Whether it’s a vacation or a visit with relatives, planning a trip with children is stressful for even the most organized parent. Kids love adventure, but sometimes, the journey required to get to the fun part is too much for them to handle. In fact, you’re probably envisioning a nightmare scenario complete with mid-aisle tantrums and hours of tears for both you and your little ones…but fret not! A calm, cheerful trip is a total possibility with the right planning. Follow the five tips listed below to make bus travel with kids uneventful — in a good way.
1. Bring a Wide Variety of Snacks
Snacks are the key to happy travels. It’s surprising how many ailments are cured by the sight of a child’s favorite food, which makes them a vital commodity on bus trips. A good rule of thumb is to bring along a variety of snacks — at least one option per hour of your journey, but it’s important that you put most of your focus on healthy options to avoid the hyperactivity of a sugar rush and crankiness of the inevitable crash.
Pack a lunch box with easy-to-eat, non-messy things, such as carrot sticks, raisins, cherry tomatoes, and strawberries. To appease picky eaters, individual dipping sauces (like travel packets of peanut butter) work well, but skip heavily fragrant options to avoid disrupting other passengers. Not only will these delicious snacks ward off hunger-related tantrums, but you’ll also get to benefit from your delicious forethought by having some for yourself.
2. Plan Multiple Activities
Another component of a successful travel arsenal is activities to keep your kids busy. Just like a hungry belly is sure to cause a meltdown, boredom will result in emotional upheaval. Luckily, it’s easy to keep children occupied for hours on end with both traditional and digital diversions. A tried-and-true occupation is coloring books, which is also an activity that interests kids (and adults) of all ages. Digital recreation is essential for long journeys, so pre-download movies or television shows to a tablet, phone, or laptop to ensure you don’t experience any reception interruptions.
3. Make Bus Travel With Kids Easier with Headphones
Noise-canceling headphones are a must-have for bus travel with kids, especially toddlers and infants. A happy, well-rested child is much easier to work with than a restless, tired one, so it’s important that you set your little one up for a successful sleep. In most circumstances, passengers respect the plight of stressed parents with quiet conversations and limited movements, but that doesn’t mean you’ll be able to avoid honking from nearby vehicles or the sounds of a busy roadway. This is where noise-canceling headphones make their miraculous entrance! Simply slip them on your child’s head and allow them to rest in peace.
4. Prepare for Unexpected Messes
As a parent, you’re probably used to tackling spilled drinks, food-covered clothing, and diaper leaks on a regular basis, so normally, you’re prepared for anything. Yet, the level of attention required when planning a family trip makes it easy to overlook things that you’d normally consider obvious. Before the day of your departure, make a list of everything you need for unexpected messes, like baby wipes, hand sanitizer, and diapers. If your trip is over a few hours long, it’s wise to also bring a few extra sets of clothing on board for everyone in the party. Pack everything on your emergency cleanup list a few days ahead of your bus journey to avoid forgetting them in the last-minute rush.
5. Dress Everyone Comfortably
A comfortable child is a happy child, so choosing the right clothing is a valuable aspect of planning for bus travel. While buses are substantially more comfortable than other modes of transportation, sitting for long periods of time becomes uncomfortable in the wrong outfit. Tight jeans are likely to cut into stomachs and thighs, and dress shirts become scratchy, which will leave you coming face-to-face with an angry, fussy child. Skip the drama by avoiding an attempt to make an entrance upon arrival, and instead, make sure everyone is dressed in loose-fitting, casual attire. Also, bring along soft blankets and neck pillows to make their seats even cozier.
Successful bus travel with kids is reliant on planning ahead, and with a few simple steps, you and your kiddos will have a fun, exciting, and relaxing trip. Purchasing bus tickets for the whole family also just got easier with BusTickets.com. Our site allows you to conveniently book seats on your schedule, and it provides instant price comparisons of multiple carriers. Your family’s adventure awaits, so book your bus tickets today!
