Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Simplify Family Travel With Childrens Luggage

By Gerri Lauder

Vacationing with children can be a challenge to the parents as well as the child unless you make the experience a pleasant one. No matter which type of traveling you are doing, by plane, car or cruise, their safety and comfort is of prime importance.

One of the great tips when traveling with children is to see that items that they need during travel are readily at hand. Childrens luggage is a great tool for active participation from the child that gives her or him a sense of responsibility and a measure of control over their own things. Pack the kids suitcases with items that they can get themselves when they need it, or at the very least, you can get child's items from their own suitcase instead of having to dig through your own to find the right thing.

Childrens luggage comes in different colors and with different decorations, styles and sizes. There are compartments and pouches, inside and out, with zippers, snaps or velcro. Kids rolling luggage is an extremely popular item because it's a lot like mommy and daddy's rolling luggage, plus your child won't have to bear the full weight of the luggage. Each child can bring their own suitcase, packed with the individual items they need to be entertained and comfortable on the trip. Be sure the size of any childrens luggage that will be used as a carry on on an airplane will fit under the seat in front of them so your child can reach it during the flight.

Another fun way to travel is with personalized kids luggage. There will never be another mistaken suitcase when your child's name is clearly written on the exterior of the luggage. And if a suitcase is not appropriate, consider the backpack. You can get personalized kids backpacks for them to carry; there are even kids rolling backpack with retractable wheels.

What to Look For in Kids Suitcases

You want your childrens luggage to last awhile and still serve your child's needs. Make sure that any piece you buy has a handle or strap that will fit the size of your childrens hands, and if you have purchased kids rolling luggage, see that it is easy for the child to maneuver. All kids suitcases should be lightweight so that when it is packed your child can lift, carry or roll it comfortably. Durability is another important consideration. Look for quality construction and strong stitching around exterior pockets, pouches and compartments. The last thing you want is for an external pouch to break open and your child loses whatever was in that pouch.

What your child will need for the vacation and during active travel will also be a consideration for the type of childrens luggage you purchase. Do you want them to carry their own clothes, or just their toys and entertainments and some comfort items during active travel? Lightweight kids rolling luggage has large compartments for storing clothes and other necessities and some have smaller, external pouches to make it easy to get something fast. There are also small versions of kids suitcases with multiple pouches, pockets and slots to hold lots of single items that you child just needs to be entertained during travel. Buy the type of luggage to suit the need.

Items to Include in Your Kids Suitcases

Think about the travel time first, and then think about what your child may need or want during that time. Think, also, about any needs, medical or comfort related, that may make traveling less stressful. So you might pack any medicines your child needs, a small pillow or a favorite stuffed toy, and a sweater or light blanket. How does your child entertain herself or himself at home? Pack their books and crayons, an MP3 player with their music, electronic games. Also think about healthy, non-refrigerated snacks like nuts, carrot sticks, cheese sticks, crackers or fruit. Depending on your mode of travel, water or juice boxes may be appropriate. And don't forget some wet wipes to clean fingers, faces and spills and a plastic bag for the trash.

The goal is to have a great family experience together. The active travel part of any vacation or planned trip can be stressful or it can be smooth. Bringing familiar items along on the trip will help your children adjust to new surroundings. Allowing them to actively participate by having some control over their things will make the family experience an enjoyable and memorable one.

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