Summer is here - the season for vacation fun. But with skyrocketing gas prices and airlines cutting back on flights, getting from here to there is not going to be easy. And if you're traveling with young children, that presents its own challenges. Consumer Reports has some safety tips to ensure smooth sailing for the whole family.

Samantha Boege recently traveled to Costa Rica with her three daughters. It was a great trip. But getting there was another story.

"It's hard," said Boege. "You're going on this once-in-a-lifetime trip to this beautiful place and you should be so excited, and instead I'm just panicked and I'm overwhelmed."

If you're traveling with your kids via plane, train, or automobile, Jamie Schaefer-Wilson, author of "Consumer Reports Guide to Childproofing and Safety," has some tips to make your trip go more smoothly.

First, make sure you take a stroller that's lightweight.

"And don't overload it," said Schaefer-Wilson. "A lot of parents like to put everything in the stroller, put things on the handle, but that could cause it to tip."

When flying, be aware the safest place for your child is not in your lap, but in a child safety seat.

"If you're traveling on a plane, you have to remember that it should be certified for airline use," Schaefer-Wilson said. "Check the labels of your seat. It should say this."

Also important: Be sure to put the child seat next to the window. That's to avoid blocking an emergency escape. And don't forget to pack healthy food and snacks for your child, since you can't be sure what you'll get on board.

When traveling by car, you want to give your little ones soft toys to play with. Hard toys can actually be a danger in an accident.

And another caution: "Something like a sun shade that has a metal bar in it could dislodge in a crash and could injure or harm your child," said Schaefer-Wilson.

Being well-prepared will mean you and your kids can travel safely - and the trip will be a lot more enjoyable.

If you've ever had an inconsolable child crying in the backseat, you know how difficult that can be. But Consumer Reports says resist the urge to hold a child in your lap - that could spell disaster. Instead, pull over. Then it's safe to remove a child from a car seat to console him or her.

You can find more free information on child safety seats, including the latest test results, by clicking here.

(Note: This report is based on the book "Consumer Reports Guide to Childproofing and Safety," by Jamie Schaefer-Wilson and the editors of Consumer Reports, which is on sale now.)