Traveling with Small Children
Today's topic: vacationing with small children!
Jana and I managed to take our boys (age 3.5 and 7 months at the time) to Dallas, TX to visit our dear friends earlier this year. Two hour drive to the airport + four hour flight + 8 days away with our kids? Sign us up!
Here’s a sampling of what we heard in response:
“You guys are nuts!”
“We admire you – we didn’t go anywhere until our kids were older”
“We took our 3 kids to Italy when they were all under age 8" (Goals!!)
What we think in response:
You can’t be yourself as a leader or a parent unless you unplug from time to time!
Every family has their priorities, and Jana and I love to travel. It doesn’t matter where you go, as long as you are with the people you love and you can do the things you want to do.
If you want your kids to be good travelers, practice makes perfect.
Let your kids practice at home with quiet activities prior to the day of travel. We have a no-screen household, so we’ve been successful with coloring, puzzle toys, and anything we can tether to our youngest son!
Speak to your kids openly about what the experience will entail so it’s familiar to them. Takeoff and landing are loud. The TSA process can be hectic, and you’ll have to remove your shoes. Sometimes we have to be patient if our flight is delayed (“Daddy, what does delayed mean?”).
Stick with direct flights to the extent possible. Introduce as few variables as possible.
Strollers, nursing supplies, and car seats can be checked on a flight for free, in addition to any checked or carry-on bags that come with your flight. We recommend carefully checking your airline’s baggage policies while you’re planning your trip to confirm this. Amazon has slick wheeling bags to transport car seats.
Here are some tips that made traveling with two little ones manageable and cost-effective:
BabyQuip has been a lifesaver! We rent all the bulky equipment, such as a pack and play, high chair, play mat, etc. and your host will drop it off and pick it up for you!
We haven’t paid for a flight in years! Credit card points can be a great tool if used the right way. Be mindful that rewards cards have high interest rates.
Our next goal: Get Brooks and Hudson their first stamp before we have to renew their passports.
Where are you headed for your next trip?