Flight of the Toddler: A nod to the parent who plans

Flight of the Toddler: A nod to the parent who plans


Ok so you have an opportunity to travel for the holidays, special anniversary, or big family reunion. Everyone loves a good trip! In fact, the anticipation of having some sort of vacation from normal life is even better than the vacation itself. 

BUT if you’re a parent...that anticipation becomes more of a rubix cube of what ifs and serious anxiety, fueled by tantrums and messy diapers.

Have no fear!!! That’s why you’re here to read what may become the single most important lessons compiled in one place for any family looking to travel with their wee babes.

Lesson #1

The Parent with a Plan! 

My wife and I recently traveled with our 2yr old, flying from the west coast ➡️ east coast. Our first leg was 5 1/2 hrs with about a 4hr layover in Newark. Needless to say we needed a plan for the first part and especially that layover.  

One word parents...BENADRYL!  Yes, we drugged our child. Who hasn’t?!? Bueller...Bueller??? Let’s be honest, we got the little messy pants her own bottle of melatonin (Zarbees Children chewables) ps: they work KO great on adults and taste amazing! Anyways, but I swear she did not want one to save her life. And this girl LOVES gummies! But she likes smarties more (aka Benadryl). I Sh!$ you not she slept all but the last 30 mins of the first leg.  🙌🙌🙌🙌

Yet, that also meant we needed to expel a lot of her built up energy during our LONG @$$ layover in what seems to be the most un-kid friendly airport. If I have to walk up another United Airlines club staircase, I’ll collapse! By the grace of the toddler demons, who always seem to find their way in possessing my child, managed to pass by and allow her to eat some food with her kind patient parents. Trading off walk-abouts with the head spinning demon baby is the only way to help ease the burden of traveling. Oh, and a good burger helps too!

Lesson #2

Stroll-Her

Find a lightweight, but perfect height stroller for you gentleman! We ended up getting gifted the Summer 3D lite stroller, which is WAY easier on the back for us guys that are over 6ft tall. I mean, consistently hitting the gym would also help but who has the time for that these days. Dad bods are still totally in right?

I would also give a shout-out to the gate check bag accessory you can purchase for said stroller. That made folding it much nicer, and in my mind prevented it from in any way being tossed, thrown, or completely trashed by the flight deck crew! 

Deciding how many bags to take with you can be challenging. We ended up paying for one checked bag, gate checking my carry on for free, and just wearing our backpacks. All the while we pushed an empty stroller around because the toddler refuses to sit in one without making it sound like you are the most abusive parents ever to walk the earth. The screams one tiny 28lb human can make is unfathomable. 👍kids amiright?

Lesson #3: The last one...because I used the last spark of energy I had left on this trip just to write this.

Remember while you are on trips like these, your parents and Tiás/Tiós all can have a chance at watching your little hellion while you can blissfully close your eyes for MAYBE 10 mins or heaven bless take a shower. Our rambunctious one seems to sleep worse when on trips, especially when they wake up finding themselves in a different place/environment. We just got used to the idea that she likes to be cuddled and sleep next to something familiar, most likely you or mama. 

Lastly, amidst all the documenting and posing for pictures and making time available to see and visit everyone and their mom (quite literally) take a step back from all of it and truly enjoy being present in the moment. Connect with those loved ones on a deeper level, make memories watching your child’s eyes light up when they ride a miniature train in the park, or stuff their face full of delicious food from your dad’s restaurant. Be sure to make a mental snap shot of all those beautiful moments, because that’s what it is all about. Not the tantrums, the late night terrors, the constipation, the inevitable evacuation of said constipation, the upset tummy’s from eating out too much, the late nights and early mornings, etc. 

Your family is the most important part of your life. It would be a shame to see those ties broken or destroyed because of a few bad memories. So make them the best kind of memories...ones that will last!