travel with kids

How to Travel With Kids Stress-Free during the Holidays

December 25, 2012 By Teresa Te

The holidays, for some families, require traveling. Sometimes, it even means traveling together with the kids.

When you’re with kids, however, there are a lot of things to bring along. More so if you have a baby or toddler in tow. Apart from your own luggage, you also need backpacks, a stroller and a car seat among others.

So how do you ensure a safe and easy travel for all of you? Here we share some tips that will come in handy.

Your patience is very necessary. Tell yourself to keep calm and refrain from reacting too much when your kids throw a tantrum, complains or whines during your trip. Before you react, take a deep breath and think about what you have to say and be sure to talk in a soft voice.
[Read more…] about How to Travel With Kids Stress-Free during the Holidays

Packing Lists For Kid Travel: 3 Years Up

July 4, 2009 By Lor

Continuing from my last post, here’s the second installment, packing for preschoolers and grade schoolers. Traveling with this age group is actually a lot easier than with the younger ones. For one thing, they can carry their own bags (yay!) and they don’t need the cumbersome items like the bottles, formula, diapers, jars and so on. Phew!

If your kids are above age 3, then all you need are a few things for your carry-on. The rest, your kids can carry themselves. If you do have a baby or toddler, then see the previous post.

Your Carry-on
Aside from my stuff (toiletries, cosmetics, extra shirt, book) here’s what I usually take for the kids:

– 1 change of clothes for each child, including underwear (plus one extra top for preschoolers)
– 1 diaper for the preschooler (only for evening or longhaul flights)
– Ziplock bag of snacks
– Small plastic cutlery for each child (no knives in the plane)
– Baby wipes, tissues, small hair brush
– Small pack of crayons, markers and 2 pens – extras in case the kids lose/fight/need extra.
– small pad of paper
– 1 book
– Bottle of water (if flying, get this after the security check)

Kids Carry-on
– 2 small toys (boys tend to go for cars/trains, girls a “Polly Pocket” type of small doll)

– 1 “lovie” like a favorite doll, stuffed toy, mini-pillow or blanket
– 2 snacks – like a small box of raisins, biscuits
– 1 book
– 1 jacket or cardigan
– Small notebook/pad/ coloring book
– crayons / pen, pencil and eraser (neatly in a case)
– Video game (like a Gameboy or DS) – Useful for long airport waits, but keep it handy for airport security.

The Kids Suitcases

– 2 outfits for each day
– 1 “smart” outfit for a party or dinner out
– 1 pair of underwear for each day
– 1 pair or shoes, smart or closed
– Sandals or slippers depending on season
– Swimsuit, goggles, water wings (if needed)
– Winter essentials if needed, like gloves, thermal undies, boots etc.
– Hat or cap
– Cardigan or sweater (depending on season) – 1 every 3 days of trip
– 2 books
– 2 extra toys per child – puzzles, small action figure or car sets, barbie etc.
– Toiletries – 2-in 1 shampoo, 1 bar dove soap, toothbrushes, toothpaste, hair brush

And Don’t Forget In Your Luggage!

– Small bars or pack of laundry detergent and rubber gloves
– Medical Kit – digital thermometer, first-aid supplies, medicine for both kids and adults, moisturizer, rash cream, mosquito repellent (if needed).
-More snacks, food if necessary (I take a few boxes of organic macaroni cheese if we’re going to a place with cooking facilities. Easy to just add veg for a healthy and quick meal)

Photo via catd_mitchell

My Top Packing Lists For Kid Travel: Baby & Toddlers

June 26, 2009 By Lor

Since I have three kids below 8, and given that my husband and actually enjoy taking them traveling (yes, we’re crazy), packing is something I take very seriously. Of course, unless you are Bree or Martha, you are bound to forget some things, so the best advice I can give you is START EARLY, keep the list handy in a place at home where you can tick through it as you go along.

Packing For Babies and Toddlers

Hand Carry – I suggest you purchase a bag that is the right size for you to carry, and not too bulky that it won’t be allowed in an airplane or will give you a backache for the rest of your trip. Pockets and compartments are all good, and even better if there’s is an insulated bit. Backpacks are a good choice!

The Top 14 Essentials For The Carry-On Bag

1. Snacks – “o” shaped cereal, biscuits/cracker (I like organic/low sugar kinds), cheese, fruit pieces, small cartons of juice (not for airplanes).
2. Change of clothes and a cardigan or jacket – 2 outfits
3. Disposable diapers – 3
4. Baby wipes
5. Burp cloth – handy for mopping up any mess on baby
6. Sun hat for hot weather or bonnet/cap for cold
7. Blanket – handy for naps or to lay on a floor to crawl/sit on or as a cover-up for breastfeeding.
9. Formula in container and pre-boiled water in a bottle.
10. Water in a sippy cup or bottle
11. 2 small toys/books/ teether.
12. Band-aids and antiseptic wipes/cream
13. 2 Pacifiers
14. 2 Bibs
15. Baby fork and spoon
16. 2/3 Plastic bags – to dispose diapers, for dirty clothes.

* Don’t forget any medications if your child is taking them and always keep it in the carry-on bag! Ditto with anything else your child can’t do without, like a favourite stuffed toy or “lovie”. Heaven forbid your luggage gets lost and poor teddy is never seen again!

* If going on a long haul flight/train journey, pack enough diapers and an extra outfit for an overnight stay, just in case. Most airports have drugstore/pharmacies now, but it’s still better to have your own stash of necessities.

In The Suitcase

*Some of these things depend on the age of your baby.

1. 2 outfits for every day of the trip
2. 2 pairs of shoes, 4 pairs of socks
3. Bibs
4. Summer essentials: sun hat, sunblock, swim suit or trunks, swim diapers, mosquito repellent
Or Winter essentials: warm clothes, mittens, boots, etc.
5. Toys and books (only bring favorites, new ones can be bought at destination)
6. Toiletries: Dove soap (I use it on both baby’s hair and body), baby powder, baby toothbrush, hairbrush or comb
7. Medicine Kit: antibacterial cream for wounds, small rubbing alcohol, band-aids, thermometer, nasal drops, water replacement powder, antihistamine, paracetamol, Lacticare , Cetaphil cream
8. Diapers – 3 diapers per day, plus 3
9. Formula (I buy enough for the trip, just in case I can’t get the brand we use)
10. Baby food/ snacks – I always bring a small supply of food I know he likes, just in case. Baby jars, instant oatmeal, organic macaroni cheese etc.
11. Baby monitor and universal adaptor – it can be cumbersome to pack, but I’m always glad I did.
12. DVDs – Just a few of your baby’s faves as most places have DVD machines now, even computers. Alternatively, an iPod loaded with the vids works too.
13. Ziplock/ plastic bags

*Stroller – An absolute essential! If travelling by air, don’t check it in, take it all the way to the gate. It’s also handy for hanging duty free shopping and the hand-carry bag!

*Website tip: This site does customized packing lists. Good for grownups.

Photo via _Fidelio_

Traveling with My Kids

May 19, 2009 By Lor

I love traveling with my kids. Some parents shirk at the thought of it – and with good reason considering the amount of gear (snacks, toys, diapers, medicine, extra clothes, bottles, strollers etc) you have to take along for the journey, not to mention the pressing need for child-friendly accommodation, food and activities at the destination. But call us crazy, because since they were very little, my husband and I have taken our kids everywhere, from the Costa Brava to Bali, where we went last year when little Wills was just 5 months-old. Ok, so we have a LOT of luggage, and are lucky if we get any rest on the plane/train/car, but what we do have are great memories for the entire family.

Admittedly, with three children now, it’s not easy as it was when we just had Nat. It was a breeze with her alone (Paris), and not too bad either when Ollie came along and we took them both to Koh Samui. But now with Wills a toddler, things have gotten more challenging. Take our widely anticipated trip to Disneyland in February to celebrate Nat and Ollie’s birthday. In a terrible twist of fate, a week before the trip, I got a letter from Nat’s school, saying there was an epidemic of gastro going around the school. The next day, she promptly had the worse case of gastroenteritis she ever had, and although she got better just in time for the trip, both boys had caught it just as we left. Which meant an extra stroller, re-hydration drinks, extra sets of clothes and lots and lots of diapers. Not a big deal compared to the tears we had to deal with when they couldn’t have the creamy Mickey-shaped ice cream or french fries at Disneyland. But in spite of all that, the kids never remember the bad bits (like when our flight was cancelled on Boracay island and we had to spend the night in a really really dreadful hotel), and get very excited when we tell them we are planning our next trip.

In two weeks, we are going on our next family holiday to visit my husband’s elderly Father in Sri Lanka. He moved to the picturesque town on Galle in the South (far away from the war, thank goodness). He’s a great man, eccentric and full of amazing stories, but does not have the most child-friendly set-up – so it should be interesting!

Next- my top packing lists!

Photo via Activities4AllKids