Going Anywhere Soon?

We've been across the country three times in the last four months. Danny who is 8 mos. old has already flown on 13 different flights. Over the last seven years we have flown our family on at least 40 flights.During these trips I've come across some ways to make traveling a little easier, and, lucky you, I'm going to share my secrets.

First of all, the best way to travel with a baby is for him to be nursing. However, if he isn't nursing this is the next best thing:

I LOVE these. I found them at a Las Vegas Target, and they are PERFECT for traveling and church. I like them a lot better than those snack cups/formula dispensers that can sometimes open and spill, and take up a lot of space in your bag. When you're on an airplane it is all about being efficient and unburdened.

Here are some other tips on how to travel with kids:

• Don’t take markers. By the end of the plane ride your clothes will have streaks, most of the lids will be gone and the kids will look like Native Americans ready for war.
• It is uncomfortable, but when you have to take kids to the bathroom use the bathroom on the plane instead of the airport. This helps break up the monotomy of the plane ride, and it also helps you make a quick getaway if you have a connecting flight that you have to catch.
• If you can’t get on a plane for whatever reason (they overbooked it, the plane is delayed, etc.) ask if they will get you on another flight. They will, but they won’t unless you ask them.
• When renting a car, they will tell you that the spouse can’t drive it unless you pay extra, but the contract almost always says the spouse can drive the vehicle, so trust the contract, not the people at the counter.
• Bring an iPod if you have one. There are a lot of things kids can do on iPods besides watching movies, too. There are all kinds of cool kid apps.
• ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS make sure you have your iPod before you leave the plane. I didn’t.
• Bring a sippy cup for the flight attendant to put the kids’ drinks in…the plastic cups with huge ice cubes are so precarious, and it isn’t fun having a lap wet with o.j. for five hours.
• Make puppets out of the motion sickness bags, but make sure you look in the bag before sticking your hand in...
• Bring lots of wipes, but not in a wipe box, because that is heavy. Just use medium sized plastic freezer bag.
• Once the kids are big enough, make them carry their own things in roller suitcases. It is heavenly.
• If your family is split up on the plane write "mail" to each other and deliver it when the seat belt sign is off.
• I've never had a problem with my kids' ears hurting on planes. I've sat by people who will actually ask me, "You have something for him/her to suck on, right? So his ears won't hurt?" and they look at me like this is the first time I've taken a baby on a flight. I've never had a problem.

Do you have some good travel tips to share? I want to hear them!