5 Great Tips for Vacationing With Kids

Fri, 16 Dec 16

Embrace the spirit of adventure and take things as they come.

Vacation.

It’s such an appealing concept: a break from the normal routine when you can relax, enjoy some good meals, visit friends and family, take a nap, curl up with a good book if that’s your style. Or go bungee-jumping instead. You’re free to do what suits you best! That is, until the kids come along… A few days in cramped hotel room with a fussy, jet-lagged toddler can make even the most dedicated of parents wish they’d never left home. But there are some tricks that can make things easier. Here are our best tips for enjoying your family vacation.

Location, location, location

When you’re traveling alone or with other adults, the hotel room might not be so important – it’s just a place to rest your head at the end of the day. When you travel with kids, it becomes home away from home, and it’s so important to choose a place you actually want to spend time. It’s best if you can arrange to have at least two rooms so you can read or relax while your child is sleeping: rent an apartment, upgrade to a suite, or get two adjoining rooms at a hotel. If you’re going to visit a particular place, try to stay close by so you can take breaks when you need them. If you’re visiting friends or relatives, don’t be shy about telling them what you need – talking through your needs and schedule ahead of time can save confusion and hurt feelings when you arrive.

Don’t pack the kitchen sink

It can be tempting, we know. Well ok, maybe you aren’t literally considering packing the sink, but what about that whole shopping cart full of items from your baby registry that you do actually use every day? Here’s our tip: resist the temptation to pack for every eventuality. Why? Because, frankly, traveling with kids is already hard work. If you have a child and an additional suitcase, that’s plenty to wrangle in the airport. Add more items and things can quickly get unmanageable, even if you are traveling by car. Be creative – what can you do without? Are you going to a town with a grocery store? Pack enough diapers for the trip, and buy some more once you get there. Will you have access to a washing machine, or could you wash a few clothes in the sink? One outfit per day will be plenty. Can you borrow a stroller when you get there? You’ll be much happier with less to carry around – and packing light has the positive effect of helping you focus on the items that really are critical. You’re a lot less likely to forget that special lovey if there aren’t a bunch of other toys in the suitcase too!

Respect the schedule

You know that sleep schedule you worked so hard to establish? Kim West LCSW-C, The Sleep Lady® says you definitely shouldn’t throw it out the window just because you’re traveling. It takes some work to stick with it, but it’s worth it – cranky, overtired children are horrible travelling companions! She recommends thinking about the trip in three phases.

Before: Are you going to change time zones? Try shifting your child’s sleep schedule by 15 minutes a day to start the adjustment to the new time. And immediately before the trip, offer extra nap time or quiet time so your child will be well-rested for the journey.

During: If you are switching time zones, be aware that your child’s internal clock won’t reset as fast as yours. Keeping a clock on “home time” might help you plan nap and meal times that work well – but pay attention to his sleep cues too, traveling can be exhausting and he might well need an extra nap or earlier bed time. Think about how to help your child feel secure in a strange bed, and if you need to break the sleep rules, acknowledge that (as in, “usually you don’t sleep in the same bed with Mommy and Daddy, but at Grandma’s house, it’s ok”).

After: Be sure to plan some recovery time after the trip, especially if you’ll be re-adjusting to your home time zone.

Treat yourself

For some parents, getting to spend lots of extra unstructured time with the kids is a huge treat, but for many (especially stay-at-home-parents) that’s no vacation at all. But downtime is important! So don’t cheat yourself – make sure to plan time for something YOU would like to do. Maybe you and your spouse can trade off babysitting duty so you can each get out alone for a day? Or might Grandma be willing to play with her beloved grandchild in the morning while you sleep in? Or could the hotel recommend a local babysitter so you and your spouse can go out to dinner? If it’s too complicated to work this into your vacation plans, pre-book your normal babysitter for some time off once you return home.

Remain calm

Seems like that’s always in our top tips lists. But it remains true. Traveling is often fraught with traffic, missed connections, delayed flights, unexpected weather. Add tantrums, lost pacifiers and overtired kids (yes, the schedule will inevitably fall apart sometimes) and even the best-laid plans can turn into what feels like a vacation nightmare. But try to embrace the spirit of adventure and take things as they come. You’ll be home before you know it!

How can Evoz help?

Just like at home, the Evoz Smart Baby Monitor can give you confidence that your child is sleeping soundly so you can relax and enjoy yourself. Check out our post on traveling with your Evoz monitor. And don’t forget, you can also use the Evoz app to keep track of sleep and meal times – another great tool to keep the schedule on track and your child well-rested and happy.

Happy & Safe Travels!

Evoz

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