How to prepare

I hope to create a resource for parents who want to take their kids with them to discover new places. Traveling is an enormous part of my life and now my daughter's life and I think parents can help each other make traveling easy, safe and fun for a family. Regardless of if your idea of traveling is visiting grandma in Florida, traveling to Etheopia to adopt your first child, backpacking in Thiland, climbing the steps of the Eifel Tower in Paris, taking a road trip to Yellowstone or going to an all inclusive beach resort this is a resource for all of us.

The first trip we took as a family was to adopt our daughter from China in July of 2006. I read blogs, chatted in groups, researched the best bags and items to take and then set off for an adventure. I felt prepared because of my extensive travel before baby and I called all of my friends and family who had traveled with their kids to get advice. We packed very light we took an Ergo baby carrier and asked for bulkhead and a bassinet on the flight home. Overall it went well. Simple items like baby carriers, the right seat assingmnet, and knowing what resources are available at the end of the road are essential to a good travel experience with children. Since returning from China in July, we have taken a three week road trip and flown to the east coast twice and we are preparing for another international trip to Europe.

The more I travel with my daughter the more I learn about traveling with children. My parents have also been a good resource as they have taken my brother all over the world starting when he was just an infant.

In the future I plan to talk a little about feeding your child on the road. The best equipment for travel, "do I really need to take____?" How to deal with illness on the road, Navigating the airport, Road trips, etc...

Please feel free to post your own suggestions and experiences traveling with children. I would also like to hear about child friendly destinations, compaies, and airlines.