Travel Tip #22 - Make it through airport security with children and live to tell about it

My husband and I have traveled quite a bit over the past 11 years.  Our youngest, an 18 month old has been to 28 states!  We are always up for adventure and love to travel...by boat, car, train or even plane.  And most of the time, our trips begin in an airport (we usually rent a car and drive over a 1000 miles when we land but that is another post).  But beginning our trips at the airport means that we have to face the scariest and most stressful part of traveling with children.  Can you guess what it is?  Airport Security!  It doesn't sound that frightening when it is just my husband and I traveling.  But when you throw in four kids age 5 and under or any kids for that matter it can be a scary, scary thing.

So how do we make it easier?  Here are a few hints that might make your airport security adventure a little less stressful:

• Be Prepared: I know the TSA rules by heart and I know what I can and can not bring on a plane.  My liquids are packed in the zip lock bag ready to be pulled out.  Our laptops are already out of our backpacks.  My oldest son's inhaler and meds are in a separate ziplock bag.  Any liquids I am carrying on for my lap child are in another bag (yes, if you have a lap child, you can bring liquids on board-they will be inspected by hand).  Anything that I think will cause the TSA agents to search my bag, goes on the very top of my suitcase for easy access.  I even have a list of what I am taking through security: back pack, lap top, liquids, belt, phone, 12 shoes, etc.-this way, I make sure that I don't leave anything on the belt.  And this should go without saying but always, always have enough time for security.
• Accept Help: There are still nice people in this world and sometimes they even offer to help.  I usually smile and decline but in the airport security line, if someone offers any help at all-I take it.  Occasionally, you will encounter a TSA agent who will help put suitcases up on the conveyor belt, push them through or my absolute most favorite help of all: setting my strollers up for me after they have gone through the x-ray.  I have even seen an agent, help a lady retie her baby sling.  Sometimes you get help, sometimes not but don't panic.  You can do it either way.
• Practice, Practice:  We do this quite often at our house.  Not only do we play airplane and practice what to do on the plane but we play airport security to practice what to do then.  We take off our shoes, put our backpacks and lovey toys on the kitchen cabinets and slide them across.  Then we walk through a door way one at a time and stop on the other side (so no one wanders to far off).  Then we grab our things off of the counters and take them to a seat to put on our shoes.  Silly, I know but my 4 and 5 year old could probably get through security faster than some business travelers.  And since we practice no one gets upset about taking off their shoes and everyone knows that their beloved backpacks filled with toys will be handed right back to us.  Another thing that might be good to practice is standing in a line.  Sometimes the security lines are long so practice wouldn't hurt here either.  We have even played "I Spy" while standing in line or passed out candy-anything to pass the time, keep everyone entertained, prevent meltdowns and keep them from rolling around on the floor!
• Be Patient:  This is the tip that my husband I need to work on.  If it was just us in the security line, it would be a breeze.  But when the lines are long and people are inching closer and closer to us, we start to rush.  And inevitably when we do this, we get sloppy and start dropping stuff (like on our last trip when my husband dropped my laptop and it bounced 4 feet away) or we start rushing and we forget someone (no, that has never happened-wink, wink).  Unfortunately, when we start hurrying, we tend to get a little short and snappy with the kids during security because we are feeling that we need to hurry up and move along.  Just be patient-your family paid for a plane ticket like everyone else, you have a plane to catch like everyone else, take care of your family and the people behind you need to be patient too-there is no reason to hurry.
• Just Smile:  I mentioned that some people can be helpful but some people can be down right rude.  When this happens, you have two options-get upset or just smile.  On our last trip, a lady nearly knocked my two boys down trying to cut in front of them in line.  A simple "excuse me" would have been adequate but not everyone was raised correctly so we have to carry on.  You will probably drop something, spill something or have to be searched and your kids will probably trip and fall, have a mini meltdown or even refuse to go through the x-ray.  Just smile and walk on-it can make your trip much more pleasant.  This too shall pass.  

This is our strategy of how we make it through security:  We have practiced and are ready to go.  As we approach security, our laptops and liquids are pulled out.  My husband is in front and I'm in the back with the kids in between us.  I immediately start reminding everyone to listen to us, stay in line and give my youngest a reminder that we are going to take off our shoes and put our stuff on the belt-just like at home.  As we near the bins, the kids start taking off shoes while my husband gets a bin for shoes.  The kids then take off back packs and putting them on the conveyor belt while pushing them forward.  Once everything is on the belt, I take the baby out of the stroller, leaving my husband to fold the strollers and make sure everything gets through the xray machine.  The kids line up and walk one by one through the metal detector and then grab their backpacks off of the belt.  If a blessed TSA agent has set up my stroller, I can plop the baby in it and start hanging bags off of the back (if I have to maneuver the double stroller off of the belt and open it while holding a baby, it is just not pretty). Once the kids hands are full, I pick a spot and tell them to go there-like a bench I can see or stand up against a wall.  Then I take what I can (including the shoes) and meet the kids.  They start putting on their shoes and we wait on my husband who is bringing up the rear.  Now if some of our luggage, liquids or medicine have to be inspected, then we do switch spots.  My husband has a huge fear of the TSA agent opening up the suitcase and seeing my Victoria Secret undies and not his whitey tighties.  Once he returns, we finish with shoes, repack our laptops and liquids and take a deep breath because we have made it and our vacations has begun!

Okay, airport security is scary but it takes about 10 minutes of your trip.  Once you pass through security, you have faced the hardest part of the trip and have nothing left to do but enjoy your travels.  Remember my tips: be prepared, accept help, practice, be patient and just smile.  Just relax and you can do it. When things get too stressful, look up because in just a few feet you will have made it through the pearly gates and into the airport terminal.  Trust me, traveling with your children is so worth a few stressful minutes.

Travel Tip #21 - Take Out Sometimes is Necessity (and you don't miss out on McClard's Bar-B-Q)

We spent the day at Magic Springs and Crystal Falls in Hot Springs, Arkansas today and by day, I mean the whole day. Oh, did I mention it is hot, hot and very hot outside.  Actually, I have never sweated so much before but that is not what this post is about.  Anyway, the kids had a blast and were wet, hot and exhausted when we finally called it a day.  But when you come to Hot Springs you can't leave without having bar-b-q from McClard's.  We knew from many failed restaurant experiences that our crew was in no way able to go out to eat and sit through a meal without major, multiple meltdowns.  So we did the next best thing: take out!

I am sure that people often forget about getting their food to-go on a trip but often for us it is the best thing to do.  You can leisurely eat your meal at your hotel room or wherever and your kids can run around, eat whatever they want (sure, you could even stop and get their McDonald's on the way) or they can even throw that long overdue fit without bothering anyone.  Seriously, sometimes when we get take out, it is so much more relaxing for us and we still get to enjoy the food from the restaurant that we wanted to try (and my husband would add that we saved money on the tip!)  So pick out that place on your next trip that you have always wanted to try and bring it back to the hotel room-you (and your kids) will thank me!

By the way, I bet you were wondering what makes McClard's Bar-B-Q Restaurant so special.  Well, their bar-b-q is great and world famous but our favorite menu item is their tamale spread.  Two tamales, Fritos, cheese, beans and beef (and even onions if you want them-we didn't).  I think I might just get out of this bed right now and heat up our leftovers in our little hotel microwave.  It is mouthwatering good and probably worth the trip to Hot Springs just for the tamale spread.

Travel Tip #20 - Pick your Shirt Wisely

What not to wear on travel day, you ask. Well, I will tell you. On that day where you will be hauling 300 pounds of luggage 5 miles through an airport terminal while holding a baby and pushing a stroller. What should you not wear? Or when you will be trying to keep a 13 month old quiet in a plane while you are confined and have about 12 inches for the 2 of you to sit and the people in front of you keep reclining and while sitting by strangers who don't look like they like babies. What should you not wear? A low cut shirt!

I don't have many low cut shirts but on this travel day home, this was all that was clean. So I put it on without thinking a thing about it. After bending and picking up some suitcases and feeling a breeze, I was quickly aware of my mistake. It wasn't a big deal until we were in the plane and I looked down and my baby had pulled my shirt down way too far (if you get my drift). Thank God the lights were out or I could have been the in-flight entertainment. Next trip, I am only wearing turtlenecks!

Travel Tip #19

Obviously, I am crazy obsessed with packing my bags early so I can have plenty of time to think of anything else that I might need. I hate not being able to sit my suitcase beside the door the night of a trip. But I can't zip those suitcases without toothbrushes in them.

I am sure that the my dentist would say to change out our toothbrushes every few months but at my house we change out our toothbrushes each time we travel. I pick up a few fun toothbrushes for the kids and pack them in that suitcase. That way the suitcase can be zipped and by the door and we can use our old toothbrushes one last time before hitting the road.

Travel Tip 18 - Make a List

About a week before we go anywhere, I start making my packing list. I am the type of person that loves list but even if you don't, this is a great travel tip. My packing list includes a list of things I need to buy before the trip. Then there are different sections for everyone bag that I am carrying-diaper bag, carry on, suitcases, kids backpacks. It may sound like alot of work but it makes packing so much easier. You just have to grab what you need, throw it in the bag and check it off and then you won't forget as much stuff! Also, make sure you type your list and save it so you can pull it up next time you travel and will just have to add somethings and take somethings off and you are ready to go. I need to start working on my list for our next trip even as we speak (but maybe I will wait a few days) When I finish it, I will post it so you could even copy my list and change it to work for you.

Travel Tip 17 - Bath Toys

If you have big kids then this tip may not be for you. But for us, something that is on my packing list for each trip is bath tub toys. When we get back to the hotel, no matter how late, the kids get in the bath tub. Mine are small enough now that they still take baths together. I run around the room working like a mad woman. My husband is keeping an eye on the kids but for me to be able to get everything ready, I need for them to stay in the bathtub as long as we can keep them there. These 10+ minutes of uninterrupted time for me saves us at least an hour in the morning.

Here is what I do during their bath time: I get out everyone's pajamas (kids and mine), get their beds ready, lay out their clothes for tomorrow, go through everything we have brought back into the hotel and put it away, start a pile by the door to take with us the next morning, empty the ice chest, wash the cups and bottles and refill them, go through my diaper bag and refill it for the next day and add more snacks to my bag. If I finish all of this, I might even have time to sit down for 2 minutes before bathtime is over. 2 minutes might be an overestimate.

But this is the key....to get them to stay in the bathtub for a decent amount of time, I need them to be entertained. So I bring new bath toys for them. Just little ones will do-sometime those capsules that expand to make sponge animals or the washcloths that start off tiny and get bigger. Anything will do as long as it is new and different from home. I can even use the new washcloths and capsules as a bribe. The dollar store is my friend and I use it for new little bath toys. My kids get a big kick out of Mom letting them put something in the bath that they don't get to put in the tub at home-cars, balls or anything else that isn't usually a bath toy.

So for me, to make my mornings run smoothly, I need time to get things ready. To have time to get things ready, I need the kids to stay in the bathtub. To get the kids to stay in the bathtub, I need them to be entertained. For the kids to be entertained, they need new bath toys!

Travel Tip 16 - Pack a Bag or a Box

Every trip we go on, I always pack an extra collapsible box that I have bought at the container store. Sometimes, I even pack two. As soon as we get to the hotel, I open the boxes up and instantly have a spot for the kids toys. They are in the box and ready to be taken to the car in the morning and now we have our own toy box to keep our hotel room tidy. The second box I use for my stuff-coats, gps, books, snacks, etc. Anything that I will need the next day will go in the box ready to go. In the car, the boxes are great to put in things that need to come back to the hotel room. You could use a bag for this too, but the collapsible boxes just work well for me-mainly because I can see everything that is in them. So pack your bags and pack a box or two!

Travel Tip 15 - Go to the Library

I always head to the library before a trip to look for travel books. My library has a service where I can find my books online and then pick them up at my library in a few days. I always get a few travel books for each trip. My favorite books are the Fodor's books. They have lots of great information plus they have walks or drives which show you the sites-and I love that. I like to have a few books so I can flip through them and take notes. Since packing is always tight, I pick the book that I need and take it and I make copies of anything from the other books and put it in my travel notebook (I will post about it another day).

Travel Tip 14 - Stop and Pick up Sticks

When it was just my husband and I traveling, we could go from morning to night without stopping. We would hop out of the car to take a picture and jump back in-but now we are traveling with kids-and everything is different. I first realized this when we hopped out of the car to take a quick picture and 15 minutes later my daughter is still picking up sticks. Yes, it would have been quicker to shoo her in the car but trust me, she had more fun looking at sticks in front of the Mammoth Caves sign.

I have come to realize that my kids memories are different than mine. I remember the museums, the restaurants or the scenery. My kids remember the donuts, the swimming pool, the bugs and even the sticks. It is good for my husband and me to slow down and let them be kids and explore. There will be plenty of time for everything we want to do and there will be time to smell the roses and pick up the sticks.

Travel Tip 13 - Buckle Up

Well, this post isn't too exciting at all. But it is just a reminder to buckle up even while on vacation. I just read an article about injuries on a plane during turbulence. I sure don't like to think that that can happen but it does. On a recent flight, it was fairly bumpy but the seat belt sign had been turned off so I headed to the bathroom with my oldest child. The pilot turned the seat belt sign back on while we were in the bathroom and we made it back just in time before the plane started bouncing again. It is not an option while on an airplane, my kids are always buckled up. Yes, sometimes they are all sprawled out laying across me and other seats but they are buckled up. You can never be too cautious.

Oh, I didn't even mention buckling up in the car. I am sure everyone does that but here is a tip: when you are trying to put that car seat in the car after getting off the plane, take a few minutes and do it right. I always get in a hurry and sometimes know that I could do a better job if I took my time. So take your time and play it safe!

Travel Tip 12 - Extra Clothes

Have you ever tried to buy clothes for a 2 year old at Walgreens? I have and there aren't many choices-so she wore a boys undershirt and a sweatshirt that she can probably wear well in 5 years. Needless to say, now I always have a change of clothes for each of my kids with me. Yes, that is alot of clothes but it just takes one accident, one sick kid or even one ice cream cone to cause havoc. My kids are small so maybe older preschoolers or even older kids may not need extra clothes.....but you never can be too cautious.

I find the smallest and thinest clothes-a complete outfit including socks, underwear or diaper. Each set of clothes I stuff into a gallon ziplock bag and squeeze the air out. In the car, I can throw these in the trunk and can get to them easily and on a plane, I line the bottom of my diaperbag backpack with them. It seems like a hassle and I usually never need them (except for the baby) but when you need extra clothes-you need them now.

Travel Tip 11 - Unpack now!

I hate coming home from trips. I could cry on every plane ride or car ride home-reality is no fun compared to vacations. Arrive home late at night, kids to get to bed, work and school the next day, a dirty house along with suitcases of clothes-makes you just want to climb into bed. But don't: unpack and unpack now! I know, it doesn't sound like any fun but unpacking is also an important part of the trip. Over the next few days, your kids will be re-adjusting to being at home and your life won't slow down much either so now is the time to unpack. And you will feel so good the next morning if most of your stuff is already put away....and ready for the next trip.

Here are some tips for unpacking. First, do it now or maybe wait to the kids are in bed. One suitcase has only dirty clothes and that suitcase it taken straight to the laundry room and dumped into the washer. By bedtime, I can have that load in the dryer and ready to put up the next morning. The other suitcases should be opened and emptied in a common area. Pile kitchen items in one pile, clean clothes in another and bathroom stuff in another. Now, you just have a few trips to put everything up and big kids could even help out. Take those suitcases infront of the closet or near the garage (or where ever you store them) and leave them unzipped for the night to air out. The next morning all you have left to do it fold the laundry and put of the suitcases. This way your vacation can end on a good note!

Travel Tip 10 - Empty Water Bottle

Here is a great tip and one that I forget about so often: if you are flying, pack an empty water bottle in your carry on. This is a great tip for anyone, even those flying without kids. There are water fountains everywhere. It is so much faster and cheaper to fill up your own bottle rather than standing in a line to spend 5 dollars for water.

If you are traveling with an infant, you have water with you anytime you need to use your formula powder to make a bottle or if you have older children, you can pour in a drink mix and have an instant snack. That water bottle is a trusty standby in my carryon. Now that my kids can carry their own backpacks, they even have their own bottle which they know to fill up at the first water fountain past security.

Travel Tip 9 - They will eat when they are hungry

Eating while traveling is hard for adults so I can only imagine that it is harder for kids. When we travel my kids are distracted by the new surroundings, scared to try new food or even too tired or too hot to eat. So here is what I do, I trust that they have enough sense to eat when they are hungry. If they eat when we sit down to eat, great; if they don't, then they will eat later. Actually, that is the eating philosophy at my house when we are not traveling-why sweat the small stuff.

It is important to have plenty of snacks and drinks with you so they can eat when they are hungry. But those snacks are also great to prevent a meltdown or to be used as bribes. I choose not to worry about what they eat while traveling and I especially don't worry about them not eating a balanced meal. We can eat more balanced meals at home-the main goal while traveling is keeping your kids happy. If that means they don't eat a bite at supper, then that is okay!

Travel Tip 8 - Pack a few extra plastic bags

In honor of earth week, I have a travel tip about recycling-kind of. If you have a child in diapers, you have changed their diaper in every place imaginable-trunks of cars, park benches or even balanced on a sink. Just imagine having to find diaper changing spots while traveling. This is when you pull our your plastic bags that you can reuse (or I just take a few extra when I bag my groceries-that way they fold much better). I just open one up and lay my baby's head on one and grab a second one to dispose of the diaper in. And in a pinch, you can even tie it to the outside if your car until you can find a trashcan (done that). I am probably obsessed with bringing bags on trips but this are cheap and great for diapers, vomit (sorry-done that too), wet clothes or car trash bags. Keep them close and you will use one every few minutes.

Travel Tip 7 - Don't worry about their ears

Oh, so many things to worry about-but here is one thing that you don't have to worry about on a plane: ears! How many times have you heard someone say that kids will fuss on a plane because of their ears. Maybe it is true-but for the most part it is probably just an old wives tale. Yes, their ears may be uncomfortable-so let them have their paci, feed them (forget about that Babywise schedule), give them something to eat or even rub their ears. My 2 month old wasn't bothered by his ears on his first flight nor have my 3 kids on any of their other flights-well over 30 different flights. My son even had a horrible ear infection (which we didn't know about) on our last flights home and never seemed to be bothered by it. The doctor explained the science of why the flight didn't hurt him but it was too complex for me to get. But I do get this: don't worry about their ears, they will be fine.

Travel Tip 6: Pack the Medicine

We usually remember the big items while packing but sometimes I forget about the things that I usually don't need-like medicine. But when a kid wakes in the middle of the night with crazy high temperature or even worse, the stomach bug, you need to have your medicine. I have my trusty ziplock bags (see Travel Tip 2) filled with every medicine we could need on our trip. Yes, it takes up tons of packing room but if I need it, I have to have it. Tylenol, thermometer, Benadryl, any prescription medicine that we have used lately. If it is in my medicine cabinet now, I take it. I try to condense it and take the smallest amount I can but how horrible would it be to desparately need medicine in the middle of the night and not have it. Also, I always try to spot the closest Walgreens or 24 hour store on my way to the hotel-you never know what you are going to need. Also, if we are traveling in the car, I always stick in my pedialyte. We have never needed it (knock on wood) but it is nice to know that it is there if we do. So take that medicine and hopefully you will never need it!

Travel Tip 5 - Practice, Practice

A very important aspect of traveling with kids is often overlooked because we get too busy with planning and packing. I first realized the need for this tip before flying across country with my now 2 year old boy-who can sometimes act like a 2 year old boy! He needed practice and lots of practice. I grabbed boxes from the garage and soon had me a few airplane seats, we colored some tickets and filled up our backpacks with toys laying around. We took turns being the flight attendant passing out real food. The "pilot" would make sure everyone was buckled up and make sure that the tray tables were up as well. The kids got a big kick out of and it kept them busy from most of the afternoon. Because of that practice session, that plane ride was a success....but passing through security wasn't so great. So before the next trip, we practice walking through the security line: putting our favorite toys in a box, taking our shoes off and walking through the metal detectors by ourselves. Practice, practice is what we do now before each trip-sometimes we practice standing in a line, getting on and off a trolley or even listening while on a walking tour. I don't know if practice makes perfect or not, but I do know that it sure does help.

Travel Tip 4-Buy a zoo pass

Here is a great tip which has saved us alot of planning time and money while on our trips. Buy a zoo membership to your local zoo. You can enjoy this all year long with your children but the bonus is that many zoos will allow you free or discounted admission with your zoo pass from your hometown zoo. So often, we don't feel like we can spend the whole day at a zoo while we are sightseeing but do have time to pop in for an hour or two. If we had to pay the full admission price, we probably wouldn't go for just a little bit but since it is free it is a perfect way to spend a few hours. So before you leave town, grab a zoo pass so you can enjoy your zoo but also enjoy many zoos around the country.

Travel Tip 3-Souvenirs: buy them at home

Have you ever walked through Disneyworld or even a museum or zoo and seen people spending hundreds of dollars of souvenirs? Those same souvenirs, the ones that we wouldn't buy for our kids at home because they are cheaply made and will fall apart, are the ones that we pay three and four times more for on vacation. Why? Because we want our kids to have a great memory of our travels. Most of those souvenirs will be broken, lost or not important by the time we have made it back through security at the airport. I know, I have a $20 broken monorail toy sitting at my feet right now.
And I think there is a better way. Each time we go on a trip, I hit my local dollar store and discount stores before we go. Disneyworld-I collect Mickey and Princess stuff for weeks before we go. Zoos-animal stickers, those big animal cups that cost 15+ at the zoo are practically free at garage sales. I try to do this for every place that we go. My kids think they are getting something special and I have plenty to use as bribes (this post will come soon) when I need them. It is a win-win situation.
Yes, kids do need souvenirs, but a stuffed buffalo or painted rocks are not what I want to spend my money on. I do set a limit for each child and that is there money to buy a worthwhile souvenir. My kids are still to young, but I would love for them to develop some type of collection that they could add to during their travels. There are some souvenirs that you must have, and go ahead buy them-you are on vacation.
But save some meltdowns, time and money by planning ahead. So before you go, think about what your kids like, where you are going and what you are going to do and I bet that you can find some great souvenirs very cheap in your hometown.