Guide to Traveling with Children: Dos and Don’ts

Seek the opinions of those traveling with children, and they’ll share that embarking on a vacation with kids is truly a labor of love. Parents venturing with their little ones must prepare for additional downtime and rest, and a surplus of patience is essential for the journey. Undoubtedly, the presence of children significantly amplifies the overall cost of the trip, leading parents to splurge on conveniences or extras just to ensure the children’s happiness and entertainment.

READ: 2024 Chevy Blazer Price Update: No Discounts in Sight

However, navigating the challenges of traveling with kids can be significantly less daunting if you grasp what to do and, equally importantly, what to avoid in advance. Indeed, the most enjoyable family trips unfold when parents strive to recreate a home-like environment. Excessive planning, overpacking, or disrupting a child’s sleep routine during a trip can turn the experience into a miserable one for everyone.

Traveling with Children

If you’re contemplating a family trip this year, there exist numerous proactive steps and pitfalls to sidestep that can transform the entire journey into a more enjoyable experience. Delve into the 20 dos and don’ts of traveling with kids before you gather the family and embark on your adventure.

Do: Pack Snacks and Entertainment
Ensure your kids are well-fed and occupied by stashing simple snacks in your travel bag for car or plane journeys. While the options are broad, opting for non-messy snacks like chips, pretzels, granola bars, and fruit snacks proves wise over items prone to melting or causing sticky hands.

Additionally, include phones, tablets, and other electronic devices that can engage your kids during travel. Yet, bear in mind that a vacation may not be the ideal time to impose new restrictions on your kids’ screen time.

Don’t: Neglect Chargers and Cords
Bring all the family’s devices intended for the trip, but don’t overlook the importance of packing charging cords and blocks. If your travel includes a cruise where power outlets may be limited in your cabin, consider carrying a plug adapter or power strip.

Facilitate your journey with kids by ensuring you always have a means to charge your devices, even on the go. A recommended practice is to pack a charged-up power bank, enabling you to recharge devices in various settings, whether in the car, on the plane, or even at the beach.

Do: Provide Headphones for Kids
Nobody, and I mean nobody, wishes to endure your child’s show or game at full volume within the confines of an airport or during a flight. Some airlines explicitly convey this sentiment in their safety announcements, going as far as intervening if passengers disregard the request.

To avoid potential embarrassment and ensure the comfort of those around you, always carry headphones for your kids on every trip. This thoughtful provision allows your children to enjoy their devices throughout the journey without encroaching on the peace of fellow passengers.