We all have our horror stories: fogged in at the departure gate, delayed indefinitely, stuck in a terminal for an interminable amount of time. With kids. Maybe with babies. Low on diapers. Or snacks. Or both. Even lower on our reserve of patience and sanity.
It could happen to anyone. Air travel, especially holiday air travel, is frought with complications, headaches, and unforeseen problems. The good news? There are resources at your disposal. Today at Pitstops for Kids!, I’ve gathered the best advice I’ve found and put them all in one place.
Long waits: there are ways to make them better.
First things first: with so many carry-on and checked luggage restrictions, what do you take with you, and what do you leave at home? When sprinting (or even strolling) down long airport terminals with kids in tow, less is definitely more. For all those essential electronics, I consolidate: all I need is my trusty Timbuk2 laptop messenger bag. For kids’ carry ons, our favorite company is currently Kid Kase.
For all those baby essentials that are so cumbersome to bring from home, like port-a-cribs and high chairs, consider renting at your destination city. Pitstops for Kids! recommends Little Traveller for Canadian travel and Baby’s Away in the U.S.
And if you’re not sure what to pack in that essential carry-on, read Ciao Bambino’s flight checklist.
Of course, before you can even hope of boarding your plane, you have to get through airport security. And on an already stressful travel day, this process can set the tone for the remainder of your trip. Luckily, Debbie at Delicious Baby takes you through it step-by-step in her article Breeze Through Airport Security with Kids. And my personal advice, gleaned from hard-earned experience? Don’t unstrap your little one from the stroller until the last minute. It’s ok; they’ll wait.
Once in the terminal, there are always kid-friendly places to kill an hour (or two). You just need to know where to look. One of the best resources I’ve found? Cheapflights.com’s Airport Diversion Guide. For more detailed reviews of specific airport play areas, check my ‘Airports’ tab at the top of this page. My favorite kid-friendly airport? Seattle’s SEATAC.
Lastly, if you’re traveling after Christmas Day, put a few of these goodies in the kids’ stockings. They come tested and approved by Travel Savvy Mom, a trusted voice in the travel blogosphere.
Happy Travels!
