The most memorable family vacation photos rarely happen when everyone is clean, rested, and smiling on command.

If you are the parent of a toddler, preschooler, or baby, you have a temporary superpower that expires the minute your oldest child enrolls in kindergarten: You do not answer to a school calendar.

Before impulse purchases clutter your luggage or kid’s bedroom, check out these tips. Having a strategy can turn souvenir hunting from an exhausting battle of wills into a cherished travel tradition.