Travel Hacks for Kids

By: Alicia Morrison

Traveling this holiday season? We are all looking for easier ways to travel. I’d love to help you out with how to travel with young kids. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

1. Be flexible. Try to give yourself as much flexibility as possible. If you are flying then make sure to get to the airport hours before your scheduled flight in order to have wiggle room before boarding. Turn it into an adventure rather than a rushing hassle. Also find out if your airport has a kids play area. Often there is a place for them to let off steam and play. If you want to guarantee a seat in the airport then check out this cool portable kid’s seat! https://amzn.to/3VFFh7k

2. Be sympathetic. Know that your child is struggling too. They don’t want to throw a tantrum but they’re out of their element and missing essential things like nap time and the consistency given at home. Also know that this is the norm and no one is judging you. If you bring a stuffed animal for comfort be sure to keep it close because they’re so easy to lose. These slap bracket stuffed animals are ingenious and a perfect travel hack. https://amzn.to/3Dj3Twk

3. Be kind. Everyone is struggling through the holiday season. Give out some kindness to others and it will be returned to you. Especially be kind to employees who would often rather be at home themselves. Sometimes a small gift of chocolate or a Starbucks gift card can really help someone make it through the day. Four packs of $10 gift cards to Starbucks are available online for purchase here. https://amzn.to/4gDL45i

4. Pack less. You might think you need to pack your entire home but you will be surprised that kids will entertain themselves even without a hundred toys. Also I promise your destination most likely has a store with diapers available. If all else fails be sure you do pack a tablet. They can really save the day especially if there’s a delay. Check out this fire tablet with a two year warranty. https://amzn.to/4fjvpas

5. Check the bags. If possible check bags. It is so much easier if you are carrying less. Also if your kid is less than 5 years old then you shouldn’t assume that they will carry their own suitcase. Usually the parent ends up doing the heavy lifting. Do yourself a favor and either check their bag, combine your bags, or give them something easy like a backpack if they really want to help. This backpack turns travel into a Paw Patrol mission! https://amzn.to/4izv469

6. Prep them mentally ahead of time. Make sure to talk about your travel plans before you go! I love using books to teach my son about things he’s unfamiliar with. This airplane book gives a great outline of the travel process with cute interactive pop up pages. https://amzn.to/3OXHNSM

7. Caffeine. Fuel your trip with lots of caffeine. Try to support smaller local businesses if possible. I also like to bring this fantastic pour over coffee that really beats the hotel coffee. https://amzn.to/4gfRuI3

Above all make sure to work together with your family to survive the trip. I often get the grandparents to come with us on vacation. It makes it so much more enjoyable to have extra help with the kids and the grandparents love it too. Travel can really test people but it can also be enjoyable if you go with the flow and allow yourself to enjoy the little moments.

Good luck!