8 Tips for Traveling with your Children
Traveling requires a lot of preparation, even without children. We know how much you have to worry about, from arranging travel and accommodations, packing for the entire family, and day of travel stress, the list goes on and on. Here are 8 tips to make your upcoming travels smooth and enjoyable!
Allow yourself plenty of time. Whether you are traveling with small children or your kids are a little older, always allow yourself plenty of time to get through the airport. Especially if you are traveling during the holiday season, the airports will be extremely busy. Avoid a stressful and overwhelming day of travel by giving yourself extra time to get through the airport with ease. Driving to your destination? Give yourself extra time for stops so the kiddos can get some energy out!
Look into equipment rental. Why lug around all your own strollers and carseats around the airport when you can rent? Many destinations have equipment rentals available and with a little research, you can rent things like strollers, cots, highchairs, carseats and more. Make your travels easier and rent your necessary children equipment instead of lugging it around with you!
Always check your airline's baggage policy! Your airline might allow you to check your stroller or car seat for free! This will help you save money and help keep your time on the airplane as stress free as possible.
Be prepared for the climate. Wherever you are traveling, be prepared for what the weather has to bring! Check the upcoming weather forecast and pack accordingly. We recommend always bringing something for slightly warmer and slightly cooler weather, as you might not be familiar with the weather in that area. Packing for all temperatures you might encounter is an easy way to make sure the whole family is happy during your trip.
Take a medical kit! You can never be too prepared. While we hope that you won’t need to use it, having a medical kit on hand is always a good idea. Accidents can happen and if they do, you always want to be prepared. This will help keep any minor accidents to just that, something minor!
Have a plan for how you will get from Point A to Point B! Communicate this plan to your children so they know what to expect. Travel can be hard on children, so communicate as much as you can to them what the plan is. Sharing how many flights and car rides they can expect will hopefully help them get through the day a little easier! If you are driving try reminding them how many more stops you will make until you arrive!
Make sure you are well stocked with all things you might need on your travel day. You can never have too many snacks and drinks for your kiddos. Bring lots of entertainment for them! Small toys, coloring books, playing cards, IPads, etc. Whatever helps to keep your kiddos entertained! Delays can happen, so make sure there is plenty to do in case the delays happen.
Remember to try and keep some degree of routine. Kids thrive on routine, and while we know you want to get the most out of your trip, pushing your kids to their limits might not be the best idea! Try to make sure they are still getting plenty of sleep/down time! Pick your top activities and allow them plenty of time to be kids while you’re away!
We know traveling with children can seem overwhelming, but take these tips into consideration! These can help you to be prepared and make your travels as breezy as possible!
