Thankfully, we’ve all gotten better at this family travel thing. And our now-teenagers look forward to the games (mostly), even on 14-hour road trips. When you’re on the road again, plan on playing these 15 car games for kids to keep everyone entertained. 

5 Car Games for Kids Under 5

1. Puppetpoolza Party – Anything can be turned into a puppet. Using what you have on hand (See what I did there?), hold a silly conversation with your child. The first time I played this game, I used my child’s Lambie. Lambie talked with a heavy Southern accent and called everyone Pancake and Waffle. She asked my daughter all sorts of silly questions, messed up the song lyrics, and tried her hand at yodeling. That puppet calmed our toddler and made the trip fun for us all.  

2. I Spy – Yep. It’s a classic game for a reason. And while it’s not a new game for you, it is for your child.

3. Hello, Yellow – See how many yellow trucks your child can spot. Give out a small prize when he finds 10. And, yes, snacks count as prizes! Then, move on to another color and another prize, like coloring pages, stickers, or a familiar stuffed animal who “snuck into the car.”

4. Cars of Many Colors – See how many different colored cars you can spot together. Red, white, black, blue, yes! Purple? Maybe. Hot pink? Almost as rare as a Hawaiian license plate.

5. And the Letter Is? – List three words starting with the same letter. Really enunciate the words. Ask your child to guess the letter. For example, you say: Book, Bear, Banana. 

5 Games for Elementary

6. Name That Tune – Create a playlist. Include songs your kids love and your go-to songs. Shuffle the playlist and take turns naming the song. Increase the difficulty by requiring title and artist.

7. The Trifecta of Road Trip Games Printables – License plate game printable, check. Road Trip Bingo, check check. I Spy Alphabet Version, triple check!

8. Spot It – Pick five random things, such as a horse, a school bus, a church with a steeple, a construction sign, and a child asleep in a car. When someone in your car spots an item, she says, “Spot it!” and then picks a new thing for the list.

9. Minute to Win It (Car Version) – How many football teams, colors, Disney movies, instruments, pizza toppings can your child name in a minute? Add to the fun by asking your child to say how many he can name before attempting it.

10. Fortunately, Unfortunately – Make up a story together. Each person takes turns adding one sentence to the story. The first sentence starts with “Fortunately.” The next sentence begins with “Unfortunately.” Then back to “Fortunately.” For example: “Fortunately, we left the house early enough to miss most of the traffic. Unfortunately, we left the bathtub water running. Fortunately, our neighbor has a key to the house. Unfortunately, his dog ate it. Fortunately, you hid a spare key.” Unfortunately, this is one of those car games for kids you need to play yourself to find out what happens next.

5 Car Games for Tweens and Teens

11. Cows on My Side – This game works best with four people in the car. Split the car into two teams, the left side team and the right side team. Teams get a point if they see cows on their side of the road. Teams receive two points if they spot a cow doing something other than grazing. And a team earns three points for seeing an unusual farm animal on their side (llamas, yaks, etc). But, if a team spots a cemetery on their opponent’s side and says, “graveyard,” the opposing team loses all their points. The side with the most points at the end of the trip wins the game.

12. Hey, Mr. DJ – This one isn’t really a car game, but letting your tween or teen take over the music is an easy way to get to know your child a little better. Ask her about her favorite song of the moment. Why does she like that artist? How does she find new music?

13. Mental Dominoes – Start the game by saying a word. The next person picks a word somehow connected to the first one. Whoever goes next picks a word related to the previous word. For example, you say DOG. The next person says BONE. Then someone says DINOSAUR.

14. Team Trivia – Load up your phone with popular trivia apps like this one and this one, and let the fun and games begin. Split into teams or not. The only real rule is no Googling! And, hey, let the winner pick where you stop for lunch.

15. Movie Mania – Start by naming an actor. The next person needs to name a movie the actor starred in. The next person names another actor in that movie. Then, the next person recalls a different movie starring the new actor. If someone gets stumped, she’s out. Play continues until only the winner is left.

What are your favorite car games for kids?

The post 15 Family Car Games to Beat the Boredom Bug appeared first on iMOM.

It’s estimated that more than 60% of people experience some form of post-holiday blues, typically in the form of depression or anxiety, because of stress, memories, or unmet expectations. If you struggle a little through the end of December and into January, I’m right there with you. Here are 7 ideas we can use to beat the blues and feel more joy in the new year.

1. Keep the festivities going.

No need to pull the plug on Christmas right away. If you love the sounds, sights, and smells, leave the decorations up a little longer. In my house, we don’t take the tree down until after January 6th. We celebrate the Epiphany, when the wise men brought gifts to the baby Jesus. Fun fact: The 12 days between Christmas and January 6th are the OG 12 days of Christmas (before that partridge in a pear tree got so popular).

2. Call a friend or relative you didn’t get to see.

For some people, the post-holiday blues well up because they love the feeling of connection with family and friends and will miss it. Fill that bucket by FaceTiming with an old friend you haven’t seen in a while or reaching out to your favorite cousin across the country.

3. Rest.

You’ve been go-go-going since November 20th. Even if you love baking, caroling, decorating, and wrapping, you’re probably exhausted. Find something that allows your mind and body to rest. I always do a jigsaw puzzle the week between Christmas and New Year’s Eve. Knowing I’ll have puzzle time to decompress gives me peace.

4. Feel your sadness.

Our culture doesn’t like feelings of unhappiness or discontent. Sadness gets written off as a problem you occasionally have to deal with. The reality is sadness can be helpful. Feeling sad can reveal what’s really important to you and help you grow in appreciation for what you have. When you feel the blues, ask what good things happened that you’re going to miss and consider how you can recreate them throughout the year. Maybe you start a monthly dinner with family that lives close by or bake cookies with the kids more often.

5. Tackle something that brings stress during the year.

You might feel crummy because you anticipate returning to work and school. Think of one stressor that work or school brings and what you can do to try to get ahead of it. Do you dread packing lunches? Search with the kids for a couple of meal prep ideas so you can make lunch just once each week. Are you dreading sitting in rush hour traffic every day? Make a plan to listen to a book a week during your drive, or find a podcast that will help you grow in your faith.

6. Set a monthly challenge or goal.

Are your post-holiday blues triggered by a lack of something to look forward to? I love having something other than the holidays that mark each month. Try brainstorming ways to challenge or set goals for yourself or your family throughout the year.

One month could be “explore our city,” another could be “learn how to crochet,” and another could be “read a devotional nightly before bed.” Having something new and challenging to look forward to each month can keep things fresh. And the brainstorming session could be a fun annual activity to wrap up the year together as a family.

7. Think ahead to next year.

Give “future you” a gift by writing yourself a letter. You can even address it: “To me. Open on November 1.” Stash it with your holiday decorations so you know you’ll see it. In this letter, write what brought you the most joy this season and what you wish you’d avoided. Tell yourself how you feel about the money you spent (maybe you give yourself an “attagirl” because you followed a budget) or how you wish you’d drank a little less alcohol or gotten just a bit more sleep.

Processing the season that’s passed will help you name what’s making you sad now and hopefully set you up for a healthier holiday next year.

If the post-holiday blues really get to you, listen to this episode of the iMOM Podcast, “Beating the Post-Christmas Blues.” Subscribe to the podcast to get new episodes every Monday.

What helps you get over the post-holiday blues?

The post 7 Ways Moms Can Beat the Post-Holiday Blues appeared first on iMOM.

To help Thanksgiving move up on the favorite holidays list, I thought about what we could do differently. If your family struggles with enjoying this holiday too, maybe you can give Thanksgiving an overhaul this year by incorporating one of these 8 ways to turn it into a holiday you love.

1. Start a new tradition.

As a teen, I worked the holidays at a movie theater and on those days, my boss let my family see shows for free. I’d serve up the popcorn, make some money, and my parents and sister got a treat. We all liked the arrangement, and it lasted for a handful of years. What can your family do that’s different and will make this holiday one you love? Thanksgiving traditions don’t have to be the stuff of your childhood. Make new ones with the family you have now.

2. Have a parade party.

Parades have this old-timey feel to them, don’t they? If you’re lucky enough to live near a city with a Thanksgiving parade, why not attend in person this year? If you can’t find a parade in town, tune in to one on TV. Make it special by having breakfast on the couch and watching as a family. You might be surprised how fun this can be for kids.

3. Bake a pie—or a different sweet treat—with the kids.

My kids and I have baked an apple pie together for most of the last several Thanksgivings. Maybe your family would prefer to bake a cake on Thanksgiving? Or something fancy like scones or donuts? Do what makes your family happy and create a new, sweet Thanksgiving tradition together.

4. Decide on good enough dinner prep.

My husband makes Thanksgiving dinner and is the type of guy who enjoys the challenge of a new stuffing recipe each year. As for me, I’m just happy I don’t have to cook. Talk with your husband about what you both envision for the holiday. Be realistic. What people remember most from Thanksgiving is the company and whether their bellies are full. So, just make sure there’s enough, but don’t stress over whether it’s Michelin quality.

5. Combine travel with a tourist activity.

Does the Thanksgiving tradition of traveling on the holiday make your stomach hurt? Me too. Growing up, I hated sitting in someone else’s living room for hours while the adults talked. And as an adult, I find it just about as hard. So I’ve proposed to my husband that we combine our next trip with some sort of fun, touristy activity. I know there’s not a lot open on the actual holiday, but if you plan something for the day after, it might give you and the kids something else to look forward to.

6. Invite people you don’t know well.

Some of my most memorable Thanksgivings included untraditional guests—the elderly lady on our block, my son’s friend and his family, and my husband’s single coworker who got stranded in town last minute without dinner plans. Because we didn’t normally have holiday dinners together, these occasions became exciting very quickly. Think about who you can invite this year. New topics of conversation make things interesting!

7. Choose a friends-giving or self-giving activity.

I went to a “friends-giving” party a couple years ago, which was kind of like a potluck with various dishes—some Thanksgiving themed, but some dishes from the hostess’s Filipino background. I loved trying her plantains! If this is your kind of thing, host on the weekend before Thanksgiving so you’re free to do something else on the actual day. If you prefer something quieter, carve out time for some “self-giving” and whatever that means to you. It could be eating the leftover stuffing in front of your favorite TV show the next day. Or, it could mean taking yourself to a coffee shop for some quiet time to read. Either way, it’s a special treat. That way, when Thanksgiving looms on the calendar, you have something to look forward to.

8. Break with tradition.

I grew up with the white noise of football games on TV during Thanksgiving. These days, our family keeps the TV off. Why not break the tradition that bothers you and start fresh with your family? A friend of mine doesn’t even make a turkey (her family eats lasagna). If your idea of family fun isn’t board games or backyard touch football, pick something you like. Go on a bike ride. Decorate for Christmas. Do what makes your family light up when you say, “Thanksgiving’s almost here!”

For some fun ideas to try with your family, print out our Fall Family Bucket List.

Which Thanksgiving traditions do you love, and which ones would you rather give up?

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We want kids to be grateful all year long, but maybe during the countdown to Thanksgiving, we can emphasize it a little more by giving thanks as a family. Here are 23 ways for kids to give thanks this Thanksgiving.

1. Write a note to your teacher, thanking her for something she’s done this school year.
2. Draw on the sidewalk for everyone to see: “I’m thankful for my neighborhood!”
3. Bring an extra treat to lunch, and thank someone for being your friend.
4. Create a family gratitude poster and hang it in the kitchen.
5. After breakfast, look out the window and find something you’re grateful for. Tell your mom about it.

Help your kids give thanks with our 15 Thanksgiving prayers printable.

6. At dinner, have everyone say two things they’re grateful for that day.
7. Put a sign in the window, thanking your mail carrier for delivering the mail rain or shine.
8. Keep a gratitude jar and slips of paper on the kitchen counter.
9. Write an email of thanks to your pastor.
10. Start a daily habit of writing in a personal gratitude journal.
11. Give a little extra at church this weekend.
12. Leave a small gift on a neighbor’s porch and thank her for something specific like waving to you every time she sees you.
13. Call a grandparent and let them know you’re glad they’re your grandpa or grandma.
14. Offer to help a teacher today.

Want to see your kids give thanks to others? Get started with our Thankful Tree.

15. Text a friend or cousin who lives far away and let them know you appreciate them.
16. Thank your mom or dad for something he or she has done for you lately.
17. Do something kind for your siblings today and tell them you love them.
18. Gather up old clothes and toys to donate. Talk about the many blessings you have.
19. Say a prayer of thanks for five blessings in your life. Print our 15 Thanksgiving Prayers to get started.
20. Bring food into school ti share or take it to a food pantry to give to the poor.
21. Show thanks to your parents by helping with an extra chore around the house.
22. Read through the slips of paper in the gratitude jar or the list on the gratitude poster with your family.
23. Spend time at Thanksgiving dinner sharing how you’ve felt this month by giving extra thanks to so many people!

How do you help your kid give thanks to others year-round?

The post 23 Ways for Kids to Give Thanks This Thanksgiving appeared first on iMOM.

But I used to be a single mom, and I remember the stresses of sharing my son during the holiday season. It felt like a game of Jenga. One wrong move would send it all crashing down. One thing I have learned over the years is when you’re co-parenting holidays together, you have to be creative, flexible, and willing to let go of the norms. Here are 4 ways to do that and ease co-parenting holiday stress.

1. Celebrate on a different day.

Holidays are special. Those earmarked days on the calendar symbolize what I always think of as the perfect family day. However, when co-parenting holidays together, celebrating on the actual date of the holiday may not work. The good news is you can celebrate any day you’d like. My husband used to turn Christmas Eve into Christmas Day because his ex-wife had the kids for Christmas Day. The kids loved it and it showed them holidays are about family, not dates on a calendar.

2. Combine holidays.

When my husband was a single dad, he didn’t always have the kids on certain holidays. So he created a tradition of combining Thanksgiving and Christmas into “Thanksmas.” Crazy as it sounds, his two kiddos liked the idea of combining Thanksgiving food with Christmas presents and decorations. It lessened the hard feelings when the holiday rolled around, and he couldn’t have the kids with him.

3. Invite your ex’s family to join.

Maintaining good relationships with an ex’s family members can be difficult, even impossible. People take sides for obvious reasons. But if you have a good relationship with your ex-husband’s family, one way to make the holiday more fun for your kids is to invite those family members to join in. My husband often has invited his ex’s grandmother and cousins into our holiday celebrations. Open-ended invitations to the other part of your children’s family allow you to keep communication flowing and surround your kids with people who love them.

4. Remember it’s the time spent with your kids that really matters.

Kids make a big deal about the presents. They love the decorations. They can’t wait to have their favorite foods. But when all is said and done, it’s the time you’ve spent with them that really matters. Sure, all the other things are fun, but investing that focused time will mean so much more. My son and I still sit and giggle watching the Grinch together each season. Put the gift-giving stress aside for a moment to bake the cookies, sing the carols, and watch the movie you have memorized because those are the things your kids will remember.

How will you make sure you find joy in the holiday stress?

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Searching for a place to eat always ended up being the worst part of vacation. My husband and I just had different tastes. Do you and your husband bicker sometimes on trips? Here are 9 tips to avoid fighting on vacation so you can have way more fun.

1. Establish roles before you leave.

If you can decide who does what before you depart, it’ll make things go smoother when you’re crunched for time. Not only that, you’ll avoid blaming each other if something goes wrong.

Most of the time, my husband navigates while I drive. At a campground, he pitches the tent while the kids and I gather firewood. When we’re at a hotel, my husband checks us in while I park and unload the kids. It works when we both know what we need to do.

2. Research activities and restaurants ahead of time.

On family vacations, I like to research the fun places that appeal to the kids. Before we went to Toronto a few years ago, my husband found a great Thai place he wanted us to try.

Having a plan mapped out can save a lot of time. Plus, there’s less chance of bickering in front of the kids and more time to have fun together.

3. Establish a budget for daily expenses.

To avoid fighting on vacation, my husband and I have in the past agreed to stick to a budget. No three-star Michelin restaurants! Hoofing it rather than hailing a cab also seems reasonable in good weather.

Establishing a budget greatly eliminates those last-minute impulses that cause squabbles. (Pandora bracelet, I’m looking at you!)

4. Anticipate what could go wrong and prepare.

No one’s ever accused me of under-packing. Gray cloud in the forecast? Four raincoats are in the trunk. But what happens if our car breaks down or we lose our luggage?

One 10-minute conversation with your husband the night before you leave could be all you need. Avoiding the finger wag of “I told you so!” or “Didn’t you pack the…?” might be worth it.

5. Factor in some downtime.

One of my most vivid memories of Orlando eons ago doesn’t include Mickey Mouse, but rather the outdoor hotel pool, playing with my sister. I think all the go-go-go at the park left us little time to just goof around and be kids.

My husband likes to pack 14 hours into 12, but for the sake of my sore feet (and any arguments about said feet), I know we always need to schedule downtime to unwind.

6. Be flexible if things go wrong.

Sometimes it’s hard to sleep well in a strange bed. Other times, vacation food causes uncomfortable tummy rumbles.

To avoid fighting on vacation, be prepared to flex. When I got sick in the Bahamas, my husband’s sympathy, and his willingness to spend the next day reading by the pool, made it easier for me to stomach my guilt for missing our snorkeling adventure.

7. Compromise on activities.

Before having kids, my husband’s ideal vacation would involve hiking, eating a packed lunch, hiking some more, and then pitching a tent somewhere in the backcountry. There’d probably be warning signs for grizzly bears too. To me, that sounds like something I’d only do for prize money on a reality show I’d never apply for in the first place.

These days, with kids in tow, we have to compromise. A morning for a short hike, the afternoon for sightseeing in town. And maybe a stuffed bear for each of the kids.

8. Get enough sleep.

We all know how important sleep is to avoid fighting on vacation (or anywhere else). Have a drink with your husband after the kids go to bed, but make sure you get enough shut-eye.

I’ve made the mistake of reserving a campsite near the restroom and you know what? People run those hand dryers all hours of the night. There’s nothing worse than being woken up 17 times by what sounds like a plane taking off next to your tent.

9. Be ready to apologize.

It’s humbling, but it gets you both talking again. And then it gets you sightseeing and making your next family memory!

What other advice do you have to avoid fighting on vacation?

The post 9 Tips to Avoid Tiffs When Traveling With Your Husband appeared first on iMOM.

We have fun activities for the little ones (that the not-so-little will love too) and activities that will give you a refresher course on the first Thanksgiving. And if you struggle to find the words to express yourself, there are printable prayers and activities to help tell the ones you love that you’re grateful to have them in your life.

Pre-Thanksgiving Activities

Thanksgiving prep starts way before Thanksgiving Day, so why not kick off the gratitude early with our 8 Days of Being Thankful printable? You can create a Gratitude Tree and use the dots as ornaments. All the people who come over for dinner will love finding their ornament.

Feeling stressed around the holidays?

• Get organized with our 7 Week Holiday Planner.
• Get the kids to chip in with Holiday Helper Cards.
• Teach the kids how to set a formal place setting with this handy chart.
• Want your husband to pitch in more? Slide him this note from All Pro Dad.

Feel Good Activities

The best Thanksgiving activities are ones that help you love your family. So get the kids primed for turkey, stuffing, and pie with our Thanksgiving Lunchbox Notes. Start stuffing their brown bags a week before Thanksgiving with a note to say, “I love you” in turkey talk (Hint: It’s “gobble, gobble!”).

Need a reminder of how much you have to be thankful for?

• 99 Things to Be Thankful for About Your Children and
• 99 Things You Might Be Thankful for About Your Husband will put everything back into perspective.

Keep-‘Em-Out-of-the-Kitchen Activities

To keep little fingers from sneaking bites, print our Thanksgiving Scavenger Hunt and send the kids on an exploration, pilgrim-style. The final clue even leads them to the dinner table!

Add more love to the celebration!

• Check out these last-minute ideas for getting everything on the table.
• Here are some games and memory making activities that take little to no prep.
• And here are 15 fall riddles and jokes to keep them laughing!

Prayer and Pilgrim Activities

Not sure what to say for a Thanksgiving dinner blessing? We don’t blame you. There’s a lot of pressure! Here are 15 Thanksgiving Prayers. You can even use some as place cards.

Get all your pilgrims in the Thanksgiving mood!

• Let the kids read George Washington’s Thanksgiving Proclamation in their best 1789 accent.
• Formally declare what your family is grateful for with our Declaration of Gratefulness!
• iMOM’s Thanksgiving Story Cards teach history and celebrate gratitude

Just for Fun Activities

After dinner, when you need to get the kids’ bodies moving to burn off that pumpkin pie energy, try our Autumn Charades for a challenge and a laugh. It’s a great activity for little kids and grandparents to do together.

What’s your family’s favorite thing to do on Thanksgiving (besides eat, of course)?

The post Thanksgiving Activities for the Whole Family appeared first on iMOM.

So what can you do with one extra day off? Here are 5 things to do on a long weekend that will get your bodies moving without costing an arm and a leg.

1. Rearrange a room (or two!).

Have you ever changed up a room and thought, “Why hasn’t it been like this the entire time?” It’s wild what moving furniture can do to make you love a space again. Any time you move furniture, you end up having to do some tidying, so a long weekend gives you enough time to get the job done and still get in some relaxation. Focusing on your kids rooms will make them feel special, and it might even get them to keep their rooms clean for a few days.

2. Have a no-rules night.

A no-rules night is definitely one of those things to do on a long weekend. Sure, you can do it on a regular weekend, but you’ll be hurting on Sunday. And if you’re like me, you won’t fully recover from the lack of sleep until Tuesday. Check out All Pro Dad’s guide to a No Rules Night. Kick it off on Friday or Saturday evening, and then enjoy the bonus recovery time. You’re going to need it!

3. Try out geocaching.

A few years ago when geocaching blew up, it was not on my radar. But now that I have two kids who love the idea of a real-life treasure hunt, it’s a great family activity. Geocaching is hiking for hidden “caches” you can track by their GPS coordinates. We did it for the first time and discovered there was a cache hidden right outside our neighborhood! All you need is transportation, a pen, and a smartphone.

4. Get weirdly local.

This is a twist on the whole “be a local tourist” idea that encourages people to do the things tourists do in their city. Maybe you’ve done “that thing,” but have you done the weirdest thing? Every city has a weird museum, landmark, or tourist trap. Pick a max traveling distance, do some research with the kids, and go embrace your city’s oddities.

Take our free printable City Scavenger Hunt along if you find yourself downtown.

5. Rent a pool.

OK, this one isn’t free, but it’s less expensive than staying at a hotel. If you don’t have a pool but want to get some sun, there are websites that allow you to book a local private pool by the hour. Swimply is one of them. I did a quick search and found options near me between $15 and $60 an hour. I’d have to get over the awkwardness of being at a stranger’s house, but a few minutes of floating on a raft in cool water would definitely help.

What are some fun other things to do on a long weekend?

The post 5 Fun and Frugal Things to Do Over a Long Weekend appeared first on iMOM.

Kids will love to entertain aunts and uncles or be the riddler at the kid table. And riddles are perfect if you need to keep the kids out of your way as you baste the turkey or put the finishing touches on your famous green bean casserole. (If you really need to keep them busy, try our Thanksgiving Scavenger Hunt Printable!) These Thanksgiving riddles will make all your loved ones use their heads and hopefully chuckle a little, too! If you love riddles, we have tons more (and so does All Pro Dad!). You can even get primed for Christmas with riddles like this one: How do kids know Santa is in the house? Find Christmas riddles and more here.

Q: Who is never hungry on Thanksgiving?
A: The turkey, because it’s always stuffed

Q: Why can’t you take a turkey to church?
A: They use fowl language.

Q: What did the turkey say to the computer?
A: Google, google!

Q: I have ears but I cannot hear and I have flakes but I have no hair. What am I?
A: Corn

Q: What do the Pilgrims, Indians, and Puritans have in common?
A: The letter “I”

Q: At Thanksgiving dinner, which hand should you butter your roll with?
A: Neither—you should use a knife.

Q: When the Pilgrims landed, where did they stand?
A: On their feet

Q: If the Pilgrims were alive today, what would they be most famous for?
A: Their age

Q: If it took three people four hours to roast a turkey, how many hours would it take four people to roast the same turkey?
A: None! The turkey is already cooked.

Q: Why did Johnny get bad grades after Thanksgiving?
A: Because everything is marked down after the holidays!

Your turn! Share your favorite Thanksgiving riddle or joke in the comments. If you’re looking for more, our fatherhood site, All Pro Dad, got in on the riddle fun, too! 

The post 10 Thanksgiving Riddles for Kids appeared first on iMOM.

We hadn’t planned on traveling with an infant. How were we going to take a five-week-old on a 10-day trip to Ireland? Well, we eventually decided just to go for it. And it ended up being the best trip ever for our family. Here are 6 travel tips for families who plan to travel with a newborn or young infant.

1. Bring the birth certificate.

Something I did not realize we all need to carry while traveling with a baby is a copy of her birth certificate. After asking around, I learned many of my mama friends were also unaware of this. When you check in for your flight, the airline agent will ask to see a copy of the birth certificate to verify your child’s age. If you have a passport for your child, they will accept it in lieu of the birth certificate.

2. Get TSA Pre-Check.

I highly recommend applying for TSA Pre-Check, especially if you will be spending a lot of time in airport security. If you apply—and are approved—for the TSA Pre-Check designation, you can enter the Pre-Check lane at airport security. This line usually moves much faster than the general security line. You do not have to take off your shoes, belt, or jacket, and your electronic items can stay inside your carry-on bags. This makes the TSA process way less stressful while traveling with an infant or any child. The success of any family trip hinges on proper preparation and this tiny step makes a huge difference.

3. Carry Vaseline.

We all know airports and airplanes are major hubs for germs. If you are concerned about yourself or your baby catching something, bring Vaseline along. Yes, Vaseline can help you and your baby avoid nasty travel germs. Use a cotton swab to apply small amounts of Vaseline at the base of everyone’s nostrils while traveling. Vaseline is said to “catch” the unwanted germs before you breathe them in through your nose.

4. Bring a car seat.

While car seats aren’t required when flying with an infant, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the American Academy of Pediatrics strongly recommend it. Just like in a car, it is the safest way for your baby to travel and you can always hold him if he gets fussy or wants to play.

5. Pack pre-measured formula.

If you are planning to bottle-feed your infant while in flight, be sure to pack bottles with pre-measured formula. This will help you save room in your carry-on luggage, avoid the mess of scooping formula, and save time while prepping your child’s bottle in flight. Also keep in mind that you don’t have to buy water at the airport. Flight attendants can provide you with water for the bottle. If you’re nursing your baby, here are some helpful tips.

6. Keep a feeding and changing log in your phone.

It is easy to lose track of time while traveling and changing time zones. Keeping a log of baby’s last feeding and diaper change will help you keep up with these things so your infant doesn’t become hangry or uncomfortable. There are many phone apps out there created for this purpose, but you can simply keep a written log in the notes section of your phone.

In your experience, what is helpful (and what isn’t) when you’re traveling with an infant?

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