7 Tips for Traveling with Small Children

Traveling is stressful enough for people without kids. Add restless, impatient, bored, and messy little ones and it’s a whole new ball game. With proper planning though, your next family vacation can be a great success. Here are 7 tips that can help you enjoy taking your little ones on a nice trip.

Pace – Plan for a slower pace than you might usually attempt. You need to be realistic about the amount of ground you can cover with little ones in tow. The less you feel you have to pack in, the more enjoyable and stress-free the vacation.
Places – Look for family friendly resorts that offer activities for children. Many all-inclusive resorts and large cruise ships offer kids’ clubs, though it is always best to ask your travel agent exactly what types of activities are offered. Look for resorts with toddler pools and playgrounds that can supplement your beach time.
Pastimes – If you’re flying, make sure to bring enough distractions to help ease the potential boredom of flying. Sticker books, toys that don’t have too many pieces, an iPad, portable DVD player (with 2-hour-plus videos), and so on are your best bet. Don’t forget the headphones and make sure everything is charged. A new pack of triangular crayons (which are less likely to roll off the seat tray) and a pad of paper might hold your kid’s attention for a while.
Precautions – In addition to the toys, consider bringing these essentials with you on the plane: a spare outfit for you and one for your kids in case of spills (or worse); lots of wet wipes and large zip lock bags, which you can use for trash and other things; extra formula or milk; snacks (crackers, string cheese, carrots, dried fruit); and first aid or medication that you think would be useful, including children’s Tylenol, hand wipes, teething remedies, band aids, etc.
Pauses – Taking a long car trip? According to Parents Magazine, Jayne Singer, Ph.D., a clinical psychologist at Children’s Hospital Boston, says to be prepared to make rest stops every hour or two so your child can stretch; if you wait until she’s wiggling around, she’ll think she has to make a fuss to get what she needs, and a pattern will be established. Dr. Singer explains: “Taking a rest stop sooner is worth it in the long run.” It can also help to map out fun places to stop along the way to break up the trip.
Pals – When it comes to bedtime, try to keep your kid’s routine as normal as possible. Pack familiar things, like his favorite stuffed animal, blanket, and a night-light. This will help your little one make a better transition and open him up to some new experiences while you’re on vacation.
Pack Light – Pass it On – When flying to a new locale, you will have enough luggage, diaper bags and other carry-on items to employ a fleet of skycaps. So don’t make it tougher on yourself by bringing a stroller with you. Consider visiting a big box store at your destination and purchasing an umbrella stroller, which will usually cost around $10-$15. When you are leaving your resort, leave it behind in the room. Someone will find a good use for it.

While this is by no means a comprehensive list, these pointers can help make your next trip a bit more enjoyable for your little one and the entire family. It is a great gift to introduce a child to the world of travel and every effort should be made to ensure a successful trip. This will hopefully lead to more and more travel experiences and open up a whole new world for you to share with your little one.