HomeI'll be getting on a plane tomorrow. With four kids -- two of them in diapers. I apologize to everyone on my flight in advance.
We'll have books and blankets and loveys and new toys. Not to mention: two umbrella strollers, two diaper bags and a small cooler for bottles and snacks. Let's hope our four laps can handle any possible toddler turbulence.
Things I'm considering having on hand for the plane ride: earplugs (for nearby passengers) and a mini bottle of booze (for yours truly). I've been quite surprised by the number of people who suggested dosing the babies with a bit of Benadryl to calm them.
Sensing my anxiety, my dad passed along some tips for traveling with kids from travel guru Arthur Frommer's folks. Most helpful to me were these airplane hints:
Flying: Don't preboard! The goal is to keep the kids OFF the plane as long as possible. Organize items by parent: One parent parents takes necessities (wipes, diapers, snacks) and the other carries the toys and books. That way you won't be digging through your bags trying to remember what is in which. Skip the book for yourself. Who are you kidding?!
Planning: Get your kids involved in the planning. Google Earth is a great way to show your kids some of the sights, and the DK Eyewitness series of guide books lets them study and flag the places they'd like to go.
Packing: No matter how long the trip, pack enough for four days -- no more, no less. It'll be easier (really) to take a break and do a load of laundry than to haul all that extra stuff. And Ziploc bags are your friend -- from snacks to first-aid supplies to wet bathing suits.
Driving: Invest in a portbable DVD player (you'll thank yourself down the road), and remove DVDs from plastic cases, instead, storing them in a slim carrying case. Take frequent breaks -- stop at parks or roadside attractions -- to keep the kids (and yourself) sane. For ideas, check "Weird U.S." by Mark Moran and Mark Sceurman and "Roadside Attractions" by Brian and Sarah Butko.
Hotels: If you're on road trip, don't lug all your bags inside your room. Keep what you'll need for the one night in one bag. Also, designate one area of the hotel room as the "play area." And don't forget to babyproof -- a lamp on baby's head could ruin a vacation.
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(c) 2008, The Orlando Sentinel.
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