If you’re a mom who underestimated the prep time involved in planning a family vacation the first time and is now almost obsessive-compulsive about it, you’re not alone.
I boarded my first plane with a 1-year-old, no stroller, no pack-n-play, and only five diapers. I didn’t realize the time it takes to put a crying baby to sleep on a plane or the stress and pressure that follows the eyes of other passengers looking my way hoping their stars will somehow calm me. baby.
I also didn’t expect to run out of diapers on the last leg of our trip, that our daughter would have a big blowout, and listen carefully, airplanes don’t carry diapers. I learned to be resourceful and made a diaper out of a blanket and a sanitary pad, but in the end I almost gave up family vacations that involve air travel.
Hawaii changed everything…
Then my husband got a call from his boss saying we were traveling to Hawaii as a family for two weeks at the company as a thank you for driving through a snow storm to meet with clients. Of course while I’m there my husband will have to work so I’ll be without transportation and I’m 7 months pregnant with a 2 year old but it’s Hawaii… right!
With a month to plan, I immediately made sure we had a car seat and in-game package in the rental car upon arrival. I will never travel without a stroller again, so I decided to bring a slim umbrella stroller to take my 2 year old to the airport.
The main travel time of 48 hours
Traveling internationally taught me to pack enough in a travel bag for 48 hours. It doesn’t matter if your planned travel time is only a few hours, plan for the worst when you have kids. Any kind of storm or mechanical malfunction can ground a plane for 24 hours and it’s up to us to pack enough snacks, toys, water and comfort items to get our children through these times.
My plan of action began with a travel itinerary that includes both eastern time and current time in Hawaii. This is so I can try to stay as close to your schedule as possible on the way there and back. The itinerary also includes a day-by-day breakdown of what we’ll be doing when we get to Honolulu, including directions to the local Costco.
Next, I carefully planned my daughter’s carry-on backpack. Every item in her bag had to be something that would catch her eye: DVD player with favorite movies, coloring paper and crayons, favorite little books, 7 diapers and wipes, protein bars, dried fruit snacks, and a bottle of soda. empty 12oz water to be filled once we pass through security.
My carry-on will include 2-3 sets for each of us, as well as a toiletry bag, 7 more diapers and extra wipes, protein bars, fruit snacks, non-refrigerated milk cartons, water, blanket and stuffed animal.
Checked baggage is for toys
Toys are more important than clothes. We all want to look good every day of our vacation, but wouldn’t you rather have a happy, stimulated child who sleeps well at night, so you can spend some time alone?
We are allowed to check one bag per passenger, so this is how I packed each one. Both my daughter’s clothes and mine will be packed in one large suitcase. I packed lightweight, wrinkle-free dresses and shirts, shorts, a pair of jeans, matching items like cardigans and lightweight sweaters, plus a rainy-weather jacket and a few pajama sets for each of us. We have access to a washer and dryer in our unit!
My husband’s suitcase will be filled with his clothes, work-related items, etc…
This is the most important lesson: The third suitcase will be full of toys! From a surfboard to inflatable pool rafts, snorkel gear, puzzles, coloring books, DVDs, activity books, stuffed animals. Whatever fits, basically, she wears and she helps pack this suitcase.
Lure on the plane
We’ve all been at the airport when a beautiful mother of three walks by in a flowing dress and heels. We all want to be her, right? I tried this on my last vacation. I put on a boho print maxi dress and cardigan at the airport for my 5 hour drive that turned into a 12 hour drive. Although it was comfortable on the plane, walking miles down the airport corridors was not. But my wake up call came when I got off the plane and the temperature was in the 40s in a dress and sandals on, NEVER AGAIN!
Now in the back of my mind I humorously believe that that well dressed mom walking through the airport is trying this for the first time and if all goes well she can try again but the moment she gets stuck in the airports all day, you’ll be back in your comfiest pair of jeans, sneakers, and T-shirt.
