Traveling with children is quite an adventure. We have three. I know! It can be stressful. It is well worth it, though. Whether you are doing a short trip to Grandma’s house, or making a cross-country trip for the vacation of a lifetime, we all face challenges traveling with kids. Believe it, or not, you CAN make the trip without losing your mind! Just follow these tips for traveling with kids, and you’ll make memories with your sanity intact.
Tips for Traveling with Kids (Without Losing Your Mind)
The first thing you need to do when traveling with kids is take a deep breath and remind yourself that you CAN do this. Seriously. It can seem overwhelming, but it can be done. Now, as a Mom of three, I’ve learned a few things along the way, so I thought I’d share a few tips.
Ditch the Purse
When traveling with kids, what you really need is a good travel backpack for women. You want one that can carry you throughout your day, wherever that may take you. Make sure it has adjustable straps, a pocket for keys, and a space for your water bottle. Trust me, when you’re wrangling kids, it’s easier to carry a backpack than it is to carry a purse. And you don’t have to worry about accidentally spilling it all over your floorboard or the ground when you bend over to tie a shoe.
Take care of basic needs
The most important thing to take care of is your child’s basic needs. These are food, drink, potty, and stretching. Leaving for your road trip in the morning is a smart move. The kids have just woken up and feel rested and refreshed. Keep in mind that the last thing you might want to feed your kids is something incredibly sugary. Try grabbing something healthy for the kids (and parents) to eat before the caravan leaves. If you plan well, you can minimize stops and cut down on the amount of time you spend at each stop. Packing snacks on the go will mean you need containers that keep the snacks in them, rather than all over the floorboard. We love these!
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When you stop for gas, make let the kids out of the car to go to the bathroom. Try to take a little walk to stretch their legs. Use a freezable cooler
, like the ones from PackIt, to pack snacks and drinks for them while you are traveling. We have the original freezable lunch bag size, as well as the freezable picnic bag size, and love that ice packs are built into the cooler, and the whole bag goes straight into the freezer. Use rest areas where you can stop to have a little picnic, use the bathrooms, and let them run around (having races is a good way to get them to use up some of their endless supply of energy).
Always Pack a Thermometer
Speaking of basic needs…. I’ve learned, albeit the hard way, that packing a thermometer for traveling is a must. Inevitably at some point on a family trip, one of my kids is going to complain of not feeling well. Being away from home, and out of their element, can throw their little systems off track. Being able to determine whether their complaints stem from a real illness or just a change in their pace goes a long way toward
My preference is a temporal thermometer because they are easy to use and generally rank high on the best thermometer list every year. We have several. We keep one in our travel gear, one in our camping gear, and one in our wellness basket. I love it because I can quietly check their temperature in the dark or when they’re sleeping and not disturb them.
Strategize
Plan where everyone is sitting before you get in the vehicle and start moving. If you have a bunch of little ones, you do not want to make it to where you cannot reach them. Pairing an older child beside a smaller child makes it easier to have someone available to comfort the child. It’s also nice to be able to pass food and drink items around without stopping every twenty minutes. You might even find it easier to have an adult sit in the back with the children, to make comfort and caretaking a little easier. Bending backwards probably isn’t your best superpower.
Keep them entertained!
Try listening to a new book on audio, making sure it has a great narrator before you pull out of the drive. Kids love stories and they are an excellent way to pass the time on a car ride.Games are another excellent way to keep your little ones entertained. You can play things like I Spy, the License Plate Game, or I am going on a trip. Games will be very interactive and keep your children occupied for quite a while.
Purple Cow Magnetic Games are perfect for car rides. Since the pieces are magnetic, they won’t end up all over the floorboard… hopefully.
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Know your kid’s travel tolerance.
Hopping in the car one day and deciding you’re going to drive cross-country might not be the best move, if you are not sure how your kids travel. If you still need to stop frequently, being in a car for 48 hours in a row might not be the best fit. Know how far your kids can handle being in a car. How can you do this? Work up their tolerance for being in a car to see how they do. Try going on a five-hour trip first, the next time you can make the next trip a little longer. This is just an example, but not every child can handle being in a vehicle for an extended period of time. Know your children and what they can handle. Trust me; this will make your entire trip a lot smoother. Of course, there is always unpredictability with kids, just do the best you can. Bring a few toys.
Bring a few toys.
Bringing 1-2 favorite toys with you is a smart move when traveling with kids. Especially if the kids are older, they can keep track of their own toy in the car. It’s best to avoid bringing a ton of toys with you for a couple of reasons. #1—You don’t want lots objects flying around the vehicle. #2. – The last thing you want is a frustrated kid because they want a change of toys while driving. Just keep it simple and things will most likely go a lot smoother. Make sure the toys don’t have a bajillion pieces. Consider small toys, like a doodle board or lacing beads, that can hold their attention for a long time.
Drive while they sleep!
Take advantage of nap times whenever possible to get as much trip time done while they are asleep. Some people like to drive at night while their children asleep. Keep them comfy, so they can rest! Kids love Critter Piller Neck Pillows!
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This sounds like an awesome idea, but the issue is that when you arrive you will be exhausted and the kids will be well rested not a good combination.
Bring their comfort item.
Having a familiar blanket, stuffed animal, or pillow can help on the car ride, but is also very useful when staying overnight. Having a lovie to provide comfort goes a LONG way toward wail-free travel.
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The familiar item will comfort them on long journey and will remind them of home when going to sleep at night some place unfamiliar.
Go to the pool!
When staying in a hotel look for one that has a pool that the kids can enjoy. This can help to get some of the energy out. It will help relax everyone and allow the kids some time to have fun.
Make it interesting.
Plan stops at fun and unique places along the way. This can break trips up, but it can also lessen the burden on the kids as they will have something to look forward to. You can also use Limo Find to find a local limo service to add some fun.
Stick to routines when possible.
Kids like routines. Try to keep their routine as close to normal as possible. If they eat lunch at 11:30 try to stop for lunch at 11:30. This will help make the trip easier on the kids.
Give them space.
Don’t push your kids into talking to new people. Give them a chance to warm up to them. They will feel more comfortable and the time spent will be well worth it.
Relax.
You are on vacation, after all. Sometimes parents cause kids to be uneasy during travel. Staying calm will also help keep your kids calm. They are probably going to scream, yell, squirm, and drive you crazy. Try to stay as peaceful as possible and you might be surprised at their reactions. Of course, you can’t be perfect at all times, but this is a good start.
Pack the Travel Booster
Lugging the booster seat while traveling can be a pain in the back – literally. If your kiddo is 4+ years old, 40+ inches tall, and 40+ pounds, consider packing a ComfiGO® booster seat as a travel booster seat. It’s comfortable to sit on, isn’t bulky, and it helps to position the seat belt properly. The anti-slip rubber padding on the bottom keeps it in place, and the elastic lap belt band helps keep your kiddo from slouching. It does have optional latch connectors, if you want to keep it in place more permanently. It’s portable, convenient, and will fit in your bag.
You know traveling with kids doesn’t have to be stressful. These tips can help you enjoy your next trip with kids, whether you are traveling over the hills and through the woods to Grandma’s house, or road tripping from the east coast to the west coast.
Keeping the kids stuff together while you’re gone doesn’t have to be hard, either. Get each child their own cute travel bag. And if you’re going to be visiting at length, consider getting them their own cot. We take our daughter’s cot everywhere, and it gives her comfort knowing her travel bed comes with us wherever we go.
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Traveling with kids does take a bit more preparation, but the memories last a lifetime and are SO SO worth it! These tips for traveling with kids will help you make the most of your vacation!
These are great tips (especially the one to RELAX)! My kids are finally old enough to pass things around to each other in the van, and it’s sooo helpful!
Most excellent tips! My folks used to start really early and we kids would sleep for the first few hours.
These are wonderful tips. I agree with them all, especially bringing snacks and entertainment. Sometimes it is so hard to do it all! Traveling while they are napping is also a huge blessing.
We travel a lot and I love all of your tips. Our main things are snacks and their electronics – never leave home without either of those things.
These are great tips! I like how you including some social-emotional tips as well, such as knowing their travel tolerance and not forcing them to talk to too many new people. Great advice.
Great tips thank you for sharing.We have little screens on the backs of the seats in the car so the kids can watch dvd’s and they have snacks and they play games.Normally we do not travel that far i am not too keen on traveling much as it is.
This is a fantastic list. I like night driving because the kid are asleep. Hubby likes day driving. It makes for interesting conversations right before we plan our road trips. 😉 He usually wins though, and then I get busy getting the car entertainment ready. 😉
I would never book a hotel without a pool if I had kids ever. I swear that probably saved my parents’ lives when they were traveling with all six of us!
I think these are great tips! I bring the kids portable dvd players and their tablets so the trip seems shorter!
These are great tips, it’s amazing how traveling with kids is a WHOLE different thing. I’ve ben meaning to write about traveling with a baby……we’ve flown 8 times already with our 6 month old……she’s a seasoned traveller!
We always look for a pool at hotels. I wish we could travel while they sleep. We’ve tried and had kids awake at 4am! That makes for a LONG drive!
These are great pointers for traveling with the munchkins! My kids are normally good for a few hours if we bring the portable DVD player.
Not quite sure if it is possible to travel with kids without going insane but these tips will surely help out ALOT! 🙂
All of these are great tips! I’ve found that my son actually loves a small notebook and a regular pen. He’s not yet 3, so I do worry about pen being all over my car, but as long as someone is keeping an eye on him, everybody is happy. (The pen and pad trick worked well in the grocery store recently.)
Very good advice, My son and family is currently traveling across country to his new post in San Diego. They use a lot of these tips.
What a great article. I could have really used this last month when we went to Arizona. Pinning this for the next one!
I travel a lot with my grandkids…in fact we are leaving tomorrow AM for a weekend long journey. Your tips are very good – I do many of them …. I think the most important is relax staying calm – don’t sweat the small stuff.
Those are some great tips for traveling with kids. I have not traveled far with kids so this will be a great resource when I do.
these are all such wonderful and practical tips. Mine are older now so I am glad that I don’t have to worry too much. But sometimes older means they know how to whine and argue more
Entertainment is a must! Have to make sure you have plenty of it too. I used to hate traveling with my little one but now that I know how and what keeps her busy, I am all set for long car rids and adventures.
Great tips! We’ll need these as our 9 month old just started teething. I have a feeling travel is about to be MUCH more difficult.
Great tips! I love the part about keeping things consistent wtih their routine! That is very important!
We used to drive through the night so our kids would sleep the whole time. But that was rough on us because we’d be so tired in the morning and the kids would be ready to go! Now, we use ipads and a DS for our kids and add new apps before we leave and they stay pretty well entertained.
Great tips.. thanks. We will be traveling with our kids in another week.
Great ideas. I never really traveled with the kids when they were little, just really in the car. But back then no nothing but books for the ride LOL. Traveling with little ones can be a challenge.
I like the pool tip. My kids always burn so much energy swimming, then they sleep reL well afterwards!
We just flew back from Puerto Rico- a 4 hour flight- and the woman in front of us had a toddler and infant, probably 2-3 months old. That poor baby wailed the entire flight and she had nothing for her toddler to do. She came on with nothing but a diaper bag and her purse. I felt terrible for her and the children. And those of us around them….
Keep them entertain and definitely drive while they are sleep is the best advice!
These are great tips! I agree that you have to know their travel tolerance. My kiddos are great travelers for exactly three hours. At three hours and one minute…it’s all over!
These are great tips. I think keeping a routine is so important when traveling but yet knowing when to relax those rules too. Snack are a must also.
Travel tolerance is a toughy right now with a teething baby! This is a fabulous list
A nice pool is necessary! We just stayed at a hotel with a kiddie area with a zero entry pool and it was ideal.
I don’t have kids, but I travel A LOT- Know your kids travel tolerance is key….too many parents push kids during traveling, and it’s not a good experience for anyone!
a pool or play area is a great perk. My kids are older but still enjoy something extra
My mother just drove with my niece and nephew from Kentucky to Florida. She used a lot of these tips to get them there and they made it without incident.
You have so much great advice here. When my son was younger, I found it to be so much better if we stuck to our meal and naptime routine as much as possible while traveling.
These are some great tips. We just completed a 12 hour/700 mile car trip and kept our sanity using a few of these tips!
All very good tips. I especially like the one about giving kids space. I’m easing up on making my kids speak to people. You have to respect their cautious nature.
WONDERFUL tips Virginia! We drove from IL to FL last summer with 3 teens, a 4 yr. old and a 1 yr old and didn’t do half bad. We drove while they slept (left at 11pm), tried to stay on their schedules and for the most part, knew our limits.