10 Thanksgiving Travel Tips that will Help Relieve Stress!

Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays, but the traveling part is one of my least favorite things. So, whether you are flying across the globe, taking a long roadtrip or just carpooling down the street to grandma's house, here are some helpful travel tips that I hope will eleviate a little bit of the Thanksgiving rush.

1. Pack Lightly

As a single woman or before I had my son, I used to pack all sorts of extra blouses or boots that would go with my outfits. But now that I am constantly concerned with my son's clothes, diapers and wipes, I have discovered that I can live without a lot of "extra" stuff in my suitcase. My husband and I have made it a point to pack as lightly as possbile while flying or driving a long distance. We pack clothes that are versatile and make sure we know where we will be able to wash laundry if necessary (i.e. mom's house, friend's apartment or laundromat).

Depending on where we are going, I minize what I bring. For example, if we're going to my parents' house or a close friend's house, I will ask them in advance if I can use their shampoo and conditioner while I'm there. (Most people don't mind at all!) If they say it's fine, then you won't have to pack heavy liquids in your suitcase. If you do need to take your own shampoo and conditioner, buy the small re-fillable travel bottles at Walgreens so that you're not taking large liquid containers with you.

My husband and I each pack a small carry-on suitcase, and then I pack a duffle bag for my son. I may sound silly, but I learned that packing baby clothes, diapers, wipes and all the other necessities for a baby fits really well in a duffle bag and has more "give" than a regular carry-on suitcase. Plus, the duffle bag fits on top of my carry-on roller suitcase and won't hurt my shoulder in the airport.

2. Roll & Bag Your Clothes

Having traveled to many international countries, I learned the art of maximizing the room in my suitcase and also how to prevent getting bed bugs in my suitcase. So, my mom taught me the art of rolling my clothes and neatly filling my suitcase, which actually gives me a lot more room and space for my toiletries and shoes. On top of rolling my clothes, I also learned to put the rolled clothes neatly inside Ziploc Travel Bags that seal shut. If you've ever had bed bugs or know someone who has gotten them, this extra expense for Ziploc Travel Bags will only seem like the smallest task compared to getting rid of those disgusting, itchy bed bugs! Yuck! You can find the Ziploc Travel Bags at Bed, Bath and Beyond or any other large retailer. These bags also help protect your clothes from toiletry leaks and stains.

3. Shower Cap Your Shoes

My wonderful sister-in-law works in hospitality management and has given me some EXTREMELY helpful tips about cleanliness. One of the first she ever showed me was to buy a pack of clear hair shower caps ($1.00 - $3.00 max at drugstore.com) and place your shoes inside each shower cap before placing them on top of your clothes in your suitcase. I don't know why I never thought of this before I became an adult, but it helps me to not lose my lunch thinking about all those dirty germs rubbing on my clean clothes and toiletries!

4. Extra Flip Flops

Another helpful tip my sister-in-law gave me was to always bring an extra cheap pair of plastic flip flops in the outside pocke of my suitcase for me to wear around the hotel room and in the shower. Hotel rooms have thousands of people going in and out of them bringing all sorts of germs on the carpets and even the best vaccuum cleaners cannot get every germ that soaks into the carpets.

It's also good to wear flip flops in the shower so that you don't get athlete's foot. Make sure to also place a hand towel in the bottom of the tub when your child is taking a bath in the hotel bathroom. This prevents them from getting germs off the bottom of the tub on their skin. (Target Flip Flops $2.50)

5. Bedspreads & Sheets

If you're staying in a hotel, I highly advise you to take off the top decorate bedspread before you sit on the bed or let your little ones lay down. These bedspreads are hardly ever washed and carry a lot of germs. Just nicely place it on the floor behind a chair or in the closet where no one will trip over it or be tempted to lay down on it.

It's also a good idea to ask the hotel staff for one or two extra sheets to put over the couches/chairs in the hotel room. Millions of germs also live in the fabric on these items and don't get washed or steamed.

6. Ditch the Fancy for the Practical

As much as I love toting a fashionable Tory Burch handbag through the airport, my practical needs for having a versatile carry-on bag has become more important with a toddler on my hip or pulling my hand. So, I decided to downsize my big purse to a small clutch/zipper wallet that holds my phone, cards, I.D., keys and chapstick. I place this in my son's diaper bag, which is a backpack that has inside and outside compartments for diapers, wipes, extra clothes, little toys, snacks, sippy, baby meds, parent meds and my wallet. Walking with a backpack allows for my hands and arms to be free to help my little one get through a busy airport or get situated in our car for a roadtrip. Backpacks also help balance the weight of the bag on both your shoulders so you don't have back or neck pain. I learned this the hard way when I got a fashionable diaper bag that only had one strap. Ditch the fashion and go for the practical! Your shoulders and child will thank you later!

7. Google Play Saves the Day!

As much as I wanted to be a mom who would never let my kid be an "electronic junkie", I must confess that there are times when I have resorted to the "dark side" of letting my toddler freeze his eyeballs with animated hypnosis! Ha! Flying seemed to be a breeze when my son was a newborn and would just be lulled to sleep while I nursed him and the airplane was humming, but now that he's running around like crazy it's hard to keep him occupied and under control for more than an hour confined to one place for very long.

So, my husband and I found that we could use the Google Play app (FREE) and buy our son's favorite shows and movies (Curious George, Sesame Street, Frozen, Shaun the Sheep) for a small price, download it fully onto the iPad, and then have it ready to watch anywhere we go.

We try to not let him watch the iPad on a regular basis because this can become a bad habit that reinforces constant entertainment and stimulation, but when we are at our wits end when our son is screaming bloody murder and we're about to get thrown off the plane, we finally resort to the iPad.

8. Salty is Good!

Most parents hear how it's important to have your infant nurse or drink a bottle on the airplane when you're ascending and descending to relieve the air pressure in your baby's ears, but I've also found it even more crucial to have your child's favorite sippy cup or "bah bah" with them as they become toddlers and early elementary age on flights. My son loves to drink his water sippy bottle all the time, but I have to time it perfectly to make sure he's thirsty when the flight takes off and lands to help pop the pressure in his ears so he's not screaming bloody murder from the air pressure!

That's where SALTY TREATS comes into play. I learned the hard way that if I don't "salt" my son's palate prior to take-off, then he won't drink when I want him to. So, I try to bring a small bag of pretzels, goldfish or crackers with me in the diaper bag and let him snack on them while we're sitting in our seats on the plane waiting for everyone else to finish loading. Once he's full of salty treats, then I'll give him his water as we're ascending into the air. I also try to use the same method when we're getting ready to land.

9. Use Your Kids as the Excuse

It may sound bad, but you're allowed to use your kids as an excuse to be seated first on a flight and get the extra help you need to load your luggage, stroller, car seat, etc. I'm the worst when it comes to asking for help, but if humbling myself will allow my child to be happy and also help everyone else to enjoy their flight because my child is not screaming then I'm going to do it. Airline associates and staff want to help you in every way possible, and they also want to make sure your children are happy so ALL their passengers have a safe, comfortable and relaxing trip. You don't have to be "super mom" or "super dad" and act like you have it all together! Just ask for help and smile! :) Here's more helpful info from American Airlines about how they want to help parents and children travel.

10. Find Fun Anywhere!

The most important thing to remember while traveling, especially with your little ones, is to find fun, relaxing places to escape to in the airport or while on the road. For example, my husband and I were flying from Ohio to California several months ago and had a three-hour layover in Houston, so we asked a staff at the airport about child-friendly play areas and they told us there was a #parentkidfun play area only a short distance from our gate. This enclosed play area helped us to relax for a little while between flights and not worry that our son would wander off onto another flight around the world. Most airports are now providing kid-friendly play areas that relieve parents and make the trip more enjoyable. Just ask a staff member and they will direct you to the nearest one.

If you're traveling by car, take just 30 minutes for a potty break and let your kid(s) run around outside at a park or rest stop to stretch their cramped legs and also fill your lungs with fresh oxygen to stay awake for the long drive. This will help your little one to relax in the car (maybe even fall asleep) and also destress your mind for the remainder of the drive.

Whether you are travleing by air, by car or staying in your own cozy home for the holidays, we hope you will have a wonderful time with your loved ones and cherish every perfect, and not-so-perfect, moment with your little ones!

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