Family of Six: Travel Hacks

We are not new to traveling with our children and as chaotic as it can be, we absolutely love it. We love giving them the experience of travel and seeing new places. We’ve traveled with our kids at all ages, from one month old to seven now. So I’m here to give you all of my travel hacks for all of those different, young, chaotic ages.

Newborn to 12 months

Some super helpful travel tips for this age group are:

• Buy diapers when you get to where you are going, if possible. Save the luggage space and pack just enough to get you through the travel and to a store.
• Use vacuum seal bags to condense and save space in luggage.
• Forego your schedule. When traveling, feed and nap whenever and wherever possible. Whether bottle feeding or nursing, offer feedings for comfort.
• Baby wear through security. It will help keep your hands free and you do not need to take the baby out. You can baby wear on the plane, too. However, they will make you take the baby out of the wrap during take off and landing.
• You can rent carseats from many different places these days. This can limit your luggage count. We bring ours, as most airlines give you free checked baby items, and in the past, we have not felt the rental seats were the most safe/up to date/not expired.

This is honestly the EASIEST age group to travel with. They require a bit more packed up for them, between bottles, wipes, diapers, changes of clothes, etc. but beyond the easiest to fly with.

1 year to 2.5 years

This age group is hit or miss. They either are content sitting with you and devouring all the snacks or they are completely restless and do not want to sit still.

• If you have a restless toddler, you can buy a seat ticket for them and bring their carseat on board. Once our third hit 2-years-old and needed his own plane ticket, we would bring his carseat on board.
• Pack tons of snacks on your carry on. Pouches, yogurt melts, fruits, all the snacks!
• Use vacuum seal bags to condense and save space in luggage.
• Some small toys I have purchased and packed as a surprise on the plane: pop-its, magnetic tiles, magnetic puzzles
• Pray to the heavens everything goes well!

We’ve honestly been lucky that our kids handle flying well, even at this age. Our third is the only restless child we’ve experienced and he has definitely given us some hectic experiences on an airplane. Screaming at people looking at him between the seats, getting frustrated about being in his seat for too long, kicking, spitting, you name it. This age is tricky because movies/iPad/electronics is still not entertaining enough (if you choose that route!), and toys for this age group do not hold attention for very long.

3 years to 6 years+

I have felt like this is when traveling has gotten much easier with each of our kids. They understand the excitement of what’s to come, so we definitely use that to our advantage. They’re more helpful in carrying bags, packing their own entertainment and snacks.

• Use vacuum seal bags to condense and save space in luggage.
• If staying for 5 days or more and laundry is accessible, do laundry wherever you are going. Pack a few essentials and do laundry half way through.
• We’re an iPad family. We charge those and bring extra power banks. Be sure to pre-download any movies/shows off of any apps you are wanting to use.
• Again, tons of snacks to get you through.
• Some small toys/games I have purchased for the airplane: Uno, window clings, Play-doh foam, Imagine Ink coloring books.

The Anxiety of Traveling with Kids

Listen, there is ALWAYS going to be someone on the plane pissed off that you are traveling with your children. And that’s too damn bad for them. They’ll argue all day that you can drive. But the reality is, there are places in the world that are physically impossible to get to without the access of an airplane. I mean, unless you are going to drive coast to coast and then hop on a boat to cross country. But that’s just absurd.

Truly, more people on that plane are more understanding and unfazed than not. Your children deserve the opportunity to travel and see the world and it’s just like anything else in life: if you aren’t giving them the opportunity to learn how to handle an environment, how can you expect them to? The more you do it, the more comfortable and familiar they become with your “rules” of travel.

We’ve been in the trenches. A child screaming, crying, spitting, hitting, kicking the seats, refusing to sit down. And when I say I sweat, phew. I’m talking the need to rip every layer of clothing off of me before I overheat from the amount of anxiety that takes over my body, sweat. The feeling that everyone is staring at us or mad at us because my child is doing, let’s face it, what children do. Now I’m not here to say I allow my children to act that way on a plane, but parents, you know. Sometimes it does not matter what we say or do, if their minds are made up, that’s it. We’re just left to ride out the wave.

But I will never let that small moment of discomfort stop me from giving my kids the experience of travel. They enjoy it. And so do I. And honestly, every last person on that airplane I will never see again a day in my life. So let them judge. Let them be upset with you. Let them be mad. Look the other direction, breathe, and get you and your family on that much needed vacation!

Disclaimer: We do not do this solo, ever. We are fortunate enough to bring my Mom with on all of our travels. One, it helps us out incredibly without a doubt. Two, the kids absolutely love the time they get to spend with her during our travels. They love having her there to experience it all with. So it’s a win, win for everybody. So if you have a tribe that is willing to travel with you, bring them ALL!