Tips for family travel this holiday season
As the holiday season descends upon us, so do the likelihood of family travels.
Whether traveling by car or by air, I’ve gathered the best tips to make trips with your littlest travelers more bearable. I’m going to be honest, I’ve avoided travel with my two small children like the plague. The idea of packing up our entire lives into the completely inadequately sized trunk of the car, or traumatizing our fellow passengers on a plane, has been overly daunting.
For my own benefit, and yours, I’ve asked fellow parents, experts, and scoured the internet for how to make travel with children as painless as possible.
Best snacks for family while traveling
One of the most universal answers I came across, no matter what the mode of transportation, was almost a no-brainer, snacks. You think you have enough snacks? Chances are you don’t.
If you can combine snacks into an activity in itself, all the better.
For my summer car trips I invested in a container with mini compartments for mystery snacks. Treats must be small to fit, but items like raisins, nuts, goldfish, M&Ms or Skittles, and pieces of different kinds of cereals fit perfectly.
For older children this can double as a matching game in the way of “Guess Who,” while younger children are just as entertained by the opening and closing of the mini compartments. My daughter was kept occupied for at least a half hour, seemingly a lifetime in toddler time. I was able to find mine on Amazon.
Family trip planning for airplane travel
To avoid the pressure of the takeoff and landing hurting your small child’s ears, give them a lollipop to suck on, or gum to chew if they are old enough.
For babies, breastfeed them or give them a bottle. Many airports offer private breastfeeding rooms, often with a comfy chair and sink. I utilized these extensively on my most recent travels. As for breastfeeding or pumping on an airplane, try not to be embarrassed. It's a necessity after all, and your fellow passengers can get over it. Don’t relegate yourself to the futility of trying to breastfeed or pump in the tiny airplane toilet, just stay in your seat and cover yourself with a nursing cover or lightweight shawl to the best of your ability.
Speaking of your fellow passengers, one of parents’ biggest anxieties over air travel is annoying their neighbors with crying children. I even have a friend who has gone as far as buying a round of drinks for the passengers sitting closest to her kids. While I’m sure her fellow travelers were thrilled, this kind gesture isn’t necessary.
Kids will be kids and anyone with half a heart should try to help you out rather than judge you. We’ve all been kids, if not had them at one time or another.
Don’t hesitate to ask flight attendants to help you with any other children, while you take one to the bathroom.
After all, good luck trying to fit any additional children in that bathroom with you. As for diapered children, changes on those tiny bathroom changing tables are all but impossible. For shorter flights I would advise putting your kids in ultra absorbent overnight diapers and holding out until you can hit the airport bathrooms for a change. Obviously, a stinky poopy diaper may ax that plan, but please resist the temptation to change a diaper at your seat unless the entire row is yours. For long flights, you’ll have less options, but utilize those overnight diapers to make the need for changes as infrequent as possible.
Getting your children to sleep on the plane is the ultimate win.
You can try purchasing one of the inflatable wedges for your small child’s seat so that they can lay down and get some rest. Be advised, if you purchase one of these your child will be required to have a window seat to use it, as it blocks other passengers from getting out of the row. Direct flights would of course be preferable in any circumstances, but if they are unavoidable, err on the side of longer layovers. That way you aren’t stressing about racing with your small children to meet your connection. Better to have plenty of time to potty and stretch their legs without the added stress of missing a flight.
How to reserve seats on a plane with kids
As with the inflatable wedges, to use a carseat you will also require a window seat. I have seen quite the argument ensue when another passenger in the row was requested to relinquish the window seat they had reserved to accommodate a carseat. Plan ahead and don’t let that be your fate. If a plane isn’t full to capacity, you can request that a flight attendant put you and your child in an otherwise empty row, and they will often try to accommodate you.
I recently discovered that some airlines offer bassinets for babies that attach to the bulkhead in front row seats. These are very limited and would need to be snagged up in advance. Inquire with your airline as to whether they offer these, and reserve your seats accordingly.
Bringing a stroller on an airplane
This one is pricey, but those who can afford them swear by car seats like the Doona that convert into strollers. They negate the necessity of checking your stroller and risking damage, help you to get painlessly to your gate, and provide a safe seat for your child once you get on the plane.
As airlines increasingly require you to purchase your child their own seat, rather than allowing you to travel with a baby on your lap, having a car seat with you can not only help protect your baby, and increase the likelihood that they will get some sleep on the plane.
If your child doesn’t require a car seat, a stroller is still a safe bet to get your wandering toddler safely to the gate.
A lightweight, cheap collapsible umbrella stroller may be just the ticket to get you where you need to be before you check it at the gate. Of course, even if you CAN get by without bringing a car seat on the plane, you will still need one once you reach your destination.
If you’re traveling with two children, mom of twins Beth Holt, recommends packing your car seats one top of the other in a clamshell and filling the empty space with diapers and pull ups. Even though it doesn’t cost money to check a car seat, they are still a hassle. Try renting a car at your destination with the addition of a car seat or booster seat to avoid toting one around all together.
How to keep children entertained during trips
To keep your child entertained on a flight or car trip, and save your sanity, you generally can’t go wrong with a tablet pre-loaded with your child’s favorite shows and a Bluetooth headset.
Another great option recommended by several parents is to take advantage of the novelty of new toys. They don’t even have to be expensive. Hit the Dollar Store or a Target $5 section pre-trip, and load up on several new items that you can pull out periodically throughout the flight. The excitement of something new to play with every hour or so will help to keep kids engaged. Pack a bag with these small toys for the trip, my personal favorites are the Melissa and Doug Paint With Water Pads. By the time kids have finished “painting” the pad of pictures, it’s dry and ready to paint all over again.
How to plan stops during your road trip with little kids
If you are traveling by car rather than by air, make sure that you plan for LOTS of pit stops into your drive time. Healthychildren.org from The American Society of Pediatrics recommends that small children, especially babies, be in their car seats for no more than 2-3 hours at a time during the day, or a max of 4-6 hours at night during sleep. Always carefully monitor babies during sleep in their car seat. If you are able to sit in the backseat with them, all the better.
Wherever possible along your route, plan for stops with playgrounds, or greenspace for your kids to run around and stretch their legs for several minutes before getting back in the car.
If you are able to plan your drive around nap time, or even overnight, you’ll save yourself a lot of stress. Otherwise try to stick to your child’s regular eating and napping schedule.
How to travel light with toddlers and babies
The idea of traveling light with small children seems laughable, but some services make it easier.
Babyquip is one such service that allows you to rent as few or as many children’s items of your choice from a local, who will deliver them to wherever you are staying.
Renters offer anything from highchairs, pack and plays, cribs, baby bathtubs, and even toys to make your hotel, Airbnb or grandparent’s house, a home away from home.
Some hotels and resorts also offer some minimal supplies like cribs if you request them for your room in advance.
If you are traveling to stay with friends or family, you may even invest in shipping some of the items you know you’ll need, and maybe a hostess gift while you’re at it, in advance. If you are willing to take the time while you’re there, you can always purchase ubiquitous items like diapers upon arrival.
Childcare when you travel
Many of us take what amount to obligation trips to visit relatives over the holidays, rather than actual vacations. Hopefully, if you are visiting the relatives you can talk them into giving you an evening out away from the kids.
If not, there are sitter services like Care.com around the country that, if you are open to trying out a stranger (albeit one with a background check and stellar reviews,) might give you the option of a night out as well.
I’m personally a fan of asking relatives for a friend or neighbor that they would trust with our children. I’ve even utilized my sister and brother-in-law’s highly trustworthy and experienced dog sitter, who also babysits, to enjoy a kid free night out. If you plan to live it up on a real vacation this holiday season, take advantage of any number of resorts and cruises that offer babysitting, kid’s clubs, and childcare. Now that's what I call luxury!
Family travel can be fun
Traveling with small children can be daunting, but it is possible! Just plan your trip and your expectations accordingly, and you may even be able to have some fun.
