Holiday Travel with Kids

These days traveling by air seems more like a flying the frustrating skies rather than the friendly variety. Security and delays along with air carrier-centric policies make it very difficult for anyone to feel like you have any control over your life. Now add to that situation a toddler and you have multiplied that lack of control by at least 10 fold.

Since my daughter was born we have taken several airplane trips. In fact, this Christmas season will be her seventh. Since she’s under two, and since airfares are outrageous when you fly into the Midwest, we are once again going to take advantage of the “lap policy” (where any child under two can ride on the lap of a full fair adult for free). So when my husband pointed out an article on Kiplingers.com titled Traveling with Tots: A survival guide, I was all over it.

This author gives good advice. Whether you have traveled with a child before or if this is your first time, I encourage you to read this article. Some tips I thought were notable:

• Know the Rules!
  This is especially true for flyers. I personally believe that given the liquid guidelines, travelers with children are scrutinized even more heavily. I don’t know how many bottles of hand sanitizer I have lost because I didn’t put them in the quart size bag. The fact is, the rules are the rules and they change - frequently - so do yourself and your child a favor and know what you’re getting into before you head to the airport.
• Come prepared… for anything.
  This is very true. I try so hard to pack carefully and conservatively when I travel, but when my daughter is with me I must be ready for any possibly scenario. One of the best suggestions I got (and included here) was lollipops! They are brilliant - especially on a plane. My daughter is just now old enough to handle them (with my supervision) and I appreciate how they make us all happy.
• Research, research, research.
  For example, know where the play areas are in the airports that you’re traveling through. These are fabulous! Manchester airport has one by the United gates. It’s great to work off a little energy before getting on the plane. But make sure to watch your kids. I had an experience with my daughter when an older more aggressive child took over the toys that my smaller and less aggressive daughter was trying to play with. The person supervising the child didn’t seam to notice or mind. So I had to remove my daughter. Bummer!

Other tips I would offer:

• Pay no mind to the dirty looks.
  People can be so rude - especially on planes. I know I can be crabby too after all the hassle I’ve been put through just to get myself into a tiny seat that may or may not get me to my destination as scheduled. But if your child acts up and/or starts to cry and people start to give you a dirty look, or if they snap at you because your kid is kicking their seat… take a deep breath and remember that before you had kids you too thought that a child on a plane was completely controllable and that a parent with any skill could stop bad behavior if they only wanted to badly enough. You know better now. So take pity on this clueless person with the dirty looks and trust that Karma will catch up with them one day.
• Buy a cheap stroller to gate check.
  I have a friend who has lost 3 strollers to rushed baggage handlers. Imagine arriving at your transfer airport (like O’Hare) expecting to be able to plop your child and a few carry-ons into your stroller so that you can more easily and more safely run from one end of the airport to the other, only to find that the wheels on your stroller have been snapped off. Such an event is tragic for many reasons, but now imagine that the stroller cost you over $200. And there is no recourse! Remember that little tag you had to sign before the gate agent tagged your stroller for gate check? It says they are not responsible for any damage. We went to Target and bought an umbrella stroller for $15. Ironically it has never been damaged. But if it is, other than having to carry my child around the airport, I’m not at any great loss.
• If you check your car seat buy a bag for it.
  I bought an Eddie Bauer car seat bag for ours and it’s great for a couple of reasons. First, it protects the car seat. I know that is silly, given that it’s meant to go through a little wear and tear, but take a look at what your luggage goes though - busted zippers, rips, tears. I would hate for my daughters car seat to arrive with a broken harness, or buckle. Second, you are allowed to check a car seat for free - even if the child is on your lap - and it doesn’t count as part of your 2 pieces of luggage (which can’t be over 50 lbs!). So you can put the car seat in the bag and then you’ve got loads of room for extra stuff (remember the tip on being prepared for anything - this means you’ll have lots of stuff!). You can fill the extra space with sweaters, diapers, blankets, or anything that isn’t too fragile. It’s great!

So if your family, like mine, is taking to the skies this holiday season, I send you off with these good thoughts. I wish you short security lines, helpful TSA agents, looks that say “what a cute child” rather than “oh gosh, please don’t sit next to me!”, play areas close to your gate, naps that commence with take off and end at touch down, an open seat in your row, and most of all, a safe arrival of you and your little ones at your destination.

Happy Holiday Traveling!

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