How To Survive A Trip ALONE with kids!

 

Traveling with kids is hard.  Traveling alone with kids, it’s harder, but it can be done and it should be done.

Whether you are headed down south for a beach vacation, off to Disney or ready to tackle a bucket list city, travel with kids can be hard.  The only thing harder than traveling with kids…is traveling alone with kids!  Here are our best trips to survive travel with kids.

Be Prepared.  Plan well.  If you are traveling out of the country make sure those passports are up to date.  Beyond this, it’s also recommended that you have written permission to travel with your children, alone, without your partner.  When I travel solo with my girls I always have a letter of consent.  It gives me written permission to leave Canada with my children.  If I’m taking friends of the girls, same goes.  I’ve never needed to show my Travel Letter Of Consent but better to be safe than sorry.  The Canadian Government provides this document and it can be easily downloaded and filled out.  Find it here.

Pack Smart.  When packing that suitcase don’t forget to include a First-Aid Kit.  It’s your back up.  Think of it as your just in case plan.  Not only will it provide a little piece of mind, but should you need band-aids, Gravol or Bendrayl you may just save yourself a pricey trip to the pharmacy.

Involve The Kids.  Children ages 5 and up can get involved in the planning.  Allow them to help which restaurants you will visit or sites you will see.  Older children can truly dive in and help create an itinerary.  Involved children will be more invested in the trip and ultimately make the entire vacation more successful.

Manage Expectations.  Little people simply can’t spend as much time touring as you can.  Balance out a couple of hours touring at a museum with some time at the park.  Include lots of breaks and some downtime.  Know that you may not cram in as many touristy sites, but you will make just as many memories.

Don’t Forget To Eat.  While on vacation it’s so easy to get caught up in the whirlwind of activity that you forget to eat.  Make sure you leave time for meals and pack lots of snacks.  More than one trip has been saved by the emergency stash of granola bars in the bottom of the backpack.  A fed child is a happy child.

Rest Before You Go.  Sleep.  Be sure to get a good nights sleep before you go.  Impossible right?  Do try.  A well-rested Mama is a happy Mama.

Stay Safe and Be Aware. When you are traveling in another country you need to listen to your intuition.  If something doesn’t feel quite right, change your course, your plan, your location.

Just Breathe.  When things don’t seem to be going the way you want.  When you’re tired and frustrated.  If you start to wonder why you ever tried to travel with these kids by yourself in the first place!  Breathe.  Then remember…the gift of travel is like no other. You will connect with your children like you never have before.  You will make memories your children will tell long after you’re gone and while you are out there showing your babies the world….you are teaching them.  Everything.

 

Happy Travels!