Tots To Teenagers: Tips For Hassle-Free Travel With Children

As the flowers of spring and summer bloom, a family’s thoughts turn to vacations. However, many families dread traveling with children, and for good reason. Children often get cranky and impatient on trips. But with some forward thinking and preparation, the chaos can be kept to a minimum.

Some things are universal when traveling with kids, regardless of the mode of transportation. Hungry kids are miserable kids. Bored kids will do anything for entertainment (including kicking the seat in front of them or hitting their sister), and all of it will drive parents crazy.

Be sure to pack lots of sensible snacks. Avoid overly sugary foods and include a mix of complex carbohydrates, like organic granola, and protein like nuts or jerky. Also, to avoid dehydration pack bottled water, instead of sodas or juices. If flying, remember that airport regulations no longer allow parents to bring bottled water from home, so purchase these items at the airport after passing through security.

Kids often get tired while traveling. Pack small pillows and blankets for naptime. Many large airports have a nursery for parents to use where the kids can play, eat, and nap without disturbing others during long layovers.

Road Trips
Some of the most memorable trips that families take together are road trips. Road trips allow families to get off the beaten path with a significant cost savings over large tourist attractions or theme parks. However, antsy kids, carsickness, and tensions among siblings often make car trips crazy. But the following steps may help parents keep everything under control.

It’s inevitable that kids have to move. Parents often take for granted that they can sit in the car for a number of hours before needing to stop, but kids can’t. When planning the trip, include stops about every hour, even if it’s just to get out and stretch for a few moments.

Children need to use the restroom frequently, and there are often long stretches of
highways with no restroom facilities. Some parents pack a small port-a-potty in case of emergencies, and if this is a camping trip, most parents have one packed. Just be sure it’s accessible while on the road.

Bring things like lap desks for coloring or magnetic games to keep kids busy. Take a portable DVD player along so the kids can watch their favorite movies. Be mindful of the fact that some of these things can cause carsickness in some children. If your children are prone to carsickness, pack a small bucket, baby wipes, and some motion sickness medication.

If possible, travel at night. This will allow the kids to sleep through most of the trip and keep craziness to a minimum.

Airplane Travel
Airplane travel with kids can be a challenge, especially on long domestic or international flights. Airline seats are notoriously uncomfortable and there is nowhere for the kids to get up and wiggle. But you can do things to minimize their discomfort.

When booking the seats, consider upgrading to business class. For the extra cost, travelers get much larger seats, more legroom, and the seats even lay down for naps as well as other amenities. It can make all the difference between miserable children and comfortable ones.

Most airlines allow people traveling with children to board first, but in case it’s not automatically offered, be sure to ask. This will allow parents extra time to get the children settled and as comfortable as possible without holding up the flight.

International Travel
If traveling internationally, check with the embassy of the country you plan to visit or the CDC website to ensure that everyone’s immunizations are up to date for that country. Consider buying travel health insurance, since some insurance plans won’t cover treatment outside of the U.S.

If traveling to less developed countries in the world, be sure to watch what you eat carefully.
Stick to fully cooked hot foods, bottled water, and avoid fresh fruits, veggies, and unpasteurized dairy products. Traveling with kids doesn’t have to be a stressful experience. With some planning ahead of time, everyone can have a great time.|

Sources:
http://www.cdc.gov/Features/FamilyTravel/
http://life.familyeducation.com/parenting/familytravel/45320.html