Comments on: Traveling with Babies, Toddlers, Preschoolers (8 Tips)

By: Alicia Lombardini

Alicia Lombardini — Sat, 18 Dec 2021 18:20:48 +0000

This post is really frustrating to me. The child is 7 months old. That is a whole other ball game than a 2 year old. My son has now been on 8 flights. His first at 16 months and his most recent at 24 months. We have flown business and economy, in full flights and when he’s has entire rows to himself. Overnight flights to Europe and a quick 2 he flight to Chicago. They have all been disasters. I have tried all the different advice. None of it works. He won’t settle. He jumps around, climbs on every surface, goes into laughing fits. I try holding him, comforting him, engaging him, lying down next to him. Nothing works. We are exhausted by the end. He generally falls asleep 10 minutes before landing when he has worn himself out so much he passes out.

By: Jo

Jo — Sat, 27 Nov 2021 21:41:50 +0000

Hi Janet,
Thanks for this article…so glad I found it as I was starting to feel a bit apprehensive about our toddler son’s first big train ride to visit relatives next week (even though he is a huge train enthusiast, I’m aware actually going on a train is a very different experience from waving at them down our road!)

Feeling so excited about wrapping up a few of his things and some new things for him too in his backpack, such a lovely fun idea! And thanks for the reminder about explaining in advance too, something I often forget to do. Thinking of making him a little storybook to read together before.

Relating to this, I was wondering if you have any suggestions that might help a toddler (just over 2.5 years) to help cope with anxiety while travelling? Our son appears anxious in new/busy/loud environments especially indoors and bites his nails as a way to cope I guess (sometimes crying too)… I’m wondering if there is any particular things we can bring or do that may help him, especially as the train journey will probably be new, busy and loud!

Many thanks in advance, your articles and podcasts are truly inspiring and have brought me much peace and joy as a mother. Jo (UK)

By: Lisa

Lisa — Mon, 03 Feb 2020 05:14:30 +0000

Hi Janet! We’ve been working on following your advice with our 3 year old (especially because we also have a 12 week old baby). We just returned from a plane trip and the hardest part was actually in the airport, and I’m interested in your perspective to improve it for the next time or in similar situations. Two examples:
First: When we were all loaded down with luggage trying to get to bag check, she suddenly stopped walking and started crying. I understood from her that she wanted Daddy to wait for her and she felt like she was getting left behind. Easy to understand the behaviors and easy to listen to her feelings, but the hard part was all of the adult travelers who needed to get around a preschooler who stopped in the walkway and refused to move. At first I thought, they can deal, and then I remember what you said about being annoyed and setting personal boundaries. I ended up trying to empathize with and move her at the same time.
Second example: The airplane bathroom terrifies her so we knew she needed to go before we got on the plane. Now picture me in a crowded holding area, and I told her that it’s time to go potty and why we needed to go, and then she refused to go. I said, are you going to walk with your own feet, or would you like me to help you? And she just said no in response. So I said, ok I can help you and moved to pick her up. I was trying to be prepared and comfortable with any emotional behavior on her part, but when she started yelling “Nooo!!!” It was really hard to keep going, but I was going to. Dad was there too though and she started saying that she wanted to go with him so she went with him. I sat down with the baby though and felt like a jerk and that everyone was judging me.
I’d appreciate your advice on how to handle these kind of situations! Thanks Janet!

By: janet

janet — Thu, 12 Dec 2019 20:22:45 +0000

In reply to Beth. Thanks, Beth! I think I'd do it at least a few days before, but you could also do it that morning.

By: Beth

Beth — Thu, 12 Dec 2019 16:05:39 +0000

How far in advance would you explain to a 19-month-old your plans? A week, a talk about it every day? Just the day before? Or even just the morning of leaving? TIA, my sister, brother-in-law, and I love your blog/podcasts!