5 tips for healthy travel with kids
It’s officially summertime! And summertime is synonymous with summer vacation! My last blog post was about detox diets, but a good vacation is a detox of sorts. You get to unplug and unwind. You get to reset and reconnect.
But sometimes parents can find it stressful to travel with kids. And stress can seriously ruin your vacation high! So, I’d like to offer 5 simple tips for healthy travel with kids. Use them in good fun and in good health!
Have fun!
My first tip is to keep it positive. Let’s be honest - traveling with kids is work. It isn’t relaxing. But it should be fun! So, make having fun your priority.
It’s been said that you only have 18 summers with your kids. When you think of 18 years as 18 summers, it sounds like so little time. And, in a way, it is! Many more experienced parents have advised me - your children’s early years will fly by. I know … tears. But it has the ring of truth, doesn’t it? So, make the most of those summers by creating vivid, fun memories!
Let it go.
Yes, Elsa, I’m talking to you. Let’s be real. Something is going to go wrong during your travel. Your kid is going to poop on you. Your airline is going to lose your luggage. Your Air BnB is going to have a fridge that’s on the fritz. Oh yes! These have all happened to me. No, not all during the same trip, but still!
When my daughter was three months old, our family of five flew to North Carolina. By then, she had been on three flights; so, I was feeling pretty good. That is - until she had a massive blow-out all over me in an airport. While I was wearing white jeans. And sitting at the gate moments away from boarding our flight. And without a change of clothes in my carry-on. Yup. It was a hot mess.
And I was bummed. And filthy! And rushed because I had to, at least, change the baby. But I had to let it go. Our trip had barely begun and I had to decide not to let the poop emergency derail our having fun. I cleaned up as well as I could and moved on! And that kept our trip on track!
Aim to be early.
This one pairs kinda nicely with letting go. As it is inevitable that something will go wrong, it is imperative that you give yourself plenty of time.
When you’re in a rush, are your kids as slow as molasses? And it’s like, the more you rush, the more the kids slow down, right? Sometimes, they literally slow down ... because they realized they forgot where they put their Pokemon cards. But sometimes they just seem to slow down … because you’re stressed about the time.
So, avoid that stressful situation by aiming to be early. Try building in an additional half hour to your schedule. Let’s say your flight leaves at 7:30 AM and you want to arrive at the airport at 6 AM. Instead, plan as if you need to arrive by 5:30 AM.
I know. I know that sounds painful! But it’s much less painful than an anxious, rushed pilgrimage through the airport. It’s much less painful than getting on the airport without any water or having gone to the bathroom! Yup! I’ve been there!
Say good-bye to hotels.
Hey! Hey! Hey! Good-bye!
Are you and your family still staying in hotels? Well, our family is pretty much over it. Of course, there are some special situations: Disney World, your kiddo’s class trip or tournament … Disney World. But other than that - I would argue that a vacation rental is the way to go.
A vacation rental is going to give you more room for your money. When you’re traveling with kids, it’s so helpful to have room to breathe. This absolutely adds to your having fun! Because it’s not so much fun to sit in a silent, dark hotel room while your toddler naps. It’s great to have an actual bedroom for a little personal space. Maybe even a few bedrooms! How about space for the kids to play? Perhaps even a yard! And don’t forget about having at least one extra bathroom. And a kitchen (more about this resource in the next tip)!
These features just aren’t possible if you stay in a hotel. A suite just isn’t always an option. Or … they’re available at a premium price! Plus, staying in a vacation rental adds some character and charm to your trip. It gives your kids a more personal glimpse of life in the town or city you’re visiting. It’s fun to live like a local!
Grocery shop like a boss.
This is my favorite tip! And, quite frankly, our family can’t travel without grocery shopping.
Eating well keeps you on track. When you’re traveling, you’ll definitely lose your routine … and there’s some beauty in that. But throwing all caution to the wind can derail you. And what’s the fun it that?!
There are simple, real-life benefits to getting some groceries. For one, it will help you stay hydrated. It will also allow you to have snacks ready for the kids … or for yourself! You’ll have some reliable standard of nutrition each day as opposed to relying on cafes and restaurants. And you’ll save money too!
Also, do your kids have very specific likes or needs when it comes to eating? Maybe your son has a cow’s milk allergy. Or maybe your daughter’s going through a phase where she’ll only eat apple sauce with cinnamon for breakfast. If so, you’ll feel much better if you have these things on hand.
When you’re road tripping, you can grocery shop in your home town before you leave. Load it all into the care with some ice packs and you’ll be set up for success when you arrive. If you’re flying, grocery shop at your final destination! If you won’t have a car while you’re on vacation, you can order online and have the groceries delivered. You can even use a grocery service if you want to be more hands off.
And you’ll be able to unload everything in your kitchen because you got vacation rental! Yes! Now, you may not want to cook, and that’s fine! Grocery shopping doesn’t mean you have to cook, but it will give you options. Simple things like gallons of water and fresh veggies and fruit for snacks are must-have for my crew.
To wrap up, here’s a summary of my 5 tips for healthy travel with kids:
- Keep it positive.
- Let it go.
- Aim to be early.
- Say good-bye to hotels.
- Grocery shop like a boss.
And enjoy! And if you’d like to challenge yourself to build simple, healthy habits, join my 5-day online healthy habits challenge!
