Traveling can be a highly stressful experience. Traveling with a small child can be challenging and rewarding, awkward and adventurous, and embarrassing and emotional. Know that your tiny person is a person, with their own wants, desires and opinions – meaning your plan may not align with their plan. Keep calm, carry on and follow these tips.
1. Try to schedule travel around nap time or bed time
I must admit, trains, planes and automobiles are exciting for children – new environment, new people, and new adventure. All of your child’s sensory functions (sight, sound, smell and touch) will be challenged. However, at some point sleep will take over and the excitement will fade as your little one drifts off to sleep. Unfortunately, if you have a well-rested child, sleep will not be in your foreseeable future.
Although this is solid advice, we have chosen to shy away from this advice. We booked a trip from the U.S. to Asia departing at 9 AM. Meaning, our child will be wide awake for most of the trip. Although the trip is not until November, I am mentally (and physically) preparing. I’m relying on the next couple of tips to help me make it through our 20 hour journey.
2. Snacks-galor
Children are sovereign individuals with their own thoughts, wishes and desires – I cannot stress this enough. It is possible, and highly probably, that the offerings in the terminal, on the airplane or train may not appease your little one. Bring several snack options – preferably snacks, which are tried and true. We usually bring a couple puff/dried cereal options and several varieties of age appropriate pouches.
Also, consider bringing a bib (especially a sleeved bib), a snack container with easy access and disposable place mats.
3. Beverages
It is possible that terminals, airplanes or trains may not be able to accommodate your child’s beverage needs – plan ahead. If your child is a milk fanatic, PLEASE bring as much milk as you can to the airport.
On a recent trip from Mexico to Houston, our child had a major breakdown surrounding the lack of availability of milk – our child’s coveted drink of choice. After going from shop to shop and restaurant to restaurant inquiring about milk, I was pointed to the bar – which had a line as far as the eye could see. So, I decided to get milk on the airplane – because don’t all American airlines carry milk. I quickly learned that while flights may offer coffee, that doesn’t mean they offer milk. Our flight had no milk. We had to calm and distract our outrageously pissed off little one until he finally fell asleep agitated and disappointed.
From that point forward, I travel with milk in a box (a juice box). While not as nutritious as actual milk, it gets the job done.
4. Lovey
A lovey is a child’s comfort object. If your child has a preferred stuffed animal or blanket, consider bringing it or a substitute version. Our child has recently developed the need to use a blanket as a pillow for naps and bedtime. On a recent trip, we boarded the plane with the blanket in our carry-on, which was stored in the overhead bin. We figured, we’d have plenty of time to retrieve said blanket once the fasten seat belt sign was off. Unfortunately for us, the fasten seat belt sign remained illumined for 89% of the flight time due to unexplained turbulence. For the entire flight, we had to rationalize with a deliriously pissed off 18 month old. He finally fell asleep, then the fasten seat belt sign was turned off and we retrieved the blanket.
Whatever comforts your child, please bring a version of it with you AND store it on your person – not in the overhead storage compartment or in checked luggage. Actually, buy several of the same “lovey” to ensure if it is lost, stolen, misplaced or dirty, that you have a backup and can avoid crisis.
5. Toys
Do not bring toys that make noise, this is the fastest way to make permanent enemies of your fellow passengers. Consider coloring books, triangular crayons (avoids rolling), stickers (gel cling stickers), puzzles, bubbles, stacking cups, cars/trucks, books, etch-a-sketch.
6. Diapers
You will not find diapers in the airport. If by some miracle you do find diapers in an airport, you will pay an exorbitant fee. So, bring an overabundance of diapers. I repeat bring an overabundance of diapers. 1 diaper per hour of travel time is usually a recommended practice. So, for a 14 hour flight, bring 14 diapers at minimum.
If your child is “potty trained” be prepared for possible regression. Bring pull ups, extra undies and extra cloths. Also, for a potty trained child consider bringing the portable toilet seat.
7. Sippy Cups
I always travel with two (2) sippy cups – one for milk and the other for water. It is not always possible to rinse out a cup, so having one dedicated to milk will ensure no juice milk mixture.
8. Change of Clothes
We always bring at least two (2) complete changes of clothes for our little one when traveling. Depending on our travel duration, we may bring a total of (4) complete changes of clothes.
On a recent local trip, we failed to follow this advice. We hopped in the car and handed our son a spoutless sippy cup full of water. The spoutless suppy cup is “completely spill-proof,” so of course we did not hesitate in handing him the cup. When we arrived at our destination, his shirt was completely soaked. Apparently, our toddler either figured out how to de-spill-proof the cup or he spit all the water out on to his shirt. Whatever the case may be, we had to find a store and purchase a new shirt. Heed my warning: never leave home without a change of clothes for your child.
My husband and I both carry an outfit change when possible as well.
9. Screen-time & Headphones
Every parent is different and every parent has their own philosophy regarding screen time. The American Pediatrics Associations recommends the following:
Babies younger than 18 months – No screen time
18 months to 2 years – Avoid solo screen, limit screen time to one hour per day, and only view quality-programming, i.e., Sesame Street.
2 to 5 years – Limit screen time to one hour per day and only view quality programming.
We take a more conservative approach. Our son (almost 2 years old) rarely has any screen time – perhaps he sees a screen once a week for a maximum of 20 minutes. However, desperate times often call for desperate measures. If he is uncontrollably spazing out in public, we occasionally turn on music on our phones and may ever allow him to watch.
In preparation for trips, make sure your smart devices are loaded with baby appropriate music and videos. If all else fails, screen-time will likely save the day. Don’t forget the headphones or ear buds – fellow passengers will likely resent hearing the ABC song 20 times.
Hopefully you can learn from our mistakes and avoid our mishaps. Happy travels.