Get Ready for Holiday Travel: Tips for Parents with Babies and Toddlers
As the holiday season approaches, it's the perfect time to start planning your travel arrangements. Traveling with little ones can be a challenge, but with some preparation, you can ensure a smooth(er) and less stressful journey. Here are some essential tips to help you get ready for your holiday travel:
- Check Your Airline’s Policies
Before you book your flight, it's crucial to check your airline's policies regarding car seats and strollers. Different airlines have different rules, so understanding them in advance will help you avoid any surprises at the airport. Here are a few key things to check:
- Car Seats: Does the airline allow you to bring a car seat on board? If so, what are the size and weight restrictions? Do you need to purchase a seat, or if there’s an available seat could you possibly snag one? 😉 If you want to check your car seat as luggage, is the car seat checked as regular luggage or oversize luggage?
- Strollers: Can you gate check your stroller, or does it need to be checked as luggage? Can you bring your stroller on the plane if it folds to fit in the overhead compartment? Are there any size or weight limitations? If you gate check your stroller, will it be returned to you on the jetway when you deplane OR with the rest of the luggage (which usually happens on International flights)?
- Fees: Are there any additional fees for bringing a car seat or stroller?
- Protect Your Gear with J.L. Childress
Whether you’re gate checking, checking as luggage OR bringing it with you on the plane, making your gear easy to carry and/or protecting it is essential. At J.L. Childress, we offer a range of products designed to keep your essentials safe and secure:
- Gate Check Bags: Our Gate Check bags for car seats and strollers are specifically designed to protect your gear from dirt, damage, moisture and unwanted handling while gate checking. They are compact to carry through the airport, easy to use for quick loading and unloading of your gear and bright and noticeable so your gear never goes missing (if we can help it!).
- Ultimate Padded Backpack: The ORIGINAL (yep, we were the first…the inventors!) padded backpack car seat travel bag provides necessary protection for your car seat whether checking as luggage or gate checking. Padded, adjustable backpack straps make it surprisingly easy to carry your car seat and keeps your hands free for additional luggage and/or toddlers!
- 360 Deluxe Wheelie & Original Wheelie: Our 360 Deluxe Wheelie and original Wheelie car seat travel bags offer the option to wheel your car seat while you travel. The 360 Deluxe Wheelie also features FULL padding for complete protection, and four 360 degree spinner wheels that make pushing and pulling this bag an absolute breeze. The original Wheelie folds more compactly, and is great for wheeling your car seat through the airport, bringing it onto the plane and then storing the Wheelie in the overhead compartment.
- Custom Padded and Unpadded Stroller Bags: Stroller too large? Or a unique brand/configuration? Or just want a big, padded bag for extra protection when you check your stroller as luggage? We offer custom stroller bags, which are made to the exact folded dimensions of your stroller and can be padded or unpadded. These bags are made to order and proudly Made in the USA! Reach out to service@jlchildres.com if interested and we’ll send you a quote and timeline for production.
- Pack Smart
Packing smart can make a big difference in how smoothly your trip goes. Here are some tips for packing efficiently:
- Essentials: Pack a small bag with all the essentials you'll need during the flight, such as diapers, wipes, lovey or pacifier, snacks, milk, and a change of clothes for you AND your little one. Did we mention snacks? More of those is always a good choice.
- Entertainment: Bring along some toys, books, or a tablet with pre-downloaded shows to keep your child entertained. Light (i.e. not heavy) items are great to keep your bags from weighing you down. Throw in some new, holiday-inspired toys or books for festive fun!
- Comfort Items: Don’t forget your child’s favorite blanket or stuffed animal to provide comfort during the journey.
- Ship Items Ahead: Depending on your destination, you might be able to ship larger (or just more) items ahead of you so you aren’t burdened with so much on your actual flight.
- Rent Gear: Need a pack ‘n play? Rent one! Need a high chair? Rent one! You get the idea. Renting gear from companies like BabyQuip is a great option to lessen the load when traveling, but still ensure you have all your creature comforts awaiting you at your destination.
- Plan Ahead
Planning ahead can help you avoid last-minute stress. Here are some steps you can take:
- Early Booking: Book your flights and accommodations early to get the best deals and ensure availability. It also gives you more time to research policies and know what you may need to buy beforehand.
- Pre-Check: Use online check-in to save time at the airport. TSA Pre Check is a great option too to skip long security lines.
- Arrive Early: Give yourself plenty of time to get through security and to your gate, especially if you have young children in tow. Rushing with babies and/or toddlers is not advisable 😉
- Stay Flexible
Traveling with kids means being ready for the unexpected. Keep a positive attitude and be flexible with your plans. Delays and changes are part of the travel experience, and staying calm will help you manage any situation that arises. We recommend setting your expectations low before the trip even starts, and it’ll help you manage your emotions should unexpected turbulence occur 😉
Holiday travel with kids doesn’t have to be stressful. By checking your airline's policies, protecting your gear with J.L. Childress products, packing smart, planning ahead and staying flexible, you can ensure a smooth and enjoyable journey for your family. Start planning today and make this holiday season a memorable one!
Happy travels & holidays!
Team JLC
