Got a kid who's potty training? Got a vacation coming up? Then it's safe to say you're a wee bit stressed. We know, because we were sure as hell stressed when we were in your shoes.

Of course you should follow the same commonsense cardinal rules we all did.  Time your bathroom breaks, monitor beverage intake, and always, ALWAYS, know where the closest bathroom is. Yadda yadda. The only difference between us and you? You get to thank your lucky stars because the great Mother of Invention (cue trumpets) has smiled down upon your plight.

Designed for children 12 months to 5 years old, the Pottyflip is a portable, disposable, hygienic, biodegradable, paper pop-up potty that's small enough to carry in your purse. The manufacturer says it can support a child up to 75 pounds. After Junior has done his business (applause!), you just fold the potty up, tie the interior bag, and throw the whole thing out. We're so stinking jealous that this wasn't around when our little angels were in this beloved phase.

You can order them online for $24 a dozen, plus $5.99 shipping and handling. They're pricey enough that you'll want to save them for emergencies. But, then again, it seems a small price to pay for peace of mind. Each order comes with an assortment of 3 designs.

Travelers who want to avoid nasty airline fees should fly Southwest. That's the bottom line from an article in the November issue of Consumer Reports’ ShopSmart that takes a hard look at which airlines are nickel and diming us to death with new fees. (Warning: If you haven't flown in a while, prepare to be appalled.) Here are five key strategies to take away from the article:

• Think twice about that second suitcase.
  All airlines except Southwest charge for a second checked bag. 
• Ask for electronic ticketing.
  Print out your electronic ticket, as the cost of choosing a paper ticket is skyrocketing—up to a whopping $75 at United.
• Bring your own food, drinks, and pillows.
  Continental is the only major U.S. carrier that serves free meals on domestic flights, though some airlines offer free snacks.  US Airways and Spirit charge for soft drinks, and United charges for coffee and tea.  JetBlue will hit you for pillows and blankets. 
• When in doubt, call the airline.
  Fees can change fast and airline web sites don’t always reveal complete listings of fees, so contact the airlines directly.
• Watch out for unavoidable fees.
  The biggest fee of all is fuel surcharges.  Most airlines impose these fees in the higher cost of your ticket, but not all airlines do, which makes comparison shopping more important than ever.

• US Airways:  Charges $25-$50 to redeem “free” trips from your frequent flyer program.
• Northwest, United, US Airways:  Charge $2 or so per bag at some airports for a curbside bag check.
• American:  Charges $100 for a ticket change and $15 for the first checked bag.
• Spirit:  Charges for the first checked bag, booking by phone, seat confirmation, soft drinks, and snacks.
• AirTran and Spirit: Charge extra for calling to confirm a seat assignment or to request a seat location.

For families that value space and privacy when they travel, getting a second hotel room for the kids can be an attractive option. At select Hyatt properties through December 30, there's a special offer on the table called Time for Family, which includes a connecting room at half price for kids 12 and under. The 99 participating Hyatt properties are scattered throughout the world. These 10 are in North America.

Tip: If you book online, go through the portal for the Awaken B&B package, which snags you free breakfast for your family. Then use booking code HYFMPL to get 50% off your second room.

The best lessons in life are those you don't have to learn first hand.  Instead, learn from the poor guy who cranked up a cell phone bill of $1,229.91 while traveling abroad because he didn't turn off the international data roaming. This sobering post from the travel blog Gadling ought to be required reading for every international traveler. It gives a terrific (and terrifying) snapshot on how cell phone charges can go so wrong, so fast:

"The technology behind all of this is mind boggling. Of course, everyone knows that it is expensive to "roam" when you are abroad, and most people use their phone judiciously. There is nothing wrong with making the occasional mobile phone call back home from Europe, or using it to call your airline to change a reservation when you are stranded thousands of miles from home; the $2-per-minute charge is something you can deal with.

Mobile International data is different. The cost of "International Data Roaming" borders on insanity. AT&T charges $19.50 per Megabyte of transferred data in most countries, T-mobile is only slightly cheaper at $15.36 per Megabyte. "

Got one of those groovy new iPhones? Lucky you! Now take a deep breath and read on:

"Things get worse when you use a 3G phone (like the new iPhone). When you can download faster, you can also run up a massive bill much faster. Imagine landing at your sunny destination, and turning on your iPhone. The phone instantly begins to download all your email, updates the weather, and fetches the latest prices of your stock portfolio. With 3G speeds, you'll be able to download information so fast, that you'll be paying around $60/minute. If you have an awful lot of email, then by the time you reach passport control, you'll owe AT&T $500. "

Be sure to read the whole post to get the full impact of the danger lurking in your phone. You'll also learn why T-Mobile beats AT&T when traveling outside the country.

So. Many. Decisions. Finding the right cruise for your family can be a very complicated process. Which cruise line? Which itinerary? Which ship? Which cabin? Which shore excursions? And where in heaven's name can you snag a deal?

Point your browser to Cruise Critic, the most comprehensive one-stop resource for cruise information on the web. The site is packed to the brim with intelligent advice, from planning articles and expert reviews to cruise ship stats and information about ports of call. We are mad about the easy-peasy Find a Cruise tool, which helps you whittle down the field of a gazillion possibilities in just a few clicks.

Founded in 1995, Cruise Critic has built an extraordinarily active community of knowledgeable cruise lovers. The site's word-of-mouth reviews are a goldmine of insider pointers, like when this veteran cruiser dishes about her experience on Disney Wonder, or when this father of five describes the highs and lows of his family's very first cruise, aboard Royal Caribbean's Enchantment of the Seas.

Passport? Check. Credit cards? Got 'em. Consent forms? These days, there are dozens of scenarios where you might need them. Like if Gram and Granddad bring your kids with them on vacation.  Or if you're a single parent traveling out of the country with your children. Or if you leave your children at home with relatives while you take a business trip. 

Forms4Parents.com is a web site that lets parents customize legal consent forms to their particular family situation. You can specify travel authority, temporary custodial authority, or medical authority with important information about your child, along with emergency contacts and necessary insurance information.  Forms can be purchased individually or as packages ("traveling with relatives," "babysitter or relatives caring for children" ).

Individual forms cost $16.95 and packages are $34.95. Now through September 1, you'll nab a 25% discount if you enter the promotional code "SUMMERTRAVEL."  

"Terrorists evolve. Threats evolve. Security must stay ahead. You play a part." Is it the teaser to the next blockbuster thriller? Or maybe an ad for the hottest video game? Nope. It's the tagline for the Transportation Security Administration's three-month-old Evolution of Security blog. Written by TSA employees, this blog aims "to facilitate an ongoing dialogue on innovations in security, technology and the checkpoint screening process." As the tagline suggests, this is not your average government blog with dry writing and dull visuals. The EoS blog is an impressive example of how a serious (and often tetchy) subject for travelers can be explained and humanized. It's a great resource for parents whose children have questions about airport security and what happens at checkpoints. For instance, in a post that dispels some of the misconceptions behind millimeter wave whole-body imaging, the blogger writes "As a married father of five small children, I wouldn’t think twice about sending my wife, my four boys or little girl into this machine. I’ve seen the image it produces and I am not only confident as a TSA employee—but as a citizen—that TSA has done everything possible to address passengers’ privacy concerns regarding whole body imaging."

A favorite gizmo on this blog is the "Delete-o-Meter," a counter that displays the number of comments that have been deleted so far, with a link to find out what it takes to get your comment deleted. You gotta love an airport security guy with a sense of humor.