Are We There Yet? Tips for Traveling with Toddlers

I’ve been features over on the evenflo savvy parents blog again. You all know how savvy I am or you wouldn’t come back and keep reading me every day. Ok, I know, I’m not that savvy, I just fly by the seat of my pants. I do however know something about traveling with children, I’ve had the trip from hell traveling with kids. From getting stuck in an airport with no hotel to go to, being threated by the airlines that I would have to stay there for almost a week, to running with two children screaming behind me so we would make a flight. I’ve seen worst case scenarios, and wrote this article as my advice on how to be prepared when traveling with children…..

My last trip I was actually over prepared for and I recommend you do the same. You never know when you’re going to get stuck somewhere unexpected overnight and that’s just what happened to us. Luckily, I had plenty of activities and snacks on us. Here are a few suggestions on how to be prepared.

• Let the kids pick out a backpack with wheels. Having wheels on it allows them to be able to pull it or wear it, depending on what they feel like. Pick out coloring books, lacing toys, crayons, markers, travel puzzles and put them in the back packs. Have lots of different short activities they can do in their laps. Let them pick out some toys as well and have them add them to the bags. Giving your children choices and letting them help in the packing process makes them feel important and valuable. I’ve found that giving them the choice also makes them a lot more persuadable. 
• Choose healthy snacks that make little to no mess, dried fruit, freeze dried fruit, drinkable applesauce, crisps and crackers to name a few. Keep an extra bag in your purse so you can collect the garbage. Grab some reusable drink containers and put them in their bags as well. We drink a lot of water and the kids like to be able to get it out of their own bags.

For the rest of my traveling tips check out the Savvy Parenting Blog at evenflo.