Laura Thompson is one of our product research and development specialists (mom-on-the-go)! She has compiled the following travel trips from her friend's and family's personal experiences. We hope these tips will enable your family to enjoy many happy traveling adventures.

Thompson Travel Tips

Airport Security:
Use the Gate Check Car Seat Bag when using an infant seat while going through security. Keeps the infant seat clean when you put it upside down on the conveyor belt.

Take big car seats out of the car seat bag (Wheelie or Ultimate Backpack) since they do not fit on the conveyor belt. TSA will take the car seat and check it out with a wand and a fabric swab.

The Ultimate Backpack or Wheelie Car Seat Bags can be folded up and placed on the conveyor belt.

Fold up your stroller before you get to the metal detector to save time. Most umbrella strollers fit on conveyor belt. Place the umbrella stroller in Gate Check Bag to keep it clean.

You can walk through with your child on your hip.

Be sure to check with the FAA on updated liquid amounts. Breast milk and baby bottles are ok to take. Water is not but can be purchased when through security.

Always bring infant car seats with you through security. Sometimes there are extra seats and your child can be in their infant seat and not on your lap during the flight for free. If the plane is full you can gate check the infant seat with no problem using the Gate Check Bag to keep it clean If the plane isn’t full…lucky you!

Getting on Airplanes:
Most airlines let families with young children board before other passengers. My husband and I use this time to reduce the stress for ourselves and our 2 year old.

While one of us stays outside the gate with our child and the diaper bag, the other one brings the car seat, stroller (in the Gate Check Bag), carry on (try the Happy Traveler Family Gear Bag) and/or purse onto the plane. While our child is running around at the last minute before boarding or getting a diaper change, one of us is getting things settled on the plane.

Lay your stroller (in the Gate Check Bag) next to the other strollers at the bottom of the jet way. When the flight lands they will bring the stroller up to that area again for you to grab. With the Gate Check Bag it is easy to find your stroller, grab the handle and go…getting out of the way fast.

If you will not be buying a seat for your child, you may want to purchase 2 seats leaving a seat open in between. Hopefully the seat in between will not be purchased and may be available for your child.

If you will be using the car seat in the plane, be ready to show its FAA approved sticker to the attendant. Make sure that you know where the FAA sticker is located. (The Britax Roundabout car seat has its sticker on the side near the head area). Most airlines will want to see the sticker at the door of the plane. It will save a lot of time to get it ready to show before hand.

If you have an infant car seat, and the plane is full, leave it covered at the bottom of the gang plank with the other car seats and strollers. Be sure it is covered with a Gate Check bag since the under area of a plane is VERY DIRTY!

If you didn’t buy a seat for your infant and they do have extra seats available carry the infant seat on board. Most infant seats don’t have FAA stickers so no need to show the flight attendant. Board the plane and put it in the window seat (check with the FAA rules about where car seats can go).

First we clean the hand rests (where most germs are) and then secure the car seat. You must have toys and drink out of the bag and ready to go as well as take off and landing treats. We then get our adult areas ready…drinks, magazines, book, etc.

When taking off, Lolly Pops are great for toddlers to suck on, pacifiers for infants, and gum for older children. Sucking and swallowing will help lessen ear problems with taking off and landing. Also breast feeding and bottle feeding is a good idea too. Anything that they can swallow and enjoy for about 8 minutes. Start giving or feeding them when you are at the end of the taxi way. Continue till you are leveled off and feel your ears pop.

Not till they call last time for boarding do we get on with our child. We let him run around as much as possible getting his energy out. When he gets on the plane there is less time for him to be strapped in before take off.

Be sure to bring zip lock bags for diaper changes. Some airlines have big tray tables that fold down in the bathroom that are great. Sometimes we have changed him in the back galley area and lying across our seat…as fast as we could.

Bring new or old toys wrapped in tissue paper for child to open. Depending on how well you wrap it depends on how long it takes to open.

Child’s First Flight:
Ask a flight attendant if they have first flight certificates. Great for scrapbooks.

Cruise Ship Travel:
Most ships have cribs for infants and will stock your room with whole milk if you ask. When getting on the ship have everything taken by the porter, except your diaper bag and stroller, to make checking in and security a lot easier and faster. When you get on the ship, you have to carry all your items around until your room is ready…which can sometimes be hours. Use this time to get food and review the ship’s map. That way you can find your room fast when you are allowed to go on your level. We bring the stroller with us always as sometimes we don’t get into our room until after nap time. He’ll fall asleep in his stroller while we tour the ship.

See what kids programs they have for your child. Some ships have infant programs while others start at 3 or 5 years old. Always ask if they have a special infant time...where they open the padded area for infants to roll or crawl around on.

In your stateroom, change the desk or one of the tables into a changing table. Use extra towels along with the Full Body Changing Pad or Jumbo Changing Pad to soften the area and set up wipes, diapers, and crèmes. Bring a night light so there is always an easily available light.

If bottle feeding or pumping, bring along dish soap wipes. Fill the sink with water and let bottles soak. Use the wipes to clean. Rinse out and dry on towel in shower area. The bathrooms are so small you have to use your area wisely with a child.

Bring a blow up bathtub if your child is too small to take a shower.

If tendering to islands and renting a car, put the car seat in a Gate Check Bag. It is easy to store, keeps the car seat clean (and dry…as tenders get wet where they stow the car seat) and easy to grab and go.

Bottles and Bottoms diaper bag is great for staying on the ship and walking around. Perfect for diaper changes, a bottle, jar of food or snack and camera.

Stroller Tote and Tote ‘N Stroll are great for day trips: lots of compartments, room for food, bottles, snacks, camera, change of baby clothes, diapers, and toys. Can also be attached to high chairs.

The Indoor/Outdoor Blanket is great to put on the floor in the room. It creates a clean area for child to play that is soft and can be washed on the ship. (Most ships have laundry facilities).

When getting off the ship, your luggage has to be packed and ready to go the night before. Be sure to store your car seat in the Gate Check Bag to stay clean. It will be easier to find with the thousands of luggage laying out. Be sure to keep the diaper bag, a change of baby clothes, and the stroller with you. You will be standing in lines for a very long time and the stroller lets you take the elevator down which moves up the line faster. ?

Train Travel:
Most items can be stored under the train. Depending on your seat and class compartment there might not be much area to store things above or below your feet. Take on only what you need.

Be sure to have a travel bag (Padded Stroller Bag, Wheelie Jr. Travel Bag, Gate Check Bags, Wheelie or Ultimate Car Seat Bags) to cover your items to stay safe and clean. The porters just take and throw your things underneath and stuff in as much as they can.

Try to sit facing the direction that you are traveling. Some children get sick or headaches sitting backwards or dizzy from trying to focus on things passing by at too fast of a pace.

Hotel Stays:
Call ahead to see if the hotel has:
* A DVD player in the room or audio/video input connectors to hook up your portable DVD player for your child’s favorite DVD’s.
* A CD player for favorite CD’s.
* Portable play yards or cribs.
* Late check out.
* Rules for swim diapers in the pool area.
* An in-room refrigerator

First, clean room with wipes and take off bed comforter before letting child crawl or run around. (lots of germs from people, travel bags and shoes being placed on top)

Change desk into changing table (use extra towels to pad the area along with Full Body Changing Pad or Jumbo Changing Pad) and set up wipes, diapers, and crèmes. Bring a night light.

Bring a blow up bathtub for smaller children. Easy to store and dry out.

Ask the concierge what restaurants on site and near by are kid friendly.

Happy travels,

If you would like to share your "travel happy" tips
please email us at info@jlchildress.com