Traveling with kids can be daunting no matter how many times you have done it. Even though we are staying home in Denmark this year for the holidays and my mom is coming (in nine days, yay!) I’m guessing that many of you will be traveling?
Our kids crack us up… they know just when they have to turn off their electronics on the airplane. They order their own drinks and even help direct us through airports, but it can still be a little nerve wracking to be in a confined space with kids no matter how long the distance!
Here are a few things that we have learned while traveling with kids over the last 11 years…
1. Less really is more: Have a few key things with you to entertain them, but if they can’t carry their own bag because it’s full of 100 lbs of toys then no one is happy. Besides unless you are taking a trip around the world, they really don’t need that much.
2. Always have something new: We always buy a new coloring book, crayons, Nintendo DS game if we are going more than 8 hours, but even a pack of stickers can go a long way!
3. Bring their special blanket and/or animal. My kids get one blanket and one animal each. It brings them a lot of security to have something special from home for the journey.
4. Don’t bother with too many magazines for yourself: Every now and then I get to read an article from my magazine or a chapter from my book, but our mentality is that when we travel with the kids, entertaining them is our number one priority… whether that is grabbing a crayon and coloring in that new coloring book or peeling stickers out of our hair!
We were super excited about our last trip because the kind folks at Stuck On You sent us a really awesome travel package, which included a new personalized backpack, an artist series activity pack, and even the cutest bag tag. My son loved it because not only are the bags personalized, but so were his activity books! They also sent my daughter a Personalized Travel Pack, which apparently got rave reviews at a recent slumber party!
But you know what the best part is? I get to give away everything that I received! Yay! I will randomly choose two winners from the comments below. One will win the personalized backpack with the activity pack and bag tag and the other will win the Personalized Travel Pack. Fun, right? To enter, simply leave a comment below telling me if and where you are traveling to this holiday season. For more chances to win you can 1. Like Stuck on You on Facebook, 2. pop over the Stuck On You site and tell me which color/combination you would choose, and/or 3. Subscribe to Traveling Mama! Just leave a separate comment for each! I will leave the comments open until next Monday. Good luck!
{ 46 comments… read them below or add one }
We are not traveling all that far. Just the other side of tiny Denmark. But even for short trips it is nice to have a little bag and a few activities for Elliot.
p.s. I am so impressed/ intimidated by your blog! I hope you can come by the cafe sometime. It is kind of what I would do if I were to have a blog only in physical form
we will be traveling to visit the grandparents this holiday season.
We will be travelling to Florida to go to Disney!!!!!!!
Count me in – traveling to the great state of North Dakota with a toddler in tow – trust me, it’s a long trip
. And I’d choose red with the woodland creatures, we’re having a bunny phase here at the moment!
Thanks for the give away. Such a cool site. Would choose the pink bag with the owls design.
Lovely idea! A bit of Christmas before Big Christmas ^^
We’ll stay at home, because all our family live close to us. I know, we’re lucky.
Wish you a Beautiful Moment with all your family, and your mom!
(I share your game on FB).
For the backpack, I like the naby blue color with the little Fox, but I like the bike and the owl too, and the robot and the rocket
))
Hard to choose!!!
Thanks for this beautiful discover!
Fabulous tips and giveaway!!! We will be staying home for Christmas. I hope wish you and your sweet family a very Merry Christmas!! Enjoy your time with your mom.
I Subscribe to Traveling Mama!
I Liked Stuck on You on Facebook.
I love the owls and the fairy for my oldest DD in navy!
What a great idea! We’re going on a cruise this spring and planning for 2 months in Morocco this summer – these would keep the kids very happy!
So practical! Love the baby babushka series! Thanks for the giveaway!
Just found you today! What a fun giveaway-we are travelling with a toddler (and i’m 6 mo preggo too), we make the 26+hr drive every year to see my family. Long trip but so worth it!
Just subscribed to your RSS feed! Can’t wait to read more!
Love the robot designs on their backpacks!
Liked them on Facebook too!
I’ve done 1.
I would choose, the navy blue with the beach bus or the Big City.
I’ve done 3.
We are traveling from CPH to the DC area to see my husband’s family for Christmas with our 21 month old and our 3 month old. I think some spiked egg nog will be in order when we arrive after that flight
I love the bike bag and pretty much all of it. Lovely to meet you the other night at craftenhagen!
If I am with my kids, it is all about my kids. Forget reading! I agree that less is more! So excited for you that your mom is going to visit you!
Oh, we are staying here in Georgia this Christmas since next Christmas we might be in China! We could pick up our daughter anytime between October and December. We are also saving so we can take some of the children with us.
we are flying to Milan with Tobia & Malou (2 and 5 years old). Would love t have travel pack with us!
Hi Tina,
we will visit my parents at germanys north shore these holidays. It’s just a short journey for us.
Have a wonderful christmas time!
Liebst,
Wibke
1st. Liked on facebook…
2nd. I would choose the navy one with the surfer car on it…
3rd. I subscribed to Traveling Mama for ages
We’ll be going to Mallorca. Mostly because it only takes 3 hours from Denmark which works best with the little Miss Not so sunshine on planes
we get to stay home
just had a baby 2 weeks ago and the family is coming to us!
and I subscribe to Traveling Mama! (via email)
My husband is in the Army and we are having issues with the house we are renting so it doesn’t look like we are going anywhere for the holidays. Hopefully in late jan or early feb we can go home for our sons first birthday!
I have you on in my google reader…not sure if that means I’m subscribed?
Ohhhh I Love the pirate ship ones! So cute!
My husband is military and we are stationed in Germany so there are plenty of places to visit in this country over the holidays but we are hoping to get out of the country for a few day during holiday break. Maybe France:)
Hi Tina, again such a great giveaway!
After a two year maternity leave, I return to work in January and wanted to make the most of this Christmas with my two boys, so we are headed over to Ireland next Friday for two and half weeks
My husband will be joining us for the last week we are there. As much as I love Christmas in Germany, I always feel the need to return back home to my parents and siblings at Christmas time and want that my children experience Christmas time there as I remember it as a child all those years ago 
Can’t wait!!!!!!!!!!!!
Have been a fan of StuckOnYou on Facebook since your last giveaway
Have two boys and am torn between the navy and red backpacks and also the owl and the rocket designs – would have to consult my son on that!
Am a subscriber to your blog x
We live in Germany but will be traveling back to the US to see family for the holidays. It will be my 17 mos old’s 3rd time crossing the Atlantic.
Greetings from snowy Tallinn, in Estonia! I will be travelling with my son to my hometown, luckily just an hour from Tallinn where we live/work/go to kindergarden everyday, but it would not be true Christmas if I did not get to see all of my family back in my hometown + go sledging/skiing on my childhood paths:) Can´t wait already! I liked the blue versions on the web page, obviously, being a mum to a 4-year old active boy:) Wishing your family nice holiday season and all the best for 2013!!!! (I will try to fulfill all the 3 steps:))
Hi, Well we went to Virginia for Thanks Giving, but will be staying home for Christmas. Thank You for the chance to win!
I’m already a loyal follower! Thank You!
And now I will be a fan of Stuck on you on Facebook!
What a great giveaway! I’m traveling the day after Christmas with my two kiddo’s 5 and 8 months back ‘home’ which is a 12 hr train ride. First time taking the train with BOTh kids alone so I’m a little nervous but it will be fine!
Love the bunny! Or the fox!