|
Looking for family travel tips? Here's a thing or two I've learned over the years:
Q. What's the best way to check-through a car seat when flying?
A. Although there are bags specially designed to hold car seats, I've never used one. I can recommend a cheap alternative.
Through 13 years, and two children, I've always used heavy duty trash bags (get the heaviest you can find). My husband tapes his business card (using heavy duty tape) to the bag. We put in the seat or booster seat, and then either tie a knot in the top or have the check-in people tape the top shut with the tracking label.
We've made 50+ family travel flights like this (including two international ones) and only had the bag break once. (I still got the car seat back. Just make sure you tape a business card to the bottom of the seat.)
Since they do get roughed up a bit, make sure to bring a second prepared bag (with a business card attached) for the return journey. I usually keep it in the outside pocket of my luggage and then just pull it out at the airport.
Q. I have to bring so much stuff for the baby! How can I fit it all in my luggage?
A. Here are some tips for cutting down on "baby bulk" in family travel:
- Diapers - Unless you're traveling to a very expensive area, don't fill up your luggage with them: buy them at your travel destination.
Just remember to bring enough in your carry-on (I would bring at least 6 for your flight) and maybe another 3-4 in your luggage. Use your judgment based on how many your child usually goes through in one day, PLUS how easily and quickly you'll be able to buy them within a day or so of your arrival.
Note: Apparently, the absorbent gel in diapers acts as an immediate "red flag" for TSA screeners at the airport (I guess it scans like something, shall we say, bad). So be prepared that any bag with diapers WILL be opened. - When possible, buy disposable - for example, you can now get disposable (paper) bibs.
- Look for collapsables - when we first traveled with our oldest, I bought a collapsible travel high chair. Made of hard plastic, it broke down into several pieces. Pros: you can attach it to any chair and it has a tray just the right height for baby. Con: it can take up to a good quarter or more of the suitcase.
If space is your biggest issue for family travel, you can buy one of those cloth harnesses that you can snap onto a chair (Pro: great space-saver. Con: no tray). Or, just seat baby in your stroller during mealtimes. - Umbrella strollers - As long as your baby is old enough to sit up unassisted, travel with an umbrella stroller rather than a regular sized stroller. Look for one that folds up as compactly as possible.
A. Good question! Click here to learn the latest rules for bringing liquids on board.
Q. My child always screams uncontrollably during landing. What can I do?
A. In a word: Tylenol*. Until our kids were two or so, we always gave them a dose of Tylenol just before we board. We found it really helps brunt with the ear pressure pain.
Next, we always made sure to give them a sucker or hard candy during take offs and landings. The sucking forces them to swallow, which is the best way to clear the ears. We rarely gave them candy at that age, so this was a real treat and had the added benefit of keeping them occupied for awhile.
*Although Tylenol is generally considered safe for infants, always check with your doctor.
Q. How can I keep my child from picking up germs on the plane?
A. Face it: airplanes are germ-fests. Between poor air-quality (it's the same air recycled over and over again through the cabin, so you're sharing others' germs) and all those germy surfaces, it's not unusual for kids to develop a cold (or worse) 48 hours or more after a family travel flight.
Here's what to do. First, bring bleach wipes (I bring them in a baggie so they don't take up so much room) and wipe down all surfaces when I sit down-- the arm rests and the tray are the usual obvious culprits.
If possible, avoid the seat pocket in front of you! Studies have shown that they are frequently riddled with germs, and since they're cloth, bleach wipes only do so much.
Lavatory surfaces are germ-ridden too, so take care in the bathroom. In fact, you're probably better off NOT washing your hands before you leave the lavatory...go back to your seat and use a healthy dose of hand sanitizer instead!
Think of family travel as being in a germ war-zone. All surfaces are suspect, so clean what you can, avoid the rest, and clean your kids' hands frequently with hand sanitizer!
Return from Family Travel to Travel Tips
Go to Virginia Beach Family Fun Home Page
