Taking Vacations with the Kiddos!

Summer is here and chances are you are ready to pack up the kids and trek to your favorite destination. Unfortunately, if you don’t plan well – your vacation could be more stressful than its worth when you have kids in tow. Following a few simple hints from seasoned parents can make life much, much simpler!

If you plan to visit friends, family or relatives not only will you save a lot of money – but you will also have a more permanent and welcoming place to stay with your child. If your baby has become mobile – you should bring pipe cleaners and duct tape along with your sun block and bathing suits. Why? You can pretty much temporarily baby proof anything in Grandma’s house with either of those two products and you won’t be causing any permanent holes in the walls of your family members. If your baby is used to a baby-proofed home staying somewhere that isn’t can be trying. You can also use these two handy and inexpensive childproofing products to effectively make hotel rooms safer as well.

Be prepared that your child may not sleep as well in their new environment as they do at home. This means that while planning a few days at Disney or a local theme park may seem exciting to you, your child may be a little cranky and overwhelmed. Many parents feel pressured to provide exciting entertainment for their child that costs a lot of money. However, parents that have been there done that will tell you – it may be better to wait a few years. Strolling around expensive theme parks with a sleeping baby in a stroller, a diaper bag and worrying about the crowds can be exhausting for the whole family. Instead, plan a day trip to a less expensive and more local park to see how well your child enjoys it. Before the age of 5 or 6, your child will not forge very many long lasting memories of their time with Mickey or Cinderella anyways.

Camping is inexpensive and can be relaxing. If you plan to camp on vacation with your baby, bring plenty of sunscreen and bug spray. You also should have a fully stocked medical kit with you complete with ibuprofen and Advil. Tagging along a portable DVD player may also help give your child some down time (and don’t worry Mother Nature wont mind.) Try not to plan too many days in the wild outdoors and know your area well. Before you go try to get names of local pediatricians as well as doctors or emergency care centers in the area in case of a late night illness or emergency.

Often the worst part of taking a vacation with little ones is the car ride. Being strapped into a car seat for endless hours is not cozy for anyone – especially a baby or toddler. One word to the wise would be to ensure that the adults driving get a long daytime nap and take the trip at night when your child normally sleeps. This way they will be tried and more likely to sleep through the bulk of the trip. If the trip is extra long, don’t rush and hurry to get to your vacation – instead break up the travel time with an overnight stop. Also, plan plenty of snacks as a way to keep your child busy and try to purchase a few new toys or creative items for the ride itself to entertain them. If nothing else, hand them your Ipod touch and let them go to town. ()

You may just want to stay conveniently Oceanside at your favorite beach resort. A hotel with an indoor and outdoor pool and a little room service sounds great to you, right? Your first step should be to prepare the hotel room to make it safe. Next up, make sure that you have all the safety gear necessary for a day waterside. You may want to travel with another family or some relatives so that you can have a helping hand with the baby. This way you and your husband can also enjoy some nightlife while your child is tucked safely into bed. Remember, that while your baby will be stimulated by the new scenery and things to do – you also deserve a break, especially after being so busy with the baby at home.

You should also bring along plenty of patience. After staying in a routine for so long, this change in itinerary can make things a little crazy. If you remain flexible and keep your attitude positive, your baby will notice and they too will be less stressed. If you have older children, make sure that you school them in typical stranger safety techniques and ensure that they know your cell phone numbers as well as other pertinent information. Especially in crowded venues, children have a way of escaping their parent’s clutches and you want to empower your child to remain calm and know what to do. Beyond that, enjoy! The pictures and time away from the humdrum routine of your normal life will give you the fuel you need to continue being the best parent you can be.