Travel Tips with Young Kids

When it comes to traveling with young children, I’ve been there, done that! There are tips and tricks to make it easier on yourself, but my best piece of advice is to start ‘em young. 

First of all, get them used to being in the car seat. Don’t be afraid to drive around with them even if they’re crying and fussing. If you can power through the difficult moments when you just sit there wishing you had one of those cars with the sound-proof glass separating front from back, then you can start to get your child used to the car. They learn that this is just the way things go. It really makes life easier once your child accepts car travel as a way of life.

Singing to your baby can work wonders in the car. They like the sound of your voice, no matter how off-key you might think it. Getting a snack-trap is a real blessing too! It’s perfect for little hands which can’t quite maneuver a plastic bag or cup yet. 

You may think driving from Bend to Portland is an intimidating feat, but again, if they get used to being in the car they’ll get the hang of it. Bring lots of snacks, a blanket or stuffed animal to encourage sleep, sing to them or maybe stop a few times to let them stretch their legs. When your child might seem like they’re at their worst it often just means that sleep is around the corner. If you can hold out a little longer than you might get a little reward for your patience!

If you’re traveling in Winter or when there might be snow on the ground (basically Fall, Winter or Spring. Oh and I guess there was one Fourth of July one year…) make sure to pack up blankets, extra water and anything you might need incase of an emergency. If you hit a bad spot and end up taking a lot longer than you expected you’ll be very grateful for those extra diapers, food and warm clothes! 

One of my most beloved baby items (which you can use for about the first two years!) is a baby tent. It folds up into a convenient, small and light round bag. You pull it out of the bag and it pops right into a tent shape! No, tent poles or any of that nonsense! It zips up but your child can still see you while he/she is inside. The tent comes with an inflatable mattress to lay on and also help keep your child warm up off the ground. It’s a fantastic substitute for a pack ‘n play and a space-saver!

If you have family traveling into Central Oregon with small kids, you might consider renting baby items so they don’t have to lug bulky kid’s gear around with them or pay expensive air travel fees. Or another good option is to check out some of the well-stocked consignment kid’s stores around town and maybe even sell the item back to them when you're done. 

Air travel can be somewhat tricky and unfortunately not always a good experience. I’ve learned the hard way and also learned from other people’s stories. 

You can fly free with a “lap infant” up until they turn 2 years of age. This is a fantastic money saver, though by the time they hit 18 months you may begin to feel that no matter what it costs buying the child their own seat is well worth the money! If you have an over night flight you should check with the airline to see if they have a bassinette option for your child. This is basically a little pull-out pocket crib and can be a big relief if you’re able to get your baby to fall asleep. 

Another big help, especially with lay-overs, is to bring your stroller along. It helps when you have a lot to carry. You can push your child right up to the gate most of the time and have the gate staff load your stroller right onto the plane and pick it up again immediately upon landing. Check the directional signs for play places when you arrive at an airport. It lets the kids burn off energy and also gives them a bit of a reward for putting up with all the confinement of the plane.

Many people are very kind and will be understanding of the tough time you may be having with rambunctious youngsters. Unfortunately this is not always the case and sometimes you can hardly blame them. No one wants to have their seat kicked or hear screaming, etc. Tight, cramped airplanes are just not conducive atmospheres for even-tempers and patience. The best I can offer is to bring a variety of things for your child to do. You’ll have to gauge this according to your child’s age and abilities, but DVD players, brand-new (to them) toys, books and food all can work wonders. 

If your flying experience is like mine, you’re going to have tantrums and you’re probably going to be pretty embarrassed. All I can say is just to do your best and remember that other people have been in your shoes and may be more understanding than you imagine them to be. Then float off into your happy place dreaming of your hopefully wonderful destination-to-come.

Whether cars or plane (sorry I guess I haven’t done it all as I’ve no train experience) you often have to tough it out, but there will be plenty of times when you are glad you did for the end result. Plus you’ll build a love of travel in your child at a young age and perhaps when they’re older they might be suggesting the travel plans to you! Bon voyage!