Traffic, TSA, and Tantrums, Oh My! Eight Tips for Surviving Holiday Travel with Your Kids – By Princess Ivana
If you’ve ever traveled with kids (especially over the holidays), you know it’s an adventure. More accurately, it’s a slapstick, Murphy’s-Law, Griswold-family type of adventure. There are poorly timed poops; lost pacifiers; traffic jams and road construction. A beyond-awkward screening at airport security as you’re pulled into secondary and patted down while you try to comfort a screaming baby. Having every nook and cranny of your carry-on luggage searched—and subsequently rearranged—so you can’t find anything. The overhead speakers announcing that your departing flight is boarding while you’re in a completely different terminal.
And the list goes on.
There are as many potential travel mishaps as there are families with kids. But take a deep breath: Holiday travel doesn’t have to be complicated.
The better organized you are, the easier it gets. Yes, I know that this sort of “be prepared” advice sounds simplistic, but that’s the beauty of it—it is! With the right information and a willingness to think ahead, you can save yourself a Santa’s sackful of stress.
I speak from experience. While I’m a modern-day princess, I come from modest means and met my Prince Charming while on scholarship at Pepperdine. I have worked with children for over twenty years, have a master’s degree in education, and am a digital strategy consultant. I am a featured blogger at Modern Mom, founder of Princess Ivana—The Modern Princess, and coauthor of the upcoming book A Simple Guide to Pregnancy & Baby’s First Year. But my most valuable source of education by far is my experience as a mother of two.
I’m an American who married an Italian, so my family flies fairly frequently. Over time, I’ve learned a lot of travel-disaster lessons in the School of Hard Knocks—and I’ve also developed some crisis-averting strategies that have turned out to be real lifesavers.
Whether you are traveling near or far, these survival tips will help make your family trip the wonderful adventure it should be.
-Plan ahead. And plan some more. In other words, make a list and check it twice. Write down everything you’ll need while you’re away from home, and do so as far in advance as possible (then put the list in your suitcase so you can use it as a guideline when you’re repacking to come home). Give yourself plenty of time to consider your travel schedule and think through all possible scenarios like: Will there be naptimes and mealtimes? If so, how many? And think about what you’ll need to handle these situations.
For example, if you are going to be mid-flight during naptime, make sure you have sleep essentials like the favorite stuffed animal or soft blanket. And pack a distraction like a portable DVD player in case sleep doesn’t happen and you have a cranky kid on your hands. It’s also a good idea to check any connecting destinations for restaurants or kid-friendly areas so that you can refuel and the kids can burn off energy in between flights.
-Travel light(ish). Yes, this is definitely easier said than done—but it’s not impossible. I advise packing everything you can a day or two before your departure, perhaps while the kids are asleep so that you can focus. Use the list you made earlier and don’t second-guess yourself. Remember, there are probably plenty of stores at your destination if you forget something.
Speaking of stores at your destination, consider whether there are items you can borrow or buy once you get to your destination. When travelling to see family, you might even want to call ahead and ask Mom to pick up a few things like extra diapers and formula so you won’t have to travel like a Sherpa.
I’ve found that one suitcase works for both of my kids. I recommend consolidating as much of your luggage as possible. Especially if you’ll be traveling with a stroller, carrier, or car seat, you don’t want to be weighed down by anything extra. (Speaking of consolidation, you might want to check out the new “Ride On Carry On”—a device that converts your carry-on suitcase into a stroller—solves a lot of traveling mommy woes!) And if you’re checking most of your bags, don’t forget a carry-on with extra outfits for the kids and maybe even an extra shirt for you in case of spills or spit-up!
– Organize your Mary Poppins purse. All moms have mastered the art of traveling with a seemingly bottomless bag. The trick is to do so without contracting “I’m lost in my handbag” syndrome! First, find a bag with plenty of separate pockets and compartments so that you’ll be able to store documents, snacks, baby gear, handi-wipes, etc. as opposed to simply throwing them into your bag and hoping for the best. Make sure the things you’ll need most often and/or quickly (such as pacifiers, bottles, and snacks) are most easily accessible.
I always pay special attention to travel documents. You’ll have to whip them out while checking in and going through security, so think about storing them in a separate, brightly colored wallet or folder if there isn’t a convenient compartment in your bag. And when I’m traveling by plane, I make sure to pack a carry-on plastic storage bag with medications my kids might need, such as infant fever reducer, throat soothers, and gas and allergy relief. There’s nothing worse than being trapped on an airplane with a fussy child who’s feeling bad.
-Give yourself plenty of time to get to your destination. You may be thinking, “Duh! Every amateur knows that!” but the advice bears repeating. It always takes longer to get out of the house than you think it will. Traffic jams tend to pop up at the most inconvenient times. Airport lines can be mind-numbingly long. And you never know when a tantrum or dirty diaper will erupt.
Thinking back on my family’s many trips, I don’t believe there has been even one that went without a hitch. And that’s normal! Make sure your time margins are as wide as possible. Leave a half-hour or more earlier than you think you need to. Otherwise, you may find yourself in the middle of a meltdown.
-Ace airport security. The thought of navigating airport security can strike fear into the heart of even the bravest mothers. While you can’t bypass TSA completely, you can make the process as painless as possible. Here are some tips and tricks to keep in mind.
-When possible, use the “Green Circle” lanes, where you will be allowed extra time and assistance to get through the lines.
-Know the latest TSA regulations and pack your carry-on accordingly. The following tips are based on November 2012 guidelines:
Gels, aerosols, and liquids should fit into one quart-sized plastic zipper bag per passenger. Maximum container size is 3.4 ounces. Liquids like medicine, baby formula/food, breast milk, or juice do not have to be in baggies, and can be higher than the 3.4 oz. regulation amount. You do have to notify the TSA officer that you are carrying these extra-fluid items.
Dress for a night out. Meaning make sure your family wears easy-to-slip-on-and-off shoes, jackets, and belts (children under twelve can leave their shoes on). Be sure your little ones aren’t wearing anything metal that could set off beepers. And be prepared—if you are carrying your baby in a sling, you may get an extra pat-down, even if no alarm goes off.
If they are old enough, prepare your children beforehand as to what they can expect when they go through security. Explain to them why they need to stay close and follow instructions, and not to be afraid if the beeper sounds.
-Fill their bellies. What’s worse than a tired baby? A hungry one! Make sure you have plenty of snacks (infant formula and finger foods) for your little ones to enjoy for the duration of your travel. If you’re flying, have a baby bottle ready for take-off and landing. Swallowing will help your baby’s ears adjust to pressure changes. For older children, a low-sugar lollipop works great.
Don’t forget to fuel yourself, either. You won’t be doing anyone, especially your kids, any good by bottoming out your blood sugar. Be sure to stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water and eating snacks when the kids do. A stop at the airport coffee shop won’t hurt, either!
-Make time fly with entertainment. Whether you’re traveling by plane, train, or automobile, chances are you’ll have a lot of downtime. Buy a new toy for the trip, and bring books, an iPad, pacifiers, a pony—whatever it takes to keep your children from reaching octave levels that break the sound barrier.
Having a few “new” things will keep kids occupied longer. Be wary of bringing anything that makes too much noise (think of the other passengers and yourself!). Music is a great soother, so perhaps some kid-friendly headphones would make a great investment. And don’t forget comfort items like a favorite teddy, sleep pillow, or soft blanket.
-Map out your road trip. Just because you may be traveling America’s roads in the trusty family vehicle, that doesn’t mean you should neglect planning. Traveling by car with pint-sized passengers can be just as stressful as flying the friendly skies. Many of the same rules apply: Be sure to have plenty of snacks and toys on hand to keep your children occupied, and make sure you can get to them easily. Also, consider a DVD player and headphones to keep parent sanity intact (and to cut down on the “Are we there yet?”’s).
Look at your route ahead of time and plan stops at locations that will allow little ones to burn off energy, like a park. In a pinch, a fast-food restaurant with a play area or even a rest stop with an open grassy area will do. Also, be sure to have lots of extras on hand—I’m talking about diapers, and also pacifiers and wipes. You never know when something might get dropped under the seat, or when sticky hands or spills might make an appearance.
Remember, holiday travel with children doesn’t have to mean that the end of your sanity is in sight. Making it there and back in one piece is simpler than you think if you plan, prepare, and know what to expect. So travel safely—and don’t forget to enjoy this special season.
BIO
Princess Ivana Maria Pignatelli Aragona Cortes is the author of the upcoming book A Simple Guide to Pregnancy & Baby’s First Year, which was co-written with her mother, Magdalene Smith, and her sister, Marisa Smith. Their blog, Princess Ivana—The Modern Princess, is a blend of humor, practical advice, and lifestyle tips on the essentials. Ivana is also a featured blogger on Modern Mom. Ivana met her Italian Prince Charming (Adriano Pignatelli Aragona Cortes, Prince of the Holy Roman Empire) while on scholarship at Pepperdine. She didn’t wait for his kiss to save her, though—using her master’s degree in education, she forged a career of her own as a digital strategy consultant. Ivana has two kids (ages two years and ten months) who are the latest additions to a 1,000-year lineage that includes kings of Sicily and Spain, Catherine of Aragon, a pope, and a saint. Ivana is wild about kids and motherhood. For the past twenty years, she has worked with children, from designing learning toys to tutoring homeless kids.
