Christmas and Thanksgiving travel with a toddler

Flying at the holidays

Book early and pick nonstop flights when you can. A connection adds another chance of a delay or missed flight, and busy holiday flights can leave few rebooking options. Early morning flights are usually the most reliable.

Time the flight around the nap if your child sleeps well on the go. A flight that starts near naptime can mean a sleeping toddler for much of it. Travel on the days just before or after the peak dates if you have the flexibility.

• Children under 2 can usually fly as lap infants on U.S. airlines, but the FAA says the safest place is an approved car seat in their own seat.
• Check that your car seat is labeled for aircraft use and fits the airline's seat width.
• Strollers and car seats can usually be gate-checked at no charge on U.S. airlines. Bring a bag to protect them.
• At security, strollers are folded and screened, and children are carried or walk through. Leave extra time.

Driving at the holidays

Road trips give you control over the timing. Many families leave before dawn or right at naptime, so the toddler sleeps through a long stretch. Plan a stop every two or three hours for food, a diaper change and running around.

Holiday traffic peaks on the days just before Thanksgiving and around Christmas weekends. Check traffic before you leave, and have a backup route. Pack a bag with snacks, a change of clothes, wipes and a few new small toys within reach.

Staying with family

• Bring a pack-and-play or travel crib your child already knows, or ask the host to borrow one and set it up before you arrive.
• Pack blackout material or a portable blackout shade and a white noise machine. Family homes are often louder and brighter than yours.
• Keep the same nap and bedtime routine: same book, same song, same sleep sack.
• Talk with hosts in advance about quiet hours, naps and toddler-proofing, like gates and medicines out of reach.

Theme parks and crowds at the holidays

Thanksgiving week and the days around Christmas and New Year's are among the busiest of the year at Disney, Universal and other theme parks. Expect long lines and full parks, especially in the afternoon.

If you go, plan for opening and leave by lunch. Pick one or two must-do rides, use a hotel nap, and skip the late shows unless your child naps well. Holiday decorations are a highlight on their own and easier to enjoy early in the day.

Light displays, time zones and late nights

Holiday light displays are often lit by early evening in late fall and winter. Go right at dusk, ideally on a weeknight, and be home before bedtime. Drive-through displays are a good option with a tired toddler.

If you cross time zones, shift bedtime gradually by half an hour a day for a few days before you travel, or keep home time for a short trip. Light in the morning and dim light in the evening help reset their clock.