Traveling with kiddos.

Out of country adventures with children.

TIPS TO SURVIVING


Tips for flying is found HERE!

A little back story.

Three days before a weekend trip to Kyoto, Japan I decided to text the guy (airbnb) just to reassure the travel/direction plans. He tells me  he accidentally double booked our apartment with another family........ as my head about flew off I jumped right to what we know.

Booked a hotel room.

Looking back this was SUCH a blessing because the place ended up being NOT kid friendly. Bless our friends for trying to help us out. But, after Ian fell down these wicked steep (3 flights) of stairs we ended up moving to a hotel.

If there is one thing I think I am learning after taking more trips with kids is ideas/recommendations for others after we have major fails. 
My top 8 for traveling.

1. Itinerary

Do not set your standards too high for what you want to do/what you think you can do in one day. Then after you lowered them, be prepared for those to be even lower when it comes down to it. I put a tentative itinerary together highlighting the MUST SEE places, then we try our best to see the others but it doesn't always happen. I used to get really upset about it, but after Spain I realized I am just thankful to be there experiencing new things with my family in tow.



2. Kids and meals

Schedule your days around meals. Kids need 3 squares a day, and we all know when you miss one full meltdowns are on the horizon so, bring snacks. Trains/buses/subways get long, tiring and boring. Snacks help along the way. BUT, many times kids will not be held off just on snacks alone. Life was so much easier when we made sure we had lunch (although many times we didn't eat at the places I really wanted to go to because of the time crunch.) 

 

We have knocked full liters of sangria all over tables, had kids puke everywhere and much much more..... sometimes you just gotta roll with it. 

3. Take time to smell the flowers

Remember that the kids don't really care about the sights your looking at. I mean once you've seen one temple... you've seen them all. Let the kids run around in the grass and along the paths. Make games and play like,  I spy. This keeps them guessing and occupies their mind while hopefully giving you enough time to check out the sights you want. I did a lot of reading up prior to going, as well as listened to the information on my headphones during the trip. ALSO, make one day ALL about them... let them decide what to do, you'll be surprised how good they are when they're in control.

4. Pictures

I know we want pictures of them, I do, I beg and plead and argue and beg some more to get my family (husband included) to take the pictures that I want. Candid are always a good option. In Europe we really tried harder to just BE there, and not focus as much on the pictures.. this resulted in literally ONE selfie with all of us together, and many of different parts of the family. It's not going to go on your wall, but there were a lot less pouty faces and angry husbands. 

 

Also! Your kids watch you take pictures of everything... they want to do it too. Get them a little camera. Whether it be polaroid/digital/film/disposable, they want to take them with you and will enjoy walking around looking at boring old buildings if they are taking pictures along with you. ( If you get a polaroid it could be stressful because they'll take pictures of dumb stuff and run out of pictures real quick, so remember that ha).


5. Restaurants

Ask if they have a separate room, if they do it will lighten your stress level knowing your kids aren't driving everyone else crazy. Also, go during off times. In Europe many don't eat breakfast at all they just drink coffee and have a pastry, so hotels with breakfasts are smart as well as bringing oatmeal to the hotel to make in the room using the coffee makers hot water is always a good option, and budget friendly.
                                 

6. Hotels/ AirBnB

Read the reviews!!!! Many of the sites you can look for the family reviews settings. That will give you a better picture of the place you're going to instead of just someone doting because they want to be nice. Watch out for stairs, like our above disaster, and find a place your kids will be comfortable. If you're consistently forced to tell them no so they don't break something or hurt themselves they won't be able to relax and de-stress after a day full of sightseeing. It's always better when the kids are refreshed and happy.

7. Where to stay with kids what is a better option?

AirBnB can be great, when you're going with a ton of people and you know you'll cook a bunch of meals and need lots of space. With 3 kids we have realized that the prices are usually pretty similar staying AirBnB, to staying at a hotel (we are hiltonhonors members and love them). So, you need to weigh the options. In Europe like I said above about breakfast, it's worth it to get the free breakfasts that come along with a hotel stay. A family of 5 saves a lot on breakfast, and we all know kids NEED a good breakfast if we're going to have a good day.

8. Have fun!

Remember, it's called vacation for a reason. If you just want to spend a whole day lying around in the hotel eating room service and swimming at the pool it is okay. If you miss one castle the world will not end and I promise the kids/husbands and your feet will thank you for it.

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Traveling with kiddos.

Airplane Travel tips for Families with little kids: From a mom of 3

In the last 2 months the kids and I have taken 18 flights. Half were just the kids and I rolling solo without Daddy's help. In the year 2015 we took 29 flights. Most of these are across the globe flights (10+ hours). Henry was only 5 months old and had been on 3 continents and 5 countries. So, I feel like after all of these flights I have really gotten the hang of the little "tricks" and tips that can help your travels go much smoother, and other areas that are just all in Gods  hands.

Some of the best tips I would say are:

 Look into your airplane

When you book your flights make sure you look at what type of plane you will be flying on. This will help your seating arrangements and prepare for what the best spots will be for your family. Some flights you choose your seat online, but the ones that don't just make a quick phone call to secure seats together, and all in the same row.

Baby bassinet: Many large planes have this AMAZING accommodation of a baby bassinet. There are only a few available so you MUST call ahead and reserve one. They only are there for babies up to 20 lbs so keep that in mind. The large planes we have taken max have had 4 bassinets. They also are in the rows that have the TV monitors in the armrest. Which means that those armrests do NOT go up to allow another child to lay across you or across the seats. ( remember that, the seats with 3, by the window, don't go up. The center 4 seats have 2 bassinets and the center seats the arm rest goes up.) It sounds silly but, if you have a two year old that refuses to sleep sitting up straight, you remember those kinds of things.

This is a picture of my three. (5, 2, 5 months) This is a center row of 4. We lucked out and only 3 babies were on the plane so they let us have the full middle row instead of splitting us up.


Huge game changer for a 13 hour flight where you BEG your children to sleep, and also want to punch the flight attendants in the face when they turn the lights on after 4 hours to serve you "breakfast" when its NOT BREAKFAST!

I have let my 5 year old lay across the floor and cover up with blankets to get to sleep as well as my 2 year old across the seats. It doesn't sound the safest, but of coarse if there was turbulence I get them up.

Don't be afraid you're going to bother someone else. 

While on my 5th flight ( in a row) with the three kids by myself I had been awake for 30 hours and the kids were starting to get crazy an angel flight attendant said to me, " You are paying for those seats too, don't feel like others deserve those seats more than you do." The weight of anxiety lifted from my shoulders and I swear I could have kissed her.

We do pay good money for these tiny humans to fly on the planes with us. There is no child price, it is all the same. I know when that grumpy lady/man is staring you down while your baby screams you forget this but try not to. It's your baby. Their ears are probably hurting and their bodies aren't adjusted to the crazy times, they need you and that grumpy person staring at you will survive without 8 blissful hours of sleep on their flight.

 Drinks : BRING SIPPY CUPS

The sweet flight attendants haven't all had kids yet and don't realize when they hand you that heaping cup of apple juice that your stress level just jumped 5 knots as you know your 2 year old is going to spill in the next 5 seconds.

Bring a sippy cup. Bring one for your 2 year old, for your 5, 10, 12 year old... bring one for yourself especially if you're going to be holding a sweet babe on your lap. It doesn't bother anyone to pour your drink into the cup you can safely close and it also helps with the trash that's going to build up around you from all the snacks your kids will consume. I use the Take N toss. They are cheap and are pretty spill proof.

Snacks : Yes, you will make it through security with them.

Many people always think you won't be able to bring food to the plane, or that security is going to make you throw it out. If you have small kids, I swear you can bring just about anything you want (non-threatening of coarse). Each security I have been through is a little different. Some make me drink my water, some make me smell it, some do some fancy test on it and others just look at it and send me on my way. Be prepared for security to take a little longer but besides that you'll be good.

Okay, I know many people promote those tackle box looking things full of snacks. I am here to say PINTEREST FAIL. At least for kids under 3. Three and up it might work out because they aren't quite as clumsy. But really, 2 and below they're going to figure out a way to knock it over and literally waste ALL of your snacks you spent all night on pinterest looking up. I know it's not as eco-friendly but I package everything separate in little baggies. ( No Tupperware, too bulky) Or, I just bring pre-packaged things. PB&J is always a win, especially for kiddos who won't eat the meals on the plane. I also am a big fan of trail mixes, bananas, fruit and fruit snacks for bargaining/bribing the kids to stop staring at the people behind you. Granola bars for momma are especially a win, and a candy bar for when the kids haven't slept and you just need a little pick me up.

Keeping those kiddos occupied.

Older ones: you cannot go wrong with coloring books/notebooks. My 5 year old daughter gets SO excited when I buy her a special new book for her to write in on our travels. When we went back to the states she drew pictures of people we met along the way, the flight attendants, our food, the plane, everything. It really kept her occupied on a 10 hour flight that had no TV's, and no ipad/phones).

The younger ones are a little trickier: I do always say less is more. When we first started we brought SO much stuff to occupy them and I promise you, they won't use it all. It will weigh your arms down in those carry on bags and you'll be surprised what you didn't need. I do think that wrapping presents for them does keep the excitement up (when they're less than 2), but older it's just more mess. You can surprise them without wrapping.

silly puddy
crayons/WASHABLE markers
cars/airplanes
etch-a-sketch/ magnetic drawing boards
quiet-books ( be sure everything is attached, or else it falls out and you lose it all)
Your childs' favorite toy/stuffy ( try not to lose them though, that's always hard).
Headphones - On long flights the plane supplies them. They won't fit your kiddos head. There are
                      new ones lately about 20$ that will fit and if you use this as a surprise the kiddos will
                      LOVE you.

Babywearing: Get ready

Be prepared my babywearing friends. Be prepared for the flight attendant to force you to remove your peaceful sleeping child from your wrap to put the seat belt on that attaches to yours. I have tried, begged and bargained to not have to do this. But, most planes will make you. I have had my little guy sit up more and put it on WHILE IN the wrap and they've been okay with that. Honestly, I think the wrap is much safer for turbulance that that belt that really doesn't fit so well on them. But that's my humble opinion.

Keep the wrap on during the flight ( unless it's a structured carrier). You can nurse around it and then when your baby seems to be uber fussy and you don't know why you can pop them back in there, take a few laps around the plane and voila, the other passengers will be singing your praises. 

Wear a backpack when wearing your wrap. THAT ZIPS TO PREVENT PICK POCKETING.  A shoulder bag will fall easily.

Extra clothes 

Each child should have an extra shirt and pants (undies/diapers for little ones). Momma should bring another shirt as well. Many kids have accidents because they are scared of the really noise potty (warn them before going in, and flush after they walk out). Stella has thrown up EVERYWHERE, after a ton of flights and shocked us all. In asia their puke bags have rip off tabs... MEGA FAIL. Anyone can have a bout of sickness or spill their drinks everywhere. When your kid pukes on you, you'll want extra clothes. Dark colors are the best, they don't show all the wet spots and boogers quite as much.

Be willing/prepared to need help (if going at it alone with multiple kids).

It is not always easy to accept help but you'd be surprised how many people are willing and wanting to help you.  I am going to expand on the subject in a later post. Also, if you're going alone I think having the carseats make a difference especially during take off and landing you can strap them down and know they won't wiggle their way out and then get tossed around. ( Been there... it's scary)

Some kids are naturals at traveling and elevation change, their ears don't bother them and they can occupy themselves and some are just a hot mess ( no offense, I have one of them). Be ready when you get on the first flight for anything. I do think with more practice they get better, and of coarse age. I would say 18 months was the hardest with my oldest two. But now at 2 he has made big strides.

I always say a prayer that God will get us there safe, and of coarse with as little bumps as possible.

Good luck! 

If you have any questions just ask. :)

Here is the link to my Out of country Travel tips!

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Airplane Travel tips for Families with little kids: From a mom of 3