Traveling with your kids can be quite a daunting experience; the packing, the airport wait, the long flight and the whole experience aren’t a walk in the park. The fact that you need to keep your kids safe, well-fed, entertained, cleaned and dry so they won’t get cranky and scream bloody murder while you’re already dragging around luggage and travel documents can make you think of cancelling the trip altogether. But then you’ll be missing out on a whole lot of lovely memories with your family and the opportunity to share the world with your children.
A vacation with your kids doesn’t need to be as hectic as you imagined it to be. All you really need to do is plan ahead. Check blogs by experienced traveling parents who offer packing, checklists and tips, be sure to choose a trip that’s child friendly and plan your travel gear to make the experience less stressful. There are many items that a parent cannot travel without and below are some that will be very beneficial to you.
1) Travel-friendly strollers
Traveling will require a lot of standing and walking around, especially at the airport. You wouldn’t want to be carrying your baby along with your carry-on, when there are some handy travel strollers options out there what will make your experience more tolerable. Travel strollers are portable, lighter and easier to push and carry than other strollers because they don’t have bulky storage gear. They are also easier to fold, thus saving you time, and they are budget friendly.
2) Portable seats and bed
To avoid the cries of exhaustion from your kid, be prepared with proper seating and beds to help them rest, especially on a long flight. Use child beds that are portable and inflatable so you can carry without a fuss and your child can sleep comfortably wherever you are. There are also multi-functional suitcases for children that were created to not only entertain them, but also help them sleep on planes. These multi-functional suitcases act as a roller seat, so kids can roam around the terminal with you, can be filled with their toys for the plane, and they open up to a comfy bed with mattress suitable for an airplane seat. For older kids, consider portable booster seats. They are comfortable, foldable and inflatable, thus, making them easy to carry.
3) Activity packs
Kids need to be entertained all the time because their attention span is not like the average adult. So plan ahead by either buying a ready-made activity travel pack for children, shopping for travel new travel toys they can use, or by making your own. Fill your activity pack with new brain stimulant toys, story books, and coloring books that will keep your child entertained during long plane hours.
4) Child entertainment tablets
Toss out your screen limitation rule, trust us, it will help. Choose a child-friendly electronic tablet that will be easy to carry and use with your child. Get a fun cover for it, and stock it up with movies, educational TV series or shows, educational and entertaining games and story-time apps. A well-organized tablet will keep them highly entertained, especially during a long flight.
5) Child headphones and headphone splitter
If you’ll use a tablet, then obviously you need the right headphones to go with it. You don’t want to be bothering other people on the plane or even yourself as you listen to their favorite song for the 100th time. Choose a headset that’s child friendly with safe and adaptable volume for their little ears, as well as a wireless one to avoid any tearing incidents. But if you have more than one child, consider getting a headphone splitter, many go up to around 5 jacks for headphones. By doing so, you will be avoiding arguments with your children about who gets to watch the movie first and they’ll all be able to watch at the same time.
6) Food containers & bottles
Invest in a sturdy travel sized food canisters and containers for snacks on the go. Travel ones are durable, suitable for hot and cold temperatures and will not mush your food as opposed to zip-lock bags. Pack only finger food so snacking on the plane or the airport will be easier. And get yourself a sturdy coffee thermos to keep up with your kids’ energy.
7) The emergency packet
Be ready for every circumstance that may occur by packing your own multi-purpose and emergency pack. There are many things your kid may need and you don’t want to be rummaging endlessly in your bag. Fill it up with wet wipes, a small towel, tissue paper, first aid supplies, children’s toiletries and an extra pack of clothes. If a mishap happens, you’ll be prepared.
Don’t be put off by the toll traveling with kids may have on you. Today’s gadgets have made a ton of things easier and traveling with kids is one of them. Planning ahead and packing the right gear will definitely make the trip a whole lot easier. Life is too short to not share every moment with your kids; you both will appreciate these memories over the years. They’re only children once, so enjoy it while it lasts.