Toddler travel

I had a chat with her one night while, her son was asleep... Thank goodness! We were making cookies in the kitchen and watching C.S.I Miami. She told me how she does it and what traveling with her son had put her through for several times, it was tough she said but, if you know what to do it is no hassle at all.

In this lens, I will share with you some tips and ideas I got from her, on how you can make travelling with your toddler an ease. Next time you can even plan a vacation trip and it will surely be fun, exciting and stress free!

Can you believe, I just learned from our readers, indeed there are a lot of mothers out there who are having trouble travelling with their toddler? Some went through funny situations and some were a great ordeal.

Share your story to us and how you handled it!

I traveled with my sister and her toddler one time. It was a continuous travel by bus for 11 hours although; we stopped by terminals for food and other necessities. It was a travel I hoped to be fun and relaxing, where we could appreciate the views and the places we passed by. But, it turned out to be the most tiring travel I ever had.

The bus was very nice, fully air conditioned with huge seats that can be bend or folded so, you can lie down if you want to sleep, there is a television as well and enough space. In other words, it was a comfortable ride.

The passengers are on both sides of the bus, each side has 2 rows. We had 2 seats while, my sister's son was sitting on her lap. We brought along some of his toys, food and a portable dvd player and some of his cd's that he watches at home, to keep him entertained.

The moment we climbed the bus, he kept looking around as if amazed of the newness on his surrounding. He would not sit and wanted to walk and run inside the bus and there are a lot of passengers coming in. It was difficult because, if you stop him, he would be screaming with a loud and high pitch voices.

When the bus started to roll down he finally sat on my sister's lap, then we gave him his toys, he played for awhile but, after a moment he pushed his toys away and wanted to walk and run again on the bus, my sister would not let him of course, you can not walk on a running bus. He kept on insisting and when we try to give him toys again he would just throw them away. Luckily, no one got hit. Then, I gave him snacks and played one of his cd on the portable dvd player. Thankfully, he watched while eating. I thought it was finally over but, when he's had his fill he suddenly didn't want to watch anymore. I thought maybe he got bored of it because, the cd my sister brought were the ones he have seen almost everyday.

He would get up, climb the back seat, grab and pulling on the curtains, push himself down because, he wanted to walk and play. So, we tried to let him but he stumbled several times and still he kept on walking, running and jumping. Nobody on the passengers complained but by the look on others faces, I can tell they were pretty annoyed. I'm sorry, what can I do anyway?!

When he sees something outside he would run on people's seat and push himself to peek on the window then, he's be back to running and jumping again. It was like that for the whole time, I guess you can just imagine how it feels like.

I couldn't wait that time to arrive, for the first time 11 hours felt like forever. My sister and I took turns in watching and following him finally when we're just an hour or 2 from arrival, he got tired maybe and went to his mom, took his milk and fell asleep. What a relief but, I tell you it was crazy and stressful.

- Always get your toddler his own passenger seat

- If you bring portable cd player make sure the cd's you bring are something new and interesting.

- Bring new toys, preferably something he has never seen or played with before. Toys that are attention grabbing.

- Bring lots of food.

- Better travel at night where he'd be sleeping, mostly.

Toddlers' stage is between 18 months to 3 years of age.

This is a stage when children start developing their independence like, doing things on their own.

Motor skills are further developed on this stage that is why they are hyperactive, if they have fully developed walking, they'll be walking and walking and running and jumping, they will keep doing that repetitively until they get tired.

They have short attention span so, they easily get bored on something. They are attracted to bright colors and sounds.

Language skills development is a challenge for them, they say one or tow words for a thought, and it is hard to understand what they say or what they like. Which is also why, they'd be screaming and crying instead.

This is also a stage where they have great imaginations and imitations, so it is crucial that show them things that are proper and correct. Talk to them in complete and correct sentences, never baby talk.

They also cling for attention, love and care. They thought that displaying certain attitude will make them get your attention. They will grow a strong attachment to who ever gets close to them other than their parents so, it is important to display comfort and companionship.

This is indeed a stage that needs great patience and understanding. But, if you know how to play with them it will never be a hassle having them around. After all, what they need is to assured that they are accepted because; they are very sensitive to any signs of rejection or disapproval.

Do's

- Always have many options, plan everything beforehand and it is important to have plan B, C or much as you can.

- Bring toys and stuff that caters long attention span. Instead of bringing usual toys bring something new. Recommended are drawing books, coloring books, color pens, crayons, blocks and anything that is colorful or they can work on or manipulate.

- Bring new cd's if you plan to bring portable dvd player for viewing and always bring headphones, they like sounds.

- Set a schedule at a time that he/she would be sleeping the most.

- Always have a passenger seat for your toddler.

- When waiting at the airport or terminal, let the toddler play around, walking and running to get out some energy and he may be tired to play around on the plane or buses and train, your toddler will likely sleep all the way.

- Bring lots of food that can last for hours. Make sure there are variations. Toddler love munching on something while playing.

- If you can afford, it is better to get business class or first class travel.

- Prepare your toddler for the travel, make them a part of it and give them prior idea by bringing them on the place to see what people do. Talk and explain things to them, show pictures of the places where you're destined to go and promise them treats if they behave on trip. Think of positive motivations but, make sure to keep them.

- Be calm.

Don'ts

- Everything that works against the do's is definitely the don'ts. What is very important is that you understand that toddlers are toddlers which means you should adjust for them and not the other way around.

- Toddlers like attention, if you give it to them 100% then you'll never have problem at all. If your toddler is playing with toys join him. If he's drawing or coloring something, do it with him and appreciate her work. Give her a hug, kiss and a smile. A clap will really put him in good spirit.

- Play with the food when you eat, make it fun. Let him feed you some of his food and vice versa.

- When viewing, make sure you're involved and viewing as well. Display your emotion and reaction to what you're viewing on your face. Like wide eyes, mouth gape or a huge smile. That will really put him into it.

- Tickle and laugh with you toddler, you'll surely have a great trip.

Toddlers may test your patience, you'll do fine!