For those who think traveling with children is a breeze have clearly never done it!
Yes, making those priceless family memories are important, but they come with a price – figuratively and literally.
However, if you follow these expert travel hacks, you’ll get to your destination before the kids can even think to ask, “Are we there yet?”
When it comes to traveling with children, the one thing that will never change is HAPPY CHILD, HAPPY PARENT.
So, how do you keep a child happy when your attention is diverted, naptime is thwarted, and there are new environments and strangers at every turn?
Let’s begin by looking at what you need to do before you even arrive at the airport.
A diaper bag is equivalent to a woman’s purse – except carrying a purse isn’t dependent on staying in soiled clothes for hours on end or not.
Little ones still in diapers inevitably have blowouts or spill whatever they’re attempting to consume on their super cute new outfit – and all over your super cute new outfit too. So pack a few extra outfits in your diaper bag, especially onesies.
Try to keep it simple when packing your diaper bag for the plane and leave the biggest toys you own at home.
Instead, take a quick trip to the dollar store and get little toys that are age-appropriate and wrap them up individually.
Every time a toy becomes “old news” (about every ten minutes), take out a new toy, coloring book, or game of “name that thing.”
Another essential is a baby medicine kit equipped with nail clippers, a medicine dropper, and a thermometer.
While on the move, you’ll need a way to safely transport your baby at the airport and around your getaway city.
Using a baby carrier (the kind you wear) will be your saving grace for traveling with a little one.’
You cannot put a price on freeing up your hands when running with all your bags to the terminal because you didn’t plan on having to stop and nurse in your travel itinerary, as Proud American Traveler suggests.
Thankfully, almost all airlines allow you to check your stroller and car seat at the gate.
While that means you’ll have to lug your car seat through the airport, it also means you can push your little one right up to the gate and have the stroller waiting for you as soon as you get off the plane.
For all you nursing moms out there, you will be pleased to know you can also bring a breast pump and milk cooler onboard in addition to your carry-on bag.
And always plan to nurse or have a bottle prepared for your baby during takeoff and upon landing to ease the change in air pressure for your baby’s ears.
Now to the part we hate to talk about.
Mask mandates do require children 2 years and up to wear a mask while in the airport and on the aircraft.
If you think the airline is going to be lax because, naturally, a toddler doesn’t like the feeling of being suffocated – think again!
Multiple stories have already gone viral about mothers and their toddlers getting kicked off the plane for not complying with oppressive mask regulations.
And don’t forget to take a photocopy of all your passports and identification cards, as well as your children’s, so if something happens to your wallet you’ll have no problem getting everyone back home.
While bringing baby onboard is rarely void of all hiccups, with a little planning and a lot of grace, you can arrive at your destination with your sanity intact and your little one ready adventure.
(h/t Proud American Traveler)