A few weeks ago, I took a trip back to my hometown of Avon, NY to visit family. Because Crispin was working and I was off, I went by myself—with Claire (3.5 years) and Cormac (9 months). The trip, when all goes smoothly, is about 13 hours. That’s tough for an adult—let’s face it, traveling is tiring—but it’s pretty taxing a lot for young ones. Here’s what I’ve found helps when you are traveling with kids:
- Give yourself plenty of time. I mean plenty. I missed a flight once with Claire and it was a nightmare. Remember that kids don’t walk as fast as you, that bathroom emergencies come at the most inconvenient times, and that tantrums don’t cater to your schedule. Overcompensate, time-wise.
- Be polite; make “friends”. People are so friendly and helpful when they see your situation! Use this. Once, I was going through security, juggling all the things, and a nice older guy behind me asked how he could help. I ended up thrusting the baby into his arms. Take people up on their offers and kindnesses. Similarly, encourage your kids to play with others. During a layover on this trip, Claire attached herself to a little tribe, and it allowed me some time to focus on catching up on emails and feeding Cormac.
- Take an empty row. Perhaps you’ll get lucky and have it to yourself. Even if not, though, the person who joins you will have made that choice voluntarily—that is, they know what they’re getting into and are generally happy to share a row with young ones. We were fortunate to share a row with a lovely grandmother who entertained Claire with conversation and reading to her for nearly one whole flight.
- I can’t emphasize this one enough. Try to get down to one suitcase when you are traveling with kids that you check and one carry-on. Just one with no additional accessories—no purse, no blanket or pillow, no fanny pack. If it doesn’t fit into your carry-on, stow it in your checked bag. In the carry-on, put all the things you might need in a short-term situation—snacks, diapers, extra pants and underwear (if applicable), and entertainment. If you can get away without a car seat, do it. (My mom is part of a wonderful “grandma group” that lends child items—cribs/bedding, life jackets, car seats, toys, bikes, etc.–to whichever one is having visiting grandchildren then. If you can, try to arrange something similar at your destination.) A carry-on that is backpack style is best.
- Ditch the stroller. Strollers are a giant pain, especially when traveling. If your child is not yet walking age, a good carrier is a brilliant investment. Having Cormac strapped onto me was critical, and I could even go through security without undoing him. This one goes hand in hand with #4, too. Cormac was strapped on and my carry-on/diaper bag was hands-free (a backpack), so I had one hand for the suitcase and one hand to hold Claire’s hand. That set-up made my life a whole lot easier.
- Have one bag per child in your suitcase. Divide the flotsam and jetsam inside your suitcase into smaller bags—one per person. This will help with organization and keep you from having to rifle through everything when you want to find something. Bonus points for clear bags so that you can see what you’re looking for.
- Plan your trips to the bathroom wisely. Persuade your kids to go to the bathroom before getting on the plane, if possible. Claire took one look at the airplane toilet and promptly turned around and went back to her seat. They are scary for kids, and there’s not enough room to go in and help them. Try to avoid the plane bathrooms if you can.
- Choose mess-free entertainment. Water Wows are great for traveling. We also brought magazines because we wouldn’t feel bad about recycling them if we didn’t have enough room to bring them back. But mostly, Claire just enjoyed talking to people. This is a great time to work on social skills!
I admit that all of these are pretty basic and commonsense, but they have helped me get through a lot of travel across the country with a young one, and most recently, two young ones. Do you have any other ideas for making traveling with kids easier? If so, please include them in the comments!
