The 3 Ps of traveling with kids: packing, planning & patience
We’ve all been there on a family trip—a relatively pleasant plane or train ride ruined by a cranky toddler in the midst of his or her oversized outburst. Screaming, throwing things, with frustrated parents failing to quiet their precious child. The only thing worse is when the child is yours, and the frustrated parent is you.
Traveling with kids is difficult enough without the tears and tantrums. So how can you avoid these aggravating scenarios on a family vacation? Here are some travel tips for vacations with kids.
It's all about the three P’s for parents: packing, planning, and patience.
Packing tips
There are some essentials you always want to have with you on trips short and long. And also make sure you have enough of everything (this is the one case where it’s better to overstuff your carry-on), especially traveling with more than one child, to avoid them fighting over the goodies.
🥨 SNACKS!
Pack small, dry finger foods that won’t make a mess. Pro tip: put them in separate ziplock bags and hand them out as the trip goes on. Stick to the favorites—this is not the time for food experiments!💦 WATER (or milk, or juice!)
Planes and trains = dry air. Keep your kid hydrated with a no-spill straw cup that’s easy to refill. Spills at 35,000 feet? Not fun.🧻 WIPES—WET & DRY
You will need way more than you think. Sticky fingers, tray tables, mystery messes... Just bring a ton.👶 DIAPERS & POTTY ESSENTIALS
Pack more than you need. If your child is potty-trained, bring a portable toilet seat. Running out of diapers? Not an option.👕 CHANGE OF CLOTHES (FOR BOTH OF YOU!)
Kids are messy—it’s a fact. Accidents, spills, motion sickness… You might need a fresh outfit before the plane even takes off. And don’t forget a backup for yourself—you don’t want to spend hours covered in juice or worse.🛏️ BLANKET
Perfect for chilly planes or just for extra coziness. A comfy kid is a happy kid.🧸 A FAVORITE TOY OR “LOVELY”
If your child has a must-have teddy, blanket, or doll, do not forget it! Traveling can be overwhelming, and having that comfort item might just save the day.🎒 CARRIER
If your baby isn’t walking yet, this is a game-changer while juggling security, tickets, and bags. Even for toddlers, a carrier can be easier than trying to keep them close in a crowd. Bonus: Once you’re seated, a soft wrap (like a Mobi carrier) makes for easy cuddles and naps!📱 ENTERTAINMENT (with HEADPHONES!)
Load up a tablet or smartphone with short cartoons or kids’ shows. This is where screen time rules go out the window. Just don’t forget headphones—no one else needs to hear Baby Shark on repeat. 🎶📚 BOOKS
Pick a few small favorites—because let’s be real, your kid will want you to read the same one a hundred times. Sandra Boynton and Curious George are always winners.🎁 GOODIE BAG—THE SECRET WEAPON!
This is my #1 travel hack! Before your trip, hit the dollar store and grab small surprise toys:
🎨 Crayons & coloring books
🌀 Wind-up toys
🏀 Bouncy balls
🧶 Some yarn
🔦 A mini flashlight
📱 A toy phone
✨ Stickers
And trust me, if there is any time to bend the established rules (or even briefly break some of them), it’s while traveling with your kids. Consider allowing for a longer TV-viewing time than you usually would. Or do frequent snack times, or have your little one sleep in your arms instead of her own seat. Being away from home breaks routine, so breaking it a little further with additional modifications will not likely undo any of your hard work.
Planning tips
It’s essential to plan out your trip as well as you possibly can. This includes the actual scheduling of travel.
Does your child go to sleep at 8:30 p.m. every night? Then you want to make sure that your departure is around that time so she can sleep through most of the trip. Is a particular flight less booked than the rest? It will help if the plane is not entirely booked, and you have extra seats to potentially spread out to, extra space to move around, and fewer people to annoy.
The point is that you should schedule the circumstances of your trip around your little one and what’s best for you as a family.
Patience tips
This one might be the most important of all—and the most difficult to maintain.
Firstly, if your child throws a tantrum or turns on the waterworks, it won’t help if you match their screaming with screaming of your own. That kind of behavior from a parent typically just escalates things and leads to a more protracted scene (not to mention the public embarrassment of being that parent). A calm tone of voice may help soothe your child, and a low speaking volume may have them quieting down in an effort to hear better.
Even if nothing helps, you just have to be patient and wait out the tantrum. Our little ones are full of big emotions and sometimes just need to let them out. Your child will tire out sooner than you think and cool down, while you might meet with more sympathy than annoyance from your fellow travelers (especially if there are other parents among them).
