11 Tips on driving in Heavy EDSA traffic with babies and kids. (Photo Credits)

Heavy traffic is already a given nowadays, but equally stressful is keeping babies from having meltdowns, and making sure that young kids remain at their best behavior inside a vehicle that is at a snail’s pace at best.

I usually drive around the metro with just the littles in tow, and buckling them into their car seats (if you still have yet to buy one — check out this local lazada deal) is just the start of “work” that has to be done while on the road. For expectant mommies who are on the lookout for a great car seat, you may want to check out this infant car seat. That is what we used for the kids at that stage, and this one is what Achi is using right now. There is a local one you can buy off lazada if your kid is in toddler stage — this one can be bought via installment.

Here are some tips to help keep you sane while traversing the heavy traffic roads of the metro.

11 Tips on Driving in EDSA Heavy Traffic with Babies and Kids:

1. Make sure the baby has been nursed, and the older kids have been fed prior to your drive.

2. The diaper should be changed prior to the trip, and the older ones must go to the potty first. (you may want to bring a wee back or extra big diapers for the older tots who may suddenly have the urge to pee in the middle of the bumper-to-bumper traffic).

3. Plan your trip. Although traffic is heavy almost every waking hour everywhere in Metro Manila, there are still window hours when traffic is a little lighter. Plan your trips along those times. From where I do errands, this is usually between 10AM to 3PM. Make sure that you are not forgetting any errand that needs your attention so that you could do all the things you need to do at once.

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You may also want to read:

• EDSA is robbing me of Family TimeWhat can a Pinay Mom do While Stuck in Traffic?
• Requirements for a Philippine Passport for Babies and Young Kids
• How to get a US Visa for your Baby
• Where to stay with your kids in Surigao
• How to do household chores when everyone is sick
• Filipino Soups for Breastfeeding Mommies

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4. If your errand is something that does not involve government or commercial transactions, why not schedule your trip on a Sunday when road traffic is more bearable?
5. Bring some toys that could entertain the littles like this. Better yet have toys in a little bag in the car. Babies like links and those you can just clip on their car seats. On the other hand, any type of toy is fair game for older kids.
6. Bring snacks and water in a spill-proof bottle for the older kids. Better if you have a small box type tray for this to minimize crumbs and spills. Of course make sure that your carry-on bag is stocked with all the essentials.
7. Turn on the music! If you are like me who is blessed with a singing diva, then make sure her favorite songs are playing on the background.
8. For little babies — know when to stop. If they are inconsolable no matter what you do, try finding a safe place to stop by for a walk, a diaper change, or nursing session.
9. Train. Sometimes it is all about training the kids to entertain themselves, and be content in their car seat during vehicle rides.
10. Turn it into a learning opportunity. License plate numbers, letters and signage, car colors, can help you to carry out educational games with the kiddos.
11. If your little bean hates his car seat, try some tricks that could make him love it like putting in toys, pasting posters that he could see while he is in the car, making teething toys accessible for him (we put some on chain links–where to buy). If he is screaming and has thrown up, stop and take him out once you  are in a safe place like a gasoline station to check if he has a soiled diaper or wants to nurse. If not strap him up again, and go on. DO NOT let him manipulate you into doing this each time. A little crying would not hurt him, and safety should be the priority. By being firm, even young babies would get the message that they really have to be in the car seat and that you cannot do something about it (because there really is no work around anyway).

Also make sure that the babies and young kids are CORRECTLY strapped into their car seats. Make sure to read the manual, and check the car seat expiration (usually at the bottom) if you are using it on your second or third child or if it is a hand-me-down from a relative (yes car seat expires too). Here is a good resource on car seat safety.

So there you have it. Wishing you a safe and happy ride each time.

Also if you have the time, please drop by my Facebook page and hit the like button, so you can receive regular updates from Happypinaymommy.com direct on your newsfeed.

Thank you so much!

Till Next Post!

Leaving you with this video on car seat safety:

https://happypinaymommy.com/2015/08/06/what-can-a-pinay-mommy-do-while-stuck-in-edsa-traffic/

*This post contains affiliate links. Thank you for supporting happypinaymommy.com

The post Tips on Driving in EDSA Heavy Traffic with Babies and Kids appeared first on Happy Pinay Mommy.

Where to stay with your kids in Surigao City? The Tavern it is. (Photo taken from Tavern’s Official FB Page)

We went to Surigao City and it was really nice to be in a peaceful, pollution free city where seafood is just great!

If you are wondering where stay with your kids in Surigao City, then your best bet is the Tavern Hotel.

It is the kids’ first time there, and we would not want to burden the relatives we will be visiting so we decided on booking a hotel.

At first I was really hesitant because unlike in our kid-free days, we could just arrive sans stalking a hotel, but now we have to be more conscious.

It was a good thing someone recommended Tavern to us and staying there for a couple of days was a great decision.

They may not have a pool, but almost all the niceties that you will want to have when traveling with young kids and babies, are provided for.

The room is super clean, wide enough for a small family with young kids to stay in, nice view, no mosquitoes at all, and did I say CLEAN? (yes super emphasis on that). They also have super nice and courteous staff that are so kid-friendly too!

The TAVERN is also Cloth Diapering-friendly because:

1. The bathroom has a bidet
2. The sink area is wide and comfy enough for washing nappies
3. There is enough space in the veranda area to hang and sun washed CDs (not in the rails of course – they have lounge chairs in the balcony where you can hang your sipit-filled hangers)

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You May Also Want to Read:

• Tips on Taking Babies to Airplane Rides
• Requirements for a Philippine Passport for your Baby
• How to get a US Visa for your Baby
• All About Cloth Diapering
• Simple Chores for your Preschooler
• Seven Filipino Recipes under P100.00

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Anyway, going back to the non-Cloth Diapering-Addict topic, they also have a good restaurant frequented by locals. I say take advantage of the seafood there because Surigao Seafood is soooo fresh. They also have a Dencio’s Style Inuman-slash-restaurant next to the hotel building, which has a live band.

The view from our room (We got the Standard Sea View Balcony) was so nice, Achi enjoyed just looking at the sea. If I am not mistaken we got it for less than P2,500.00 and this is not AGODA rate mind you. Direct to the hotel rate, so you can just imagine how affordable it could get if we got an advanced booking from those websites.

Here is the view from our room Just lovely.

Anyway going back, the location is also great. It is near a lot of places if interest in the city. It is just across the boulevard, which is sooo clean! You won’t believe how you can almost see the sea floor (is that what you call it?) standing in the boulevard. Almost zero garbage ha! Of course there are a lot of seafood restaurants you can eat from so good luck if you are trying to lose weight.

And before I forget, if and when you need to buy anything, there is a convenience store right across the hotel, which is fairly well-stocked even with PX Goods.

Well there are a number of tourist destinations in the area where our relatives toured us, but that is for another post!

So there you go, if you are trying to find a kid-friendly hotel in Surigao City, The Tavern Hotel is your best option J

Happy and Safe Travel to You and Your Families Ladies!

Leaving you with this video on the tourist destinations you visit in Surigao:

Natural DIY Baby-Safe Insect Repellent Sprays

The post Where to Stay with your Kids in Surigao City appeared first on Happy Pinay Mommy.

US Visa Requirements for Babies in the Philippines. (Photo Credits)

If you have plans to go to the United States for a vacation with your little one in tow, then the best time to apply for a US Visa is now.

Why? Because you will not have to wait in line. Your baby will be prioritized, and you could even be out of the embassy in less than an hour! Yes you read it right J

So here are the US Visa requirements for babies in the Philippines

After of course getting a passport for your kiddo (click here to ready my post re: passport requirements for babies and young kids) all you have to do is head on over at the US embassy’s website, specifically this page which contains payment information. You’ll be glad to know that if you are a BPI or Bancnet Account holder, you no longer need to pay at a BPI bank branch (like what we did), because now, you can pay ONLINE! Just make sure to create your baby’s profile first using the information in this link. The instructions on online payment can be found here.

Anyway, if you are not a BPI or Bancnet account holder, you can print the deposit slip in the website, and pay the 160 USD Visa Fee, in local currency though, hand over the slip and the cashier will give you a receipt which you have to keep for future reference. (Please note that this post is published Aug 2015, so better check with the website again for an updated amount).

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Related Posts:

• Philippine Passport Requirements for Babies
• Tips for Taking babies in Long-Haul flights
• Where to buy BumGenius Diapers in the Philippines
• Local shops that sell GroVia Cloth Diapers
• Filipino Soup Recipes for Breastfeeding Mommies
• Baptismal Requirements for Catholics
• EDSA is Robbing me of Family Time

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After paying the fees in a BPI Branch, you may now fill-out your child’s DS-160 form. You will need the number in your baby’s accomplished and submitted form when you schedule your child’s interview. After completing the DS-160, create a profile for your baby in the US Embassy’s System, and once created you may now schedule an appointment. Prepare your child’s passport number, UV Visa Fee Payment receipt number, and the ten (10) digit barcode number from your DS-160 confirmation page.

Once you have the schedule, prepare what you have to bring to the embassy like your passports (yours and tthe baby’s), the copy of the appointment letter, the DS-160 Confirmation page, and a recent picture of your baby that adheres to US Visa Requirements. You and your baby then just have to head on over at the US Embassy (of course with a time allowance ahead of your scheduled time just to be sure — grabe traffic lagi). Once there, skip the line and just go directly to the guard (yes they have special lines for babies, senior citizens, and those with special needs!).

Once you reach the security check area, approach the guards (or any embassy staff who may be doing the checking) so that they could prioritise you and the baby. DO NOT feel guilty about cutting the line. Since most Americans do not employ nannies, they know how it feels to be in line with an infant, hence the special treatment given to parents with young children. Again, during the taking of biometrics info for your baby, you do not need to line up for the same reason, and same with the fingerprinting section where they would just actually put a stamp on the baby’s passport since those tiny little fingers do not have discernible fingerprints yet.

You will then be led to an area for babies, senior-citizens, and special needs applicants so that you could be prioritized for the interview.

In the occasions that we applied for the kids’ visa, we just presented their passport, the copy of the appointment letter, the DS-160 Confirmation page, and the photo. We also brought our passports with valid US Visa. In those occasions we have been asked when are we likely to travel and how long are we going to stay there, and where will we be staying. Some parents opt to bring other legal documents like bank records, and it is up to you if you wish to do the same. In our case, the consul never asked to see any of those docs. In fact, i have noticed that they are usually happy to see babies during interviews.

Anyway, once everything is okay, you will be then told to wait for the baby’s passport to be delivered to your address usually in a week’s time.

Wishing your family a happy and safe trip as early as now, and hope you could head on over to my Facebook Page, hit the like button so you could receive regular Happypinaymommy.com updates on your newsfeed.

Thank You!

Leaving you with a nice video on traveling with babies:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-v1O8mc5nA

https://happypinaymommy.com/2015/08/24/ongoing-online-cloth-diaper-sales-and-promos-in-the-philippines-mid-august-2015/

The post US Visa Requirements for Babies in the Philippines appeared first on Happy Pinay Mommy.

Want to know the Philippine Passport Requirements for Babies and Young Kids? Read on. (Photo Credits)

With the many long weekends, bucket list entries that have to be crossed-out, airline promos, discounted travel packages, and insisting relatives abroad, you may need to secure a passport for your little one as early as now.

But what are the DFA’s requirements for issuing a passport for infants and very young children?

I scoured their website, and below are the Philippine Passport Requirements for babies and very young kids:

• Confirmed appointment (if baby is more than one year old)
• Baby or young kid’s Personal Appearance. By young kid i mean those below eight years old and stiil not possess a valid school ID.
• Personal Appearance of either parent of the child.
• Original NSO Birth Certificate or CTC of Birth Certificate from Local Civil Registrar (the one that we claim from the city hall after birth)
• Parents’ Marriage Certificate if Parents are Married
• Notarized Affidavit of Support and Consent to travel from either parent (if the baby is a legitimate child) or from the mom (if the baby is an illegitimate child)
• Original and photocopy of valid passport of the person who will be traveling with your baby (some have both parents abroad, and may need the lola to take them out of the country)
• Photocopy of valid passport of either parent (if the baby is a legitimate child) / of the mom (if the baby  is an illegitimate child) or any Government-Issued or Valid ID.

There are other requirements for special cases, and you may want to check it out here. (more details below)

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You may also want to read:

• Tips for traveling alone with your baby
• Catholic Christening Requirements
• Filipino Soup Recipes for Breastfeeding Moms
• EDSA is Robbing me of Family Time
• Things Pinay Mommies do while Stuck in EDSA Traffic?
• Legitimate Ways for to Earn Money from Home
• Where to Buy Cloth Diapers in Manila

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You actually can apply for your baby’s passport at any of the satellite offices of the DFA – you no longer have to go to the main one in ASEANA. Click here for the list of satellite offices. Like what was mentioned above, if the baby is below one year old, you no longer need to set an online appointment because you guys will be prioritized along with the senior citizens, pregnant women, and the differently-abled once you get to your chosen DFA office (choose a mall you like!).

Again, no need to bring a passport photo since they will be taking your baby’s picture there. Do not worry, they have very patient photographers, willing to wait for those cute tiny eyes to open, and those lips to purse!

Normal processing will be about P950.00 and the wait time is around 20 working days. You can opt to have the passport delivered to your home for less than P150.00 if I am not mistaken. If you are however in a rush, or just excited to see that passport, then choose the rush processing and shell-out P1,250.00 for an expedited release after 10 working days.

So there you have it, happy and safe travels to you and your family!

You may want to check out this neat video on traveling on plane with infants:

https://happypinaymommy.com/2014/03/24/tips-on-taking-babies-to-airplane-rides-and-travelling-alone-with-a-baby/

The post Philippine Passport Requirements for Babies appeared first on Happy Pinay Mommy.