Traveling with Junior

For today's blogging purposes, this is Junior.

"In America, there are two classes of travel:
First class, and with children." -Robert Benchley

Okay, parents, let's face it, traveling with your children is at times an exercise in humility. You have high hopes and expectations for how your trip will go, but Junior has other ideas. Whether he's in diapers relying on your for every need or moodily listening to his iPod barely acknowledging your existence; kids alter the way you travel.

Traveling with your mini me doesn't have to be burdensome, in fact, it can be quite fun, if you're in the know! You need to know what to do when different situations present themselves. For starters, how about making reservations for your child(ren) to fly? If your tot is under the age of two, you don't need a seat for him, you can hold your infant/toddler while you fly. However, once he reaches the age of two, Junior will need his own seat reservation. And, your young'n needs to be in a booster seat just as he would when in your personal vehicle.

Okay, so you've reserved your seats on the plane for you and Junior. Now what? Well, how about packing for baby? What you take along for your and your little one will be scanned at the security checkpoint if you're carrying on an appropriately sized bag or two, and all other luggage you take will be scanned once checked with your airline. The Transportation Security Administration has a great section on their web site to help make your packing and subsequent checkpoint experiences as hassle-free as possible. A few key points about taking your kiddos through the security checkpoint:

• The TSA employees are not here to harass your kids, they have every intent on working with you as much as possible to keep Junior happy while going through the checkpoint process.

• If you don't suspect your stroller, diaper bag, etc will fit through the bag scanner, you need to let a TSA employee know in advance. Hand scanning is available for over sized items.
  

• Your child needs snacks and drinks while on the plane? You may take breast milk, juice, or formula in your carry-on in reasonable amounts greater than the mandated 3 ounces.
  
  
• It is your responsibility to review what you can and cannot take on the plane for Junior. Please don't get upset with the checkpoint personnel if they tell you cannot take prohibited items on the plane.
  

Okay, so you've made it through the checkpoint successfully and you're now waiting in the gate area for your flight to arrive. Junior is happily camped out in his stroller while you're between reading the paper and attending to him. Before you know it, the airline gate agent announces via the intercom that XYZ airline is to begin boarding for your flight from HIA to your vacation destination. Let's run through the easy way to get on the plane with a little one. Make sure all of his items are packed away, that his stroller, if you're traveling with it, is collapsed for easy transport and stowing on the plane, and that you got him with you. If Junior is over two, and mobile [requiring his own seat on the plane], we'd recommend that mom or dad hold onto his boarding pass at all times during travel. This lessens the likelihood that it gets lost and enables all of you to get through your travels more quickly. So the gate agent's called for your seat assignments to board, and you make your way to on to the plane.

You make your way onto the aircraft and find your seats. Let's assume for our blogging purposes that Junior is a lap-sitter, and you're sharing a seat. You have his drinks, snacks and entertainment stowed at your feet under the seat in front of you for ease of access. As your row mates are filing onto the plane, you discover the fine seat occupant to your left has an apparent disdain for your infant. What do you do? How do you handle a fellow traveler who seems, for whatever reason as your flying, annoyed with your child?

The plane's been boarded, door closed, and the aircraft is being pushed back from the gate. You begin taxiing and your flight is taking it's spot in line for take-off. In an ideal situation you discover that Junior has fallen asleep, or is happily busying himself with one of his toys. However, you discover that your little one is not real happy with the prospect of being confined to your lap, or worse yet, has taken ill with what seems to be motion sickness. What do you do when your young, primarily non-verbal child(ren) are ill or unhappy while in-flight?

Let's assume that today's flight is headed for a warm-weather vacation in Orlando. Your flight is about to land at Orlando International Airport (MCO) and AirTran Airways has been your airline today. You've had a safe, uneventful, and successful flight. You land, deplane and enter the terminal in search of your Mickey Mouse car service. With Junior, the rest of the family, and all of your gear in tow, you head out to the curb, find your awaiting Magic Kingdom chauffeur and are well on your way to your family vacation!

What have you found to be successful tips for making family vacations successful? Where are some of your favorite family-friendly destinations to visit?