Tips for Thanksgiving Travel with Kids

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file0002043695191Only a week and a half until my 5 hour train ride to our Thanksgiving destination. This could go well or very bad. We’ve already experienced the plane trip from Hell (we’re THAT family that makes people question whether small kids should fly,) so I’m hoping another year of experience and a train ride, something my daughter A loves, will have a better outcome.

According to AAA, 43.4 million Americans traveled 50 miles or more for Thanksgiving in 2013. The number is estimated to be slightly higher for 2014! Traveling by car is the most popular, followed by air, bus, rail, or other commercial mode. What this means to any parent – other than a headache – is a lot of preparation!

Here are a few tips to making the trip as good as it can get.

  1. Try to travel during or as close to nap time as possible. I realize this isn’t reality in most cases since you’re usually looking for the cheapest flight or have lesser options for a time frame, but if you can do it, DO IT! Save yourself from the tantrums and mind-numbing cry-fests by catering to their down time.
  2. Pack light. You don’t want unnecessary weight and clutter to slow you down. Unless you’re traveling to a remote location, there’s probably a Target or a Walmart near your destination. You don’t need to bring the whole sleeve of diapers – estimate the worst-case scenario of how many diapers you’ll need while in transit and get the rest later. Grandma or Aunt Sue probably has a washing machine, so don’t pack clothes for EVERY second of the day. Yes, small children tend to wear multiple outfits a day, but to save on space just wash the dirty stuff when it happens. No holiday was ruined because a baby wore the same outfit two days in a row. The same goes for you.
  3. Get some of the trip hassles done before you even leave your home. Invest in some cheap baggage labels and attach them at home instead of waiting at a counter and fumbling them because you’re stressed out. Print out ALL travel itineraries and keep them within arm’s reach at all times. The same goes for phone numbers and addresses. Check ahead of time to see if a flight or train is running late, or if there’s been a accident on a route you need to take. Most transportation companies will text you that information if you gave them prior notice. This link will let you search for all travel issues on CT roads in real time. For plane and train travel, find out parking options and make plans for the nearest shuttle station. Know their stop intervals so you don’t have to walk too far or wait too long. Better yet, arrange for someone to drop you off instead of having to park.
  4. Snacks, Snacks, snacks. Never underestimate the power of the S word. I try not to feed my daughter crappy snacks, but traveling with her is a different story. If feeding her a sugary juice box before lunch will help us not re-create our flight to Florida last year, she can have a few and we’ll brush her teeth extra long that night. Mother of the year, I know. Like I said in #2, there will likely be a place to renew your stash, so don’t limit your supplies for round trip because of space. Make sure the snacks are easy to get to, so a screamer doesn’t have to wait.
  5. Last, but not least, entertainment. Choose toys that really keep your child’s interest and consider buying or borrowing one “new” thing for extra interest. You don’t need to pack the playroom. Here is a list  for plane travel, but it can be modified for any mode of travel. You never know when traffic, weather or some other kind of delay will happen, so be prepared!

Happy travels and spend your time having a wonderful holiday – not worrying about the to and from.

Please post any tip you’d like to share about traveling with children!file7671255584163

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Allison Hughes-Randall
Allison is a New England transplant, originally from Pittsburgh, PA having moved to Bethel in 2010 from Columbus, OH. She and her husband are the parents of a miracle daughter (September 2012.) Allison is a 30 year cancer survivor and spends a great deal of time raising money for the American Cancer Society. When she isn't playing with her daughter, hosting a fundraiser, running a women's group, a mom's group, working on the craft -du-jour or baking, she's either asleep or wondering what's next...

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