Traveling with children can be both a delight and a challenge. Whether traveling by car, plane or even internationally, unforeseen circumstances can throw a wrench into plans. Planning ahead can help you ensure the trip goes as smoothly as possible.

Here are some tips families can consider when planning for travel during spring break or any time of year.

CAR TRAVEL

If you're planning to drive to your destination, always use a car seat for infants and young children. All infants and toddlers should ride in a rear-facing car seat as long as possible, until they reach the highest weight or height allowed by the car seat manufacturer. Once your child has outgrown the rear-facing height or weight limit, they should ride in a forward-facing car seat.

If you are renting your travel vehicle, most rental car companies can arrange for a car seat if you are unable to bring yours along. However, they may have a limited selection of seats. Check that the seat they provide is appropriate for the size and age of your child, that it appears to be in good condition and that the instruction manual is provided before accepting it.

A child who has outgrown their car seat with a harness should ride in a belt-positioning booster seat until the vehicle's seat belt fits properly. Indications they have outgrown their car seat beyond surpassing the height and weight limits include their shoulders are above the top harness slots or their ears have reached the top of the seat. This is usually when the child reaches about 4-foot-9 in height and is between 8 and 12 years old.

Children under 13 years old should ride in the rear seat of vehicles, even if they aren’t in a car seat. Additionally, a rear-facing car seat should never be used in the front seat of a vehicle as airbags could harm the child in the event of a crash.

Long car rides can make for fussy, restless kids. Here is a good chance to make the travel fun: Point out interesting sights along the way or play the license plate game. You can also bring soft, lightweight toys and favorite music for a sing-along. Stops about every two hours can also help minimize travel anxiety and that cooped-up feeling for both parents and children.

It’s important to remember that when you leave the car, the children need to accompany you, as well. It is never appropriate to leave a child in the car unattended, regardless of the outside temperature.

In addition to a travelers' health kit, pack some other essentials for the trip: safe water and snacks along with child-safe hand wipes, diaper rash ointment and a water- and insect-proof ground sheet for safe play outside.

AIR TRAVEL

It’s best to allow your family extra time to get through security at the airport, especially when traveling with younger children. Have children wear shoes and outer layers of clothing that are easy to remove for security screening. You can also bring strollers and car seats through airport security and have them gate-checked to make travel with small children easier and safer.

To prepare your children for the potentially scary aspect of flight screenings, talk with them about the process before coming to the airport. Let them know that bags (backpack, dolls, etc.) must be put in the X‑ray machine and will come out the other end and be returned to them.

When traveling on an airplane, a child is best protected when properly restrained in a car safety seat appropriate for the age, weight, and height of the child. Children who weigh more than 40 pounds can use the aircraft seat belt. The car safety seat should have a label noting that it is FAA-approved. Belt-positioning booster seats cannot be used on airplanes. However, they can be checked as luggage (usually without baggage fees) for use in rental cars and taxis.

Although the FAA allows children under age 2 to be held on an adult's lap, the AAP recommends that families explore options to ensure that each child has their own seat. If you're not able to purchase a ticket for a small child, try to select a flight that is likely to have empty seats where your child could ride buckled in their car seat.

Once in flight, allow children to occupy their time with toys and snacks you’ve brought along. For concerns around the dreaded ear pain from descent, infants can nurse or suck on a bottle to alleviate the pressure while older children can drink through a straw or chew gum.

If traveling internationally, check with your doctor to see if your child might need additional vaccines or preventive medications, and make sure your child is up-to-date on routine vaccinations. Bring mosquito protection to countries where mosquito-borne diseases such as malaria are present.

In order to reduce jet lag, adjust your child's sleep schedule 2-3 days before departure. After arrival, children should be encouraged to be active outside or in brightly lit areas during daylight hours to promote adjustment.

LODGING

For international trips that include time in, on or near the water, stay within arm's reach of children while swimming. Pools may not have safe, modern drain systems and both pools and beaches may lack lifeguards. Be sure that your child wears a life jacket when on smaller boats and set an example by wearing your life jacket.

Conditions at hotels and other lodging may not be as safe as those in the United States. Carefully inspect for exposed wiring, pest poisons, paint chips or unsafe stairway or balcony railings. Additionally, be aware that cribs or play yards provided by hotels may not meet current safety standards. If you have any doubt about the safety of the crib or play yard, ask for a replacement or consider other options. (Also applies to U.S. travel.)

Give yourself a break, too, and remember that there's no "perfect" when it comes to travel with kids. The weird, messy and stressful moments will become part of the vacation stories you'll enjoy telling in years to come.

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Katherine Williamson, MD, FAAP is a pediatrician in California at Rady Children’s Health.

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