didn’t get back to our room until around 8/8:30pm which meant we had started to get Lucy back on Perth time. Bath as usual, then bed. As we only had one room, we’d put Lucy in her cot, then sat outside (luckily we had a ground floor room, with a little balcony area straight out onto the grass). Most nights were so balmy, we’d stay outside all evening until we wanted to go to sleep. If it got too hot, we’d go inside and watch tv/movies on the iPad with the earphones in. Kinda squishy and romantic! If we were to stay in a traditional hotel room, I’d be quite happy to even sit out in the corridor until Lucy was asleep, or get two rooms.

Anyway, we kept the routine quite regular and made sure we had lots of snacks and entertainment to keep Lucy happy.  The iPad has definitely been the best investment – especially when I need to do work at home, Lucy enjoys watching the Wiggles at her command or doing puzzles on the Play School app. It wasn’t so tricky to travel with a toddler as long as we were organised and planned ahead. We did fly home on an 8pm flight WHICH I WILL NEVER DO AGAIN!! As she couldn’t get comfortable to have a proper night sleep and we ended up at home at 1am having a biscuit snack because she didn’t have a proper dinner. Next time we’ll be flying during the day both ways

It was FABULOUS! Clean, spacious, cheap for entry ($5.50), plenty of tables and high chairs outside for eating at – the cafe was well stocked and coffee was good too. There are designated spaces for under 2 year olds and enough ‘free space’ for kids who like to run and move about. Lots of chairs for parents to sit around the perimeter and enough space for parents to be close to their little ones too.

Lucy loved it. There was a wall activity board for her to spin things on, a well padded climbing area for her age and free space for her to just walk around. It was air-conditioned and the staff were very friendly. It’s open 7 days a week too. We did go on a weekday, and it was busy enough without being crowded, so I’m not sure how busy it would get on the weekends.

http://www.canning.wa.gov.au/facilities/tumblers-kids-gym.html

It was clean, spacious for prams/strollers and had high chairs (the Ikea kind that are easy to clean, don’t trap food and don’t have plastic that rips). It was reasonably priced, but the thing I liked the most was the enclosed play area right next to it! The sign on the gate says for ages 2 and up so I went in with Lucy (only 16mo) just to mind her around the older children (it is still school holidays). There are toys on the gates around the play space, structures to climb on and weave in and out of and generally a nice space to have a run in.

We had our morning tea first, then I took Lucy in to stretch her legs. The only downfall is how far away the parents’ room is – if I had an older child it would be too far away to leave them in there alone (and I probably wouldn’t anyway), The closest baby change is in the food court which I have reviewed before: http://damoandmel.com/2011/01/18/carousel-shopping-centre-parents-room/

For a catch up with a few mothers, I would definitely recommend coming to Niche Cafe and the little play space.

http://www.westfield.com.au/carousel/directory/detail/store?retailer=43818

Ingredients

• 1 zucchini (or 1/2 a big one) grated
• 1 sweet potato diced
• 1/2 butternut pumpkin diced
• 1 onion diced
• 6 eggs
• handful of cheese
• about 3/4 cup of milk
• butter
• thyme

Method

1. Cook the potato and pumpkin in a pot of salted boiling water. I then ‘roasted’ the potato and pumpkin in the oven with some canola oil and thyme – just to give it a nice flavour.
2. Put an oven proof frying pan on a medium heat. Melt the butter and cook the onion and grated zucchini.
3. Add the potato and pumpkin to heat through.
4. In a separate bowl whisk the eggs, add the milk and cheese.
5. Spread the vegetables out in the frying pan so it’s evenly distributed and carefully pour the egg mixture in.
6. Watch for the egg to start setting around the edges and then put it under a grill for the last 10 minutes or so (or until cooked).
7. Carefully flip onto a serving plate and serve with a side salad or crusty loaf of bread.

There was plenty of frittata for lunch and then dinner, so I would say this would easily serve 6 or more with side dishes.

A brand new play area with a wooden beady play block, mounted tv on ABC2 for Kids, curtained feeding cubicles, nice change bench with nappy bins, parents and kids toilet, and a new couch. It has a microwave but I can’t remember if it has bottle warmers or not. Anyway, this room is now the best at Garden City and is worth the 2 minute walk from the opposite end of the centre.

Riverton Forum has recently been renovated and the Parents’ Room hasn’t been left out. 

It is located alongside the public toilets in the corridor near Terry White Chemists, with facilities such as:

• Play area with television
• Bottle warming
• Private feeding rooms – which are curtained so any size pram will fit
• Change tables
• Warm nappy wipes
• Kids’ toilet

It is clean, new and comfortable and doesn’t smell like a toilet! I like to use the Parents’ Room not only for a nappy change, but for a bit of a break and pit stop. I can feed Lucy in there – as a toddler now – and not worry about anyone else (because we’re all in there for the same reason). Stockland are really setting the bar HIGH in regards to the layout and functionality of their Parents’ Rooms.

http://www.stockland.com.au/shopping-centres/wa/stockland-riverton.htm

I’ve decided to pack bits and pieces away in big snap lock backs. That way I can see exactly what’s inside, and label the bag. Then I’ll pop them into a plastic storage box. It’s better than folding the clothes up and putting them into plastic bags because they won’t get jumbled, and I can just flip through the snap lock bags to find what I’m looking for when I need it again.

http://www.glad.com.au/glad-products/food-management/glad-snap-lock%C2%AE-bags/

http://www.lifecare.com.au/southcare/main.php?page=service_detail&id=NTY0MTc=

I would recommend it for anyone. In fact, it is one of the things I am looking forward to most about being pregnant next time! It was almost like a pre-mothers group, we’d exercise, share stories, experiences and chat to the physio about women’s health issues, tips for labour and post labour. I learnt about the services available to new mothers from the physio (ultrasound therapy for mastitis, laser treatment for cracked nipples etc.). You don’t have to wait until you’re showing either

I bought a pair of good maternity bathers (chlorine resistant) from Skids in Willetton http://www.skidsswimwear.com.au/ for $60. Mothercare also stock some amazing and nicer priced bathers http://www.mothercare.com.au/

http://shop.cottonon.com/shop/product/jack-and-jill-babies-bib-6/

I peel and fine chopped her apples, pears, peaches, nectarine, mango etc, cook the harder fruits in the microwave for a few minutes to soften and spoon them into ice cube trays to freeze. Then I store them in snap lock freezer bags. I used the ice cube trays initially to monitor how much fruit she was getting.

Now I just spoon the diced fruit straight into the snap lock bags and freeze. This way I always have fresh frozen fruit to put on Lucy’s Weetbix or porridge for breakfast, or to have with yoghurt as a snack. As she doesn’t have many teeth still at 14mo, I can only give her soft-ish fruit that she can tear with her front teeth and chew with her gums. She does a very good job with what she has