Traveling children can be terrific, but also exhausting for everyone involved. Here are some tips to keep children calm and happy during their travels.
Infants: Make sure you pack items to keep the infant on her schedule. If flying, make sure you have enough liquids for her to bottle-feed, or allow her to breast-feed, during take off and landing. The pressure changes at these stages of flight affect infants’ ears. Breast- or bottle-feeding during take off and landing will help keep their ears clear. With older infants, be sure to pack enough food and snacks to get them through the flight, accounting for possible delays. Try to mimic the sleeping environment at home. Bring along favorite blankets and crib toys so they have familiar objects. Make a packing list for each child to help remember the important items to pack.
Toddlers: Talk to your toddler before and during the trip, explaining what is happening and what will happen next. Most young children have no concept of time increments, and will have no idea how long they will be away from home. Before you leave, show them pictures of where the family is going, what you will do while there, and how you will travel to and back from your destination. If possible, try to keep the same schedule for naps, bath and bedtime. Allow for a few days for the toddler to adjust to the new environment. Remember, sleeping in a new place is scary for toddlers and young children, so bringing a nightlight, special music and special toys will help them become more at ease.
Children: Make sure to bring plenty of toys, books and games that will entertain the children in the car, train or airplane, as it is difficult for children to sit quietly for long periods of time. Bring DVDs, CDs, books and, if possible, go to the dollar store to purchase travel toys or take some toys away to be brought out again for the trip so they will seem interesting. Make sure to slowly introduce games or books one at a time, spacing the items to last through the journey. Arts and crafts are terrific for children, as are certain small action figures. If you are taking a long flight or train ride, walk around as much as possible before you depart, then walk the child down the aisle frequently to help expend energy.
As with toddlers, make sure to explain where the family is going, for how long, and what will happen during your time away. Draw pictures with them that tell a story to prepare them for what your destination will look like and what you will do once you get there. Sometimes children feel tired or bored during travel and will act out more often. Check in often; ask how they are doing and what they like or dislike during the trip. Also, have plenty of snacks. Packing each child a small bag with snacks and items to keep them busy will help them through the hours of sitting.
Teens: Try to involve your teens in the travel plans. Ask them places they would like to go and why. If their ideas seem plausible, have them research the destination. Show them how to book travel–from finding lodging, to booking tickets, to arranging transportation and so on. Make them part of the process to help teens learn what is involved in arranging travel plans. If age appropriate, allow teens some freedom during the trip. Try to find activities they will learn from, but also enjoy.
Family vacations are a wonderful way for families to bond and enjoy time together. A little planning ahead goes a long way toward everyone’s good time.
Tammy Gold is a licensed therapist, certified parent coach as well as a national parenting expert who regularly appears on outlets such as Good Morning America, The Today Show, Fox and CBS News. She also writes for items such as the Huffington Post and The Bump.com. Tammy has been working with parents for over a decade and her book Secrets of the Nanny Whisperer is the first time a therapist merges aspects of psychology into finding and achieving high level childcare.
By Tammy Gold, LCSW, MSW, CEC
Right now you can purchase Tammy Gold’s book, Secret’s of the Nanny Whisperer for just $16, and to help celebrate the sale of her book, Tammy would like to give one of my amazing readers a $50 Amazon Gift Code!!
This post and giveaway were all provided by Tammy Gold.
Because it talks about things that are of interest to me, seems like a great book!
This would be a good read for me because I take care of my two young grandsons so this would be helpful!
I babysit my niece full time, so this would be a great book to read!
it wold be informative and educational for baby sitting and the care of children in general.
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My MIL would love this! She baby sits.
it would help to provide insight when i babysit my niece and nephew
I don't have kids but I am planning on it and one of the things I struggle with is the fact I would have to go back to work and how will I find and know who to entrust the care of the baby too. I think this book would provide some answers.
I have four kids so I need all the help I can get (Laura DeLuca)
It would be good for me because I can always learn new things about being a good parent. rounder9834 @yahoo.com
This would be a good book for me to read because besides caring for my own 2 kids, I babysit for an infant.
This would be a good book for me because I do babysit the grandsons occasionally.
This would be a good book to help me become a better uncle.
This would make a good gift for a friend who has twins.
This will be helpful for me to raise my kids, I could use all the help I could get.
It would be useful to me because I am considering going back to work.
Im a parent so is good know more about how to take care kids!
Any additional parenting help is always good!
As a mother of 4 this book seems perfect for me.
I think I would like this book; I'm a mother and I like to read anything positive!
I have 2 sons and I would love to know what to look for in a nanny!
This would be a present for my friends who travel with their kids a lot.Thanks for the contest.slehan at juno dot com
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I am currently taking care of a friends baby… so this will be really helpful.
seems to be good to read about other's perspectives on bbs 🙂
It seems like it would be interesting to me
This would be a good book for me because it's about child care which you do not see often.thank you
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I think this would be good for my step daughter who has 2 children. She would enjoy it.
I have three kids, so I'm always looking for good parenting information.
it would be a nice read since Im a mom.
it would be great since I have a three year old
I feel that this book is a good read for me because it would give me insight on how to be a better parent & aunt!andysavi.mom@gmail.com
I think this book would give an insight on different approaches to baby and child care than you wouldn't have necessarily thought of.
It would be helpful to me because i have two little ones.
This would be a good read for when I have to go back to work. I am nervous about finding the right care.Carly D.
This would be a great read because I was a nanny years and years ago before going into the school system I think it would be interesting.
I am always looking for a great parenting read- I will have to pick up a copy- looks like a great book!
I like to read anything so it'll be great for me
love to use this to take care of my little niece correctly. thankyou, ken pohl19@comcast.net
Sounds like a lot of good information, all in one place! A lot of good stuff for a new mommy to read!
I would help me with raising my children .
offers some good points of view on child raising
It would be good for me because it would give me tips of being a better parent.
It would help me be a better parent.
Secrets of the Nanny Whisperer is a good resource if you are looking for a part-time, full-time or live-in nanny. Great book even if you do not have a nanny. All parents need information like this to better understand childcare.
This book would truly give my brother some guidance because he just had his first baby!
It would be a good read because every parent needs to learn as they go
This would be great, because I babysit my nieces and nephews often.
There are so many places where you can go to find out about nannies and you never know who to trust. This would be great because it would be a good reliable source to learn all you need to knowjmcharries@cox.net
This would be a perfect read for my friend Barb, who just had her first child with her husband and is having some first-time-parent jitters!Geoff Kgkaufmanss at yahoo dot com
Our family is considering hiring a nanny. We need to know!
This book would be great for me because I have 2 small children.
This would help me immeasurably with my grandchildren.
because I'm grandma nanny to our 5 grandkids … they all come daily to our home around 6 in the morning and stay till after work between 5 & 6:00
I would like some tips for babysitting my niece.Brittney House
I'm going to be a grandma in the fall, so I'd better brush up on all of the secrets!
We will be having our first child and I want to make sure I am fully prepared to be the best mom I can be! addictedtorodeo at gmail dot comAshley C
This would be good for me since I am mom. Definitely sounds like a great book
The fact that it's an Amazon best seller, means Tammy knows her stuff! I love checking out informative reads! 😀
Because it talks about what is important to me and finding the best!
Good ideas for family vacations in the summertime. This would be good to read for anyone with kids.
After helping with grandchildren over 22 years and now I have a great grandson that I babysit for a great deal, I need this book!
It would help me because I am hard on my kids and don't want to be the disciplinary with my grand kids.
Sounds like a wonderful book to read and share it with my niece she could use the information too.
Ah, if only the mysteries of a baby were truly known and understood! Knowing the "Secrets of the Nanny Whisperer" would help to understand what your baby is trying to tell you.
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because I watch kids for my family and friends all the time and im sure she has great nanny style tips for me!
Great for a pre-parent or pre-nanny to get a better understanding on what to do
for family vacations in the summertime
It would help i am raising three
I think this book would be good for my daughter as she does babysitting.
I think that this book could give me some tips in raising my son.rtrexel@gmail.com
I think it would have a lot of good tips for child rearing.
I believe I could glean a few useful parenting tips from this book.
I would like to read this because it sounds very interesting and Id like to learn about it.
It sounds very informative.
Because it steers you to good advice with instructions on how nanny in real advisory terms.
seems like an educational book
My kids are grown but I have three grandchildren and we take care of them a lot and would love to have some advise and guidance.
I think it'd be great for babysitting.
This book would encourage me in my parenting.
This would be a great gift for several new moms I know.
this book would help me with it's tips and having fun with my family!
Being a mommy of a two year old, with one on the way, I could use some advice!
I would love to give this as a gift to my friend who is becoming a mom for the first time in less than a month.
would help me keep them occupied – regnod(at)yahoo(d0t)com
It would be a good book to read because it would help me be a better caregiver
Tell me why Tammy's book would be a good read for you. Tammy Gold i dont have kids..probably nothing for me..interesting maybe
I want to give it to my brother for his baby momma.
Not for me but my cousin! She has three boys and just had a little girl. I know she would love this!
Big Earl's Mom would find this intriguing!theyyyguy@yahoo.com
This would be great for my friend who is a first time mom!
Im expecting for the first time this August I need all the help I can get
This would not apply to me, my kids are grown but my daughter is getting married and this would be a good read for her when she has her first child.
I have a friend who is a mom would love this book!
I'd find this book useful because I have two kids.
This would be a great book for me because I'm raising little ones
This would be so helpful. I hate traveling, don't mind when I get there, but all the craziness involved could be reduced with great ideas from this book.
I have a very active LO and this would be a great read!
It would be good for me because I always love learning new things about being a good parent
It's been a long time since my daughter was young and I just became a 1st time grandmom…so I'm sure there are things I need a refresher on and learn about of the new practices.
It sound like it would have good advice for our family
this would be great because i have three children.sounds like a good book !!
Can always use some parenting help.
I like reading about advice! I'm a mom of two kids and new ideas are a great help!
This would be great to help with my little monsters, advice is always welcomed!
I always look for info and advice for caring for kids.
I would love to learn anything I can and get some sound advice.
I am a mother of 4 abd love reading new books on parenting ideas 🙂
I have 3 children, so this book is perfect for me.
It's a must read for anyone with kids! Childcare is needed by almost everyone and the more information you can get the better!
I think books with tips are always great!
It seems like a great book! I used to do daycare work and keep kids in my home, this would be a good read, esp with the tips now that I have stepkids =)
When you become a parent no one gives you an instruction manual. Advice from friends, relatives and good reads like this book are how you form your own opinion on how to raise your children.
Tammy's book would be a good read because I have young children and would help me with them.
I would give it to my granddaughter, who needs some help with her children!
This book looks amazing! I can use any secrets I can get to deal with my cute little gremlins.
Because it talks about the development of kids and it gives alot of helpful advice.
A good read because things have changed quite a bit since my children were young and this would get me up to speed where my daughter is coming from with her children.
It would be good for me because I love children and babysit a lot!
I am expecting my first, and I could use all the books on parenting I can get.
I am expecting my first, and I could use all the books on parenting I can get.
I could use some tips and advice.
I watch my nephew and could use some tips
This book would be perfect for a friend of mine. She just had her first baby and they enjoyed travelling before. This would help her accommodate the new family member on the trips. Thank you for the giveaway!
It would be a good fit for me because I take care of children. My own and others.
Tammy's book would be a good read because it looks very informative!
I'm expecting my first child so any advice I can get is great! sleveene@hotmail.com
The book would be great because I am not a parent, but I could always use advice and tips for babysitting my little nephew. He will be 18 months in about two weeks.