fortraveling*brilliant tips withkids

BY MANDY HOWARD

It was a beautiful day for a road trip. A Triangle mom—let’s call her, um, Schmandy—was confident in her ability to drive her three children—ages 4, 6 and 8—from Raleigh to her parent’s lake house in Michigan. All by herself.

As they crossed into West Virginia, it was time for lunch. Sliced grapes and three pieces of cold cheese pizza awaited them in the cooler. All three children loved cold pizza and sliced grapes. This mom was nailing the solo attempt.

Schmandy continued to drive as her kids passed the food around. It was then that the eagle-eyed food detectives determined that the pizza slices were not, in fact, identical. One had a ‘weird bump of cheese.’ Another was smaller—not by any visual means—but the child could “just tell.” The only acceptable slice had unfortunately already been ‘breathed on’ by the youngest child who, only after the offending breath, noticed his slice was also not acceptable for a reason he felt no need to explain rationally. Chaos ensued.

As this family drove through the mountains of West Virginia, with some troubling clouds on the horizon, the children fought over who should receive which slice of pizza for a solid 15 minutes. Then, as they all remember vividly and will likely tell their own children one day, they heard their mother use the F-bomb for the very first time. As in, “Just eat the *&^%-ing pizza.”

Granted, it was effective. The children were silent for the rest of the trip and ate their defective slices peacefully. But it certainly doesn’t go down in this mom’s proudest moments book.

I—er um, Schmandy—shares this with you now only because she wants to save you from the same fate. The pages of this debut issue of Triangle Family are packed with getaways, day trips and unforgettable family vacation ideas. But, you’ve got to get there somehow. So, whether you are traveling by plane, train or automobile, here are some of the best tips to keep your travelers (of every age) happy and occupied.

Containment and contentment are keys to traveling with infants and babies

In the Air

• If you are nursing, wear the most nursingconvenient outfit you own and plan on nursing during takeoff and landing. It makes your baby content, plus nursing can help little ears adjust to altitude changes and avoid discomfort.

• If you are bottle-feeding, remember that the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) considers formula, breast milk, toddler drinks and food purees to be “medically necessary,” so they are allowed through security. Plan for delays and pack extra! And, again, plan a meal around takeoff.

• Just in case these soothing techniques don’t work, consider this tip from “Schmandy’s” cousin and nurse Laura Wray. “I make treat bags for the travelers around me, just in case. I include a little snack, ear plugs, gum and mints, and a little note that says, ‘Thank you for your patience!’”

• Dress your littlest travelers in outfits and onesies that you wouldn’t mind trashing if necessary. A dreaded ‘poopsplosion’ could interrupt your trip, after all. The last thing you want to do is wash clothes at a gas station and travel with wet—and soiled—garments.

• In that vein, invest in waterproof liners for your car seats.

• For the littlest road trippers, local mom Heather Brosz White of Raleigh suggests leaving at bedtime or before the sun rises. Why? “They will sleep for a good portion and you’ll avoid much of the traffic.”

Delight and distract your toddlers while traveling to maintain your sanity.

• If you’ve got another adult with you and are taking advantage of the family preboard option, consider having one adult preboard—without the kids—with as much as they can carry. While they set up the seating area, the other adult stays with the kids in the airport and boards at the last minute. It can be 45 minutes from preboard to push back—don’t waste traveling patience before you need to!

• Sunita Murty-Gami of Raleigh says she always packs a “surprise pack” with random goodies. She includes stickers, wax paper, manipulatives, pipe cleaners, Wikki Stix, a doodle board, crayons, hand fidgets, and a treat or two. She suggests, “On the plane, wait until you see the kiddos get antsy. When the excitement of travel wears off—Voila! You’ve got a new thing for them to be interested in!”

• New and random goodies serve road trips well, too. Before the trip, take the kids to the dollar store and let them buy five new items— from cheap toys to coloring books. The new items will hold their interest and no one will be heartbroken or upset when the items inevitably get lost on the road.

• To keep the goodies organized, consider investing in a travel tray for the car. Check out the Pillani Kids Travel Tray. This soft wraparound desk includes 14 pockets functionally designed to hold snacks, a drink, a tablet, dry-erase markers for the built-in erasable platform and more. The tray buckles in to keep everything in place and within reach of little hands.

Knowing when to engage and when to let go are keys to easy travel with older kids.

• Give kids bag-size parameters, but also let them have ownership of what will get them through the flight. For example, each kid gets a gallon Ziplock bag they can fill with certain snacks, but it has to last them the whole trip. In addition, bring an empty water bottle that can be filled after the TSA check.

• Encourage photography. The kids are going to “Snap” anyway—encouage them to at least find an interesting backdrop. Explore the airports before takeoff and at layovers to see if there are any local art installations or sculptures featured in the airport. Who knows … maybe they’ll pause to read a little about the artwork and can get some education out of it!

• Pack neck pillows and relax Wi-Fi limitations. A plane is a pretty good place to relax screen time limits.

• Have a built-in movie player? Try some nostalgia! Did your kids have a favorite Disney animated movie? Did they just adore the “Backyardigans”? Old DVDs can be picked up pretty cheap and can provide some pleasant fun for kids who think they’re too old for “that stuff.”

• Raleigh mom Jill Wiencek highly recommends Roadtrippers. The aptly named app provides tips and tricks for the “best road trip ever.” From unique places to visit and bizarre roadside attractions, to best gas prices on the way, and even an option to seek out specialized routes compatible to RV travel, this app can make any car ride an adventure.

• If all else fails with older kids and teens, try the “two cups” method. One is filled with change, the other is empty. If someone misbehaves, talks back or complains, a coin moves from the original full cup to the empty cup. The kicker? The kids get to split any money left in the original cup. Increase the value as kids get older. A cup of quarters can go a long way and it can also be a great investment in a parent’s sanity.