Ways to avoid meltdown mode.

• Author: Cortes, Ivana
• Position: Going Places - Family vacations

IF YOU EVER have vacationed with children, you know what puts the "crazy" in the lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer. Are-we-there-yets, airborne temper tantrums, lost pacifiers, and headlong races down airport terminals (while dragging luggage and a screaming baby) are enough to drive anyone insane. By the time you have traveled to your destination and back again, you may find yourself thinking that vacationing with kids is no vacation at all. If your summer plans are sending you into panic mode, take a deep breath: summer travel does not have to be complicated.

Of course no parent wants the fun of vacation to be spoiled by the process of getting there. The good news is, with the right information and a willingness to think ahead, you can put most of your energy toward playing in the pool instead of kid-wrangling on the road.

My family flies fairly frequently between the U.S. and my husband's native Italy--and we love going to the beach in the summer. Over time, I have learned a lot of travel-disaster lessons in the School of Hard Knocks-and I also have developed some crisis-averting strategies that have turned out to be real lifesavers. Whether you will be traveling to the seashore, the mountains, grandma's house, or anywhere in between, there are survival tips that will help make your family trip the wonderful adventure it should be:

Plan ahead. Then plan some more. Make a list and check it twice. Write down everything you will need while you are away from home, and do so as far in advance as possible--then put the list in your suitcase so you can use it as a guideline when you are repacking to come home. Give yourself plenty of time to consider your travel schedule and think through all possible scenarios--will there be naptimes and mealtimes; if so, how many?--and what you will need to handle these situations.

For instance, if you are going to be midflight during naptime, make sure you have sleep essentials like lovies, and also pack a distraction like a portable DVD player in case sleep does not happen and you have a cranky youngster on your hands. It also is a good idea to check any connecting destinations for restaurants or child-friendly areas so that you can refuel and kids can burn off energy in between flights.

Travel light(ish). Yes, this definitely is easier said than done--but it is not impossible. Pack everything you can a day or two before your departure, perhaps while the kids are asleep so that you can focus. Use the list...