Annie Binns | Life in the Fun Lane

Traveling with a toddler can be a real challenge, but it pales in comparison to traveling with two or more toddlers! Any parent knows that your child inexorably finds ways to entertain themselves that are less than helpful in a car, an airport; or worse, on an airplane. My own child cleverly threw a toy into the aisle of the plane, causing me to look away for a nanosecond while I picked it up. As I turned back around, I nearly smacked foreheads with the nice lady sitting in front of us, who had whirled around in a dervish to see why I had been pulling her hair. Lucky for me, she smiled understandingly at my daughter and sat back down. That’s when I saw the gum in her hair

The key to traveling with children is no different than any other activity where your children are confined in an environment not designed for them. I’ve had great success with the following techniques:

Snacks: You can’t have enough snacks. You can, however, have the wrong type of snacks. This is tricky because the wrong type will change several times during your trip. I recommend packing each type of snack in its own plastic baggie. Any parent knows that if a bad snack touches a good snack, the contamination is irreversible.

Toys: You’ll want to be sure you have toys your children have never seen before. Any old toy from home is not going to do the trick and may even result in sarcastic eye-rolling from your child. It goes without saying that the best travel toys do not have built-in speakers. I’ve had luck with sticker books, magnetic toys, and puzzle books for older children.

Exercise: Yes, you read that right exercise. Wear them out every chance you get. In the airport for a while? Hike up and down the concourse. On the road? Try making a meal stop in a small town and find the park. On the plane? Wait until the beverage service is complete and then walk them up and down the aisle for a bit. Will it bother the passengers in the aisle seats? Not if it keeps gum out of their hair.

Comfort: Bring the blankie. And the stuffed animal that is missing both eyes and one ear. And the jammies. Whatever your child sleeps with should be in your carry-on bag if at all possible. It is perfectly acceptable for your child to travel in their pajamas or their superhero costume. Or both. We’re not making an impression here we’re maintaining our sanity.

Calm Parents: This technique trumps all others. You’ve seen them – the parents who haven’t broken a sweat the whole trip; who still have that half-smile on their face. You have to suppress the urge to ask them who their pharmacist is. Nonetheless, it is critical that your children are the only ones acting like children. No one likes to watch mommy have a tantrum. Except maybe the lady who found gum in her hair.

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