If you've ever tried to get someone under the age of three into a car seat, you know even a quick trip to the grocery store becomes stressful. Extended trips to visit friends and family - all with children in tow - can be challenging. Here are a few tips for easy travelling with little ones this season:
Travel at night
Canadian Living suggested travelling on your children's schedule rather than your own. You're probably used to sitting in a car for hours without a snack or a bathroom break, but the only time kids sit still for that long is when they're asleep. Travelling at night won't make for a trip completely free of child interruptions, but it should cut down on the number of tantrums.
Bring healthy snacks
Canadian Living also recommended bringing healthy treats for your kids to snack on such as nuts, pretzels, cheese, milk and juice boxes made from real fruit. Every parent knows food is an easy way to combat boredom and tantrums, and this way you don't have to placate a screaming child with fast food or gas station snacks full of sugar. Make sure to bring more than you think you need - in fact, it's a good idea to pack a little bit extra of everything, including clothes and diapers.
Bring their items, don't borrow spares
As Parents Magazine pointed out, children prefer their own toys, blankets and similar items. This helps them feel more secure in strange places like hotel rooms or their aunt's house. If you can't fit an entire pillow in your suitcase, try bringing the case and simply swapping it out when your child isn't looking. Otherwise, bring plenty of stuffed animals so their temporary bed feels just like the one they have at home.
Bring your child's favourite toys and books along.
Bring a tablet
If there's no room in the suitcase for tons of toys, Rough Guides recommended bringing a travel-friendly tablet loaded with apps for kids. There are hundreds of free and inexpensive applications that can keep your kid entertained for hours. If they get bored, just switch to a new app or crank up the Netflix.
Skip the trip
Sometimes, it's best to prioritize your own sanity over familial obligations. If your kids are exceptionally fussy and your family particularly boisterous, it may be best for everyone if you spend the holidays at home. Chatelaine provided some great tips for how to opt out. Be honest, firm and gentle when breaking the news to your family. If you feel particularly guilty, set up another get-together at a later date when you have more time and energy. Don't be guilted into changing your mind. Right now, what matters most is the happiness of you and your children.
"Our obligations are to take care of our own mental health first - and to ensure quality time, not necessarily a physical presence," Joan Sinclair, a family therapist and mediator from Toronto, told Chatelaine.
If you do decide to visit family despite the stress, give yourself a day or two of downtime afterwards. You can drop the kids off at a friends house or hire a babysitter and spend time doing the things you prefer.