A Practical Guide to {Enjoying} Traveling with Kids

Written by Jenn D, Contributing Writer

Summertime is upon us and if your family is anything like mine, with the warm lazy days come day treks, weekend trips, and the possible week-long vacation.

These trips are lovely, but I’ve learned a special blend of preparation and flexibility is required when traveling with children. Since my oldest was born, we have logged 16 flights, countless overnight visits, a two-day cross country move, and a couple 18 hour car rides, one of which did in a single day.

My husband used to scare me senseless by suggesting yet another overnight family excursion which, in my mind, equated with grumpy, over-tired babies and no one (especially mommy) sleeping well.

However, I was just focusing on worst-case scenarios because our kids are actually fantastic little travelers. And, over time, I began to realize that Hubs’s assurance that “everything will work out just fine” was actually pretty accurate.

It doesn’t mean that all will be perfect—indeed we’ve had nights of screaming babies even recently—but it does mean that with a good attitude, the trip can be enjoyed despite some bumps along the way.

Besides stocking your bags with snacks and saying hourly or a minute by minute prayer for extra patience and grace, I’ve found the following strategies helpful for planning, enjoying, and recovering from traveling with small children.

Before Leaving

*Make a Pack List
I keep a spreadsheet of items to pack for each family member. Then, before a trip, I’ll check the list, amend it as needed, and print a copy to use as a checklist when packing.

*Focus on the Food
I’m pretty sure that good snacks are the secret to traveling with children. I like to buy or make special snacks for car or plane rides, and pull them out incrementally, as everyone’s mood requires.

If I’m buying, it’s those organic baby food pouches (even for the 3 year old!), raisins, or fruit. If I’m making, it’s usually homemade granola bars or larabars.

Think small, non-messy bites that take a while to eat–I like to maximize snack-consumption time :). It doesn’t hurt to have special stuff for mom and dad either. Many a trip has been improved by an iced chai.

*Prep the Car
The night before we leave for a trip, I pull out a stash of “travel toys” that I purposely keep out of the usual toy rotation so they feel new and special.

I pack them up in the car and over the course of the trip I pull them out incrementally, as needed. Like the snacks, I want the enjoyment factor to last.

Some of my kids’ favorites include: a quiet book, coloring book and crayons on a string, a Magnadoodle, this reusable sticker book, a spare diaper + other baby gear for taking care of a favorite baby-doll, a handful of mega-blocks, and books. I also like bringing along books for reading aloud as a family and have been known to play videos of friends’ babies on my phone. Repeatedly.

Enjoying the Trip

*Adjust Your Perspective on Behavior
While traveling can be fun for kids, it also means that their normal routine will be off, they’ll be eating different food, and sleeping probably won’t be ideal. So, I try to remember that they likely won’t be at their best and extend them extra grace. It’s that balance of not throwing out all of my expectations but realizing that their little bodies can only handle so much.

*Have Some Semblance of Routine
While some families are more routine-oriented than others, I would venture to say that retaining what you can of your family’s “norm” while traveling will help the littles function better.

I especially try to apply this to my kids’ naps—while everyone may not get to sleep at the same time or for the same length as usual, we still make an effort to arrange for at least one decent nap to take place. This usually requires flexibility, a good noise machine, and at times, creativity. To preserve a quality naps/sleeping we’ve put babies down in laundry rooms and (ventilated) closets and made forts of pillows around pack and plays to give toddlers the illusion of solitude in a room of multiple nappers.

*Blessed are the Flexible
Really, I should just preach this to myself daily. But it’s especially important for me to remember when traveling. It’s easy for me to think that a whole-day excursion will be a total disaster because it doesn’t allow for the toddler’s nap-time or sleeping arrangements that place us all in the same room will automatically mean a crazy night of baby waking up big sister and vice-versa. Well, maybe all the worst-case scenarios come true.

Maybe toddler is a total wreck and screams through dinner at the restaurant. Maybe big girl and baby boy’s nighttime antics cause a sleepless night. The question I have to ask myself is, “Is it worth it?” Are the potential bumps in the road of a particular trip worth spending time with loved ones, exploring new place, and making fun memories as a family?

In most cases, I’ve decided that the answer is yes. So I try to remember that when I’m in the midst of a bump and choose flexibility over a funky attitude.

Recovering from the Trip

*Acknowledge the Need for Recovery
It took me a while to realize that I’d need a good few days after returning from a trip to fully recover—in terms of laundry, sleep, and just getting back into a routine. So, I’m intentional not to fill up my schedule after a trip, acknowledge that I’ll probably be in pjs for a couple days, and give the kids margin to readjust, too.

*Do Laundry Before Returning
If possible, I’ll wash clothes before returning, as I find this makes recovery a bit smoother.

A Final Word
Traveling with children (especially small children) obviously has real challenges–which vary in number and degree for each family. But don’t let fear of challenges prevent you from enjoying a vacation, having some adventures, and spending time with rarely-seen loved ones.

What are your best tips for traveling with kids?