Getting Ready For Spring Break Travel

I flew often with my four when they were toddlers. One important rule that helped tremendously--you (child) must carry your own backpack. If you can't/don't want to, we leave it wherever we are. No exceptions. I came up with this rule when my oldest, about age 2, wanted to bring half of his belongings with him "in my backpack". I could see where that was heading--me schlepping not only the diaper bag, the car seat, and my carry-on, but his backpack as well (and probably him from time to time!). As I was also traveling as a lone adult, I laid down The Rule and it served us well. He chose his backpack contents carefully, and though he occasionally needed reminding about The Rule, I never had to carry his backpack--or any of his subsequent sibling's backpacks either. I also noticed something interesting--they rarely play with whatever they just HAD to bring with them! All the more reason for The Rule!

I also always brought a new surprise toy &/or book, plenty of non-messy snacks, and a clean outfit for small kids. I've been very grateful for that clean outfit several times! Have a great time! It will be an adventure!

Just came back from our trip. So awesome to get away!

Here are my additions:
iPad/itouch/: toddler games etc
sticker books: Ben loved his Cars and Sesame Street book one.

Y slpitter: Here is one from Amazon http://tinyurl.com/4z8jdsq

Have a great trip!!

There is an amazing headphone splitter called the Belkin RockStar...totally works for the computer headphone jack.

I'd be sure to bring some wipes! They always come in handy (even when your kiddos are out of diapers!). Also, my daughter loves stickers (or a sticker book) and they seem to keep her occupied in long car travels.

Ali -
As I read this I pictured myself preparing to travel to my parents home an hour away. I now take similar things for my duaghter! And I write lists and prepare weeks in advance. Enjoy your time away.

You could wrap little presents/food/crafts and bring one out at key moments as needed. This works a little better for car trips. Kids LOVE unwrapping presents. My friend had her kids cutting out snowflakes and taping them to their car windows on their trip.

Things to wrap:
*purse *bracelets *stickers *tape *small stuffie *colouring book *pack of crackers/cookies *DVD *book *funny glasses

Ali, I use my netbook on long car trips in place of a portable DVD player. You simply buy a jack adapter and two sets of headphones go in the top, and then you plug the single end of the jack into your computer headphone slot. Works like a charm. The piece is super cheap and can usually be found at Walmart or Target or probably Best Buy. Also, little tip for car/plane travel with kids...we keep some cheap little dollar store tray/baskets (about 1 1/2 inches deep) in our car. When the kids want to play with the little Lego sets or the Polly Pockets dolls, we give them a tray and it corrals the toys, keeping them from falling off laps, etc. They also work great for eating in the car--now the child doesn't have to balance their burgers and fries in their laps, or keep asking their parents for another bite. Good luck with the trip!

Hey Ali - I vlog for SWA on flying with kids. You can check out my traveling with a toddler video here: http://themomcreative.blogspot.com/2009/10/southwest-and-me.html

I love the Go Go Babyz too!

so happy to see you promoting Luncbots! my husband's store, The Green Life, sells them + i love them for myself (a kid-less adult). awesome alternative to plastic or disposable bags.

Stickers. When we traveled with our 2 1/2 year oldnto Norway we took a dress-me doll (buttons zippers etc). And keeping things hidden or wrapped so they are surprises is always good. Bingo game typenthings where you have to look for items as you travel.

No lil ones here in my house except the grandson when he visits and "my" baby is 20 yrs old.
A few things I thought of:
* a small package -or- Ziploc of wipes for hands & faces, maybe anti-bacterial stuff for hands too.
* small pads of paper for each of you. Ali you could use yours for those quick jot downs (which you probably have one already) and the kids could use theirs for drawing with those great "washable" crayons you showed.
Have a great trip!
*make a travel bingo game for Simon. Think of things on the plane (seat buckle,overhead light, stewardess, etc...), outside his window (clouds, rivers, plowed fields,etc), at the airports, and more. I use to make these up for when I traveled by car with my 4 kids.

actually you can get a splitter. I have one for my ipod. you plug it in where you would normally put your head phone end and it has two spots on the other end to put in your headphones. check best buy, target, etc.

change of clothes for each of you.. I've been flying with my kids (3 boys) since the oldest (now 8) was 6 weeks old. And the biggest mistake is not having enouugh extras for those unexpected spit ups, vomits, diaper blow outs, and/or accidents. They always seem to happen while we are traveling (they get anixous)... One time I had to fly with stinky spit up all down the front of my top for 4 hours until we could get to the terminal and buy me something. My middle son also once had to fly pantless home because of two diaper blow outs...now I am well prepared.

BTW, if your connection is in Denver they have a fabulous second floor thats competely empty, so the little ones can run, run, run between flights. Have fun.

My 7 year old LOVES some of the Star Wars audio books from iTunes, he also enjoys Mad Libs. I've also found that "renting" from iTunes works really well, and gives us some diversity in the options.

Radio Shack for a headphone splitter so that the kiddos can share the same listening device. I have noise reducing headphones, but my son does not. As a result Radio Shack actually has a splitter/enhancer device so that the sound can be increased (this is especially helpful on the airplane).

Snacks, snacks and more snacks. Gum is always a big hit for us, and I get some of the sugar free drink mix-ins. (Kool-Aid has a sugar free version). This makes drinking water more fun, and Jackson likes "mixing". Wipes of course - and I put a hand stanitizer in Jackson's backpack. Keep shoes simple for easy on and off through the airport (dealing with laces is time consuming). This goes for mom too - I have a tendency to be high-strees until I get through security so limit jewlery, slip on shoes.

The number one rule in our family is always "HAVE FUN", I know you will!!

Though my daughters are now 22 and 26, I really enjoyed reading these suggestions, especially since we're all going on a road trip for spring break! Some tips here still relate to travel with adults (ziploc baggies, hand wipes, hand sanitizer, cool snack containers, drawing supplies, music, dvds, etc.) I know, when traveling, ideas of being "green" sometimes slip out the window for convenience, but a simple wash cloth for each person could really come in handy, for wash-ups when you don't want to make more garbage w/hand wipes. Sometimes the scent (even w/unscented wipes) can be a bit overwhelming when wiping faces, so a soft cloth with an accompanying ziploc to store it can be nice for a fresh-up with water in the bathroom.

I have headphones with a splitter for my two daughters when traveling. The two headsets merge together into one jack. Brilliant! http://www.amazon.com/Belkin-F8V234-WHT-APL-Headphone-Splitter/dp/B0000UV2AW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1298923182&sr=8-1

i sort of hoped for a second that i was the gabrielle you were coming to see in north carolina!
you sound like you are ready to go, my dear.
and i SWEAR by my kids having their own seats when we fly-- absolute lifesaver.
xoxo.

We fly with our kids all of the time (they're now 7, 6 and 4). Crayons roll all over the place, so ask a flight attendant for a plastic cup to corral them. They fit right into the cupholder on the tray and make it easier for little ones to access them.

Also, don't stress about the seats (on the off chance you're not together). It happens to us all of the time, and the flight attendant always help to get us seated together.

Snacks have been our saving grace, so get a few special treats (low sugar, of course) that you don't normally allow. You'll be glad to have them.

And those awful Pillow Pets they love so much have made recent trips really easy. They have a lovey as well as a pillow.

As long as the kids are sitting right next to each other, they make earphoes that splice so there are two sets of earbuds. They are relatively inexpensive, and perfect for two people watching movies on a computer at the same time (my friend and I used to do this on the train).

My most useful suggestion would be a dose of a non-drowsy antihistamine before leaving. My daughter had terrible ear pain on every flight despite all the usual remedies such as gum and candy and sucking - every try to describe to a 5 year old how to pop their ears..yeah..kinda of hard to do. Finally on one flight a physician suggested giving her an antihistamine to dry up the fluid in her ears. She does this before every flight now(she is 19!) and has never had problems that a little gum doesn't help.

Oh I wish I had that car seat/stroller back in those days and I think you have entertainment covered!