When flying with babies and young toddlers, the most difficult part of the flight is likely to be take off and landing.
As the plane gains altitude the cabin pressure changes, making the air pressure around the inner ear off balance. This causes pressure on the inner ear drum, uncomfortable enough for an adult, but usually very painful for a baby or small child who can’t pop their ears.
Experienced traveling parents know there are a few tricks you can use to help minimize the pressure and keep your child comfortable. While making take off more pleasant for your child doesn’t guarantee a peaceful, relaxing flight, it will to a long way to making baby’s flight less stressful.
Let’s face it, if children were to pick their favorite ways to travel, trains would likely come in dead last. They ride along, staring at the same sibling across the car for the length of the trip. Kids can only stare out the windows at passing telephone poles for so long before they get bored. Forethought and planning are a necessity, in order to help mom and dad keep their sanity to the end of the line.
Infants are fascinated with new things and places, so they often handle traveling surprisingly well. Toddlers and preschoolers require a bit more thought.
When planning the trip, keep the kids in mind. While adults and older children might be able to handle a twelve hour layover without flinching, younger children will get tired of sitting in the same place for so long. If a layover is absolutely necessary, try to plan some kind of distraction, like a trip to a local park. Keep in mind that after being cooped up in a train car all day, they will likely have a lot of energy to burn off, so parks and playgrounds will probably work better than museums or theaters.
Going on a road trip with toddlers can be stressful, but if you think ahead and anticipate what you will need you and your child can have more fun and arrive at your destination calm and relaxed. If you don’t have what you need, it will make the trip a lot harder on both of you.Keep things you will need while driving in a centralized location. Usually, bringing your diaper bag and placing it in the passenger’s seat or on the floor between the front seats is a good idea. Pack the diaper bag with all the necessities: diapers for the trip, wipes, your child’s favorite blanket, toddler safe snacks, water, non-spill cup and toys. In the trunk, be sure to pack several full changes of clothes for your child and a change of shirt for yourself.
When you are on a long road trip with preschoolers, things can get a little noisy. After hearing “are we there yet?” thirteen times in two miles, you might begin to wish you and your kids had just stayed home.
But, weary traveling parent, relax. There is hope.
Planning is key when introducing your preschoolers to the joys of the road trip.
Provide entertainment – The night before the trip, ask each child to choose three to five toys or activities to bring along. Helping choose the activities make the child feel a part of the trip, and they are likely to pick activities they will enjoy.
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.