Why is traveling with kids stressful?

Kids often stay up late, get disconnected from parents, and melt down from the overload. I call it Family Vacation Stress Syndrome. (Of course, parents often experience their own version, whether from extended family tensions, grandparents judging their parenting, or logistical pressures.



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Traveling is already stressful, so adding a young child to the mix can really ramp up a parent's stress. Fortunately, there are several things a parent can do in advance to anticipate the discomfort their little one may be experiencing and take steps to get it under control early.

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But traveling with children can also be an overwhelming proposition — unpredictable schedules, long packing lists and cranky kids are just a few of the challenges you may encounter along the way.

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Make sure to bring at least one comfort item, such as a pacifier or stuffed animal. You can also bring coloring books or scratch paper as well as crayons, books to read, and other distractions. Tablets and smartphones can be good distractions as well, just remember child-sized headphones.

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12-18 Months Old Once your child starts walking, all bets will probably be off unless you are blessed with the chillest of children. One year olds are often highly mobile yet totally uncontrollable, making for a potentially dangerous travel combination.

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No matter where they travel, your kids will love discovering their adventures along the way. They will venture outside their comfort zone and experience new and exciting things they wouldn't get a chance to do at home. These adventures will quickly become something your kids look forward to doing each time they travel.

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Expedia says that US Millennials travel 35 days per year, compared to 26 days for Generation X; 27 days for Baby Boomers; and 29 days for Generation Z. The average budget of Millennials is slightly below the annual travel spend of Generation X or Baby Boomers.

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For several reasons, traveling with a four-year-old can be MUCH easier than traveling with younger toddlers. For one, you can usually count on a four-year-old to be well enough potty trained that accidents will be rare.

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