Runabout Hitch, Scheduling, Travel, Movies, Places to Go
From Our Members... 
Originally printed in January 2005

Recently, the following questions were asked of members on the online TMM Discussion List: 


"I heard once that you don't have to use the Runabout hitch, that you can 
use a different hitch.  Has anyone done this?  Is it possible?"    ~Mariah

I called Berg Design (they make the Runabout) and he gave me directions and 
sent pictures about fitting the Runabout in the back of our Odyssey.    ~Thea

I've heard that some people bought a trailer hitch from Walmart or even a 
bike shop that works.  How old is your Runabout?  I think, starting in 2003, 
they made the Runabout easier to put in a minivan.  We took the third headrest 
(closest to the handle bar) off so it would fit in our van.  We also telescope 
the handle bar down all the way and it fits.  It is tight, but it does fit.    ~Ann


"We are looking for input regarding airline [and boat cruise] travel with our 
19-mo. old triplets.  Each one will have their own seat on the plane, but I am 
not looking forward to carting three car seats on the ship with us, not to 
mention airports, etc.  Does anyone have any experience with airline travel 
in this age group, or other advice for us on how to handle it?  I can see my 
escape artist wriggling out of the standard seat belt... Yipes!!"    ~Sharon

We took the kids to Ireland last August to visit my husband's family.  The kids 
were about 22-months at the time.  First of all, it is an extremely wise move 
to have seats for each child.  We didn't and it was terrible.  Make sure you 
check with the airline about checking in strollers.  We brought our double and 
single strollers and walked all the way to the entrance of the plane.  The crew 
took the strollers and checked them for us.  Ask about seating arrangements as 
soon as possible.  Try to get the aisle with as much legroom as possible.  Leave
extra time for everything!  Will you have another adult traveling with you?  
One thing that worked great for us was ordering a harness.  I bought three 
from www.4coolkids.com.  We used them when we were at the airport to let 
them tire themselves out while we waited for the plane.  One adult can walk 
with the three kids.  It worked very well.  We packed three backpacks, each 
with diapers and wipes and those special disposable covers for changing 
tables.  Also, pack small, new toys, plenty of snacks and juice.  They love 
Magnadoodles.  That kept them busy for a while.  Have a pacifier ready for 
landing and take-offs to help with ear pain.    ~Ann

I'm probably in the minority here, but we've never flown with car seats.  
We took the girls to Tennessee when they were just two for my sister's 
wedding.  My kids are pretty compliant, but we also made it clear they had 
to stay buckled and seated.  For toys, nothing with small pieces (including 
crayons) as you'll spend the whole time picking them up off the floor.  I 
second the Magnadoodle idea.  We also found some magnetic board toys (Learning 
Express used to carry them) - picture scenes with dinos or animals.  Good time 
for books.  If you have those stroller links, bring them to hook toys to the 
seat belt.  I never tried it, but a friend of mine with a singleton swore by 
giving him a piece of tape to play with!  We also gave the girls Dramamine 
before we flew (Sam got airsick once - was enough!), and it made them sleepy 
so they'd nap for at least an hour.  One parent took one kid, the other got 
two - and you had to keep your kid/s clean and happy for the flight.  On the 
next leg/return trip, we'd swap.  We also found for scheduling, it was 
preferable to fly during the day, and it was better to have to change planes than 
to have a direct flight.  It broke things up, the kids appreciated the airport 
(watching planes, eating a snack).  If your kids have a history of earaches 
(flying or not), you can ask the pediatrician about giving Sudafed before they 
fly.  We did this and never had a problem (we'd give them a lollipop or juice 
box during takeoff and landing too).    ~Lisa


"I am looking for any input for how to implement a schedule for my 2-month old twins.  
Right now, my husband and I work in shifts to allow for sleep for one another and we 
are unable to eat or sleep together.  Perhaps, this is how it will be for a while.  
The worst time of day is from 5pm-11pm.  We have been trying to get them to sleep in 
their cribs, but they won't go in unless they have been sleeping, so this is a challenge.  
I feel kind of guilty asking for advise from moms who have three children and more of a challenge."     ~Stephany

As for us, we did the split schedule thing most of the time, so we would each get 
a block of sleep.  I would go to bed after the 9 or 10pm feeding and get up for the 
4 or 5am one.  My husband would stay up until after the midnight feeding and stay in 
bed when I did the 4 or 5am one.  Sometimes we would both get up, but me getting a 
block of sleep was so important since I was home alone with three babies and a 
5-year old all day.  We did feeding and stuff at the same times too so when the 
first one woke up to feed, I would wake the others up also so they would get used 
to that and we wouldn't be up all night long feeding.  Sleeping in their crib is hard.  
I think we put them in their cribs when they were almost asleep and rub their backs 
and stuff until they were out and then, just prayed that they would stay asleep.  
They also slept together in the same crib until about 6-months old so they were close 
and kept warm by each other.  I also found that 5 to 11pm was always the hard time - 
everyone was tired and cranky (even I was at that time of day).  I would hang them in 
those jumper things that hang from the doorway, have them in swings in the kitchen, 
or sitting in a bouncy chair so I could do supper, make bottles and all that stuff.  
And, I hate to admit it, BUT, those baby Einstein tapes (the whole series of those) 
worked wonders.  The kids weren't sitting watching, but the music and colors were 
amazing and would calm my kids down even at an early age.    ~Eileen

Never feel bad asking for help!  I think 90% of the life disruption comes with the 
first baby, anyway (judging from several friends who had singletons this summer and 
were just as desperate for sleep, etc).  We didn't schedule (makes us probably 1% of 
this group!) because I was nursing and it worked out to more nursing if they weren't 
all hungry at once.  However, they scheduled themselves anyway.  We did trade off 
with the nighttime feedings, sometimes, but mostly we got up together - it would 
take about 40-minutes total for both of us to feed three.  We kept a low light on in 
the bedroom and didn't turn on anything else unless there was a poopy diaper.  We 
didn't sing or even talk more than needed, and tried to just get done as fast as 
possible.  The 5-11pm was the worst.  We called it "the cocktail hour" because you 
needed a cocktail to get through it.  We would camp out in the living room with a 
hands-free phone and just make calls to family to pass the time.  The good news is, 
they are learning to eat more so that eventually, they will drink 8-10 oz. at 10pm 
and sleep through to 6am!!  They just kind of eat constantly during that time - the 
best advice I got was just to stuff them with milk and eventually, they get big 
enough (10-14 pounds for most babies) to sleep through.  We did have a bedtime ritual 
(change into a pajama and put on some music and lower the light) at around 8pm even 
if they weren't actually sleepy.  It is hard to eat dinner with your husband now, 
but eventually, they will get to a stage where ten Cheerios on a high chair tray will 
entertain them for an hour.  Most babies have a hard time sleeping in their cribs 
at first.  Try to transition to hanging out with them in their cribs (patting backs) 
rather than rocking them to sleep.  During the 5-11pm time, we would use the bouncy 
chair with vibrator, or the swings, if they were cranky.  It isn't just you - just 
try to be flexible and try different things until you find what works for you.    ~Lisa


"We are getting ready to go on a long car trip, again.  Luckily, we bought our van 
with a DVD player and the kids love watching the movies.  At this stage, my triplets 
love doing hand motions to songs, so I thought it would be great to find some DVDs 
with follow along motions.  Have any of you seen videos or DVDs that would fit that bill?" 
~Michal

One video I would suggest is the Wiggle Time video from the Wiggles.  There are a 
lot of gesturing dances with the music -- Hot Potato, Rock-A-Bye Your Bear, etc.  
My trio love-love-love it.  I am hearing a lot of moms on another list I'm on talking 
about these Signing Times videos which help to teach sign language to babies.  I don't 
have any yet, but from what others are saying, I want to get one soon!  We just now 
found out you can only buy them online.  Go to www.signingtime.com or go to http://store.yahoo.com/ldsvideostore/info.html (a couple bucks cheaper here) and do a 
search for Signing Time.    ~Renée

We have a "Mommy and Me Play Group Favorites" video.  It is part cartoon and part 
parents singing songs with their infants/toddlers in a playgroup setting.  Some of 
the motions are standing, running etc, but there are also plenty of arm, hand, etc., 
movements as well.  They are all songs kids hear (Itsy Bitsy Spider, I've Been Working 
on the Railroad, etc.).  My kids were and still are riveted to it... It is great to 
sing and see/do all the motions with them!    ~Joan


"Anyone know of a fun indoor thing to do with a 4-year old and 2-year old triplets 
[on a] Sunday?"    ~Nancy

The Children's Museum in Boston has activities for all ages.  I have been there for 
a birthday party - the kids invited were all different ages, and everyone loved it.    ~Rena

We loved the Discovery Museum in Acton - an old Victorian house where each room 
has a different theme; I think more manageable than the larger museums.  The Museum 
of Science has a great kids' play space; we used to go there a lot when the girls 
were small (still do).  We used to live in Arlington, and their public library has 
a small kids' play area in the children's room (had tiny slide, toys and puzzles, 
and puppet theater).  The girls loved it, and there are lots of good places to get 
a bite to eat in town with kids (Blue Ribbon BBQ, Ben & Jerry's, and I am hearing 
that "Not Your Average Joe's" is good and family-friendly).  Sadly, most of the 
great indoor playgrounds for little kids have closed (Tot Stop in Arlington, and 
the one here in Andover too).  Kid's Playground in Woburn and Bonkers in Peabody 
are both great, but can be overwhelming with 2-year olds.  We have joined the local 
YMCA and enjoy their activities, if you are looking for something longer-term for 
winter entertainment.  [There are always local craft fairs in the area.]  There is 
also a cute museum in Wenham (the Wenham Museum, I do believe) that is geared towards 
kids.  They have a permanent model train exhibit, a large doll exhibit, and some 
changing exhibits (past have had candy, toy soldiers and others).  They also have 
a playroom where kids can do hands-on stuff related to the exhibits.  There is a 
Bertucci's nearby (and fast food).  We always have fun there.  If you want to go all 
the way to Cambridge, the Peabody Museum at Harvard has dinosaur bones and stuffed 
animals, rocks and minerals - standard science museum stuff.  Park at Alewife and the 
kids can get a fun subway ride (my kids favorite part of the trip) - with strollers 
can be a challenge of course.  Also, there's lots of good family-friendly (although 
not cheap) restaurants and ice cream in Harvard Square.  If you like model trains, 
keep your eyes open for the model train show at the Shriner's Auditorium in Wilmington; 
it is truly amazing and engaging.    ~Lisa