Traveling with Kids
Traveling with Kids
Debbie DubrowDeliciousBaby.com
Debbie DubrowDeliciousBaby.com
Why Travel✦ Leave your day-to-day routine and reconnect
as a family✦ Slowing down can be good
✦ Immerse yourself in a new culture✦ Kids help you connect with locals
✦ Learn through doing and experiencing✦ History & culture in context✦ It's ok to be different✦ New activities
Changing Expectations
✦ Relaxation?✦ Pace✦ Will they appreciate it✦ Will it be perfect✦ Live in the Moment
Where to Go
Wherever you want...✦Set your goal and then make it work✦Don't worry about what other people think or say✦Kids live everywhere
✦ Activities, products and services will be there
✦All inclusive resorts aren't necessarily easier
Flights✦ Logistics
✦ Minimize stopovers✦ Time of day (sleeptime)
✦ Cost✦ Discounted infant & child fares✦ Extra charge for lap infants internationally✦ Policy on car seats (esp in Europe)✦ Checked baggage fees (stroller, carseat, infant
luggage)
✦ Lap Infant✦ Safety vs. cost✦ Find a flight that isn't full
Hotels✦ Location
✦ Close to public transportation & main sites ✦ Apartment rental or home swap
✦ Extra space, kitchen, washing machine✦ Weekly housekeeping (not daily)✦ Residential: grocery stores, restaurants &
playgrounds✦ Hotels
✦ Room size: inexpensive suites✦ Chains are more baby safe & soundproof (in
general)✦ Wifi✦ Refrigerator or kitchenette✦ Cribs?✦ Other Considerations
✦ Pool; babysitting; kids activities; kids menu; toys
Logistics✦ Baby Gear
✦ Ship ahead or buy on-site✦ Local Rentals
✦ In-City Transportation✦ Public transit is easiest✦ Some airport-transfer services offer car
seats✦ Sit-n-Stroll ✦ Car seat laws vary
✦ Cell Phones✦ Unlock your phone✦ Buy a simm chip on arrival
Documentation✦ Birth Certificate and/or Passport✦ Visa(s)✦ If only one parent is traveling, appropriate
documentation✦ Notarized permission, custody
agreement, death certificate, etc.✦ Emergency contact list
✦ Include local "911" and doctor✦ Medical history✦ Itinerary✦ Photocopies of credit cards & passport
✦ separate from your wallet
What To Do✦ Pace
✦ Similar pace to home: 2-3x more time to see city
✦ Naptime in hotel, stroller or sling✦ Allow time to enjoy piazzas, local playgrounds,
etc.✦ Finding activities
✦ Festivals✦ Playgrounds
✦ City or tourist websites✦ Google maps satellite view
✦ Activities & restaurants✦ Local Blogs✦ Expat websites✦ Search "Barcelona with kids"
Preparing Kids✦ 10+ mo
✦ Explain what will happen✦ Shuttle, airport security, flight, etc.
✦ Explain security while you're in line✦ Need to put lovey on the conveyor belt
✦ 2+ yrs✦ Start to show pictures of your destination✦ Start to show a map✦ Pack a busy bag together
✦ 3+ yrs✦ Story books, crafts, videos✦ Picture of the day journal
✦ 5+ yrs✦ History related to destination✦ Travel journal
Packing✦ Less is Better✦ Carry on
✦ Passports & documents✦ Comfort items✦ Food, formula, bottles, sippies,
diapers, medication✦ Quiet, neat toys✦ Extra clothes & PJs✦ “Cares” harness, car seat✦ Stroller or sling✦ Electronics✦ Checked bag / roller
✦ Plan to do laundry (you will anyway)✦ Separate each person's clothing
✦ Packing checklists on DeliciousBaby.com
The Plane Flight / Car Ride
✦ Most parents' biggest fear (me too)✦ A small % of the trip✦ Expect that things will sometimes go
poorly✦ But... you can make things easier
✦ Exercise, exercise, exercise✦ Food, water, milk
✦ Protein and milk are calming✦ Low sugar✦ Quiet time during takeoff ✦ Dole out toys slowly✦ Bribe your neighbors✦ Plan for delays
Jet Lag✦ Expect about 4 days to adjust✦ Seems worse on return✦ Don’t fight it✦ Things that help
✦ Sunshine (esp at dusk and dawn)✦ Exercise✦ Calm and quiet at night✦ Adjust meal schedule gradually
✦ Take advantage of long naps
Travel Toys
✦ What makes a great travel toy?
✦ Quiet
✦ Neat
✦ Reusable
✦ Disposable
✦ No small parts
At Your Destination“Planning is everything, the plan is nothing”
✦ Know what you want to see and do
✦ Do the most important things first
✦ Allow extra time
✦ Carry addresses, phone numbers, directions
✦ Be flexible
Live in the moment!
Resources✦ DeliciousBaby.com
✦ Packing lists✦ Favorite travel gear✦ Favorite travel toys✦ Babyproofing✦ Jet Lag✦ Severe food allergies
✦ GoCityKids.com✦ CookieMag.com✦ Frommer's "With Kids" series