This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Disney Parks. The opinions and text are all mine.
Hey, OSSS readers! It’s Liv, one of Mariel’s behind-the-scenes helpers! I’m back to share with you my 5 tips for traveling with preschoolers.
Today I’m partnering with Disney and Scholastic to talk with you about traveling with preschoolers. I know, I know. Doesn’t exactly sound great, does it? Traveling with kids, especially little ones, can be pretty stressful. But in my experience, it’s always worth it! When my son Lincoln was two months old and my daughter Aspen four years old, my husband and I got on a plane (many planes, actually) and flew across the country to visit my parents. Yes, I was kind of a crazy person trying to plan for the trip– packing bags, organizing snacks and games, etc… but it was a great vacation and I’m so glad we went! I’ll share my tips for making traveling with preschoolers a little bit easier so you can plan the Disney trip of your (and their!) dreams. Scholastic has some great traveling with preschooler ideas too, my favorite probably being the advice to provide mystery gifts when traveling. More ideas like that can be found by clicking HERE.
Anyway, on to my tips for traveling with preschoolers!
1. Hands down, the smartest decision I make when I fly with an infant is to WEAR THE BABY. I opt for a soft wrap like a Moby or K’Tan because it can double as a swaddle, a blanket, or a pillow if need be. Wearing the littlest baby leaves my hands free to deal with my own personal belongings, and the needs of my older daughter. Even when I flew with Aspen as a nine-month-old, I wore her. I was by myself and it made me feel like superwoman to be able to handle my own bag and the diaper bag while Aspen was safely strapped onto my body.
2. The second smartest decision I make when I travel is to bring a compact stroller when flying. With my first I used a tiny umbrella stroller. But with my second, I used a Jeep brand stroller. It’s a little bit bigger, but still easy to maneuver. I loved having the shade for my preschooler, and the basket underneath for extra help with bags. Most airlines allow strollers to be checked for free at the gate, making it accessible during any connecting flights on a trip. Pushing a kid through an airport is so much faster and easier than chasing a kid through an airport, RIGHT?! And whenever my kids felt like she needed to get our wiggles, piling luggage on the stroller is super helpful. And, obviously, then you have a stroller at your final destination and don’t have to rent or borrow one.
3. If you’re hitting the pavement for a family road trip (and your kids sleep better in the car than mine do), consider traveling during nap times, or even later in the afternoon/into the night. It’ll allow the kids to get some rest, and you can hopefully enjoy a few hours of peace and quiet while driving.
4. Over-pack the amount of snacks you think you’ll need. Because you will run out otherwise, I promise! When I flew with Aspen by myself (she was nine-months old) I actually FORGOT the in-flight snacks I’d packed ahead of time and had to make an emergency stop at a grocery store on the way to the airport. I was so stressed because we all know a hungry baby is an angry baby. So go ahead and load up on a huge variety of your kids’ favorite things to eat. Here’s what my preschoolers loved eating at that age:
- Yogurt Melts
- Goldfish Crackers
- Veggie Straws
- Fruit Pouches
- Puffs
- String Cheese
- And don’t forget one of these Munchin cups to make it easier to snack on-the-go!
5. BE FLEXIBLE and try to RELAX. I know it’s not easy! I’m a type-A, uptight personality and make millions of lists when I’m getting ready to take a trip. But I still tell myself to calm down so I don’t make everyone around me miserable. Sometimes there are good unplanned surprises on a trip, like finding out there are empty seats available on a flight and your lap-child suddenly has his/her own seat. Or there’s a mistake with your hotel reservation but when you’re polite about it at the front desk, they upgrade you. Just try to go with the flow and keep in mind your kids are making amazing memories! For them, the travel is part of the excitement.
There’s a lot more information about travel opportunities for you and your young family on the Scholastic website. They have activities and free printables you can download for the kids on your next adventure, as well as tips about ideal destinations to visit.
Also, you can enter the Tiny Travelers sweepstakes for a chance to win a family trip to a Disney park! Scholastic is offering a five-day/four-night Walt Disney World® vacation for four. Includes airfare, hotel, ground transportation, Theme Park tickets, Disney Character Greeting, and more. PLUS: The first 2,500 to enter get a FREE Scholastic book to their tiny traveler, while supplies last! AWESOME!!!
I hope you won’t be scared to travel with your little ones- it’s so great not to worry about missing school, and to take advantage of flying with kids when they’re still free (under age 2 for most airlines)! And just imagine the looks on their faces when they arrive at the Disney park, seeing all the magic come to life!
This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Disney Parks. The opinions and text are all mine.