Adventure is out there! Traveling with little ones..

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1. Be flexible. The most important thing is to recognize is that things move a bit slower when traveling with children. Give yourself a little extra time to catch flights and allow flexibility in your travel plans. I really believe this helps set the mood for the trip.
2. Airbnbs are your friend! Consider staying in a vacation rental (like an airbnb) over a hotel. Bonus points if your rental provides things like a crib/pack n play and/or highchair. Kid & Co vets all their properties to ensure they are family friendly! I always love vacation rentals as it gives us the option to do some meals at home which saves money and stress with little ones.
3. Set yourself up for success! Make the flight as convenient as possible. Pack lots of healthy snacks that you know your kids will eat, bring their leak proof water bottles and older kids (2+ in our family) carry their own backpacks full of surprise activities. Pro tip, if traveling abroad with an infant, call ahead to see if the airline will allow you to reserve a bulkhead with a free bassinet. For long flights I like to bring these so the kids have more space to lie down.
4. During the flight, be prepared to help your children with popping their ears. This is one of the main reasons babies cry on planes. Feeding a baby during take off and landing can help relieve the pressure as the sucking motion helps their ears equalize naturally. A fruit pouch can help a toddler or young child pop their ears.
5. Keep it simple! Pack as little as possible (it will still seem like a lot!). I love to use different colored packing cubes for each family member to keep clothing organized and separated. These are great!
6. Travel stroller FTW! We’ve always found it easier to travel through airports with a baby carrier and check the stroller at the check in counter. Invest in a quality umbrella stroller that will make its way over cobbled stone streets and city sidewalks. We’ve travelled with our Uppababy gluxe from Berlin to Manhattan and in between and it’s still going strong. I love the recline on the g-luxe for naps! When Hudson was two and notorious for running away we really found this to be helpful. No judgement!
7. Hands free car seat bag! If you’re traveling with a car seat make sure to invest in a car seat bag that can be worn as a backpack. I love this one! p.s. stash as many diapers and wipes in that bad boy before you check it at the counter!! You’re technically not supposed to do this but out of our hundred plus flights we’ve only been checked once.
8. Time Changes. Try to transition to the local time zone as quickly as possible. This usually takes about three nights.
9. Be prepared! We have a fully stocked travel first aid kit that’s always at the ready. It includes the basics like Tylenol (infant & childrens), Motrin, Pedialyte (this has helped us through many stomach bugs while traveling), diaper cream, Neosporin, Benadryl a thermometer and bandages.
10. When all else fails, the iPad or Kindle is your FRIEND! I know this is a controversial one because every family has different rules regarding screen time. We save the kindles for travel time and it has really helped. Since we don’t use them at home the kids are allowed to watch as much as they want during the flight. We just make sure they’re fully charged and have enough pre-approved content for the trip. We’ve also loved these wireless headphones.

I hope this is helpful! I’d love to hear some of your favorite tips? Happy travels!