The Military Wife and Mom

Parenting and motherhood in the midst of military life

Home

Mom Life

Traveling with Kids? 8 Ways to Save your Sanity

So you know how vacation is supposed to be really relaxing? Then you get in the car or plane for the never-ending travel to your destination, your complaining child screaming in the background, and you are wondering what is so enticing about vacation anyway. Yep, I’ve been there.

Don’t get me wrong, vacation is awesome. But sometimes the act of getting there is trying even for the most patient parents. It is especially trying if you are traveling with a toddler. That’s because toddlers’ brains cannot understand logic. That is an unfortunate fact.

Awesome essential oil uses when traveling with kids! Worth every penny!

I’ve got a really awesome solution for you though. It’s so darn brilliant I can’t believe I only started doing this a few months ago, but it’s really changed our lives as a family.

Essential oils will save your sanity (the whole families actually) if you are going on a family trip or vacation.

Seriously.

They will.

Check out this beginners guide to using essential oils during family travel:

Keep hands purified on the go.

You know how someone always seems to get sick right before or during vacation? When you take kids out in public places they have this habit of putting their hands everywhere, followed by a good hand in the mouth.

Make yourself a bottle of homemade Thieves Hand Purifier. It’s completely not toxic. So it’s safe to use on anyone and anything! I spray it on the kids’ hands, doorknobs, remotes in the hotel room, bathrooms…seriously anywhere and everywhere.

DIY Thieves Hand Purifier:

Directions: Add Aloe Vera gel, Vitamin E oil and Thieves essential oil to spray bottle. Fill to the top with filtered water. Shake.

Use: Shake before use. Spray liberally on hands or surfaces and rub together. Repeat as needed.

Note: If you have trouble finding Vitamin E oil, you can purchase Vitamin E capsules from your local drug store. Using a safety pin, poke a hold in 2 capsules and extract the oil.

Keep the kids happy and calm.

Kids tend to get a little stir-crazy during travel. So I love to keep Lavender and Peace and Calming right in my purse. If you want to keep your child calm in the back seat of the car or own the airplane take a 1 drop of lavender and 1 drop of peace and calming diluted with a carrier oil and rub on chest and bottoms of feet. Or save yourself the trouble of mixing while on the go and make a roll on.

Kid-Safe Calming Roll On:

  • 1 oz roller bottle
  • 5 drops Lavender
  • 10 drops Peace and Calming
  • 100 drops olive oil

The perfect roll on to keep the kids calm during travel, and it’s also prefect to roll on right before sleep. Help support healthy sleep habits in a new environment with this calming roll on.

Refresh after jet lag.

Traveling is completely exhausting sometimes. So for mom and dad, I love to use Peppermint vitality and Lemon vitality in water. Or inhale peppermint or lemon aromatically by simply opening the bottle, placing it under your nose and smelling.

Keep your back in check.

You probably don’t even have back problems, but after sitting in the car or plane for hours on end, you back can start to tense from a normal everyday life activity. Your shoulder blades might even start to tense if you have your hands on a steering wheel for hours on end. Or perhaps you get a tired neck.

For any of those things, PanAway is great!

Take 1-2 drops PanAway and blend with carrier oil. Apply to tension area.

Enjoy the outdoors without a bother.

The majority of vacations take place in the Spring, Summer and Fall when the outdoors might be a bother. Some outdoor sprays aren’t really good for us, especially kids.

The good news is that you can make your own homemade outdoor spray that is 100% natural, non-toxic and safe for kids and adults to use. It’s incredibly easy to make!

Homemade Outdoor Spray:

  • 4 oz spray bottle
  • 6 drops Thieves
  • 6 drops Purification
  • 2 oz witch hazel
  • 2 oz purified water

Shake, then spray onto exposed skin before going outside. Place 1 drop of purification diluted with carrier oil and massage to soothe skin after being outside.

Feeling stressed after long travels.

If you are feeling stressed anytime during your vacation, Stress Away and Joy essential oil blends are great for that.

  • Dilute 1-2 drops of Stress Away in carrier oil and apply to wrists and bottoms of feet or back of neck.
  • Dilute 1-2 drops of Joy in carrier oil and apply over the heart.

You may also really like using Peace and Calming and Lavender for stress as well.

  • Dilute 1-2 drops of Peace and Calming and apply to wrists and bottom of feet.
  • Dilute 1-2 drops of Lavender and apply to back of neck.

Feeling queasy from motion.

If car motion bothers you, AromaEase can help with dizziness associated with motion. You can also use Peppermint or Lavender!

  • Dilute 1-2 drops of AromaEase, Peppermint or Lavender with carrier oil and apply behind the ears. Or inhale aromatically directly from the bottle.

Deodorize just about anything.

Ever get into a hotel room that they claim is non-smoking or it just has a dingy odor to it? Make a DIY Lemon and Thieves room deodorizer! Regular sprays like Glade or Febreeze actually contain tons of synthetic chemicals that you are breathing directly into your body each time you use them. A DIY room deodorizer not only works better, it’s 100% natural, non-toxic and safe to use around both kids and adults. You can also use it to deodorize just about everything…suitcases, shoes, dingy clothes, or in the car when someone toots (sorry TMI, but you know it’s happened to you before!)

DIY Room Deodorizer Spray

  • 4 oz spray bottle
  • 10 drops Thieves
  • 10 drops Lemon
  • 4 oz purified water

Shake then spray where needed.

Want to learn more?

I’m partnering with several of my friends to help share some great information about getting started with essential oils! From seasoned essential oil user to beginner, The Oil Explorers is an safe and friendly place to learn about essential oils. Everyone in The Oil Explorers is part of a supportive group that helps everyone on their essential oil journey. It’s honestly been an amazing resource to have! Check out our series: The Beginners Guide to Essential Oils!

Essential oils getting started

everyday essential oils young living starter kit

Disclaimer: These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. The information on this site is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please confirm any information obtained from or through this web site with other sources, and review all information regarding any medical condition or treatment with your physician. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking medical treatment because of something you have read on this website.

About Lauren Tamm

I'm Lauren, a military spouse and Language of Listening® master parent coach. I write about my crazy parenting adventures, discovering happiness in motherhood and navigating the ups and downs of military life. I spend my days re-heating coffee while chasing my kids around the house. Hang around for a bit and join the fun!

Reader Interactions

2 Comments

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

More Popular Posts

Here’s what real moms are saying about Military Wife and Mom…

Ashlee Overdick

Love the listening course and the routine card printables and listening workbook so far. Listening has been our biggest challenge lately. My son was flat out just ignoring our voices. I started implementing the strategies yesterday and it was such smooth sailing all day long. Not only that, but the empathy statements and “turning a no into a yes” actually had my three year old saying “okay, mom” happily and complying right away without fighting or tears, by the end of the day! And it has worked wonders for my mood and frustration level when the arguing and tears are not averted. Trying to keep the 5:1 ratio has made me realize what a bad habit I’d fallen into. It becomes so easy to give commands and warnings and issue no’s, that you forget to take notice of the good! I feel so much better, as a mom, now that I’m intentionally encouraging my kid for his strengths. Thank you so much!

Ashlee Overdick

Megan Schrag

I have been reading your blog now for a few months and I really respect your advice and ideas. I also signed up for your “better listening” email series and have been learning a ton and working on implementing your advice with my 21 month & 3 1/2 year olds. They are responding well and I am looking particularly forward to working through these strategies with my youngest. He is as sharp as a tack and just coming into his own now. These tools are great and it’s awesome to have been equipped with  them right as he’s coming into the defiance stage. I feel much more confident in my ability to manage the challenges of this stage now. Thank you!

Megan Schrag

Heather Goffrier

I picked up these routine cards this week from The Military Wife and Mom because my 3 year old tends to put up a fight when getting ready to leave the house, or go to bed. Or eat a meal. Or start her day. These made a HUGE difference in like one day.

Instead of reminding and counting down and trying to avoid meltdowns, last night we sang the Olaf song as she cheerfully picked out her Olaf underwear and put them on.

This morning she pumped her fist and said, “the last one is ‘comb hair!’” before she came into the bathroom and started brushing her own hair. I’m sold! I truly love these and think any toddler mom could benefit!

Heather Goffrier

Jacqui

I’m loving receiving your emails. What strategies you suggest are common knowledge, but having the time to sit back and think about them is another thing.  I have used the 2 choices a lot this week. It’s amazing how it can work. Our power struggles have decreased, kids have been getting along together better. I know it has been only a week, but it feels like a massive change. I wish I had have signed up for emails 3 weeks ago and used the strategies on their school holidays lol.

Jacqui

Nikki Olson

Right before I gave up, I came across your site from Pinterest. My heart sunk and I signed up for your daily email list of listening. Every morning I received an email from you before I got out of the bed for the day, which couldn’t have been more perfect and encouraging to start the days. I immediately put your advice in action. My husband and I saw a different child within minutes. It’s been a few weeks since I started and the list could go on! I’m really grateful I came across your site! It changed my relationship 180°. Thank you said so much! I’ve already shared your link with my family and friends! I think every parent needs to read this!

Nikki Olson

Kelly C.

Oh my goodness. I needed this so much. I stumbled upon another post of yours on Pinterest, and it lead me here. My 2 year is soooo strong willed. This had me in tears because finally someone gets it! Without wanting to admit it… I needed some help. Thank you so much for putting this out there.

Kelly C.

Jayne

I am so glad I came across your blog. This really opened my eyes as to why my nearly 2 year-old son will not listen. I was reaching my limit with him not listening, and the techniques you share here are exactly what I need.

Jayne

Dayna T.

A quick thank you while my 15 month old son is sleeping. So glad I found you on my motherhood journey.  After 17 years of being childless (but envisioning a future life with a calm and peaceful soul), I gave birth at 43 to a larger-than-life, highly spirited, vocal baby whom I couldn’t relate to. Everyday has been a challenge to meet his ever increasing needs.  Your guidance has helped organize me and prepare me mentally more than any other blog or support group, thank you.

Dayna T.
Back to Top