Traveling with Children

April vacation is coming up, and for many families, that means it's time to hit the road! We've blogged on the topic before (see our posts on Tips for Traveling with Children and Family Friendly Road Trips); now we've got more ideas and have consolidated them all into one post:
Planning YourTrip:

• Get your child excited about your destination by talking about it, watching age-appropriate movies about it (for example, note that Scooby Doo and the gang have been to lots of different locations), and reading books that describe your destination. To help you out, we've created children's booklists for Hawaii, Boston, New York City, Philadelphia and San Francisco.
• Find a Family-Friendly Place to Stay. Nothing ruins a family vacation faster than staying at a hotel that would rather not have children as guests. You know the kind: there's a pool, but it is part of the adults-only health club; the room service menu features 50 wines by the glass, but nary a entree that anyone under 12 would find appealing; and the haughty doormen frown every time they have to open the door for you and your stroller. But there are plenty of places that welcome children -- and not all of them involve traveling to Orlando, FL! One of the best options if you'll be in town more than a few days, is to rent a vacation condo -- most feature a suite (so there is plenty of room for your young ones and their gear) with a kitchenette (nice to have the option to make PB&J sandwiches), and even washers and dryers (so it doesn't matter how many outfits your infant soils each day), but still have daily maid service and other hotel amenities. Another option is to seek out hotels that offer specific programs geared toward making children feel welcome. Even in sophisticated New York City, there is a nice selection of hotels that offer services like baby-proofing, childcare, special children's menus, and free use of strollers, bottle-warmers and the like. Some hotels chains and resorts have made it their policy to reach out to families with children's programs and other amenities -- and staying at if you stay at these places, you won't need 50 wines by the glass to relieve the stress of vacationing with your family!
  

Before You Fly

• Always ask about available seats when you check in at the airport and again when you board the plane. If you didn't purchase a seat for your toddler (kids under 2 years old can sit on your lap), expect a full flight and know your chances of getting one are slim. But ask anyway.
• Skip the car seat if you can. Unless you'll be using it on the plane, opt to rent a car seat with your car rental -- or borrow one from relatives to use when you arrive.
• Double-check the flight schedule one more time. Check with the airline 24 hours in advance to make sure your departure and return times haven't changed. Make sure the airline has your e-mail and cell phone information (you can sign up online) in case there is a last-minute change or delay (which is more common than these days).
• Print your boarding passes at home. Don't get stuck in the endless lines required for check in. Instead, visit the airline's web site ahead of time to take advantage of this time-saving feature. Didn't have time to print the passes out in advance? All is not lost! Just use the check-in kiosks when you arrive; they're not as fast as having boarding passes in hand, but still better than the line.
• Make sure your kids understand the security screening process. Our kids are veteran flyers, but after the episode when security detained us after finding both a pocket knife and a (rubber) Ninja star in our son's carry-on, we make sure we explain the security process one more time. For first-timers and younger children, it helps ease their fears, if they know ahead of time that they will be surrendering their dolly or stuffed animal only temporarily. Of course you'll want to keep the security line in mind as you plan what they'll wear on the plane -- avoid lace-up shoes and that cute outfit with lots of metallic embellishments, if possible.
• Plan your luggage carefully. Think carefully about what goes into carry-ons and what can be checked. On the one hand, you need to plan for things to keep the kids fed and entertained during the inevitable delays. On the other hand, you don't want to be saddled with too much luggage if your kids need a bathroom break while your husband is parking the car. To help lighten your own load, remember that if your child can walk, he can carry a small backpack or pull a small wheeled pack. If you pack his "must have" toys in his own bag, he'll have an incentive to take care of it.

At the Airport

• Use curb-side check-in. If this service is available, it will make your life infinitely easier: you won't have to schlep items you don't need on the plane, and you won't have to wait in line.
• Keep your stroller with you. You can gate-check it just before you board the plane, but keeping it with you as long as possible makes it easier for your little one to travel through the airport and provides a safe, clean place to sit (or sleep!) while you wait for your plane.
• Know your child. For some families, taking advantage of early boarding is the best option: they use the time to stash bags before the overhead bins fill up, and to get everyone situated and happy. For others, sitting on the plane for even an extra minute spells disaster. These families have their kids stretch their legs in the airport until the last possible moment and then board with the late comers. Know what will work for you and don't let others talk you into any other course of action.
• Keep 'em entertained. Ever been stuck in an airport with kids for hours because of a delayed flight? Some airports have wi-fi access (and some of the airline lounges have kid-friendly computer stations), so you can use your computer to entertain your young ones. With tons of online game websites to go to, how do you direct your kids to the best ones? No worries! We've sifted through them and come up with a list of our insider favorites.

On the Plane

• Have a bag full of tricks. Include plenty of small toys, games, books and coloring materials in your bag. We like to bring a couple of new things to increase our kids' interest in the on-board items, remembering that we don't always have to buy something -- checking out new titles from the library works, too. If you have an ipod, load it with music your young one enjoys, and if you have a portable DVD player, then by all means, bring it (along with headphones -- we think it goes without saying that anything that might distract your fellow passengers shouldn't make it on the plane!)
• Move around. On long flights, encourage your child to get up and move around every hour or two to avoid cramped muscles and reduced circulation.
• Bring snacks. Make sure your child can eat something when she wants, instead of waiting for the flight attendants to get around to bringing you over-priced and over-processed airline food (if it is even available). We recommend fruit leathers, crackers, pretzels, raisins, cereal, seedless grapes, granola bars, apple slices, cheese sticks, and juice boxes or whatever else your child enjoys.
• Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate! The liquids you can carry through the security check are limited, but you can buy plenty of bottled water once you pass the check point at the airport. And every time the flight attendants pass by with beverages, order something for everyone.
• Stay Warm. Planes get very cold when they fly at high altitudes (where the air is significantly colder than at ground level) so be sure to bring a sweater, sweatshirt or fleece to throw on as the temperature in the cabin plummets during flights that last more than a couple of hours. It is also a good idea to throw a soft throw or pashmina into your carry-on so that you don't have to use the airline's blanket (if you can even find one these days!) - they are not always washed between flights and can therefore be rife with germs. And don't forget to bring a pair of warm socks to keep those tootsies toasty!

In the Car
There is no question that long drives with your kids in the back seat can be stressful for everyone. But sometimes driving with your family might be the only travel plan that makes sense. And with some planning and some patience, your family road trip might be... well, almost... fun! Here are some tips to keep in mind:

• If your child needs to use a car seat or booster seat, make sure you know how to install it correctly and always use it. (The American Academy of Pediatrics has a thorough online guide to help you.)
• Plan frequent rest stops. For toddlers especially, two hours in the car is maximum you should plan to drive before stopping for a break. You don't need to make a big deal about it -- just letting the kids run around (or toss a frisbee or ball) in the grass at a rest stop or in a fast food playroom (you can get their food to go and let them eat it later in the car) can make all the difference. If you have more time, look for a playground at a school or park. If the weather is not cooperative, an indoor mall is a good choice -- many have play spaces, but even without that amenity, there is room to stretch your legs, and the food court is likely to offer a variety of choices.
• Have a bag full of tricks. Just like on a plane ride, you'll want to bring plenty of small toys, games, books and coloring materials to keep your child entertained. It helps to have something new or special -- wrapped surprises, new books from the library, or rarely allowed treats all help make the ride more enjoyable. About.com has a nice list of ideas, listed by age.
• Keep plenty of snacks handy. As mentioned above, fruit leathers, crackers, pretzels, raisins, cereal, seedless grapes, granola bars, apple slices, cheese sticks, and juice boxes are all good choices. We've learned from experience that chocolate pudding is not. Nor are blueberries (they roll everywhere and stain everything). Whatever you bring, be prepared with plastic bags for the trash and wipes for the sticky fingers. A small cooler will increase your choices over long trips.
• Let electronics rule. This is definitely the time to embrace hand-held games (like gameboy), MP3 players (like ipod), and the DVD players that are becoming more and more ubiquitous in minivans and SUVs everywhere. For younger children, we recommend music and movies on a car system that you control; older kids are likely to prefer controlling their own entertainment. And don't forget about audio books -- listening to a story can really help pass the time (and also prevents the motion sickness that can accompany reading in a car). Speaking of which...
• Help quiet queasy stomachs. Many children are susceptible to motion sickness. If your child is a frequent sufferer, don't pack lots of books or similar activities. Also remember that the picturesque back road with lots of turns can be more difficult to bear than the freeway. Opening a window for a blast of fresh air can help, too. And be ready with plenty of large zip lock bags, wipes, and a change of clothes (that doesn't involve unpacking the trunk), just in case.
• Prevent backseat meltdowns. If there is more than one adult in the car, one of you should sit in back next to your baby or toddler, to keep your child company, offer snacks, or even help with an activity such as a sticker book. Older kids don't usually mind being alone -- your biggest problem is likely to be preventing sibling squabbles. Follow the tips above, since well-fed, well-rested children with activities to occupy them are less likely to fight with each other in the car. If you can't separate them, put a couple of pillows between your kids to give them their own space. The Parent Center recommends that if a fight does erupt, you can distract your kids by doing something surprising, such as turning the radio on very loud for a minute, or blowing bubbles in their direction.

When You Arrive

• Bring along items to help child-proof your hotel room (or Grandma's house, if you're visiting relatives).
• Use antibacterial wipes to clean items in your hotel room that housekeepers generally ignore, but that can be rife with germs from former guests: the TV remote, telephone receiver, and clock radio.
• Always order extra blankets when you reach your room to replace the bedspread. Why? While most hotels only wash bedspreads every couple of months, the blankets from the housekeeping closet are laundered before they are put away.
• Young children have sensitive skin, so remember to slather them with sunscreen and put on a hat if you'll be outdoors.
• During the day, choose activities that the whole family will enjoy -- our lists of favorites for New York City and Boston will get you started. Then, as the sun sets, plan something special for just you and your sweetie -- a romantic dinner, a show, or even an evening stroll. The concierge at your hotel can set you up with a babysitter, or if you're in NYC, use Sitter's Studio, a service favored by many New Yorkers for fun and reliable temporary babysitting help.

Safe and Healthy Travel Habits

• Be prepared for the worst. Dress your child in bright, easy-to-recognize clothing and always carry a current photo in case you are separated.
• Carry a first aid kit. It should include items such as antibiotic ointment, band aids, and children's Tylenol.
• Keep things clean. Carry an alcohol-based hand sanitizer (like Purell) or cleansing wipes with you to use when soap and water aren't available.

For links to more sites with info about traveling with children, click here.