It’s almost the summer travel season and with the excitement of a new destination can also mean another stress for moms. We pack, make food, plan trips and are the everything to everyone frequently forgetting about out own needs! And what makes things even more difficult is that each kid seems to be so different…. some adventurous, some hating change, and some who cry at the drop of a hat. Amazingly, make it all come together and are like the fabric that the clothes are made from!
Here are 7 super practical tips to help you stay on track this summer travel season;
- Dress comfortably and wear layers. When you feel good about yourself it’ll be just a little bit easier to deal with everyone else and make an uncomfortable situation a little bit easier so be sure to plan enough time to dress in a way that leaves you confident yet comfortable.
- Bring extras for air travel. Kid can get really uncomfortable on airplanes. With the change in pressure in the cabin during take off, it can leave kids crying and mom stressed. Bring lollipops, pacifiers, and any kind of suckers to help little ones to adjust ears to the difference in pressure. Don’t forget wipes to clean sticks hands. Sucking will help ease clogged ears!
- Strollers are a must! At home you might have a big heavy jogging stroller or something where you can pack the underpart with an entire lunch bu,t when traveling, pack light. Buy a stroller (or find one at a yard sale) that is simple and lightweight. If you need extra storage with a stroller then bring a baby back pack and pop it on the handles. Travel strollers (also called umbrella strollers) run about $11-$16 and fold very easily.
- Plan your time; Plan an additional 30 minutes on top of what time you think you’ll need heading to the airport. Don’t cut things to the very last minute – it causes additional stress and inevitably something happens that is unexpected.
- Roll clothes: When you’re packing for all of the kids in your family what frequently happens is that you have no matching outfits by the end of the trip. When packing the suitcases roll underwear, socks, shorts and tops all into one and then place it’s rolled outfit into the suitcase. Then, when you arrive, all the kids need to do is grabbed a rolled outfit and they’ll be matching and have everything they need.
- Keep kids independent; Get child size suitcases that are on wheels for little ones. That’ll give them a job during travel and keep them busy and a bit more independent giving you more free hands to take care of babies and toddlers.
- Bring a new toy or new book: Over the weeks before travel, start thinking about a new book or a fun new toy that you’ll “surprise” the kids with (pack it in your carry on) once they’re in the car for the road trip or on the airplane all settled in. This will help keeping whining and boredom at bay long enough to help you keep your sanity!
If you don’t yet have a fun family trip planned for your summer vacation I highly recommend Dare County in the Outer Banks of North Carolina! See my video below:
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