Tips for How to Travel with Kids by Plane, Train or Automobile  

With a little preparation the week before, you too, can travel stress-free with your child or multiple children. Being prepared with items you may need to prevent diaper blowouts, hunger and meltdowns is really half the battle! Read through these bulleted lists to get my tips on how to prepare, what to pack and what you need to know for departure day. Save the lists, print them out or screenshot them on our phone!

Navigating the Airport with Kids

I primarily travel solo with my children, so that’s the perspective here, however these tips can help anyone. 

Before we get into the nitty gritty, I want to share a morsel of advice I received when traveling with my first baby, only 6 weeks old at the time. I made it on board the airplane, settled into my seat, followed all of my own tips and was as prepared as I could be. Halfway to our destination, baby began crying and I couldn’t figure out what she needed. I checked her diaper, I tried nursing her, I tried removing her from the baby carrier and swaddle… she was taking a long time to settle down and I was sweating bullets, imagining all the passengers nearby who must be annoyed with my crying baby and think I’m a bad mom for not getting her to stop. The airline stewardess saw my distress and came over to me. She leaned down low, looked me straight in the eyes while baby wailed in our ears, and said: “Look around. Every single person on this plane was once a baby and all babies cry.” She is totally right! Please take that quote with you and remember it, should you ever find yourself in my same position (which you will at some point, because you’re a parent traveling with kids!)

The Week Before

• Bringing your Car Seats: Get a carseat bag for each carseat so you can check those heavy lugs as soon as you get to the airport! I linked my favorite brand for a travel car seat bag, which I have used for years with multiple carseats and for tons of travel with great success! For heavy car seats, or those with sensitive backs, I highly recommend utilizing a folding travel luggage cart. Using bungee cords, you secure your carseat right to the luggage cart, to get it through the airport if you’re not checking it. It folds up easily to store in the overhead compartment on takeoff. 
• Toddler Safety for On Board: I love the FAA-approved harnesses that can be attached to the seatbelt on the plane to increase the safety of the lap belt. Bonus feature: holds your “runner” down.
• Stock your Diaper Bag: If traveling with a baby, make sure your diaper bag is stocked with two spare onesies, an extra top for yourself, or layers (in case of a diaper blowout), one diaper for each hour of travel time, a full package of wipes and diaper disposal bags, two muslin swaddles as well as your typical diaper bag essentials. If your baby needs white noise to be soothed, rest assured the sound of the engine will likely lull baby right to sleep. 
• Carrying Baby: If you don’t already have one, purchase a baby carrier and bring it with you. Keep your arms and hands free to get through the airport, while keeping baby feeling safe, snug and away from germs. I linked an amazing brand for you, because doctors and chiropractors agree that to prevent hip dysplasia in infants, it’s best for baby to be in a sitting position on their bottom, rather than their weight sitting directly on top of their hips (like a popular brand).

At the Airport

• Check in Curbside: the best $10 you’ll ever spend, is to tip the curbside guys to check your luggage and car seats prior to entering the airport (note: moms with lap babies sometimes have to go inside to check in – but just ask when you pull up!) Checking in curbside, leaves you more handsfree to manage your children in the airport.
• Wear and Cover the Baby: Strap baby into a baby carrier;  Wearing baby, keeps baby in a safe spot while you maneuver detaching car seats from the car. To prevent germs, drape one of the muslin swaddles from your diaper bag, over your shoulder and babys head. Leave a little opening under your chin so you can look down and see baby. Muslin is very lightweight and its open weave allows for airflow, making it breathable and reducing the risk of overheating.
• Packing up the Carseat Travel Bag:  Once you get their carseat packed into the bag, you’ll notice you have extra space inside there. Since baby gear checks for FREE, go ahead and stuff whatever else you don’t immediately need with you, into the bag – extra packs of diapers, wipes, heavy coats, whatever you don’t want weighing you down during travel. No one will tell you that you can’t do that, so you might as well make the most of it!
• Getting from Curbside to Security: Keep wearing baby in the carrier, but unfold your stroller. Place your diaper bag (which is undoubtedly heavy) into the seat of the stroller, along with other carry-on items you may have and wheel it  right up to security.
• Getting Through Security: You are allowed to leave baby in your carrier – the security officer will just need to do an additional step of swiping your hands. This makes it easier to hang onto other children that may be traveling with you, and also to leave baby undisturbed in case they are nursing or sleeping.  If you’re concerned about radiation, you can request to skip the x-ray machine and be patted down instead. If the officer seems annoyed, remember it’s their job to keep everyone safe, and it’s your baby and body – do what feels right to you.
• Getting a Stroller through Security: The stroller will need to be screened, and security won’t let you just simply push it through the x-ray machine. Empty the contents of the stroller and place them in a bin to go on the belt separately. Fold up your stroller and hoist it right onto the x-ray machine belt. If you’re traveling alone, someone in line with you will likely offer to help you with this step – there are still good people out there! I’ve done at least 100 flights with 1, 2 or 3 kids and I’ve never had to lift my stroller myself, while wearing a baby.
• After Security: Unfold the stroller, load it back up with your stuff and resume pushing it through the airport to your gate.
• Arriving to your Gate: Upon arrival to your gate, immediately ask the gate agent for a stroller tag. He or she will show you how to tag your stroller and where to place it once it’s boarding time (either at the entry for the jet bridge, or at the end of the jet bridge before you get on the plane). I like to discuss this with the gate agent early on, so that I am prepared before lines form at the desk.
• Close to Boarding Time: Find a bathroom nearby and do one last diaper change and potty break for all.

On Board the Airplane

• Boarding: Great news, parents with kids get priority boarding! Getting on board early, gives you a chance to get each child situated in their seat, and to get yourself situated.
• Wearing Baby On Board: Flight attendants typically won’t let you wear baby once you’re sitting in your plane seat. You’ll have to remove baby from the carrier for takeoff, and place him/her on your lap once your seatbelt is secure. Once up in the air, I like to get baby back into the carrier for a nice, snug napping spot, easy nursing and some hands-free time to read a book or magazine (unless you’re traveling with other kids – then this hands-free time does not exist. Haha!)
• Preventing Germs: If you or your child is sitting next to a stranger, aim your air vent to point down in between your child and them. This can create an airflow barrier, in case they cough or sneeze. If you’re traveling with a baby and a stranger is next to you, try to keep baby covered with the muslin swaddle blanket as much as you can and especially while nursing and during babys nap. I also bring along a baggie of Seventh Generation Disinfectant wipes to wipe down surfaces around us. These wipes kill 99.99% of germs and are non-toxic, so baby won’t come into contact with harmful ingredients found in other brands disinfectant wipes. 
• Taxing for Takeoff: When your plane makes it way to the strip to take off, you’ll want to be ready to breastfeed or bottle feed. Saving milk for takeoff is very important because it helps keep babys ears clear during ascent. Bonus – baby will probably then fall asleep. Nurse or bottle feed while the plane is landing as well, for the same reason.
• Changing Diapers On Board: Don’t wait for a diaper blowout once on board! Make a conscious habit to change baby’s diaper every hour or two of the trip, to avoid explosions. Are you traveling with multiple kids and by yourself? Take all of them with you to the restroom and leave the restroom door open while you change baby’s diaper – this way you can keep track of everyone. Don’t worry what others might think – keeping an eye on your littles is the most important thing! Sometimes, there are no changing tables in the airplane bathroom. In this case, you’ll have to get creative with changing baby’s diaper in your seat. Don’t get caught up in fretting about the smell – it’s a shame there aren’t changing tables on every plane and it’s not your fault! I keep disposable diaper bags on hand so I can tie up that poopy diaper pretty fast and minimize smell impact.
• Food and Drink Service: When the snack cart comes around, choose to hydrate your littles with water and skip the juices and soda. They won’t feel good putting that in their body while in an airplane up in the air, and you won’t feel good when they’re bouncing off the walls from a sugar rush. Same goes for snacks – try to choose peanuts or pretzels over the sugary cookie. Even better, if you have stocked your bag with some of the healthy snacks, mentioned above!
• Traveling Internationally While Breastfeeding: I really should do an entire post about this! Whether traveling with or without your baby, bring a hand pump as a back-up to your electronic pump. Trust me, I blew up my Medela pump while overseas trying to use a converter. It was a sad, sad day! If you’re traveling without baby, set alarms on your phone to alert you to pump every 2-3 hours so your supply stays strong and in tact. I turn off my ring, switch to vibrate and place the phone under one of my thighs so that it won’t fall if I’m sleeping and I will feel it. 

Train Travel with Kids

• What Time to Arrive: Check online ahead of time, to find out whether your train station has a manned building with waiting room, or is curbside only. Make sure to arrive at least 30 minutes early, so you have time to ask someone working the station, or a friendly stranger, to help you get your car seats on board when the train arrives. The train stops and goes all within a very short span of time and you have to be prepared to move fast! I also use this extra time, to fold up the stroller and line up all of our gear on the platform so that I’m ready to move fast when the train arrives.
• Avoiding Germs: Pack a zipper baggie of Seventh Generation Disinfectant wipes to wipe down surfaces around you and the kids. These wipes kill 99.99% of germs and are non-toxic, so baby won’t come into contact with harmful ingredients found in other brands disinfectant wipes. 
• Bring a Washable Blanket or Tablecloth: When you step on board, look for the seats near the restrooms that have the extra space with handicap access. If they are available, this is a great space to set up shop with your kids. You’ll have a couple of seats, as well as ample floor space for picnics, naps or playtime. Set up your blanket on the floor so the kids can sit and spread out. I find this to be much easier than trying to corral kids to sit in seats for the entire trip.
• Restrooms: Being that the handicap area is usually located near the bathroom, you’ll be less stressed getting kids to and from the bathroom in a timely manner. Be sure to change babys diaper every hour or two, to avoid a major blowout up their back.
• Food Car: Utilize the food car, to change scenery a bit at meal times, or for when you need a table to play a game on or color.
• Preparing for Arrival: When you know you are a half hour out from your stop – start gathering up all of your items, get your carseats and other bags down from where they were stowed, and have everything lined up near the door you’ll be exiting from. Let the attendant know that you may need some help disembarking with all that gear. This will make your departure from the train so much easier!

Road Trips with Kids

Now what about road trips? We have gone as far as 19 hour drives, but more often do 5-10 hour drives – most of these tips work for any span of time!

What to Pack in the Car, the Night Before

In order to contain the mess when you travel with food and kids, you’ll want to pack a few items into your vehicle the night before:

• Grocery Bags: I either keep one grocery bag for garbage collection up front in the passenger seat, or set up a paper grocery bag beneath each car seat that the kids can toss garbage into themselves.
• Bibs: for littlest ones.
• Entertaining Mirror for Baby: I love this Brica baby mirror which comes with a remote to operate it from the front seat. It lights up and makes music with a push of a button on the remote, and you can turn it on to create a distraction when baby gets fussy.
• White Noise for Baby: Does your baby need white noise to soothe? Sometimes cracking a window on the highway is enough, but other times you may need something that’s more familiar if you’re using a white noise machine at home. I’ve used this affordable, portable white noise machine that clips right onto babies car seat and has a built-in timer. It’s battery-operated, so no outlet required. 
• Roll of Paper Towel: You’ll need them to clean up messes.
• Dollar Store Snack Containers: Since they are only $1, I don’t feel too bad if they get gross and I toss them out.
• Reusable water bottles: So you can refill with fresh water along the way.
• Set up the DVD Players: If your car doesn’t have built-in DVD players, don’t worry! Portable DVD players made for car travel, typically have a velcro strap to secure them to the back of the headrests. Make sure you have all of the cords you need and get them set up in the car.
• Library DVDs: To keep their interest, borrow some DVD’s from the library for free. Many libraries offer renewal online, for longer trips!
• Parent Supplies: Set yourself up in the front seat, with sunglasses, water, wipes + diapers (for baby, not for you), grown-up snacks, toll booth change, headphones and whatever else you think you’ll need within reach.
• Download Useful Road-Trip Apps: I’ve used these apps to avoid accidents, cops and even to plan my route: Waze and inRoute. 
• Plot your Stops: Find a picnic area with a playground along your route to stop for a packed picnic lunch and run around on warm days, or try Chick Fil A’s indoor playground on cooler days. Hoping to keep it healthy on the road trip? Look for a Panera Bread which has decent enough, healthy choices for a drive-through option.
• For Overnight Trips: Plan what hotels you want to stop at ahead of time, so you have somewhere safe and comfortable to park overnight. I try to research the towns on my route that look like they time up correctly with when we need to stop – so I know whether it’s an area I’ll feel safe in and I can see what hotels they have available.

Morning of Departure

• Bathroom: Have all the kids do a potty break before buckling in, and do one last diaper change for baby. Toddlers will argue they don’t have to go – make it non-negotiable and do your best to encourage them. I’m not against bribery in this instance, haha! 
• Communicate the Food and Bathroom Travel Plan to the Kids: Let your kids, ages 3 years old +, know what the plan is for stopping for potty breaks, and continuously remind them to only sip their water, so they learn to pace themselves. Mine will guzzle a full bottle of water from the get-go if I don’t remind them that our first stop won’t be for 3 hours. Decide what works for you, but this will impact how many times you end up stopping for the restroom. If you’ve got someone that is only recently potting trained or still working on perfecting using the potty… put a diaper on them, and forget the potty training during the trip. You’ll be glad you did!
• Set the Kids Up for Fun: Keep the surprise bags up front and out of reach, so you can pace them and pull out new surprises when the mood warrants a change. Set up everyone in their carseat with their lap tray buckled on. Hand them their electronic devices with headphones, and their pencil pouch lanyards, so they have easy access once you depart.
• Garbage Prep: Place paper grocery bags beneath each carseat to catch garbage. 

What to Do on Departure

• Headphones: Make sure your headphones are handy. If the kids are watching a movie in the back, you can be listening to a podcast, music or audio book. This helps you stay sane through the drive and not lose your cool to the background noise of Caillou’s whiney voice. 
• Departure Time for a Day Trip: Leave early enough that you beat work traffic (6 or 7 am) or late enough that you avoid the traffic (9 or 10am). Try to plan your timing so that you can make it to where you’re going in one day, if possible.
• Departure Time for Long Trips: Leave at a time that gets you to your first hotel overnight before 10pm. I try not to stop much later than that, because it’s hard waking up sleepy kids and getting them to cooperate to get out of the car. Also, once they are up, good luck getting them settled back down to sleep!
• Nursing? I carry a hand pump in my bag for situations where I want to keep driving and stay on a time schedule, but still need to get more milk for baby. I’ve tried a few different brands, and the Medela hand pump is easiest for me to use and has never failed me. I won’t come right out and suggest pumping while driving, and passing bottles back…