When taking an infant along on a road trip, there are many things to consider. Prepared parents will have a smoother trip, and a much happier baby.
First off, try to plan the trip during baby’s normal nap time. If you’re lucky, your little bundle will peacefully sleep the trip away and arrive at Grandma’s well rested and ready to play.
The most important thing you will have with you when you travel with your infant is your diaper bag. Before your trip, stock the diaper bag with diapers, wipes, several changes of baby clothes, baby’s favorite blanket, snacks for both you and baby, and several of your baby’s favorite toys. Don’t forget to pack bottled water, formula and bottles, if your baby uses them. For extended travel, the plastic, disposable bottle inserts are probably best. You can throw them a way and don’t have to worry about washing or sterilizing bottles.
It’s eternally frustrating to find yourself in a position of needing something only to root through your carry on luggage bag to and not find it. With airline security rules becoming stricter, knowing what to bring on the plane can be difficult. Always consult the airline before packing for your trip.
There are a few things which, as a general rule, you should keep with you at all times while traveling. Keep this list handy while you pack your carry on bag. It will help ensure you don’t forget anything important.
Diapers - Figure one diaper per hour in the air. It’s likely you won’t need this many, but it’s always better to have too many than not enough.
Nothing is more maddening than checking in to your hotel after a long trip to find someone has made a mistake and the hotel is over booked. With tired kids, and tired parents, keeping your cool is difficult, but doing so will go a long way to helping you get through.
Be polite. Yes, a mistake was made, but it’s likely that the person you are talking to is not the person who made the mistake. If you are calm and polite, the desk clerk is less likely to refund your deposit and send you out to find another hotel.
If possible, have your spouse or adult travel partner take the kids for a bite to eat in the hotel restaurant or to the parking lot to run off steam. Working out a solution will be easier if your children are not next to you reminding you how tired they are.
Airports are crowded, busy, and dangerous places. With today’s airline security restrictions, it is almost impossible to get through check in and boarding quickly. You can do a few things to make your airport experience as pleasant as possible.
Call the airline or check your national airline security website to find out the acceptable size and weight of your luggage. Also, double-check the items that are allowable in your carry on and stowed luggage. These standards change from time to time.
Get to the airport on time. The old advice was to arrive at the airport several hours before your flight is scheduled to leave. Now, however, this depends on the level of airport security. Be sure to check with your airline carrier the day of your flight.
Moving house is difficult enough, but moving long distances and having to travel to arrive at your new home presents special challenges.
Prepare your child well in advance for the move and the trip by talking about it, play acting, and reading books about moving, traveling, and the city of your new home.
Find something about the new city your child finds interesting or exciting and remind your child that you will see or do that that activity when you get unpacked.
While traveling the open road with kids in tow, there is always the possibility someone will get carsick. In the confined, close quarters of a family car, that is not a pleasant experience for anyone. By taking a few simple precautions, parents can help their child feel better, and make everyone happier.
For an older child, consider speaking to your doctor about one of the many medications for motion sickness. Use caution, though, the medicine is likely to make the child sleepy.
If possible, travel at night. A sleeping child is less likely to become ill.
Keep the child as cool as possible. Open a window or run the air conditioner. Parents in the front may be chilly, but the child in the back will feel better. Hand held fans that spray water may help, as well.
Managing your child’s medications while traveling can be the difference between a full and fun filled trip or cutting the vacation short to go home. Forgetting medications could even result in an emergency room trip in a strange city.
Pack your child’s medication in an accessible, easy to remember place within the vehicle. Do not store any medicines in the trunk of your vehicle. Depending on the weather, they could freeze or get too hot. Many medicines are changed by extreme temperatures.
If traveling by plane, put medications in your carry on bag so they are always with you.
If driving, store all medications is a lockable container so children can not get to them. Accidental poisoning is a leading cause of hospital emergency visits.
When you think of vacation in Martha’s Vineyard, seldom do you picture happy, active children enjoying vacation with mom and dad. But, that is just what you’ll find. Martha’s Vinyard isn’t just for adults anymore.
Younger children will feel right at home watching the ebb and flow of the Atlantic Ocean from the lawn of Winnetu. Or, take your kids for a ride on an authentic 1940’s era fire truck.
While mom and dad explore the galleries, your kids will have a blast and feel catered to at one of the many programs designed just for them. From sports clinics just for kids to arts programs, Martha’s Vineyard has something to engage and thrill just about every child.
What do you do when the unthinkable happens? What do you do when the family reaches their destination, ready to begin their vacation, only to discover that the most important family member (next to mommy, of course) didn’t arrive alongside everyone else?
We’re talking, of course, of the Favorite Toy–the scuffed and battered teddy bear that shares the secrets and pillows of the toddler, their “bestest friend ever!” When that best friend gets lost on the way to the vacation, what is a parent to do?
First off, try to reassure the child that Harold can indeed be found. Then, if possible, take the child by the hand, retrace their steps, and hopefully Harold will be found, happily soaking in the sunshine beside the pool, right where the child left him. If Harold isn’t found, though, that could ruin a child’s whole vacation…so, use a little bit of forethought and make sure that doesn’t happen.
Jet Lag leaves adults tired, cranky and many times, physically ill. For children the adjustment from one time zone to another is even more difficult. Young children, especially, are very sensitive to any changes in their schedules and react poorly to sudden time differences.
Avoiding jet lag for your children makes good sense for everyone.
If traveling by air, try to travel during your child’s normal sleep time in the new time zone. It is likely they will nap during part of the trip.
Push fluids. Keeping well hydrated will go a long way toward alleviating symptoms of jet lag. Water is best, sports drinks are good, but avoid carbonated sodas.