Traveling with kids

My younger son and his family just came back from a trip to Tokyo, Japan. Overall, it was an enjoyable time out for this starting family of Allen and Jin with their 2-year-old son Noah and 9-month-old baby Sabrina, with nanny Jenie.

On the way there, they practically had the Business Class all to themselves and the flight attendants of PAL were attentive to them and their special needs, as travelers with small ones. The babies did not make any fuss at all…it was a breeze!

Problem started when mommy-dependent Noah had his first meal in the Land of the Rising Sun. He could have tasted something "weird" to his taste buds - and he is usually a very picky eater! - because after that first meal, he refused any solid food. The thing is that his milk brand is not a common one, as I'm told it is a transition milk from breast milk. Jinjin brought along two cans: one can was good for the ten days they were there, while the other can was a spare. Noah doesn't usually drink milk when he is awake. They just push the bottle to his mouth when he takes his afternoon nap and when he is falling asleep at night. Feeding time is always show time for Yaya Angel so he would finish his solids. There was no Yaya Angel to entice him to take something during the day. Eventually, he had to take his milk, out of hunger. What became a problem was that he was taking in twice the normal amount per day. Panic time for Mommy was when the first can was gone when they were not yet halfway through their vacation.

I too panicked when I saw the Facebook wall message Jinjin sent to whoever could help them in their predicament. As I checked two days after the message, I presumed she was able to solve the problem. Beware - in Tokyo, the known baby brands are NOT available. As Noah was fussing for the brand of disposable bottle that was almost all used, Jinjin had to wash and reuse what were left. They could not find any in all the places they scoured. They even asked the help of a local who happens to know a common friend. There were also no disposable diapers and the likes, proving in stark reality that Japan is a country of an aging population with a small percentage of births.

The family had great times in the Tokyo Disneyland and in that new Disneyland Under the Sea with a remarkable marine theme, the only one in the world! As can be gleaned by the photos they posted in their Facebook accounts, it is best to be ready with handy baby carriers (like an American Indian papoose carrier) and easily detachable strollers. The babies can sleep when they need to and adults are mobile with the infants/toddlers attached to their bodies.

My travel-savvy son highly recommends this new Disney theme park to those who love a new excitement, who appreciate the finer aspects of venue design, who delve into fantasy joy rides and who want to share fully a vacation with all the family members, young and old.

In the plane, on the way home, Business Class was full of Japanese passengers. In fact, the PAL flight was full - an encouraging indication that we still get Japanese travelers into Cebu, either for business or leisure. My son and his family were the only Filipinos. The babies were settling down for their afternoon nap when there was an announcement that the plane had to go back from the runway to the parking tube. Something was malfunctioning in the communications tower and they were not allowed to take off. The PAL flight, with all the passengers onboard, waited for two solid hours before they could depart for Cebu! Thank goodness, the little ones were such troupers under the uncomfortable circumstances.

All's well that ends well, indeed! Although I found Noah was lighter and leaner when I carried him upon his return. He will of course regain whatever he lost in his Tokyo adventure. One thing reassuring for me is that his mommy is a medical doctor. Well-behaved baby Sabrina, on the other hand, is as adorable as ever. She was the most adaptable traveler of them all - loving the rides and even the fireworks in the sky.

Yet, as you can surmise, traveling with kids is full of surprises so you have to be innovative, alert, patient and, most of all, full of fun in your heart. Travel safely now!