If you’ve spent any time in parent groups, every few weeks a panicked parent jumps in to ask, “We’re about to take our baby/toddler/potty trainer on a plane/train/long car trip – is that nuts?!?!” And now that domestic travel is easing up, with international travel seemingly on the horizon, you’re sure to see those posts more frequently, or even consider doing it yourself.
There is very little about parenting that I’d consider myself an expert on, but traveling with kids is one. Seven years ago (gulp) I bundled up my four-month-old for a solo cross country trip, and even repeated it when he was potty training and his brother was only six months. Ever since, there have been multiple long car trips, train rides, seven international airplane trips… Let’s just say that even with the oddness that was 2020, they’ve traveled more since birth than I had by high school.
But I totally get it. No one wants to be that family on the plane, or to be seen bribing your kids in front of a line of people impatiently waiting at the airport. So let’s tackle the most challenging years of our traveling lives: with babies or potty trainers.
The Prep
Once you book your tickets, start talking to them about it. And please don’t pull that “how much do babies understand” crap, because the more you talk to them about things, the more they understand. Maybe they won’t completely connect the picture book of airplanes with what is transporting them, but they’ll recognize your soothing voice and you’ll start to create verbal rituals that help them stay calm.
I love the airplane books that really show the whole process; these are listed in order of age range:
That’s Not my Plane… by Fiona Watt, Illustrated by Rachel Wells
Airplane Flight!: A Lift-the-Flap Adventure by Susanna Leonard Hill
Amazing Airplanes by Tony Mitton and Ant Parker
Planes by Byron Barton
Richard’s Scarry A Day at the Airport by Richard Scarry
So no matter the age, we read our favorite airplane books and watch videos about how planes work for older kids. One time when I took a potty trainer along with his older brother on a solo international trip, we even drew out a map for how the whole check-in process would go, up until the moment we boarded our plane:
Supplies
Babies
80% of the time, babies are the easiest age to bring on a trip. They don’t need their own seat, you can both fit in the teeny bathrooms, and hopefully, they’ll sleep most of the time.
Essentials to pack? One comfy blanket, one favorite stuffy, three touch and feel books, portable roll up diaper pad, and bottle necessities. If you use powder formula, make sure you can conveniently remove it for security, if needed.
Essentials to Meituan or order for delivery to your destination? Diapers and wipes for the trip, food if they’re on solids, more formula.
Carrier (Babybjörn, Moby wrap, etc)? Absolutely, one for each parent. This was the only way I survived our first few trips. Carriers are especially good for ninja nursing!
Stroller? Only if it’s easily packed down and you know the places you’ll go are stroller-friendly. Otherwise, I’d stick with a carrier and grab a cheap umbrella stroller if they’re big enough. One time I was stuck at an airport for an extra hour after midnight because they lost my stroller. It was eventually found, but only worth the aggravation while navigating the airport itself.
Car seat? See if you can borrow one at your destination. I never used one on a plane but that’s a personal choice. I did bring a car seat that locked into a stroller when I knew I’d be using it for both the stroller and the rental car, to get to the airport and at our destination. If you can just rent a car seat at your destination, do it. I have seen foldable car seats and also harnesses that may be good alternatives, especially if your plans involve areas with rough terrain and don’t want to deal with a stroller.
Crib? Go as minimal as you can with the crib, without sacrificing safety. If your child needs the containment, ask if the hotel has a pack and play. If they don’t, that might go to your delivery list. Otherwise, little ones may only need a side sleeper that attaches to the bed.
Loveys? Stick to their favorites and a backup. Only the barest of creature comforts, because honestly, they’ll mostly just get in the way of adventure.
Potty Trainers
I can honestly say that for me, potty training was one of the most stressful parts of parenting little kids. The amount of baggage – quite literally – that I had to carry everywhere, separating the dirty from the clean supplies, wrangling both kids while one was training and the other was bored, never mind what had to happen when I had to pee… Oh, and did I mention the separate bag for snacks?
Having said that, don’t fear traveling with a potty trainer. It can be done!
Essentials to carry-on/have nearby:
· One complete outfit for every two hours you will be away from your home or hotel. This does not include clothes for the rest of the trip.
· Plastic bag or reusable sealed bag for dirties.
· Hand laundry soap for the hotel.
· Pants and shorts with an elastic band and pull ups for an easy change, no matter how small the transportation’s bathroom is.
· Wipes, wipes, wipes, wipes, and more wipes. I was a reusable wipes person at home, disposable throughout potty training.
· Books to capture their attention and keep them on the toilet. If you can stomach it, knock-knock-jokes are pretty great for this.
· Entertainment downloaded onto your phone and/or tablet if that keeps them on the toilet. No shame.
· Hand sanitizer (although that’s a no brainer post-2020).
· Hand sanitizer spray (I found small bottles that work like a charm when there’s no soap in a public bathroom)
· Toilet bowl adaptor: my oldest didn’t need this but my youngest did. He had to have a relaxed bottom in order to do his business, and holding onto the sides of a toilet so he wouldn’t fall in just didn’t cut it. So a toilet bowl adaptor with the accompanying cleanable bag was necessary.
· If you have a boy, I’d always keep an empty cup with a lid handy – think camping cup, or something similar. Seriously. It saved me on many a group van trip from a Chinese tourist destination to our hotel.
Overall, stay calm, and know you are not the first family to attempt traveling with a young child. Take and do what you need to be comfortable, and keep Meituan or Taobao handy for emergencies!
This article appeared in the jingkids 2021 May issue
