Traveling with Kids: 5 Survival Tips for Every Parent

Going on a vacation with the family? Beth, Corbyn, and I will be getting in the car soon to head up to visit family in Seattle. We’ve been traveling with Corbyn since he was a few weeks old and there are some things I’ve learned about trips as a parent along the way.

Total transparency – I didn’t give myself enough time to write this post today. So instead of giving you all a half-assed and rushed blog post, this is going to be part 1. Today I’m going to give you the 5 rules I have for going on trips with your kids.

1. This isn’t a vacation in the way it was before you were a parent. When you go on a trip with your kiddos – you are simply parenting in new surroundings. This can still be a lot of fun. But if you want to take time off or have your partner do all the parenting, a family trip is not the place for that.
   

2. Be patient. Be patient with yourself, your kids, your partner, and everyone else. Traveling is a busy time. You want to get there safely. Tempers may rise, sleep might not be lacking, and people might get hangry. That’s why you need to step back and reset so that everyone can have a good time.
   

3. Bring things that will help your kids. This might be their favorite stuffy, toys, snacks, a blackout tent to help them sleep, and more. The more you can help your kid enjoy this trip, the more you’ll enjoy this trip.
   

4. Don’t get embarrassed when your kid has a rough time. Most people going on vacation to spots with their kids know what it’s like. They have kiddos, they remember those moments and most aren’t judging you. Work through the situation in a positive manner and take some deep breaths. Things will be okay.
   

5. If you’re traveling with other families, remember that it’s okay to stick to your routines. Meals and sleep are in certain timeframes for Corbyn and I will be flexible but I’m going to do my best to stay relatively in those timeframes so that he sleeps through the night, which lets us sleep through the night.

Like I said, this is just part 1. When we get back from our trip, I’ll follow up with part 2 highlighting the things that I’ve found helpful over the last couple of years.

Safe Travels,

The Burly Dad