Traveling is not always a pleasant experience. There are flights to book, connections to make, other travelers to deal with, and long security lines. This frustration only increases if you travel with kids and do not plan properly. Some children might not like going through security, some are so full of energy that they cannot sit still, while others do not want to sit doing nothing for a whole flight. Thankfully, there are a few things you can do to make it a stress-free travel experience with small children.
Choose Fewer Stops and Check The Connections
Traveling with kids gets infinitely more stressful if you have to spend long hours waiting for the next plane, train, or bus. Kids get impatient very quickly, and they can get on your nerves once they do.
The best way to avoid all this is to choose destinations that require the fewest connections and the shortest layovers. Sometimes you have to play a little extra to get to where you are going faster, but that is much better than dealing with an impatient, tired, or nervous kid. The cost for the fewer stops and shorter layovers is especially worth it if traveling with multiple kids.
Book Your Flight Early
Traveling with kids means you have a lot to do, and you do not always have enough time to do it all. Because of this, you might miss out on key details that could change how stressful your trip will be. One of these is booking your flight early.
Booking early has several advantages, the most impactful being saving money on your trip. However, booking early also allows you to choose your seats if you can find an airline that allows it. You don’t want your kids sitting in the aisles where they can reach for hot beverages as a cart passes by or where strangers can bump into them.
You can use platforms like Google Flights to see which airlines are flying to your destination in advance. Booking via Google Flights early gives you enough time to check with the different airlines to see where you can pick your seats early.
It also allows you to see which flights will depart in the morning. That is the best time to travel with kids because they are more likely to sleep during the flight and, thus, ensure a stress-free flight.
Carry Some Toys and Surprises
It is a good idea to carry your kids’ favorite toys. These will keep them engaged for a few hours. However, as all kids do, they will get bored with these old toys, so it is a good idea to carry new ones to surprise them with.
This works so well for two main reasons. One, kids love unboxing things. They might even find some fun playing with the wrapper. Keep a close eye on them because wrapping paper can be a choking and asphyxiation hazard.
Second, a new toy can grab their attention much more than an old one. They will likely spend a few more hours playing with it or learning everything about it. Hopefully, you should be at your destination by the time they get bored with it.
Use a Smaller Stroller
It might be difficult, and even seemingly impossible, to get through an airport without a stroller. If you need one, consider switching to a travel or umbrella stroller. These are usually much more compact than regular strollers and make going through an airport much easier.
You can check your stroller, and the crew will ensure you get it back after alighting.
Traveling with small kids can be nerve-wracking. There is a lot to think about before and when traveling that would make any parent stressed before getting to their destination. With a little planning, though, parents can reduce the stress of traveling with small children, so everyone has a much better time.
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