How do you take vacations? There's no way this is possible, right?

I always traveled with my kids from the time they were 8 weeks until now. Exposing them to different areas and even cultures within the US is extremely important. We always took the same types of trips we would have taken before kids with maybe the addition of a stop at a children’s museum or something if we were in a city that had one. I never really liked road trips with the kids until they were about 8 or 9. Air travel has some stressful parts but my kids always loved flying and walking through airports and standing in security lines is pretty fascinating for kids so as long as you give yourself plenty of time and relax it’s part of the adventure. We always brought there car seats on the plane except for one family trip where we had 4 adults a two year old who did sit in her car seat and a 4 month old. That was the only time I didn’t purchase one of my kids their own seat because with 4 adults and only one baby we could pass her around and take turns. It was also only a 2.5 hour flight I would never suggest that though it’s just so much nicer when they have their own seat and you aren’t so cramped. The one thing I always brought that people think is weird or a pain was a pack n play you can gate check it and if you put the baby down for naps in it occasionally they know it’s their bed. I’m kind of germaphobe and for me that’s a rented pack n play just didn’t set well. Our strategy on vacation was to always be busy and basically run the kids into the ground so they slept well all night every night. Under age three they would nap in strollers or car seats but we rarely went back to hotel rooms or homebase for naps or rest. My kids love people, love traveling, and love being busy so it worked for us. There were some tears and over stimulation at points but in general the vacations I took with my kids even if they don’t remember them have been some of the best times of my life. They remember more than you think they will at a young age the three year old will probably be talking about that plane ride or hotel room or whatever you do until you fill her head with new adventures.

/r/Parenting Thread