{"id":2819,"date":"2021-11-20T07:00:12","date_gmt":"2021-11-20T15:00:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/kpthrivingfamilies.org\/pediatricsblog\/?p=2819"},"modified":"2024-04-25T03:01:16","modified_gmt":"2024-04-25T10:01:16","slug":"traveling-with-children-pack-your-sense-of-humor-3","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kpthrivingfamilies.org\/pediatricsblog\/traveling-with-children-pack-your-sense-of-humor-3\/","title":{"rendered":"Traveling with Children? Pack Your Sense of Humor"},"content":{"rendered":"

As restrictions on our ability to travel lighten up you https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/coronavirus\/2019-ncov\/index.html<\/a>may be planning some holiday travel. My 3 children have traveled a lot since they were very young. With my mother living in New York, family in Southern California and Colorado, and dear friends in Seattle and Switzerland, my children have grown up taking long car rides and plane trips.
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In the early days, those trips weren\u2019t always so easy!<\/p>\n

My first plane trip as a mom was when I had a 2-month-old. I waited to introduce him to the family until he had his first set of shots, so he was protected and cleared for travel. We preboarded and sat in our front-row seats in coach. He was fussing already. I felt nervous and worried. Young babies sense their parents\u2019 anxiety \u2013 and he was on to me.<\/p>\n

I knew he wanted to breastfeed but I was uncomfortable and trying to wait. He began crying and I began sweating as the other passengers passed us as they boarded. One grey-haired woman stopped and held up the line as she leaned over to say:<\/p>\n

\u201cSweetie \u2013 just remember that every single person on this plane was a baby once and you\u2019ll be fine.\u201d<\/i><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

It still brings tears to my eyes to recall how it felt to hear her kind words.<\/p>\n

Traveling with small children\u00a0is\u00a0hard! I have enlisted the help of a close friend \u2013 a flight attendant and mom of 2 frequent travelers \u2013 to help me with some tips to get you through the journey.<\/p>\n

Vaccinate, mask and wash hands.<\/strong> Before any holiday travel get a COVID-19 vaccine<\/a> for everyone who is eligible for one. The vaccine is safe and effective. Any child over 2 should wear a mask to help keep them safe Even very young kids are usually willing to wear a mask with your encouragement<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Plan, plan, and plan some more<\/b>.\u00a0The more time you spend thinking through your trip and anticipating your child\u2019s needs, the easier it will be. Make a packing list and write down what you will need at each stage.<\/p>\n

Be sure to pack your sense of humor<\/b>.\u00a0When you travel with little ones, things often don\u2019t go as planned. Your flight may be late or your car might be stuck in traffic. Try to accept these challenges ahead of time. Use your sense of humor to turn them into fun and memorable experiences!<\/p>\n

Traveling with infants<\/b><\/p>\n