If you’ve ever seen a mom going through TSA pushing a a stroller and dragging along a Little Mermaid suitcase while bouncing a crying toddler on her hip, you have to give it to her for those nerves of steel (no matter how much the Banshee-like screams coming from the child make you cringe). In honor of Mother’s Day, I spoke with a few moms I know about their top tips for traveling with children. Here’s their tried-and-true advice for parents new to the travel game.
Eight travel mommies give their tips for traveling with children
“When Drew was just turning 1 I went on a short flight with family. My thought as a first-time mom was to travel at times he would be tired so that he would sleep and I was exactly wrong. My No. 1 travel tip that I’ve learned the hard way is to make sure the kids are well rested and well fed. If you attempt to board a plane at bed time, you will have a cranky, confused little one and heaven forbid you have any sort of delay. My second tip with kids…when in doubt just pack it. Think you’ll need one diaper? Pack two. Think your little one won’t be hungry until you get there? Pack a snack anyway. Your daughter hasn’t exploded a diaper in weeks? Pack an extra change of clothes (for baby AND for mommy) anyway.”
-Kelli Hernandez, Mother of Andrew (Drew), 3, and Alaina, 1
“Be sure to bring blankets and soft toys from home to make the baby’s bed at your destination. Kids are like dogs and operate on sense of smell. If it isn’t familiar, they aren’t going to want to sleep. With jet lag and infants/toddlers, there is no escaping the week of pain. Make sure they get plenty of sun in the day to reset internal clocks. At night, even if they aren’t sleeping, keep the room dark. Maybe you’ll have to adjust bedtime a little bit later, but the sooner you get back to your schedule the better for everyone.”
-Erica Lyn, Mother of Eden, 1, and soon-to-be Eden’s little brother/sister
“One thing Chloe loves when we travel: Melissa and Doug makes a coloring ‘book’ with thick cardboard pages where you use a brush filled with water to ‘paint.’ It’s perfect for travel because water is so easy to clean. We also sing silly songs. She loves making up her own songs and singing them to us!”
-Debra Mimbs, Mother of Chloe, 2
“Definitely iPad, LeapFrog, DVD player (good one and fully charged). Small gifts or treats that your kids love – wrap them up as small gifts and each 30 minutes (if he is under 4) or every hour (above 5), you can give them one present at a time. Tips: coloring books, small puzzle, special theme toy of their favorite movie, such as Toy Story or Cars. Small eats are a MUST. Another tip, be the last one getting on the plane; it will give you enough time to change diapers in a more comfortable and spacious bathroom. Also time for them to run around and GET TIRED! Try to get seats closer to the bathroom where you can have quick trips and be closer to the kitchen area so it’s easier to get a glass of water for your little ones. I hope it helps, it can try your patience, but if you are prepared, it makes it easier for you, the kids and all the passengers will be truly thankful!”
–Patricia Kavanagh, Mother of Elias, 11, and Mattias, 4
“X has had some big road trips in his 18 months on Earth. Last summer we took a huge road trip from El Paso, Texas, to California. He was 11 months. The trip from El Paso to Los Angeles is a 14-hour drive. This was his fourth road trip, but with this one we left really early in the morning so he slept a good two to three hours after we left. We took tons of water, fresh fruits, crackers and homemade baby food in a cooler. We made sure he had toys to play with and music to dance to. Every time we stopped for gas, we made sure he got out with us and let him stretch his legs and feet. When he would start to get fussy, we would take turns sitting in back with him. That worked the best because we could play with him and read to and sing with him. This has worked for us a lot. This baby has traveled thousands of miles in a car and seems to be a champ now. So, my list for a great baby road trip:
1. Snacks
2. Fresh fruit
3. Baby food
4. Toys
5. Books
6. Music
7. Plenty of stops to stretch out
8. Switching mom and dad to sit in the back to play with baby if fussy.”
-Jennifer Gonzalez, Mother of Xavier, 1
“I think the most important thing I’ve learned after LOTS of traveling with the kids is that it’s a good idea to always keep Motrin and Children’s Pepto-Bismol in your handbag or carry-on. That way you are prepared for fevers, headaches, tummy aches, etc. (We’ve learned this the hard way.) Also, little snacks are important — I usually have raisins, nuts and granola bars. As for keeping them entertained, the best thing I’ve found is the iPod. Belly really enjoys having podcasts that teach foreign languages put on hers. Sutt sticks to music, but either way, it keeps them busy and quiet.”
-Haley McPhail, Mother of Bellamy, 10, and Sutton, 8
Of course you want to pack extra clothes when your child gets messy, but what about an unexpected change in weather? When you’re expecting spring temperatures in your destination but don’t get above 50 degrees Fahrenheit, you’ll be glad for those sweatshirts and gloves. Be sure wherever you’re going to pack one or two outfits for opposite of the weather you’re expecting.
-Chasity McCoy, Mother of Parker, 7
“I would say snacks and an iPad are my two ‘must haves’ for travel. As the mother of an 18 month old, my son is on the move 24-7. Food and episodes of Curious George are my only hope. As an advocate for breastfeeding, I also recommend freezing a couple bottles of breast milk the night before a trip so you don’t have to bring a pump. The day of the trip, bring some bottles that aren’t frozen and some that are. I gave Grayson a bottle at take off and landing for each flight. The frozen bottles were ready for the second flight. I used water with a little juice for flavor on the way back. The bottle at takeoff and landing worked brilliantly because it kept his ears from popping and made him sleepy between the bottle and the plane engine. The only time it backfired was when we got stuck on the runway in Atlanta for two hours coming home late at night. The plane’s engine was off and he would not sleep. He went through two bottles of water/juice and I ran out for take-off. He eventually crashed but it was torture. Though I am an advocate for breastfeeding in public, you are in pretty tight quarters on the airplane. I did try to book mostly window seats so I could lean into the window and throw a blanket over me if I needed to breastfeed to calm him or sooth him to sleep. Now that he is 18 months, future trips will likely require that I book an aisle seat to constantly get up and move around with him.”
-Elizabeth Dyer Brooks, Mother of Grayson, 1
Happy Mother’s Day to all our worktrotter moms. May you have smiling faces and clean hands as you travel with children.
-Monica