By: Jennifer Shu, MD, FAAP
Does the thought of traveling with kids this season send chills down your spine? If so, you're in good company. Flight delays, heavy traffic and other mishaps can turn long-awaited trips into holiday nightmares.
Careful planning won't guarantee a perfect outcome, but there are steps you can take to keep babies and young children safer and more comfortable. Here are suggestions for making your winter trip safe, secure and fun.
Planning your holiday road trip
Start with your child's car seat.
Car Safety seats prevent injuries and deaths, but only when they're
used correctly. The first step is making sure your little one has the right seat for their age, height and weight. This
car seat finder will reveal if your child has outgrown their current seat and tell you what to look for in buying a new one.
If you're using a seat that's been installed for a while, use this
safety checklist to make sure it's tightly anchored and ready to go. Here's a product
listing of car seats, boosters and safety belts for all ages.
Get your vehicle ready.
Worn wiper blades make it hard to see, especially in storms or foggy conditions. If you're traveling through colder parts of the country, consider winter blades to cut through snow and ice. Check the oil, transmission fluid, brake fluid and wiper fluid before you leave (or have a pro do it). Carry extra wiper fluid with you for mid-trip refills.
Pack warm blankets, safety flashers, drinking water & first-aid supplies.
These essentials will keep everyone comfortable if you're stuck for a while due to engine or tire trouble. If your child uses an inhaler, epinephrine injector or other medicines to prevent breathing emergencies or seizures, add these to your medical kit. Consider having spare phone charger to ensure you can contact police, emergency services and loved ones waiting for you.
Dress your child in layers.
Kids can overheat in heavy coats or snowsuits. So, opt for warm, comfortable layers with a sweatshirt or light jacket that comes off when needed. Littles riding in car seats should wear thin layers topped with a blanket over the harness, since the seat padding will provide extra warmth and too much fluff under the harness can create slack. (See "Winter Car Seat Safety Tips.")
Mix toys and games with old-school activities.
A few teething toys and beloved stuffed animals can help keep your infant happy in the back seat. Consider having one adult ride alongside your baby to make feeding, play and naptime easier.
Toddlers and school-age kids can pick a few favorite toys, books or games for the car. Earphones for electronic toys and games help keep things quiet. Reading aloud or playing classic games like "I Spy" can be a refreshing break from solo play. Here are
24 games to make the miles fly by.
Navigating holiday air travel with babies, toddlers & young kids
Select secure seating.
Though airlines allow children under 2 to sit in an adult's lap, little ones can get hurt during turbulence. (No matter how strong you are, it's nearly impossible to keep hold of your child when the aircraft rocks or dips.)
For safety's sake, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) recommends that parents reserve a separate seat for babies or toddlers.
Child safety restraints such as a car seat or air travel vest must be used. Make sure whatever restraint you choose is approved by your airline. This article offers more safe seating advice for kids under 2.
Get up-to-date on vaccines.
Crowded airports and family gatherings can spread more than cheer.
Recommended vaccines help keep germs from making everyone sick for the holidays. If
traveling internationally, check with your pediatrician to see if your child might need additional vaccines or preventive medications.
Choose easy-on, easy-off clothing.
Babies and toddlers will feel more comfortable in layers that can be added or taken off when the cabin temperature shifts. Choose clothing that makes diaper changing in small spaces as easy as possible. Pack a change or two of clothes in case of spills or accidents, with plastic bags for soiled items.
Prevent ear pain.
Air pressure changes can cause ear discomfort in small children. Giving your child a bottle or cup to sip on may help, especially during takeoff.
If your child has had ear surgery or an ear infection in the past 2 weeks, ask your pediatrician if it's safe for them to fly. Kids with colds or ear infections can take over-the-counter pain relievers—but use of Benadryl or Dramamine to put kids to sleep is NOT recommended. For more advice on keeping babies comfortable in the air, read
this article.
Protect hearing.
Noise-canceling headphones or silicone ear plugs can reduce the noise your child absorbs, especially during takeoff. This can help them drift off to sleep, too, giving you a welcome break. (Also see "Tips to Preserve Your Child's Hearing During the Holidays.")
Try to plan flight times around naptime.
This can help you (and everyone near you) by keeping your child calm and quiet. However, don't feel bad if your plans don't come off perfectly. Kids may be too excited to sleep—and flight delays can throw your whole timetable off. Manage what you can and try to ignore any judgmental looks or comments from others.
Consider flexing screen time to keep kids entertained.
Pediatricians advise setting healthy limits on digital devices, especially for younger children. But allowing a little more screen time in-flight won't do serious harm, especially if you mix in other activities.
This article explains how to blend videos, music and games with other pastimes to ease fussiness and boredom.
Safety checklist for when you arrive
Do the safety crawl.
Hotel rooms often have hidden dangers for small children. Before letting your child explore, do a "safety crawl" to check for pills, pens and choking or poisoning hazards that may have rolled under beds or dressers. Cords attached to lamps, TVs and phones will draw your child's eye; so move as many of these to higher levels as you can, or tape them down with masking tape brought from home.
Just as you would at home, also remember to keep layer protections around bathtubs, toilets, pools and hot tubs. Drowning is quick and silent: keep bathroom doors closed and think about packing a toilet lock. Use the deadbolt so your child can't slip out of the room alone. At the pool, maintain touch supervision at all times. Here are
more safety tips for hotel stays.
Remember that other homes may not be childproofed.
If you're staying with friends or family, remember that their homes may not be fully
childproofed. Walk through and address safety concerns, including loose cords, unlocked cabinets, cleaning or laundry products, stairways or heavy objects that could tip over within reach.
Keeping kids on healthy schedules
Traveling, shopping, opening presents and other holiday joys can be wonderful, but they might disrupt your child's routines. As much as possible, stick to the habits that keep your child healthy at home. Maintain
sleep schedules, limit
sugar intake and add a little
exercise to each day. Quiet time in between activities can help your child decompress.
Give yourself a break, too, and remember that there's no "perfect" when it comes to holiday travel with kids. The weird, messy, stressful moments that happen are just part of the holiday stories you'll enjoy telling in years to come.
More resources
About Dr. Shu
 Jennifer Shu, MD, FAAP, is a pediatrician based in Atlanta. She is passionate about educating patients and parents on all child health topics. Dr. Shu serves as medical editor of
HealthyChildren.org, the American Academy of Pediatrics website for parents, and is the co-author of the AAP book,
Heading Home With Your Newborn: From Birth to Reality.
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