How To Travel With Young Kids

I found this article in Rachael Ray's Magazine and loved it. I wanted to keep the article for future reference, but needed to get rid of the magazine... clutter and all. So here it is, for someday in the future:

How to Travel with Young Kids
If you've been hesitant to take a family trip with little tykes in tow, fear no more.
By Besha Rodell Photography by Lori Foy

Fear
I’ll lose her in the crowd!
Solution
Dress your child in bright colors so she’s easy to spot. An ID bracelet is a good idea—try one from ID on Me ($14, idonme.com). And, just in case, carry your child’s photo with you.

Fear
My darling will turn into a screaming monster on the plane.
Solution
That’s usually due to pressure-induced earaches, which are the worst during takeoff and landing. Encourage constant swallowing during those times. Infants get a bottle or a breast; give older kids chewing gum or hard candy.

Fear
My child will get bored in the car.
Solution
Make stops every few hours: Find spots where you can picnic and run around. Remember to bring plenty of snacks and water.

Fear
Jet lag will clobber the poor dear.
Solution
In the days leading up to the trip, move bedtime at home closer to bedtime at the destination, but don’t worry too much. Children are much more adaptable to time changes—their bodies respond to dark and light as much as to a schedule.

Fear
I won’t eke out one moment of relaxation.
Solution
You set the tone for your family vacation, so do your best to remain stress-free. Start out well rested: Don’t leave Friday after a hectic week at work. And each parent should have an afternoon alone, to get a massage or read by the pool.

Fear
She’ll get cranky while we’re seeing the sights.
Solution
Set a loose itinerary. If you planned to hit a museum but your child is having a blast at the pool, go with the flow. Also, kids are creatures of habit, so stay at just one hotel if possible.

Fear
My kid will puke before we even get there.
Solution
Dramamine is safe for most kids, but check with your doc, and if your child is prone to motion sickness, pack plastic bags, wipes and a change of clothes.

Fear
Getting through the airport will be a nightmare.
Solution
Start with the right luggage, like the streamlined Eagle Creek’s Pack- It system (from $8, eaglecreek.com). Instead of carrying a car seat with you, bring a plane-safe harness that can fit in your purse ($75, kidsflysafe.com). Rent hefty equipment, such as car seats and cribs, at your destination.


THE PERKS
Unexpected benefits of traveling with little ones.

1. You have license to be a kid again. Drop the sophisticated act and whoop it up—on a zip line, waterslide or the hotel bed. Turns out it’s a lot more fun than taking an architecture tour.
2. Your children will see a new side of you. Away from carpools and bosses, you’ll have time to be silly. Your bond will be strengthened.
3. You’ll be treated better. Most people you come across—taxi drivers, hotel clerks—will be friendlier now that you have a charming child in tow.
4. You’ll bring home a new kid, one who’s more patient, worldly and, if you’re lucky, open to new experiences.


THE COUNTDOWN
Two months before
Include your child in the planning process. Show him places you are considering and let him help choose activities. The more involved he is, the less anxiety he’ll feel.

One month before
Call airlines and hotels and ask about kid-friendly amenities.
The airline:
• Do you provide infant bassinets?
• Do you have special meals for children?
• Does the in-flight entertainment include kid-specific games or movies?
The hotel:
• Do you provide cribs?
• Is there a pool, and does it have a shallow end?
• Are there activities for kids, such as a movie night?

Two weeks before
Buy a special backpack. Over the next two weeks, fill it with inexpensive new toys, but don’t let him play with anything until you’re on the road. Keep a few surprises socked away in your purse, to be revealed along the way.

One week before
At bedtime, read them books about traveling, like Lisa’s Airplane Trip ($12, madallie.com), and show them where you’re going on a globe or in an atlas.

Four days before
Cook a meal or visit a restaurant that serves the type of food you’re likely to encounter on your trip.

One day before
Have your child pick one special toy or blanket that will be a comfort to her.


THE STORIES
Tricks of the trade from family-travel bloggers.
"I always make my kids carry their own luggage. It saves the parents' backs and teaches the kids responsibility. When my son was 3, he complained about it, so I put a Superman cape on him and told him that his hero always hauled his own load. He proudly wheeled his suitcase through the airport and loved when travelers called out, 'Look, it's Superman!'"
- Amy Graff, blogger for Best Western and the San Francisco Chronicle

"I buy strips of 'admit one' tickets and hand them out for good behavior. My boys cash them in at the end of our trip for souvenirs at $1 per ticket. That way, I avoid the 'Can I have that?' at every store."
- Jennifer Michaels, familytravelplanet.com

"Each family member calls the shots for one afternoon. I get my shopping in, my husband has his nature walk, and each kid chooses a favorite activity. We're teaching the kids the art of compromise."
- Kara Williams, travelingmamas.com

*Prices and other details were accurate when we published this article in October 2009.