Holiday Travel Survival Guide

From LoveToKnow Baby

We all look forward to getting away during the holidays whether we are going to visit with family, relax on a beach or hit the slopes. However, along with the happy anticipation, holiday travelers also share concerns about packing and what the airport and flights might hold in store. Add young children to your travel plans and your happy anticipation is often replaced with anxiety and your normal travel concerns can turn to outright fear and dread.

Make your holiday travel less stressful.

Tips for Packing and Traveling with a Baby or Toddler

Traveling with small children is never going to be as easy as traveling without them, but proper planning and preparation will make your trip easier and more enjoyable. Here are some tips for packing and surviving enhanced airport security.

Packing The Suitcase

Babies need lots of clothes, diapers, supplies and gear to make it through the day. Be sure to pack everyday items that you take for granted. You will be tempted to bring only the bare minimum, but not having enough clothes, wipes, bottles, or sippy cups, etc. can make for a more difficult, less comfortable trip.

Lighten your load by having your baby supplies delivered to your destination by Babies Travel Lite. With over 1,000 name brand products at competitive prices, you can shop online for all the things you will need and have them waiting for you at your destination be it a hotel, vacation home or Grandma’s house. This is a great way to make traveling easier.

There are three things that you should always do whether you are traveling for two days or two weeks.

Plan for your trip well in advance. Visualize how your trip will unfold and try to anticipate your baby’s needs. Make sure you will have the right clothes in the right size. Think about what gear you might need. Either arrange to have it waiting for you at your destination, or if you are bringing it make sure you have specialty bags so your gear is travel ready.
Create a packing list and use it. List everything you think you will need. Include even the most obvious items so nothing gets left behind in the final rush. Check off each item as you pack. Before you lock the front door review the list one last time to be sure you didn’t miss anything.
Prepare for the unexpected. It may be easy for you to adjust; it is not so easy for your baby. Weather forecasts are often wrong, and indoor temperatures are unpredictable. Pack a variety of clothing to keep your baby comfortable in case it is hotter or colder than you anticipated.

If you are traveling by air don’t overlook airline baggage restrictions. Check with your carrier about the limitations, restrictions and extra charges that might apply, and pack accordingly.

Packing The Carry-On Bag

In addition to worrying about what you will need when you arrive, you need to make sure you have the necessities while en route. You must be prepared for unexpected delays and unanticipated problems with your children. Be happy if you are lucky enough to arrive with your baby bag still full. At a minimum, always make sure you have, at least, the following when you board:

Full bottle or sippy cup – Accessible for take-off and landing
Diapers – 24 hour supply
Baby Wipes – Minimum 40 wipes
Formula – 48 hour supply (don’t forget the bottled water if you use powder)
Extra Bottle – One clean bottle just in case
Baby Food & Snacks – 2 day supply (don’t forget the spoon)
Change of Clothes – 2 complete outfits
Medicine –All required medication & consider bringing some Tylenol or Motrin
Blanket
Sweater or Light Jacket
Gallon Zip Lock Bags – Minimum 3 bags (great for holding soiled items)
Baby Lotion – Great way to hide smells in case of an on board baby emergency
Toys for your child – Think about how you will amuse them in the airport and on the flight

Clearing Enhanced Airport Security

Traveling alone or with your partner clearing airport security can be a major annoyance, but add a child or two and clearing security can become disastrous. Here are some tips that will improve your chances of avoiding disaster. Keep in mind, that the only thing that is certain about the specific security regulations that impact the traveling family is that the regulations are subject to change without notice and that even if you understand the regulations enforcement may not be consistent. Always check with your airline or check TSA before you travel because the rules can and do change constantly.

There is currently a ban on bringing liquids, crèmes, and gels through airport security check points. Each traveler may carry through security individual items that are no more than 3ounces each and all of your items must fit comfortably in a quart-size, clear plastic, zip-top bag (which you must supply). This rule has significant impact if you are traveling with a small child.

Here is a quick survival guide.

Take a close look at your diaper bag. Well in advance of your departure date inventory the contents of your diaper bag. There are things in your bag you don’t think about that will be an issue – hand sanitizer, sunscreen, diaper crème. When it is time to travel, make sure all of the items that won’t go in the quart size zip-top bag are packed into your checked luggage so you don't lose them at the security check point.
Liquid prescription medicine with a name that matches the passenger's ticket will be allowed. The name on the medication must match the name on the boarding pass. In addition, you may bring up to 4 oz. of essential non-prescription liquid medications. Make sure you check the size of your bottles so you don’t lose your medicine.
Infant formula or breast milk is exempted from the liquid ban. The formula must be presented for inspection, and you must be traveling with the infant. Consider bringing enough powdered formula to cover you in the worst case scenario where your formula is confiscated and/or your flights are severely delayed.
Prepare for big crowds and long waits. Make sure you bring things for you child to play with, and be prepared to amuse them while you are in line. Also, make sure you have drinks and snacks. You could be in line for several hours without any way to obtain supplies.
Use disposable beverage containers for the drinks you have while you wait to clear security. You will have to throw it away when you reach the security check point.
Bring an empty sippy cup or bottle and purchase the beverages you will need for your flight in the airport after you clear security but before you board. Remember your baby or toddler needs to drink during take-off and landing to avoid ear problems.

Make a plan for how you will go through the security check point. It may sound ridiculous, but screeners follow strict rules that can create chaos for the unsuspecting traveling family. Not enough hands to take care of all that needs to be done, restricted movement and impatient people waiting behind you can turn the simple tasks described below into monumental undertakings.

Babies must be out of infant carriers (yes even if they are blissfully and quietly sleeping)
All children must be out of strollers
All of your belongings must pass through the x-ray machine, or if anything is too big to fit it must be inspected
Once a person passes thru the detector they cannot return to the side where they started (nope, you can’t take one child through and go back for another)
All pockets need to be emptied into a tray
Shoes and belts need to be removed. Could be everyone or just a select few family members.
Everything needs to be reversed once your family and all your belongings have been cleared to proceed.
Screeners will not assist you with your belongings
Screeners will not assist you with your children

Traveling with your baby or toddler requires thorough planning and much patience, but the reward is easier and more enjoyable travel.

More Information

Check out the article on Travel Lite for the Holidays for additional information.

Natalie Pechacek is the CEO and co-founder of Babies Travel Lite. She is mother of a 4 1/2 year old daughter and a 3 1/2 year old son. Natalie is a family travel expert who has authored articles, appeared on TV and radio, and has been featured in parenting magazines.

Babies Travel Lite delivers baby supplies like diapers, formula, baby food, bath and sun care supplies and much more to travel destinations in the United States and worldwide. They deliver to hotels, resorts, vacation rentals, and even to Grandma’s house.

In addition, Babies Travel Lite offers a variety of specialized and innovative travel gear for people preparing to take a trip. Customers can have these items sent to their homes before they travel making the airport experience easier and making the travel to their destination more enjoyable.

Visit the Babies Travel Lite Travel Guide for more helpful travel tips and other useful travel information.