A fairly new concept that is gaining in popularity with expecting mothers is the babymoon.  A babymoon is a vacation taken prior to having a new baby.  It is similar to a honeymoon, but for expectant parents.  The demands and sleepless nights associated with a newborn are many and a babymoon can be the prefect way to prepare yourself for the demanding weeks ahead of you.

There are several things to consider when planning your babymoon.  Whether you would like to have some rest a relaxation before the oncoming demands of a newborn, or you would like to spend some special time bonding with your existing children, a babymoon  can be just what the doctor ordered!  We found it to be a great way to help prepare our family for that precious little (demanding) family member we were about to add to our clan.

Something to think about while planning your babymoon is timing.  If you are planning a more active getaway, you may want to have your babymoon in your 2nd trimester while you are still fairly comfortable and it’s easier for you to get around.  If your plan is to be pampered and relax, you may want to have your babymoon in your third trimester when the demands on your body are stronger and you are in need of some tender loving care.  If you pregnancy has been high-risk, your healthcare provider may advise you to stay closer to home during your babymoon.  In fact, many doctors don’t recommend traveling by air during your last month of pregnancy.

You’ll also want to think about what you want to accomplish with your babymoon.  Family bonding time?  Rest and rejuvenation?  Maybe a combination of these things.  When deciding on a location you’ll want to consider your goals.  You may want to stay at a resort that provides pregnancy massage.  If you are planning on taking your existing children you’ll want to choose a more child friendly location.

For our babymoon we decided to go as a family.  I was 36 weeks pregnant and we wanted one last hurrah as a family of three.  We wanted this trip to be special for our daughter as these were her final days as an only child.  I heard about the Nickelodeon Getaway at the Renaissance Esmeralda Spa and Resort just outside of Palm Springs.  Our getaway was chock full of fun family activities with Spongebob Squarepants and Dora the Explorer.  The Renaissance Exmeralda also has some great restaurants and a full service spa.   We were able to make our daughter feel special while mommy and daddy had a chance to relax before the impending arrival of our newborn baby girl (and all those sleepless nights).

We had it all, from character meet and greets to a special breakfast with Dora the Explorer.  I was even able to fit in a luxurious prenatal massage at their Spa Esmeralda.  I’m so glad we decided to take this trip.  The memories we created during our babymoon will last us a lifetime!

For more on our babymoon and my review of the Renaissance Esmeralda, please click here.

Tips for planning your Babymoon:

- Locate the details for the nearest hospital (just in case you go into labor early).

- Check with your healthcare provider for any travel limitations you should follow.

- Decide if you are looking for rest and relaxation or family bonding time (or a little of both).  Choose your hotel accordingly.

- You may want to purchase travel insurance in case you go into early labor and are unable to travel.

- Think about your travel time, a babymoon is supposed to be stress free and a time to relax.  You may want to keep travel times to a minimum for optimum comfort.

Disclosure:  Fabumom was provided with a complimentary stay at the Renaissance Esmeralda Resort and Spa for this post.  The hotel did not request that she express a particular opinion and all opinions are entirely her own.

Rachel is the voice behind Fabumom.  She is the wife, mother,and  sushi loving goddess of the blog!  Her combined passions for travel, writing and parenting are the inspiration behind Fabumom.

As you start booking your flights for your next family trip, you might consider booking with a more kid-friendly airline. Based on recent comments submitted by Trekaroo families, Southwest seems to be getting it right for families.

Most Popular Airline to Travel with Kids – Southwest Airlines

Parents were full of praise for Southwest Airlines’ family-friendliness.   Here’s what parents loved about Southwest.

1)   No baggage fees! – let’s face it.  Families have lots of gear to tote around when traveling, and flying with an airline that does not charge extra for check-in luggage can save a family a chunk of change.

2) Priority boarding for families in the ‘A’ and ‘B’ seating groups – as more and more airlines do away with pre-boarding for families with young children, Southwest has a great comprise that helps ensure that families have a high chance of being seated together and have enough time to settle in before take off. 

3) Reasonable prices – when you’re booking 4 or 5 tickets, every penny counts.

4) Helpful and humorous flight attendants – to parents, a helpful hand and relaxed atmosphere makes for a pleasant flying experience.

5) Special welcome for first time flyers – if it’s your child’s first flight,  Southwest will celebrate the special occasion with a certificate and wings.   Just let a flight attendant know.

See all comments left by families about their favorite and least favorite airlines

Least Popular Airline when Traveling with Kids – Delta/Northwest Airlines

Are you surprised that Delta/Northwest Airlines fell to the bottom? Parents were the most dissatisfied with the service they received on the Delta/Northwest airlines.  A few were kind enough to say that it might have been a result of the uncertainties around the merger, but when you’re in the service business, managing transition is critical. The main criticism was that the staff really didn’t seem to “give a crap about kids at all.”   Do you agree?

Rate airlines you’ve flown on with kids:

Related:

• Family-friendly Airlines:  What’s most important when flying with kids
• Baby Travel – Intro to Flying with Baby
• Flying with Kids: Holiday Travel Survival Guide for Parents
• Top Travel Games and Activities for Kids
• Helping Kids Overcome Jet lag Quickly
• Packing Checklist for Traveling with Baby

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LiLing Pang (TravelPangs) is co-founder and contributing author on Trekaroo – - a reviews website dedicated to exploring and traveling with kids.

Travel with kids to: CA | CO | DC | FL | HI | IL | MA | NC | NY | PA | TN | TX | VA | WA

Voting has begun for the Dreamin’ Baby Photo Contest!

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CAST YOUR VOTES HERE

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The winning photo will be determined by YOUR vote.  You can vote once a day until August August 15, 2010

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The winning baby will get to make dreams in his or her very own Baby Bjorn Travel Crib Light.  This travel crib weighs just 1/3 of a regular travel crib and sets up in just a flip.  Trekaroo’s Carrie Yu took it for a spin was very impressed with this new product from Baby Bjorn.

Get the inside scoop on the Baby Bjorn Travel Crib Light:

Full review of the Baby Bjorn Travel Crib

Comparison Review of Lightweight Travel Cribs

Did you miss the chance to enter to win one for yourself?  Don’t fret, you can purchase one today on Amazon.

Did you know Trekaroo has a Travel Gear Store? Find all the travel gear we love for traveling with kids.

We’ve all wrestled hopelessly with our heavy portable cribs through airports and hotel lobbies. We have also all gone through that half hour of bewilderment as we stare hopelessly at a travel crib trying to figure out why on earth it’s sides just won’t stay up.

Well, what if I told you that there’s now a travel crib on the market that weighs only 11lbs.  (1/3 the weight of a Graco Pack and Play)? What if I told you that this travel crib sets up and takes down in just one flip?  Well, there you have it!  The Baby Bjorn Travel Crib does just that!

Pros:

• Lightweight (11 lbs with the case)
• Packs up small- easy to carry and to store
• Very sturdy
• Unbelievably easy to set up
• The mattress cover and fabric of the crib (that’s most of it!) are removable and machine washable.

Cons:

• Since the legs slant outward, you have to pay attention to where the bottom of the crib is when you’re walking by. This could be an issue in a small space, and is definitely something that you need to be aware of when it’s set up.
• Only useful for young kids, up to age 3 (possibly younger if you have a tall child)
• Fairly expensive, selling for ~$225-275, depending on the website/store

Full review of the Baby Bjorn Travel Crib

Comparison Review of Lightweight Travel Cribs

The Steal: Win a Baby Bjorn Travel Crib in the Dreamin’ Baby Photo Contest

We are really excited to give away a Baby Bjorn Travel Crib Light to one lucky family with the cutest photo of your baby in dreamland.

Number of Winners: ONE (1) winner

Prize: A Baby Bjorn Travel Crib Light worth $275

How to enter:

1) Enter a photo of YOUR sleeping baby: Entry Form

2) Get your friends to vote for your little cutie pie

Winner will be chosen based on popular vote.

Rules and guidelines: see entry form for official rules

Deadline to enter: Sunday, August 8, 2010 at 11:59PM PST

What is Monday Madness?

Every Monday, Trekaroo announces on our blog, either a fantastic giveaway or an incredible deal.  It could be a green water bottle, a hotel stay on Maui or theme park tickets. Return every Monday to the Talking Trekaroo Blog for the details. Want a reminder? Become a Trekaroo member or follow us on facebook or twitter.

Thanks to Contest for Moms, Online Sweepstakes, CashNet Sweepstakes, and Sweepstakes Advantage.

Disclosure:  The Baby Bjorn Travel Light Crib was provided to Trekaroo by the manufacturer for review.  No other compensation was received and Trekaroo was not required to express any particular point of view.

Are we there yet?

Are you packing and getting ready for a 4th of July long weekend roadtrip with the family? Whether you’re flying to France, traveling to relatives or heading for the beach, check out our newly assembled Trekaroo’s Activities and Games Guide for Traveling with Kids.

These are all based on recommendations from Trekaroo’s community of travel-savvy parents over the last year. We’ve got games that can be played anytime, anywhere and no gameboards required. Some will make your kids think, some will make them laugh and some will turn them into detectives.

Here’s a sneak peak at Activities #24 through 35.

Guessing Games

24. 20 Questions (Ages 2+)
25. Treasure in a Bottle (Ages 2-4)
26. Name that Tune (Ages 3+)
27. Mother Goose’s Mixed Up Words (Ages 3-6)
28. How Far Away is That? (Ages 4+)
29. True or False (Ages 4-7)

Simple Activities with Just a Piece of Paper

30.  Print out coloring or activity pages from websites like Education.com or Crayola.com
31.  Print out a map of the US and check off each state that you find a license plate for
32.  Free Roadtrip Bingo print-outs from MomsMinivan
33.  Write a letter to grandma or a friend. Write a journal entry.
34.  Travel Scavenger print-outs from Moms Minivan
35.  Take a crayon, stick a coin underneath a sheet of paper and make a coin rubbing

The Trekaroo’s Activities and Games Guide for Traveling with Kids also has our favorite toys for babies, toddlers, preschoolers, school-age kids, tweens and teens that you can purchase ahead of time and throw in your Mary Poppins “entertainment” carpet bag. You’ll find books, puzzles, activity kits and more to choose from to keep the kids entertained and happy for your “family vacation”

Be sure to check-out Activity #68 in Trekaroo’s Activities and Games Guide for Traveling with Kids. It’s a great idea that I’d never heard of from happyonvacation.

Related articles:

• Best Travel Trays for Kids
• Toys on the Fly
• Preparing Kids to Travel

Visit Trekaroo’s Travel Store for more of our favorite travel gear, toys, and books for babies to teens!

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Esther Lee is co-founder and CEO of Trekaroo – a reviews site dedicated to exploring and traveling with kids.

Travel with kids to: CA | CO | DC | FL | HI | IL | MA | NC | NY | PA | TN | TX | VA | WA