If you are a mother who has underestimated the preparation time needed to plan a family vacation, turn around first and now you are almost obsessive and compulsive about it, you are not alone.
I boarded my first plane with a one-year-old boy, no stroller, no parcels, and only five diapers. I did not know how long it takes to sleep a crying baby on a plane or the stress and pressure that follow the eyes of other passengers who look in my direction in the hope that their appearance calms me somehow baby
I also did not expect to run out of diapers during the last leg of our trip, our daughter would have a big rash and would listen carefully, planes do not wear diapers. I learned to be ingenious and to make a diaper with a blanket and a sanitary napkin, but in the end, I almost gave up on family vacations that involved air travel.
Hawaii changed everything ...
Then my husband received a call from his boss telling him that we would be traveling to Hawaii with family for two weeks at the company as a thank you for going through a snowstorm to meet clients. Of course, my husband will have to work there, so I will be without transportation and I am 7 months pregnant, with a 2-year-old son, but it's Hawaii ... it's true!
With a month to plan, I immediately made sure we had a car seat and a package at stake in the rental car upon arrival. I will never travel without a stroller again, so I decided to bring a fine stroller to tow my 2-year-old son to the airport.
48 hour travel time manager
Traveling abroad taught me to pack enough in a travel bag for 48 hours. No matter if your planned travel time is a few hours, plan for the worst when you have children. Any type of storm or mechanical malfunction can land a plane for 24 hours and it is up to us to prepare enough snacks, toys, water and comfort items for our children to spend these moments.
My action plan started with a travel itinerary that includes both EST and Hawaii in real-time. This is so that I can try to stay as close as possible to his schedule on the way home. The itinerary also includes a daily breakdown of what we will do upon arrival in Honolulu, including instructions on how to get to local Costco.
Then I carefully planned my daughter's backpack. Every element of your bag had to attract attention: DVD player with favorite films, coloring paper, and colored pencils, favorite little books, 7 layers and wipes, protein bars, dried fruit snacks, and an empty 12 oz water bottle complete once we do it through security.
My cabin baggage will include 2 to 3 sets for each of us, as well as a toiletry bag, 7 additional diapers and wipes, protein bars, fruit snacks, cans of unrefrigerated milk, water, blankets, and stuffed animals.
Checked baggage is a toy
Toys are more important than clothing. We all want to look good every day of our vacation, but wouldn't you rather have a happy, energized child who sleeps well at night so you can spend some time alone?
We are allowed to check in one bag per passenger, that's how I packed each one. My daughter's clothes and mine will be packed in a large suitcase. I packed light, crease-free dresses, and shirts, shorts, a pair of jeans, clothes with layers such as cardigans and light sweaters, as well as a rain jacket and pajama sets for everyone from the U.S. We have access to a washer and dryer in our unit!
My husband's suitcase will be filled with his clothes, work-related items, etc.
This is the most important lesson: the third suitcase will be full of toys! From the dashboard to the rafts for the pool, snorkeling gear, puzzles, coloring books, DVDs, activity books, stuffed animals. Basically, all that is left goes and it can help to pack this suitcase.
Flat clothes
We were all at the airport as a beautiful mother with three children walking in a dress and heels. We all want to be her, right? I tried this on my last vacation. I wore a long dress with a bohemian print and a jacket at the airport for my 5-hour trip which turned into a 12-hour trip. Although comfortable on the plane, it was uncomfortable to walk miles down the airport aisles. But my alarm clock came when I got off the plane and the temperature was in my 40s with a dress and sandals - NEVERMORE!
Now, in the back of my mind, I humorously think that the well-dressed mother who crosses the airport is trying for the first time and, if all goes well, she can try again, but by the time she is stuck in the airports someday she will return to her more comfortable pair of jeans, tennis, and t-shirt.
Make sure to follow my adventures in the series "In Flight: 7 months pregnant, toddler in Tow, 2:00 pm to start Monday at 7:00 am EST".
Katie Newingham is the editor of http://NewbyMom.com, an exclusive website dedicated to the needs of new moms. He holds a master's degree in journalism from Regent University and has traveled internationally and nationally to cover disaster relief efforts. During his travels, he saw the relentless spirit of young mothers determined to take care of their children under the most difficult circumstances. It inspired her to dedicate her life to enriching the lives of mothers all over the world through the written word.
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