Have to go somewhere by air? Have multiple kids? You probably saying yourself I should check in google, What are some tips for traveling with multiple kids?
We got your back, this article explaining what you should do in this situation.
Our kids are pretty young, so I can only speak to this from the baby/toddler angle.
First off, I would recommend the CARES harness if you’re traveling by plane. It’s light, easy to deploy, and feels basically like a car seat, so most kids should be comfortable with it. My son is very squirmy, and it kept him seated with absolutely no fuss.
Another tip is to avoid traveling in car seats if at all possible. This can be accomplished in a few ways:
- Take public transit to/from the airport.
- Travel by coach/shuttle bus.
- Rent a car with the car seats you need.
- Look into family-friendly taxi services that have vans with car seats installed.
If you must take the car seats, you can buy an attachment that will turn the seat into a roller-bag of sorts that you can strap the kid into.
While I haven’t personally tried this, it seems like a very sane way to deal with dragging them through the airport.
A lightweight travel crib can be useful, but some hotels can deploy a pack-n-play for you, so check ahead. For older children, bed-sharing seems to work best, but I don’t recommend packing everyone into a king; opt for the room with two queens so each parent can sleep with a child if necessary.
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(We found this out the hard way when both kids were up crying, and we had somehow to fit all four of us into the bed to get any sleep.)
If you are traveling with a baby, a hands-free carrier
is essential. We use a Baby Bjorn, but it should be whatever your baby can be content in for 30-60 minutes at a time.
There are lots of places you can’t bring a stroller, and if you’re traveling by plane, you’ll have some in-between time at the gate where you have packed up your stroller for gate-checking, but you’re still standing around in line.
Packing the baby into the carrier lets you get on board the plane while having your hands free to deal with bags or herd the other children.
I like the ones that allow the baby to face forward because you can sit down with the child still in it, and you don’t have to fuss with getting them out while you hold up a line of impatient travelers.
Travel as light as possible. I know that’s laughable with children, but do your best. You should be able to maneuver all your stuff around while still having a hand or two free to deal with any kid-related nonsense.
Bring something small but high-interest that can entertain your kids for a long period and save it for emergencies.
For us, this was the iPad loaded with favorite games and movies, which we deployed while we spent 3 hours in the airport for a delayed flight.
It’s also good to have a few surprise toys/books stashed away to use as distractions or rewards along the way.
If you’ll be in any crowded areas (airports, parks, etc.) where you might lose a child, write your phone number on a sticker and put it on the back of their shirt.
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Typically lost children will end up at security and the first thing they will do is try to call you.
Do your best to care for their bodies. Pay attention to the clock and make sure they get meals and snacks at about the right times, nursing breaks, plenty of water, sunscreen if needed, take naps if needed, bathroom breaks or clean diapers, etc.
You will experience about 80% fewer tantrums if you keep this up, so they don’t get too uncomfortable.
On the subject of naps, you absolutely must make time for them if you have younger kids. The key for us was a heavy-duty double stroller. I present to you the Land Yacht:
Complete with two sleeping children! This stroller was our MVP. The seats can be switched to many different configurations (including fully reclined), and it also has a kickboard that the toddler enjoyed riding when he was tired of walking.
The sunshade was especially helpful with the baby; he quickly learned that lights out was time for sleeping. If you have a kid who naps and you don’t want to have to run back to wherever you are staying in the middle of the day, definitely find a stroller that reclines.
If a double stroller seems like overkill, look into getting a kickboard attachment as a plan B for a pooped kid.
Also, if you have a ridiculous stroller as we do, get the carry case for it from the manufacturer. It makes gate-checking a lot less of a hassle and also protects the stroller from damage.
If relevant, bring lots of baby food. In many airports, it seems impossible to buy the stuff. The formula can even be hard to find in an airport.
Plan for the possibility of being delayed several hours while stuck in a terminal and needing to feed the kids. On a related note, Starbucks is your friend when you need emergency kid food.
You can get pouches of applesauce, yogurt, fruit cups, juice boxes, and milk cartons at almost all of them.
If at the beach or pool, baby-sized rash guards and swim trunks seem super cute but are not worth the fuss. (Seriously, who wants to peel tight wet clothing off a baby/toddler?)
Put them in a white tee and a swim diaper, slather on sunscreen and call it a day.
Finally, know when to take down-time. Every kid has a tell that they are getting overwhelmed. My oldest son would ask for his matchbox cars, get right down on the pavement in the middle of the road or wherever, lay on his side, and drive them back and forth.
It was his way of soothing himself by focusing on something mundane and familiar. As soon as you notice that they are getting tired, either put them in the stroller, carry them, or otherwise find the space and time for them to rest for a bit.
Good luck and safe travels!
Special Thanks to Anne K. Halsall
