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TILT: Travel Sound Machine {Give-Away!!}

2010

I HEART White Noise

If you don’t know how much I love white noise, bless your heart, you must be a new reader.  I love it because it has solved many a sleeping issue for my family.  When we had Rebekah and Luke, we had to learn to sleep through unimportant, yet incredibly annoying noises, while still be attentive to baby noises.  It was a tricky balance and one that caused me much stress and loss of sleep.  I lay awake, anticipating and dreading any noise, wondering if I would ever fall asleep or sleep soundly.  That’s when we started using white noise, and we eventually shifted to portable sound machines for when we roomed the kids together, traveled, or had to nap our kids elsewhere for any reason, such as Sunday lunch at a friend’s house.

In the last year, we’ve been to Germany, the States, Paris, London, and all over Scotland.  So, okay, we may travel more than the average family, but most people travel at least a little…right?  And when you travel, sleep is frequently in jeopardy, especially when children are involved.  Why not travel with a portable sleep aid?  One that will benefit all of you- because when your kids sleep well, so do you!

I’ve shared my love for white noise, so now I’d like to share something else with you: a give-away!!!

Sound Oasis Travel Give-Away!

Sound Oasis Travel System

I have the pleasure of giving away a Sound Oasis Travel White Noise Therapy System (value $90!)! It’s one of my favorite sound machines because it’s small and lightweight, yet still retains the same effective sound coverage the larger machines provide.  Plus, the Sound Oasis offers17  high-quality nature sounds {I love the bamboo sound!}, a jet lag reduction sound {a very soothing sound to lull you into a peaceful sleep}, an alarm clock feature {which is backlit}, and just about all the adapters you would need for traveling around the world {which are compact and lightweight themselves- even Josh commented how much liked their design!}!  The whole package is 2 pounds and the machine itself is smaller than the length of a ball point pen- an easy addition to your purse, carry-on, or even your pocket.

In addition to the Sound Oasis Travel White Noise Therapy System, I am also giving away several lifetime subscriptions to the upgraded version of a fabulous online white noise generator (a $15 value)!  This upgrade allows you to customize (and save) a state of the art white noise generator on your computer and even share the application with another computer.  It provides a peaceful background noise while you work , catch up online, or kick up your feet to relax.

Here’s what you need to do:

  1. Leave a comment= 1 entry.
  2. Post about this give-away and link directly to this post and the Travel Oasis Sound Machine= 2 entries.
  3. Try out the free version of the white noise generator next time you blog and then write a short review at the site= 3 entries. {see below for my sample review}
  4. Post the same review on your blog, also linking to the generator= 4 entries.

{You must leave the appropriate comments for each entry to get credit for them.}

You have until Sunday night (my Monday morning) to enter.

Tip: Seriously, writing a review is super-easy: just try out the generator and write what you like (or don’t like) about it.  Be brief and be honest.  The good people at Speech Privacy Systems {who are solid believers in Christ, by the way!} are giving away one Sound Oasis Travel Machine, but are willing to give away up to 5 (maybe more!) *lifetime subscriptions for the upgraded generator based on well-written and/or creative reviews!

Example of a review:

I use white noise in each bedroom for my kids to sleep through each other’s noise and street noise.  Even though they’re portable, I still like to use this generator when I work because it’s right here on my computer at my fingers’ touch.  I love that this generator can be customized to my personal preferences because I like different sounds for when I’m working versus when I’m relaxing.  Those changes can be saved  for future use, too.  I also love the rolling nature images that you can enlarge.  There’s something extremely relaxing about running water and nature scenes that put me at ease every time.

*Note this subscription lasts as long as they are able to offer the product.  In the event of a world disaster, you would no longer be entitled to the subscription.  Just sayin’.

Disclaimer: I was given a free subscription to the online generator, as well as a Travel Oasis Sound Machine, to conduct this review and host the accompanying give-away.  All opinions are definitely my own, though.  I am not bought that easily.  ;)

For more TILT, check out Diaper Diaries.


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How We Roomed Rebekah & Luke Together for the First Time

2010

Family visits

Many of you know that one of my biggest fears is sharing rooms.  Seriously, I am a total wimp about sharing a room with either of my kids and I never wanted them to share a room!  We have never {not even once} slept in the same bed as our babies.  I think there have been 3 times {just a ball park guess, mind you} we have shared part fot he night with 1 of the kids as a toddler due to 1) travel, 2)an illness, or 3) jet lag.  Yep, that’s 3.

Why?  you ask…I know.  Well, I liked them having their own space that was decorated and made just for them and us having our own space just for us.  Much more, though, I really value sleep- theirs and mine.  And since we’ve always had the space to sleep them separately, there was no reason for them to co-habitate…except for when people visit us or we visit them.  Traveling with 2 kids has really changed the game.  And now that Luke’s 2, you can’t just put him in a bathroom anymore.

So, we have usually managed to avoid my nightmare of rooming them together by sleeping Luke in his happy tent in odd spots, for example, but this time {with Josh’s parents in town for 3 weeks} we decided to put the 2 kids together.  I dealt with my anxiety about the upcoming ordeal by not thinking about it other than making a basic plan.  {Yes, that’s called denial.}  But the first night did come and we survived.  Here’s what we did:

  • Good sleep is worth the effort.

    I moved Luke’s crib to the back corner of the loft so that he was away from the stairs if Rebekah got up before him.

  • I made sure he saw the new spot and napped in the new spot before tackling a night.
  • I talked it up big time and how fun it was to “get” {not “have”} to share a room together!
  • I also put Rebekah’s air mattress in the loft so both could see it and know where it would be.
  • We practiced with Rebekah on how to get up and get out quietly so as not to awaken little man before it was necessary.
  • I made sure they were really sleepy, but not overtired.
  • We did everything together: tooth-brushing, pj’s, stories, and prayers
  • I used 2 white noise generators- 1 by each of them since it is a decently-sized room.  {Two may have been over-kill, but I don’t care.}
  • I said good-night to both and shut the door.

Well, that’s what we did.  Here’s what I wish we would have done better.

  • Told Rebekah to ignore Luke and sleep through his fussing.  {can you really do that, though?}
  • Not let Luke bounce on the air mattress, adding to his growing belief that the air mattress is obviously where all the cool kids sleep.
  • Not used a night light.
  • Not allowed Josh to be gone the first night so I would not have his help!!!!!

I think the best things we did were talking about it, making it fun, practicing getting down the stairs, and you know my love for white noise, so the generators were clutch in covering toddler sleeping sounds, as well as 2 extra adults going up an down the stairs, etc.  The major downfall was the nighlight.  I was worried about Rebekah falling down the stairs, but she really is amazing at them and it was light enough from the rest of the house she could see enough.  As it was, I got to pay them a 4am visit on night #1- Luke was crying and Rebekah was singing {her song was: Don’t cry, Lukey!  God is with you!}.  I loved on them both, laid them back down, took away the night light, and you know what?  They BOTH went back to sleep within minutes!!!!!  Victory!

Now I am just wondering if they’ll want to go back to separate rooms?

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Things I Love Thursday

2010

Digestives?

There are so many things I love that it is hard to choose sometimes.  For instance, I am tempted to tell you about Josh’s inspired chocolate-covered digestive biscuits with a thin layer of peanut butter on top…but that only really applies to my fellow UK pals, so I’ll leave it at that.

No, my other passion…

I think I’m going to tell you about something I really believe in.  It has been a part of my life for several years and helps with work and relaxation.  Yes, friends, I am talking about white noise and white noise generators.  Those of you who really know me know that I am a huge proponent of white noise- almost embarrassingly so.

It all started here.

It all started when we had Rebekah.  Sure, Josh’s occasional heavy breathing or snore would startle me awake at times, but I was usually able to wiggle around just enough to stir him into another position and then go back to sleep.  Sneaky, I know.  :)   But when we had Rebekah, I experienced a lot of anxiety post-partum depression that kept me from sleeping.  Even after she started sleeping through the night, I would lie awake listening to tiny noises or in anticipation of her waking up.  So, we started using white noise.  We were still able to hear important sounds (such as Rebekah waking up and needing us), but it enabled me to fall asleep without worrying about it.  Plus, if she woke up early talking quietly to herself, I didn’t immediately have to wake up.

For the kids’ rooms

Once noise started to become a problem for Rebekah, who as my best friend, Shannon describes, “She can hear carpet crunch”, we took advantage of white noise in her room, too.  It was especially helpful when Luke was born and he was waking up at all hours of the night- we didn’t have to worry about Rebekah waking up, too.  I really couldn’t handle both of them crying at 3am.  As it is, both my kids love their sound machines.  Rebekah will remind me to turn it on, and Luke loves to play with the various nature sounds on his.

p.s.  They do have sound machines that mimic mama’s heart for baby, too- you know those sleepless sweet days and nights where baby just wants to be held next to Mama?  If you’re juggling anything else, such as work, house work, cooking, or Lord forbid, other children, you can’t always hold the wee ones.  I have used the heartbeat sound therapy even when I have babysat small babies and was shocked how soothing it was for them.

For sleep-training

Our next application was for crying it out.  I know that some of you may not agree with this philosophy, but when applied appropriately and at an age-appropriate time, crying it out can help babies learn to self-soothe and sleep better in the long run, thus making them well-rested and happier babies.  You don’t have to agree.  Seriously.  But, Luke would have eaten at 2am and 5am for the rest of his life if given the chance.  So, with both babies, we were able to let them cry for a certain amount of time until they outgrew their need for feeding to sleep. You can read more about my experience here.

You may wonder why we used white noise?  Because I am not totally heartless.  I cannot bear to hear my children cry for longer than a few minutes.  So, we turned it to a level that allowed me to tune it out, but Josh could still hear each child and determine what needed to happen.  Bless him.  He’s a good man.  There are also great generators that have timers- so you can set it for 15, 30, or 60 minutes and then it will go off.  This can help with not allowing your baby to cry too long, or for you to get in a nap, but not sleep away the whole afternoon unwittingly.

For work

My newest application is for work.  Since I do work from home, white noise can help me focus better and for longer periods of time.  I naturally start to tune out the surrounding world for the couple hours I need to work.  This is particularly helpful since I live in a flat with thin walls.  We can hear everything, including our neighbour jamming to Johnny Cash at all hours of the night.

For our sleep

We still use a white noise generator for night time sleep- I reiterate my point that our flat is LOUD.  Without white noise, I can hear every car door slam on our street (and they park bumper to bumper up and down it), every door in adjacent flats open and close, Josh making breakfast for himself earlier than I care to get up, Rebekah stomping up and down the stairs for midnight potty trips, Luke kicking in his crib, the wind howling through our draft flat, etc.  I usually start the generator off pretty low and turn it up as needed.  The cool thing is that most are adjustable, so you can find a happy sound and a good volume for you.

For Travel

As you know, we live in Scotland. So even though the UK is crazy-expensive, is still has the added bonus of being relatively close to “real Europe.”  We try to travel somewhere new once a term, including summer.  :)   Last autumn, we went to Germany, next week we’re hitting Paris, in April we’re going to the West Coast/Isle of Skye with my mom, this summer we’re visiting family in London with Josh’s parents, and this autumn, fingers crossed we’ll do Italy or my beloved Spain.  How do we globe-trot with 2 small children and 2 medium-sized adults who are not used to sharing a room?  I’ll say it again: white noise generators.  The feature that is particularly helpful for travel is portability.  That way we still have the luxury of peace regardless of who checks in next door.

Shopping for the right white

My favorite features for a white noise generator are:

  1. Portable
  2. Small, lightweight
  3. Adjustable
  4. Nature sounds
  5. Timer

As it is, I do write for a white noise company.  You may have noticed my personality in the links.  ;)   Anyway, as such I can point you towards some great products.  First, here is a FREE white noise generator!!  Also, there is an upgrade I you can have for free- just use the discount code: TILTUP.  Also, if you are in the market for a machine of your own, I can also provide you with a 10% off discount for any product: TILT10.

For more Things I Love Thursday, be sure to check out Diaper Diaries.

Disclaimer: Interestingly, as a result of being a believer in white noise, I was offered a job as a copy writer and editor for a white noise/sound masking company.  As such, I do work for a white noise company.  But it is this connection that allows me to offer you the discount.  Win-win, I say.

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We had our first sick day

2010

First Sick Day

Rebekah’s Sick Day

No one in our family had been sick since November.  We do live in Scotland where it’s culturally acceptable to take your flu-ridden child to creche or nursery since all the kids are going to get the germs eventually anyway, so it was inevitable.  As usual, Rebekah got it first, then Luke, then me, and now Josh.  It’s not a huge deal- a kinda bad cough and cold symptoms.  Unfortunately, Rebe’s cough started in Arbroath when we were all sharing a room.  I’ll say it again- love white noise.  We were able to sleep through it.

Anyway, she was having such crazy coughing fits last Wednesday that I kept her home from “skewel.”  She did feel crummy, but she definitely loved the attention she got and getting to watch a movie with her blanket and “BB” (special lovey) while Mommy worked.  It was pretty sweet.  However, she was off to skewel again the next day.  I knew she would have the first half of this week off for Scottish mid-terms and in-service, so we had to take what we could get.

Back in the day

I remember staying home “sick” with my mom.  About once a six-weeks, my brother and I could tell her we wanted to stay home.  We were honest about whether we had tests, etc., and she would usually let us.  She is truly an honest person, so she’d call in and say, “Hello, this is Gayle McCord.  My daughter, Emily, is sick today.”  They would hang up and she would quickly add, “of school.”  She was our mother.  She could do what she wanted.  Heck, my dad is 1 of 11, and his mom would keep one of them home every Monday or Friday just for the extra help.  Those were the days.

I also remember actually being sick and not wanting to miss school.  I specifically remember feeling awful one morning in 4th grade, but I simply couldn’t miss school because we were starting “string art” that day in math.  Little did I know, we were starting a 6-week explanation of what string art was and how to do it.  That would have been a good day to opt out.  (Incidentally, I do believe it was this disappointing experience (string art) that helped me to see that I would never be crafty or artsy…sigh.)  I also hated missing school for social reasons- maybe I had a new outfit to wear or there was a boy I had a crush on- you never wanted to miss a good opportunity to make an impression, you know.  So, I would muster it up to make sure he did not miss me.  Sadly, it never really worked out for me.  I just wasn’t that cute.  I’m not sure any of us were in the 80′s.  (a great big thank heavens that digital cameras did not exist in the 80′s.  I may have to lose mine (or keep breaking them) when poor Rebekah and Luke enter middle school for their vanity’s sake)

Now, I find I am the mom making the decisions.  My heart wants to be the fun-loving, sure you can stay home and we can get take-out or go to the movies kind of mom, but my mind is still that of a former high school teacher who believes in responsibility and commitment.  Praise the Lord we’re just dealing with preschool right now- I just don’t think I can take the pressure just yet.

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Top tips for traveling with toddlers

2010

For Rebekah and Luke, the word "airplane" and "candy" are synonymous.

Traveling with toddlers is interesting exciting.  We have done it a lot (across the States and no across the pond), so here is what we have learned.   Hopefully, it will help your family.

Planning (& Talking) Ahead For me, planning is wonderful- I try to think about what we will need way in advance, so I’m not running around all over town right before we have to leave, whether it’s snacks, gifts, or something else.  I try to bring Scottish gifts if I’m visiting someone.  There are packages of shortbread cookies that are just over a pound for a set of 4 or 5.  This is an easy and inexpensive way to bring a little Scotland to our friends and family.

Additionally, if your child is 1 ½ or over, I would recommend talking about the trip while you plan, pick up things, and pack.  Talk about how fun the trip will be, who you’ll see, what you’ll do so that the child is not blind-sighted by the change in routine.

In packing, consider whether you’ll have access to a washing machine and/or dryer.  If so, you can feel confident in packing less.  This is good since you might bring gifts and/or new clothing back.

If you are visiting friends or family, ask them to have some food items and diapers on hand, as well as the pack n play set up and ready to go.  You never know what state your kids will arrive in or how quickly you will be able to get to the store.  You might also consider setting expectations with them for sleeping arrangements and how tough travel is on kids so that grandparents, for example, don’t have different expectations than you and your spouse.

For example, I talk to my parents several times about where we’ll all sleep and we talk about when the kids will probably sleep, so that they’re prepared for that.  We also talk about how tired they’ll be after such a long flight and missed sleep and that they’ll be clingy to us, but they will warm up with time.  Lastly, we discuss favorite foods and diaper sizes we would like to have that we can reimburse for (though that never happens).  All of this helps us avoid unnecessary tension or hurt feelings.

Sleep Based on the timing of departures, I try to plan a couple days in advance sleep-wise- maybe shorten naps for earlier bedtimes for early morning wake-ups or the opposite- ensure good naps for later afternoon/evening departures.  Well-rested children travel the best.  J

Once on the trip, you’ll have to think about sleeping arrangements.  We travel with portable sound machines and/or ear plugs.  We also try to think about where the kids will sleep and if there is a way to prepare them for that with practice (sharing a room, a pack n play, a crib, etc.)  You also need to consider naps- when traveling, naps rarely go as well as at home.  If you adjust your expectations, it won’t come as such a shock.  J  If you have a child who still takes 2 naps, you may want to prioritize one over the other.  For instance, whichever one is typically the better, more restful nap is the more important one- make sure (s)he gets that one if possible  in the usual way.

For example, our kids aren’t used to sleeping anywhere other than beds, so we tried to give them naps in beds  at important times and always at bedtime( and not assume they could nap in the stroller or car).  However, Luke was in between 1 and 2 naps, so we let him snooze in the stroller or in the car seat when possible and put him down in the pack n play at other times when possible- we played each day by feel.  Rebekah didn’t consistently need a nap, so we planned more around Luke’s need for sleep than hers.  We always honored bed time because both kids need that.

As for jet lag, assume that it will take 1 day per hour of time change.  So, if you’re going to Germany which is one hour ahead, it should only take 1 day to get roughly back on track.  In contrast, going to the States will take much more time.  I will say again that having reasonable expectations in this area will help you avoid unnecessary stress.

Food Dependent upon where you’re going, you may or may not have access to the food your children are used to.   It may be beneficial for all involved if you bring some familiar snacks with you.  This is especially true for specific types of formula or baby food.

Toys You also may not have access to toys, so you’ll want a few toys that will amuse your children for a while.  Don’t bring anything you can’t live without or that will be expensive to replace.  I like to bring cars, dinosaurs, dolls, soft books, balls, etc.

These are essential items to be readily accessible (in your carry-on or in reach):

  1. Your child’s sleepy things, be it a pacifier or a lovey or a special blanket.  Have back-ups either on you and/or at home, so that if you lose one, you are not doomed.
  2. Suckers, candy, or special snacks that will buy you “happy time” on the plane, train, or automobile.
  3. A fully-charged portable DVD player (with charger) and DVDs
  4. Books and quiet toys that you can pull out in intervals- meaning, don’t give your toddler everything at once- space it out in half-hour or hourly increments
  5. If you are flying, it may benefit you to have empty sippy cups you can fill in the airport or on the plane
  6. If in the car, have some back-up juice and/or bottled water
  7. We typically buy 1 or 2 special, never-seen-before items (sticker books or action figure) that will be a special present for the trip
  8. Formula, bottles, pump, etc that you will need to feed your child
  9. Enough diapers and/or pull-ups for the trip or at least for the travel time (plus a few extras because you just never know)

Happy travels!!

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