The countdown is coming to an end… and travel is coming to the front. With a time change, being pregnant, a toddler, and late travel, I decided to ask a few experts for their best travel tips. I got a lot of answers, but some of my favorites are below:
My Facebook Gurus:
- Lavender essential oils to help relax everyone. (Kristina from Butterflies Blessings LLC)
- Take a bag with treats, all wrapped up individually – things like crayons, sticker books, a little teddy etc – as a way to motivate good behavior on long flights. For every hour of good airplane behavior your child closes their eyes to choose a treat and open it. Often, the treat will keep your child busy for the next hour! (April from 21st Century Housewife)
- Bring lots of activities like coloring books and stickers, especially lift-the-flap books. And don’t be afraid to ask for help from other people. When we change time zones, sleep routines can get way off so we use Zarbee’s Naturals Sleep to help get back on a schedule. (Nicole Bangerter)
- Audio storybooks, a DVD player with favorite shows/movies, and your own pillow. (Brandie Valensuela)
- We are downloading a few movies onto the tablet AND packed big head phones with padding on the ears that we’ve introduced to Addie before hand so we know she likes them.
- We are downloading a few movies onto the tablet AND packed big head phones with padding on the ears that we’ve introduced to Addie before hand so we know she likes them.
- Red eye flights and dress them in comfy nighttime clothes. (Liz from A Nut in a Nutshell)
And friends from Twitter:
A few others that were said a lot:
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Check everything so you have very few carry-ons, and can just focus on kids. (For us, checking everything is an expense we cannot budget in, so we are just bringing bags that are easy to maneuver.)
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Special snacks kids never get. (Again hard, because we don’t want to give Addie sugary snacks for short-term benefit of quiet, when she may react poorly to it, overeat, and the late flight paired with sugar is a poor choice for us.)
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Bring LOTS of snacks. (I will be doing this for me, too!)
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Extra clothes for accidents and in case of long layovers or accidents. (For parents and kids!)
What’s your your best advice?
Definitely bring a coloring book or a tablet to keep the kiddos entertained. When we went on vacation recently, my kids brought crayons and empty notebooks. They ended up drawing scenes from our vacation along the way. 🙂
Carlee C recently posted…Easy Red, White, and Blue Dessert Trifle! Simple Patriotic DIY Recipe!
That is so cool! I think those are going to be some of your best memories!
martinkadelux recently posted…#TravelTips from the Experts
I love this post because we do so much traveling, esp with kids. These are fantastic tips. Thanks so much!
Almost THREE to travel with, Melissa!!!!!
martinkadelux recently posted…#TravelTips from the Experts
These are great tips and I agree with your friend – traveling with little ones doesn’t have to be difficult. Have a blast and make sure to keep us posted.
Nicole recently posted…Where to Stay: Luxury Hotels Los Angeles
SO true…. I’m glad some BTDT moms have totally reassured me!
martinkadelux recently posted…#TravelTips from the Experts
I use lavender EO a lot for stress. These are definitely great ideas.
Ellen Christian recently posted…Reduce the Appearance of Fine Lines
I really need to use it more. I love my flower remedies… they have worked wonders for us!
martinkadelux recently posted…#TravelTips from the Experts
These are great tips! You will do great. Snacks are high on my carry on list. You never know what delays will happen so its best to be prepared. I’m going to give the lavender oil a try.
deb recently posted…3 Ingredient Lemon Honey Ice Cream
Seriously… delays are the worst- even for adults- when we are unprepared!
martinkadelux recently posted…#TravelTips from the Experts
You have a great list of suggestions of them and I love the tip about taking essential oils along as that is a great idea. Depending on the age I always take projects like practicing knots with paracord or making bracelets with macrame. All they have to do is have the cord or jute and it doesn’t create a mess but really keeps them busy.
Grace Hodgin recently posted…Teaching Children To Love Nature with #ToysThatTeach
Great ideas, Grace!
martinkadelux recently posted…#TravelTips from the Experts
These are all such great tips and I love the travel experts! 🙂 Good points all around. I’d say always plan ahead!
YES! Planning is key!
martinkadelux recently posted…#TravelTips from the Experts
Lots of distractions including snacks is key to keeping everyone happy and sane! lol
Tammi @ My Organized Chaos recently posted…Memorable Birthdays
Indeed!
martinkadelux recently posted…#TravelTips from the Experts
Great list. Travel can be fun but you need to know what you are facing.
Exactly- planning is key for this!
martinkadelux recently posted…#TravelTips from the Experts
Having audio story books are a must, they are such great travel companions.
susan recently posted…A tropical oasis in central Florida? Discovery Cove, along with SeaWorld parks the whole family will love! #RockYourVacation
That is a great idea to keep HUBBY distracted! 🙂
martinkadelux recently posted…#TravelTips from the Experts
Great tips! I’m all about bringing movies for my son on trips.
We have those, for sure!
martinkadelux recently posted…#TravelTips from the Experts
Great tips! Thanks.
I hope they help you on your next trip!
martinkadelux recently posted…#TravelTips from the Experts
You know, I never thought to use lavender on a trip to get my kids to relax. I use it at bedtime, what a great idea. Great tips!
Janel (A Mom’s Take) recently posted…Baby Essentials Kit & List
If all else fails, I’ll be blissfully knocked out 🙂
martinkadelux recently posted…#TravelTips from the Experts
Great tips, I love the tip of staying calm. Stress can be such a destructive thing especially while traveling with little ones.
kristin recently posted…Staying Fit This Summer with New Silk Almond Protein + Fiber
Oh my gosh- it really can be. It’s the unraveling of the parent that can totally undo the kids, too!
martinkadelux recently posted…#TravelTips from the Experts
Oh man, we just got back from a road trip and it was horrible!! I dont think anything could have consoled my kids.
Amy Desrosiers recently posted…Celebrate Orange is the New Black Season 2 with a Gift Pack Giveaway!!
Oh no! We roadtrip to DE (300 miles each way) every 6 months, so the car isn’t TOO bad for us as she is used to it, but I’ve only flown with the toddler once, and she was still pretty young and amused by everything. Now that she’s older, wiser and has some sass… I’m hoping we all survive the time change and travel in one piece!
martinkadelux recently posted…#TravelTips from the Experts
Essential oils are so cool! Very awesome ideas!
Christine recently posted…Baby Essentials Kit & List
They are magical, aren’t they!?
martinkadelux recently posted…#TravelTips from the Experts
These are great tips. Traveling with little ones doesn’t have to be a nightmare. You just have to be prepared.
Courtney recently posted…Summer DVD Spectacular Giveaway (Ends 7/22)
Yes! I hope we will be!
martinkadelux recently posted…#TravelTips from the Experts
Traveling with kids can be a hassle. These are great tips to make it simpler.
I hope they help you on your next journey!
martinkadelux recently posted…#TravelTips from the Experts
Great tips! We only did car trips when my kids were young. These tips are fantastic for people travelling with children. Thanks for sharing.
We usually do well in the car… I’m hoping for the same in the skies!
martinkadelux recently posted…#TravelTips from the Experts
I love the treat idea! I would have never thought to wrap them individually!
Sarah @ Must Have Mom recently posted…Sunscreen Tips For Summer!
RIGHT?! I have some smart friends!
martinkadelux recently posted…#TravelTips from the Experts
What great tips… I love how you got some from others, too! I am such a planner, I plan everything out from start to finish… it’s when something happens that I lose my mind
Me too, Shauna. I learned from parenthood you can’t plan for everything, but I also know that you can never be too prepared!
martinkadelux recently posted…#TravelTips from the Experts
We travel with our kids a lot and for us, it’s all about their electronics and snacks. We usually bring along lots of books, too. My guys like Where’s Waldo and word search type of books.
I am taking your advice to heart! You DO travel a lot!!!! You’re a professional- so share it all, mama!!!!
martinkadelux recently posted…#TravelTips from the Experts
If you are flying with kids, take dum dum suckers! It helps the air pressure in their ears with take off and landing! No need for messy gum with toddler. And they are smaller suckers so its not a lot of sugar.
Amber Edwards recently posted…Hickory Smoked Grilled Salmon perfect camping recipe + Gourmet Grillware Giveaway!
They’re a choking hazard for a 2 year old, but she does use a bink, and her ENT said that would help. With how bad her ears are, we might not find any relief for her 🙁
martinkadelux recently posted…#TravelTips from the Experts
Traveling with a child can be tedious. These are really great tips. Thanks for sharing.
Laura (Lauras Little House Tips) recently posted…Magic Custard Pie: My Mom’s Recipe
I hope they help you on your next trip!
martinkadelux recently posted…#TravelTips from the Experts
I remember how hectic it was to take little ones. Thanks for the great tips.
Tess recently posted…Affordable eDecor Series-Living Room in Grays and Blues
I’m hoping these tips help us… and others who travel after!
martinkadelux recently posted…#TravelTips from the Experts
Any time we’re going to take a really long car trip I let the kids stay up very, very late the night before. Then they can get in the car in the morning in the pjs and sleep a chunk of the trip away.
valmg @ Mom Knows It All recently posted…Acer C720P Chromebook Review #IntelAIO #IntelChrome
That’s a great idea for car trips!!
martinkadelux recently posted…#ForTwoFitness for a discount?! Just for you…
My kids loved to listen and follow along with read-along stories in the car. They would listen over and over!
Liz Mays recently posted…Guilty Pleasures: My Top 5 Summer Reads
I wish Addie’s hearing was better! She hears everything so muffled that audi books frustrate her. I can’t wait for another set of tubes! I wonder what good ones are out there specifically for toddlers?
martinkadelux recently posted…#ForTwoFitness for a discount?! Just for you…
It’s true about lavender. The masks work good too. They really help when you need to sleep.
Elena recently posted…Simple Solution Stain + Odor Remover
A sleep mask! YES! I need to pack mine!
martinkadelux recently posted…#ForTwoFitness for a discount?! Just for you…
We love taking audio books for the kids for the drive. Adventures in Odyssey never fails to entertain!
Marina recently posted…Mince Buns {Entertaining with Handi-foil}
I will have to find some that are good for young toddlers once we get the ear tubes replaced!
martinkadelux recently posted…#ForTwoFitness for a discount?! Just for you…
These are great tips that will make our upcoming travel easier! Thanks for sharing.
Good luck on your summer trips!!!
martinkadelux recently posted…#ForTwoFitness for a discount?! Just for you…