Having small children is an exercise in patience and endurance for many parents. There are good days and bad days. Teething issues, temper tantrums and potty training are just some of the eventualities that most parents have to face at some point.
Traveling with children can be especially difficult at times. You not only have to keep an eye on your child at all times, but also have to make sure that none of your belongings get lost or become misplaced. When you’re focused on getting to where you want to be on time, it’s easy for little things to be forgotten.
If you lose small items here or there, it’s usually not a big deal. Losing larger items, such as toys, books, a blanket or other items that have great personal meaning for your child can be a traumatic loss for them. Here are five simple tips to avoid losing things for your little ones when travelling:
1. Make a list, and check it twice. Before you go on your trip, take some time to jot down all of the items that you’ll be bringing along with you. You may want to break this list down further by categorizing which items will be in which bags or luggage. This helps you keep track of items and easily identify anything that’s been misplaced or has gone missing.
2. Only pack what you need. When you’re making your packing list for your trip, it’s easy to list a lot of things that you think you’ll need. However, you also have to be realistic. You can’t take everything with you. That’s why it’s a good idea to only bring with you the things that are absolutely essential. You can mix and match clothing, and only bring along children’s belongings that are essential to their enjoyment of your vacation.
3. Label your items. To keep track of your children’s belongings, you can label their toys, books, clothes and other items. You can label these items yourself or you can buy labels that are custom-made with your child’s information. A few simple searches online at sites including rawlabels.co.uk and other sites can show you a wide variety of companies that offer different personalized label options. Many of them are relatively inexpensive, and can be turned around in a few days or less.
4. Never put anything important in the back of an airplane seat. The small pocket that’s right in front of you when you’re sitting in an airplane can be handy for putting a bag or other items when you have too much to carry. Just make sure that you don’t leave anything behind in there when it’s time to exit the plane. You may want to check underneath and around your seats just to make sure your child hasn’t left a toy, stuffed animal or other items in hard to reach places.
5. Check everything thoroughly before you go.This not only applies to air travel, but also when traveling by car or staying in a hotel or cabin. Before you head home, take the time to search every nook and cranny to ensure you haven’t missed anything. If you have your packing checklist, it’s a good idea to cross-reference the items on your list with what you have in your baggage.
These are just some helpful hints that can prevent losing things for your toddler or small child when traveling. Nobody’s perfect, and there will be times when things are going to be left behind. In those cases, you should call the hotel, airline or rental car company and ask if these items have shown up in their lost and found. Being able to recover these items can be hit or miss. However, taking proactive steps to make sure nothing gets lost in the first place can help you have a more enjoyable and relaxing vacation.