How To Survive Holiday Travel

It’s that wonderful time of year again! Soon you’ll be off to visit family or friends far and near so you can enjoy the festivities together. But with all the wonderful things the season brings, there can be some challenges, especially when it comes to kids. Trust me, I know what you’re thinking… “Travelling with kids can be so stressful!”

That is true. I’m not going to deny it. Kids are unpredictable, and most of them do NOT like to be restrained in those pesky life-saving car seats for hours on end. But fortunately there are ways to make holiday travel as relaxed and enjoyable as possible.

1. Don’t worry about what other people think
This is a big one. Most of us have been on a plane or a bus and had a frazzled mother get on with a screaming baby or a toddler having a tantrum. It’s not fun to be trapped in an enclosed space with a hysterical child, but most of the time the only thing people are thinking is “Awww, that poor mom.” It’s not the end of the world if your baby starts crying. Just deal with it as best you can, and most of the time you will be surprised at the kindness of strangers. There have been many times I have seen other travellers offer to hold the crying baby.

2. Accept the fact that you are travelling with kids.
In the old days, pre-kids, you might have looked forward to a six-hour plane trip, because it gave you an excuse to catch up on your reading or watch some romantic comedies. Maybe even have some wine and a nap. Well, those days are over. :) You need to be realistic about your expectations of travel with young children: it’s work. You will have to keep them as calm and happy as possible, and that could very well be a full-time job until you’ve reached your destination. You can have the wine when you get to your mother-in-law’s house and hand over the baby.

3. Plan ahead
Make sure you have everything you need for the trip. For older kids you should pack lots of snacks, a few treats to haul out when the going gets tough, and little distractions to keep them busy, like coloring books, stickers and card games. Make sure you introduce the toys and treats slowly throughout the trip instead of giving them all to your child at once. You can even have them pre-packaged in surprise bags and give them out every hour or so.

4. Don’t panic if your child falls asleep when she’s not supposed to
This is a tough one when you have recently started your child on a sleep plan. You are probably worried that letting your baby pass out on the plane for two hours will mess up the whole schedule. It’s okay. These are extenuating circumstances, and even if you need to use a soother or a bottle to get your child to settle down, don’t be too hard on yourself. You will have lots of time to get your child back on track when the trip is over.

The holidays are a time to be enjoyed, so make life as easy as possible! Travel doesn’t have to be a nightmare if you’re prepared and you’re willing to go with the flow and do what you have to do to make your child comfortable.

If you are looking for solutions to whining, fighting with siblings, or tantrums at home, check out Kids: The Manual.  It is a child-friendly discipline program designed to solve some of the most common behavior challenges in ages 2-12.

Click here to get Kids: The Manual!

Bon Voyage!