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Traveling with children can be both a joy and a nightmare. This really depends on how well you organize before the trip.

Our family is spread out all over the country so we travel quite a bit. We have traveled by plane and by car. We have made some mistakes and we have learned from them. These tips are what we have learned and also tips from other parents who have learned because of mistakes they have made as well.

When traveling by car I offer the following tips:

-Be organized.

If you will be stopping at a hotel on your trip I recommend packing a separate overnight bag that you will take into the hotel with you so you are not dragging all of your luggage up to the room.

We also carry a mesh laundry bag to put all of the dirty clothes in.

For a 10-day trip I pack at least 5 outfits and 7 pair of underwear, 3 pair of pajamas, 7 pair of socks, and 2 pair of shoes. I like to make sure we have plenty of clothes just in case one of the kids have an accident and I wash while we’re gone even if I have to find a Laundromat.

I usually pack extra diapers (if we need them) because you never know!

-Take snacks, drinks, sandwiches, and fruit.

We pack an ice chest full of food so that we are not tempted to stop at a fast food joint. We usually stop for one big meal around supper-time. This way we spend as much time as possible on the road and our kids get to eat when they are hungry.

-Take plenty of breaks.

We usually stop every few hours for bathroom breaks and to stretch our legs. We schedule this into our plan before we leave. We even schedule a couple extra breaks just in case.

-Try not to drive for more than 8 hours at a stretch.

We do usually drive more than this (about 12 hours), but our children are used to traveling. We also make sure we get plenty of rest the day before we leave so that we do not get tired while we are driving.

Children who are not used to traveling will not want to be confined to the car, especially if they are in car seats.

This is the main reason that we stop to eat supper at a restaurant. Our kids get to get up and move around a little, or color and play with toys while we are waiting on our food. This also breaks up the monotony of being on the road.

-Keep the kids busy with travel games, movies, music, video games, or books.

We play games like I Spy, the License Plate Game, and travel board games. Since I can read in the car without getting sick I’ll read a book to the kids while we are driving or we get books on tape. We have a T.V. and a DVD player in our vehicle so the kids watch movies when they get tired of all of the other planned activities. They also play game boy and PSP if they get bored. Music is also a fun way to keep kids entertained.

-Don’t forget your cell phone!

You never know when you might need it! You don’t want to be stranded somewhere and not have it, and make sure you have a car charger that works.

-Make sure you have good directions and a map.

We print out directions from Map quest. They are very accurate and even list road closures and construction. You will also need a map though, just in case you are re-routed due to an accident. This happened to us on our last road trip, thank God for the map.

When traveling by plane these are my recommendations:

Since the restrictions on how many bags you can have per person are so small I travel as light as possible. I also do this since I have had my luggage lost and delayed.

I buy what I can at my destination, like disposable diapers or if I can send cloth ones ahead I do.

When we travel by air I pack a little different than I do when we travel by car, since most of our time is spent at our destination rather than on the road. For a 10-day trip I will pack 3 to 4 outfits, 5 pair of socks and underwear, 2 pair of pajamas, and 2 pair of shoes (they will be wearing 1 pair). This is because I know that I will be able to wash more often at our destination. And if our luggage is lost or delayed I won’t be as upset if we lost just those few items.

I keep the baby’s things in the diaper bag. I don’t pack these in the suitcase.

My kids will take a backpack with books, video games, coloring books, and other fun activities.

I do not take a car seat if I can borrow one from friends or family members at my destination, unless they require me to use one on the plane.

I do use my sling as much as possible when we travel by air because there is so much walking, you can use a stroller but you will most likely have to check it before you get on the plane, and then it will be ready for you when you land and get off the plane. I prefer the sling when I have a little one that is breast-feeding because they can nurse while we are on the plane, walking in the terminal, or waiting to get our bags. This is a personal choice for each person.

-Take drinks and snacks.

I take juice boxes and little snacks just in case the kids get hungry or thirsty. We don’t take a lot just one or two per child. We have one of the kids pack it in their backpack (this counts as their carry on bag), and we let them get them as they need.

We try to make sure we are not traveling during meal times if we can help it, if this is not possible they eat a little earlier than usual before we get on the plane and then we eat another small meal when we land.

-Have something to keep the kids occupied.

Like I said before I have one or two of the kids take stuff that will keep them occupied in the airport and on the plane. We have been stuck on the runway for hours due to bad weather before and were very happy that the kids had something to do. They can color, play video games, read books or have a few cars to play with; this will help keep you from pulling your hair out as well.

-Have gum for older kids, and breast-feed baby during take off!

This will help keep the pressure in the ears from building up during take off. This can be pretty painful and will make your ears pop if you do not use gum or breast-feed. This is especially true if your child is sick. I don’t usually let my kids chew gum so this is a nice treat for them too.

I enjoy traveling with my children because I do all the major work beforehand. This way I have time to enjoy myself when we are away from home and I can also enjoy the time I have with my kids.

I hope these tips will help you on your next trip whether by car or plane.

Happy Travels!

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