Traveling with your kids can be challenging. In all the hustle and bustle of packing and making arrangements, it’s easy to forget the extra preparation steps that might make your trip a little easier.
Here are 10 tips from real moms, caregivers and travel pros on how they handle traveling with kids:
1. When you buy your flights, time them according to your child’s nap time.
“I’ve been traveling with Triston since he was 18 months. I timed my flights either during nap time or right after to make sure my child is in a pleasant mood.” — Renica Smith, mom of a 9-year-old
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2. Make moving through the airport easier with your little ones by using a carrier on wheels.
“The seats that double as a plane seat and a kid roller carrier — basically, a seat on wheels with a suitcase handle — have been a huge hit.” — Charrise Hayes, flight attendant
3. Or, use your stroller to carry everything.
“For newborn travels, I would say don’t do the small travel stroller — the bigger the better! And it holds literally everything while moving from one place to the other: drinks, jackets, purses. And, the airline will generally bump you up in line while boarding.” — Georgina Tisdale, celebrity nanny
4. Bring bags to cover any strollers and car seats.
“When you gate check strollers or car seats, use a bag to keep them covered because the baggage handlers just throw them around.” — Nicole Watson, mom of a 9-month- and 5-year-old
5. Get you children acclimated to airplanes while waiting to board your flight.
“We watched the planes take off and land at the airport before we boarded so he wasn’t so overwhelmed.” — Marjani Williams, mom of a 3-year-old
6. Have a ton of different items to keep them busy (even if it may seem like it’s more than you’ll need).
“I packed a bunch of word searches, puzzles, coloring books, and throw blankets with their favorite characters. And, I downloaded movies in their iPads in advance.” — Brigitte Watkins, mom of a 7- and 8-year-old
7. Soothe popping ears with drinks at takeoff and landing.
“When my girls were little I would make sure that they were awake when we took off and landed so that they could drink from a bottle. Swallowing helps the popping in their ears.” — Lydia Smith, mom of 6-year-old twins
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8. Remember there’s only so much you can do to prevent sticky situations.
“Never be afraid to simply apologize, kids will be kids.” — Ladoris Jackson, mom of a 10-year-old (who now gets through airports quicker than some business travelers)
9. Opt for a long drive instead of a flight.
“When I took a road trip with my 5-year-old and 3-year-old at the time, from Chicago to Atlanta, I drove the entire way and had not one problem! I also started at night when they would typically be sleep anyway. By the time they woke up at 7 or 8 a.m., we were in Georgia and they had no clue that mommy had been driving for 9 hours!” — Tashauna Waters, mom of two
10. Keep what the kids need close to them to avoid stopping, but stop whenever you need to.
“If they need your immediate attention, i.e. potty, hurt themselves, need to stretch their bodies, don’t feel bad that you have to get off the road and tend to them. Missing your travel deadline by an hour won’t kill you.” — Nekoiya Washington, mom of a 12-year-old and 4-year-old twins
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