First flight?
Looming road trip?
Camping with kids?
My best tips & tricks, all in one place.
Tips for a fabulous flight:
- If your child is under 2 years old and the flight is more than 2 hours long buy your child a seat and bring the car seat with you. Yes, it will cost more but a long flight with a fidgety child on your lap is no fun at all. And the car seat is familiar. You child is more likely to relax and fall asleep in their car seat than in the plane seat.
- For children over 2 years old and under 12 I recommend the CARES Aviation Restraint System for safety.
- Pay more for the direct flight.
- If you have a long layover many airports have play areas.
- Pack quiet play activities, packaged snacks and books – and each child has their own small carry-on. If they are old enough (ie: walking) have them carry it.
- Ship items to avoid too many checked bags.
- Even if your flight is short don’t forget the carry on!
Some our our favorite items for flying:
- Trunki Ride On Suitcase – great for getting through the airport quickly!
- Trayblecloth – provides a clean tray surface. Also has a clear, wipe off drawing/game area and pockets for organization.
- Tika Kids Activity Bag – this keeps crayons, markers, coloring books and other fun activities together.
- Snack & Play Travel Tray – this is helpful if your child is in a car seat as the tray table won’t lay flat for them to draw or eat.
Other helpful articles:
- Know your flight restrictions – keep up the TSA website
- All about packing – including shipping items and tips on what to pack
- Check my product reviews for other great travel items.
Drama-free Drives
- Plan fun stops along your route. Small town parks for snacks or a picnic, water towers in fun shapes, the world’s largest truck stop… Any excuse to get out of the car for a few minutes will keep boredom at bay.
- Join AAA. Not only can they help with car trouble but their TripTik travel planner can help you plan your route, locate gas stations, hotels and restaurants and lead you to some interesting spots along the way.
- Plan ahead. Prepare for naps, snacks, and any overnight stays.
- Give the kids something to do: DVDs, games, coloring, cameras…
- Get your kids their own atlas and let them follow your route.
Some of our favorite items for drives:
- Snack & Play Travel Tray – keeps crayons and snacks from escaping. Great for drawing and playing with small items.
- Talus XL Backseat Organizer – large enough to hold everything;has handy pockets, a sturdy lid with flip up sides, dividers to help prevent “that’s mine” squabbles and a handle for easy transport from car to house.
- Tika Kids Activity Bag – keeps crayons, markers, books and other items together. Love the optional magnetic board for games.
- Space Bags – I rarely pack without them.
Other helpful articles:
- Games on the Go – an article originally printed in Parent’s Magazine
- If you are renting a car I have some tips. Some of these are specific to foreign rental, but others are helpful anywhere.
- I’ve tested lots of great products, many are great for long drives.
Camping Checklist
- Remember that popular weekends and holidays can book up to a year in advance. Book early for the 4th of July, Memorial Day, Labor Day or any community festival
- Many state and county parks require a minimum of 2 days advance reservation
- Tent
- Air mattress & air pump or “egg carton” mattress pad
- Lots of blankets or sleeping bags
- A fan (if you have electricity available)
- Spare clothing and long sleeve shirts, jeans, and socks for hiking through the woods
- Rubbermaid-type totes to pack clothing & food in
- Baby wipes
Other helpful articles:
- Notes from our first camping trip.
- Space bags are great for camping.
- Camping checklist on About.com
- Contact your local, county or state parks. For more distant locations book campsites with Camping.com or Reserve America
Have a travel question? Contact me and I’ll do my best to answer it!
