Travel Tips

Hauling my boys around the planet, usually without my husband, takes some skill. Here are a few things that work for me. When all else fails, remember that as long as you are on the plane you will arrive at your destination. Whether your sanity is in tact is entirely up to you.

Ditch the stroller-It will free up your hands and allow your kids to get their wiggles out by running through theairport. My kids hop on the carry-on suitcase when they want a ride.If you have a layover at an airport, get online and find out where the playground is before you fly out. There are usually electrical outlets nearby so you can recharge your DVD battery while the kids play. (What?! You don’t have a portable DVD player? Get one.)

Change of clothes- I bring a carry-on suitcase that has a change of clothes/underwear for each child and a shirt for me. You never know who’s going to have an accident or spill their orange juice and most of the time the victim is me. I also pack my boy’s blankets they like to sleep with. I’ll do anything to help them sleep!

Flashlight-I have a small flashlight for the boys to use to hunt under their seats for all the toys/Lego pieces they drop. They love hunting for their lost treasure and I love that I don’t have to bend over.

Snacks-I bring a variety of mostly salty snacks in Ziploc bags. Why salty? Because the last thing I want is one of my boys hyper from a sugar rush. However, I have a secret stash of lollipops and fruit snacks for bribery and preventing meltdowns. Works like a charm, especially when we’re stuck in a long line.

Cereal-The tiny boxes of cereal are a perfect substitute for the in-flight meals my kids refuse to eat. I’ll ask the flight attendant for some milk, pour it directly into the bag, pop in a spoon and dinner is served!

Drinks-My boys are too old for sippy cups but after Ethan dumped his entire cup of orange juice all over the place, I needed a cup that wouldn’t spill and was age appropriate. Introducing Contingo Kids Mugs. 100% spill-proof. My life will never be the same.

Tents-We drape the airplane blankets from the top of the seats in front of the boys to the back of their seats making a dark tent. The boys usually sleep much longer because of the darkness and the flight attendants can’t see that one of the boys is sleeping on the floor without a seat belt. Sorry I don’t have a picture of this but I’m sure you can figure it out.

Toys-Marcus is old enough to be entertained for hours with his Lego’s and video games. For younger kids I take a trip to the 100 Yen/dollar store and get creative. A roll of masking tape can entertain for at least an hour. For example, once I used most of the roll covering Ethan head to toe with “armor.” He still talks about it. Marcus likes me to tape his hands and legs together to see if he can escape. Shoelaces also work well for tying him up. (Don’t tell me you’ve never tied your kids up before!)

Magnets are entertaining, especially if you have a Magna-Doodle to stick them to.

Stickers are good but Post-It notes are better. You can stick them everywhere and they’re easy to peel off.

Benadryl/Dramamine-I’m all about helping my kids sleep on the plane, however I found out the hard way that Benadryl actually makes Marcus hyper. It’s a common side affect so experiment with it before the flight.

Half of a tablet of Dramamine works well but my kids hate the stuff so I crush it up and put it in their drinks. They don’t usually fall asleep quickly but once they’re out they will sleep soundly despite any noise.

Luggage-The ONLY way I am able to travel without my husband is due to our awesome luggage. We bought it at Costco several years ago and I can’t rave enough about it. They strap together so I can pull 5 pieces of luggage by myself. Besides my Chariot, these babies are probably the best purchase we’ve made.