Big B and little b have logged thousands of miles on planes, trains and automobiles. Their first cross-country trip was at just three months old. With half our family living on the east coast, we’ve got travel down to a routine, and our boys have become the best travel buddies.
Over the years, we’ve had every traveling snafu imaginable, from delays to lost luggage to missed connections. Here’s what we’ve learned works for our family to make travel as smooth as possible:
- Sleep on the Plane: Because a cross-country trip takes about five hours of flying and a three-hour time zone change, we’ve learned to let the boys stay up until the red eye. They usually fall asleep right after takeoff and wake up during landing, with enough excitement and activity planned to fuel them through day one and make for an easier time zone adjustment. Noise canceling headphones made this easier as infants. Now, they can conk out anywhere!
- Pack Snacks: When it comes to traveling with kids, tummies don’t change time zones and sometimes meals on-the-go can be a challenge. We don’t leave the house without a backpack full of their favorite protein bars and their water bottles. It stops those hangry meltdowns before they start.
- Activity Books: Whether it’s waiting at an airport terminal or for a table at a restaurant, activity books and magazines come in handy for those in-between moments when kids get the wiggles. A few word searches, mazes or coloring pages can become a welcome distraction and hold them over during down time.
- Travel Light: I’ll never forget the first time we flew across the country with our then three-month-old baby, Big B. Drew and I pulled up to the airport with a carseat, stroller, pack-n-play, luggage, diaper bag, and camera bag. That was the first and last time we traveled with so much stuff! Most hotels provide pack-n-plays or cribs, we swapped the hefty stroller for an umbrella stroller and ergo baby carrier, and we rented a car seat with a car or had relatives pick one up at consignment. Nowadays, we bring nothing but backpacks, carry-ons and mi-folds for the boys in the event of a taxi ride. Less luggage means less luggage lost!
- Plan for Their Pace: Vacations are supposed to be fun for the whole family. When we explore a museum, hike, or tour a destination, I make sure there are parts of the day where the kids take the lead at their own pace. If they want to stand and watch fish in one exhibit for 20 minutes, we let them. They’re learning and taking it all in. We also include them in the navigation process, having them read airport signs and lead us to the gate or find the proper subway route. Giving them the opportunity to do some of the “steering” often leads to the unexpected little moments that make the trip even more memorable.
We just returned from an epic Fall Break trip to DC and NYC. We loved spending time with family in both places, sightseeing, and exploring. We can’t wait for the next opportunity to take the best travel buddies on another adventure.
Our Life in A-Z 