Hacks to Know If You’re Traveling with Kids
When you’re a mom traveling with kids, it can feel anything but relaxing. You’re faced with planning the trip and making sure all the logistics line up. Then, you have to pack and prepare the entire family and once you get there, it can feel more like work than a vacation.Of course, it’s not all bad. Having the opportunity to travel with kids will form memories that last a lifetime.
If you could make things a little smoother and easier, it would make those memories even better. The following are some hacks and things to keep in mind to simplify your experiences traveling with kids.
Buy Travel Packages
When you’re in the planning phases of a trip, consider purchasing a travel package instead of trying to piece everything together separately. Just as an example, if you’re planning a trip to Williamsburg with your family, look for packages that pair different attraction tickets and lodging. This saves time and money.
It’s not only helpful in the planning stages. It’s also helpful when you’re actually on your trip because you’re not scrambling to buy tickets to things your family wants to do.
Bring a Medicine and First Aid Kit
When you’re traveling with kids and something comes up, even if you’re in a big city it can be a challenge to get to a drug store. You may also find prices are higher than when you’re at home, and it takes away from the time you could spend relaxing.
Try to think of all the medicines your family might need and add them in a kit. Also, add a few first aid items. Of course, you can’t prepare for everything, but you can save yourself some headaches if you bring the basics.
The same goes for your toiletries. You might think you want to save space in your luggage and buy items when you arrive, but it’s so much easier to have things like soap, shampoo, and toothpaste without having to worry about it.
If You Need Childproofing, Use Painters Tape
If you’re traveling with younger kids and you’re worried about your hotel room, condo or rental house being properly childproofed, bring a roll of blue painter’s tape. You can use it to cover outlets and even keep the toilet lid closed when it’s not being used.
Another childproofing hack? If you’re worried about your young child falling out of a bed in a hotel, but they’re too big for a crib, use a pool noodle. You can add it under the bed’s fitted sheet to keep your little one from falling off.
Pack Outfits in Ziploc Bags
Inevitably, as soon as you arrive at your destination,everyone is going to be going through suitcases and pulling things out. You won’t be able to find what you need, and your meticulous packing job will be useless. Consider packing outfits for each day in Ziploc bags. Label them and include small items like underwear and stocks as well. Then, when the outfit is dirty, put it back in the bag and seal it up until you do laundry.
If you want to save space, instead of using Ziploc bags you can use vacuum sealed bags. You’ll fit a lot more in your bags if you go this route.
Packing cubes are a third option. Packing cubes can help you organize clothes and other items for multiple members of your family in one bag, and they can be space savers.
Put Together Trinket Bags
Whether you’re traveling by car or plane, kids get bored, and when they get bored, they get cranky. Visit your local dollar store before your trip. Fill bags with trinket items and don’t let your kids play with them at all until you’re traveling. It’s an inexpensive way to keep kids happy and occupied.
Travel At Night
If at all possible, whether you’re going to your destination by car or plane, try to do it at night. This helps your kids be more likely to sleep, and they can stay on their regular schedule a little better. If you’re traveling internationally, most flights are going to be overnight anyway.
Finally, if you’re traveling by plane and you’re going to need gear for younger kids like pack and plays or strollers, consider renting it once you’re in your destination. It may be more expensive, but it can make the experience of traveling much easier on everyone. The more you’re trying to drag through the airport, the more frustrating it’s going to be.
Photo: Shutterstock
Contributed posts are advertisements written by third parties who have paid Woman Around Town for publication.