I am the biggest believer in traveling with LO’s. I mean, that’s why I created this blog – to inspire other parents to face their traveling woes and show their kids the world. However. HOWEVER. I will also be the first to admit that it is not always easy.
Traveling can be stressful. Parenting can be stressful.
Put those two together and you could have one hell of a s*#! show.
But there is hope! Trust me. With some helpful tips, research and smart planning, trips with young children are not only do-able, but could be some of the best trips of your lifetime! I know ours have been.
These are just some of my secret tidbits to help make your baby/toddler travels a bit smoother:
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1. Don’t be a victim of mom-shaming.
Get comfortable with the idea itself of traveling with small children. The more you travel and read others’ stories about traveling, the easier that becomes.
Before my first flight with our son, I was so worried he wouldn’t do well that I was going to follow a blogger’s suggestion and create a little “care package” for the fellow passengers (with ear plugs, goodies, an apology note, and who knows what else). Then after reading another blogger’s take on the matter, I thought to myself, “I do not need to apologize for bringing my child on a plane.” It’s not the end of the world if they cry. I think some adults can be rude, loud or annoying when traveling, and they are able to control themselves, however a baby cannot. If your kid is kicking the seat in front of him or her, try to discipline or distract your child, apologize sincerely to the passenger, and maybe even offer to buy them a drink.
Do the best you can out there, but don’t beat yourself up if your kids are not perfect! You can’t make everyone happy. You deserve to travel just as much as the next person. Don’t be a victim of mom-shaming. You will be a happier traveler for it.
2. Go with the flow.
Try to be easy-going. You won’t always have control over circumstances. Do what is easiest for you as long as you aren’t outright offending anyone else. Sometimes a bathroom or changing table may be hard to find. But I’ve changed my son on more public benches than I can count.
On our first trip to Europe with our then 6 month old, we missed our first connecting flight to Rome because of a flight delay. To top things off, after the long day and a half of travelling across the world, our stroller did not arrive. We had to wait in line for an hour to try to track it down. We made it to the hotel very late that night. Our stroller didn’t arrive at our hotel until day 3. Good thing we didn’t need it in that ancient cobblestone city! The baby carrier was actually much more convenient for that leg of the trip.
Things will not go as planned. Flights will be delayed. Shuttles will show up without the car seat you ordered. The crib won’t be in the hotel room when you need it. Your trip may not be flawless. There will be hiccups. And that’s ok. Roll with it. That’s part of the adventure!
3. Set realistic expectations.
You may not get much sleep or rest on the plane. Maybe plan for the worst, expect not to sleep at all, and then be pleasantly surprised when you get 5-6 hours. Honestly on our >11 hour flights to Europe with my son, I was just happy that he was sleeping that I didn’t even care that I didn’t sleep much at all. I don’t sleep well without kids on the plane, so what’s the big deal? When I’m on a trip I have so much excitement and adrenaline that the lack of sleep doesn’t really phase me.
Set realistic expectations regarding sleep, what you’ll be able to do or see in a day, how your little ones will handle a new place. I have always been pleasantly surprised and encouraged with how well ours do. And if (or when?) they do have a tired meltdown in the middle of the airport, pull them aside, find a quick distraction, and cut them some slack for putting up with the traveling in the first place.
4. Fire up that Kids Fire Tablet
My utmost respect goes out to those parents who can go “screen-free” with their kids. But honestly, I just don’t have it in me, whether at home or miles from home. My son has actually learned so much from some awesome apps and videos. I thank “Blippi” and “Lucas” for helping to teach him his colors, shapes, numbers, and the entire alphabet by age 2! I’ve seen the 7″ Fire Kids Edition Tablet on Amazon for $59.99 when on sale, but really, priceless. Good for flights, train rides, road trips, restaurants, hotel rooms, bedtime stories, you name it.
The tablet has been a travel lifesaver, especially for toddler age, because it’s an easily portable toy and book in one that can easily go anywhere and provide some distraction when needed most. I also have a couple of educational shows and games downloaded on my phone and tablet as backup in case we forget his.
Don’t forget two things! Keep it charged or always have a charger readily available, and download a few games, apps, and shows to the actual device in case wi-fi isn’t available, as was the case on our most recent flight to Austin.
But, always have a few toys for backup. My son has gone through phases, especially now at 3 years old, where he would much rather play with small cars, trucks, or other toys.
5. Give yourself extra time.
And then more time on top of that. You may not be able to do as much in a day as you hope to.
When you have to be somewhere at a scheduled time, set a target departure time, and then leave at least 15 minutes before that. Just think – if it takes you 20 minutes to try to leave the house for a simple walk, how long do you think you’ll need for a trip to the train station in a foreign country?
I’ll never forget when our Uber ran late, then there was traffic, then the Uber had a fender bender, and, well, long story short, we were sprinting through the Paris train station. My husband with all our gear, and me holding my toddler in one arm and nearly knocking people over with a car seat on my other arm, both arms just burning and noodle-y. I didn’t think I’d make it. But I pulled through. We threw our stuff on the train and jumped on with not a second to spare. Good thing we can laugh about it now…
So remember – everything, especially travel, takes longer with kids. No matter how you slice it. Leave the house or hotel much earlier than you think you need to. You will be much more relaxed and less likely to forget anything if you aren’t on a time crunch.
6. Snacks, snacks, snacks. Kids love snacks.
I know, this one’s a no-brainer. But a good reminder that snacks can help keep the LO’s happy and kill some time if needed. One thing I’ve learned the hard way is if you are doing a long trip, bring or buy a good variety of snacks that you know your kiddos will like. My “go-to’s” are yogurt squeezes for some protein, applesauce squeezes, and peanut butter cracker packs.
Also, plan ahead for your first morning to have water, milk / formula, a breakfast snack ready to go the night before, in your hotel room. That will help hold them over until you get your bearings and can go down to the hotel breakfast buffet or hit up a coffee shop.
We arrived at our hotel room really late in Rome one night after flight delays. The next morning, our 6 month old woke early and snacked on his milk and little Italian biscuit cookies that the hotel had provided, thank goodness. It gave me a few minutes to run down to the buffet and grab a tray of food to bring up to the hubby and kiddo until we were all ready to head back down, sit down and enjoy a nice meal before heading out to explore all day.
If you have milk that needs refrigerating, ask the hotel ahead of time to provide a fridge in the room (be sure to tell them it’s for the baby!). If that fails to happen, then you can use the ice bucket if big enough or fill a sink with ice to chill your milk in.
7. Routine or no routine?
Every time I plan a long Europe trip (2.5-3 weeks), I am prepared to go back to the hotel room once or twice a day to make sure we don’t miss nap times. But actually, our little ones have been able to just nap in the stroller or carrier some days. We usually just go back to the room once in the afternoon, if that, mainly so we adults can get some real rest!!
If your little ones are used to routine, and you know that’s what works best for them, then by all means, stick to that routine and plan around it just as you would do at home.
When our oldest was <1 year he slept well in the carrier, (albeit hot and sweaty) while we frolicked around Rome and other awesome European cities. Those memories are just as unforgettable as the off and on lower back issues I now have from long days wearing an oversized 7 month old in a carrier. I didn’t feel it at the time because those endorphins were runnin’ wild! Be careful of your body with those carriers. I recommend only using them when the cobblestone or terrain is too rocky for a stroller, or if your baby is much happier that close to you.
We’ve also had great success with plenty of good, long naps with baby or toddler in our Summer Infant 3D Lite travel stroller. It reclines pretty close to flat so baby sleeps safe and sound. They are usually so tired from the hustle and bustle of traveling and being out that naps were easy-peasy in the stroller. We’ve had many peaceful “date-nights” out while the little one just slept quietly alongside the table.
We clip a blanket to the bottom of the overhead shade, let it hang in front of the baby to keep out some noise and light, and then keep a little peep hole on the side for airflow and check-ins. The trick was to not let our baby see us check on him, because that could excite him. Meaning… date over.
8. Set them up for a good ni-night.
Whether you stick to your routine or not, they will at some point need their sleep. So try to create the best sleeping environment when they need some catching up. I always bring my own crib sheet from home so they have the familiar touch and smell. You also never know what type of sheet you’ll get in the room, so it’s nice not to worry about it. My son has always slept good on vacations and I’ve always brought his sheet from home. So I’m not changin’ a thing!
To limit excitement and distractions, I clip a blanket to the outside of the side of the crib that is directly facing us. Careful not to do this once baby is old enough to be able to pull the blanket from the outside into the crib. If so, maybe clip it to something nearby as a blockade but not in arms’ reach. We can still easily check on the baby, but it keeps him from getting too excited being in the same room as mama and dada (especially if we are still awake). And when it comes to the room…
9. Size matters.
Unless you are used to living in tight corners with your whole gang, then I’d recommend booking a large room. Or cross your fingers, but don’t hold your breath, that you will be upgraded to a bigger space when they see that you need it!
This is especially important in big European cities where the hotel rooms tend to be the size of a cracker-jack-box.
I’ll never forget when I tried to save us some money on the last night of our trip in Paris, by booking a small room in a small “boutique” hotel. We had splurged on our rooms every night the 2 weeks before that, and I knew we would only be sleeping there and heading to the airport very early in the morning.
My husband refused to take the sketchy one-man elevator. So he sucked it up (and sucked it in) and squeezed the travel stroller and suitcases up the tall, narrow spiral staircase, no bigger than an airport bathroom stall – I kid you not. When he finally managed to barge through the hotel room door, he threw everything on the bed (because there wasn’t much available floor space) and the PG version of what he said was “What is this ‘Alice in Wonderland’ hotel!?!?”
If you can find a multi-room suite or an apartment type rental, that’s even better, especially if it has a kitchenette to store milk, heat up food and bottles, etc.
When we stay in a hotel, we book a room that is at least 300 square feet with one baby, and at least 350-400 square feet if you have more than one kiddo. We usually fork up the cash and splurge to get a suite or junior suite. It’s worth it. You don’t realize how much space your luggage, car seats if you have them, and crib will take up.
It will feel less stressful and more organized if you have more space to work with and you aren’t on top of each other. A balcony or terrace also helps to have a place to escape to outside, especially if enjoying some meals in. Just make sure your little ones are safe depending on the type of railing!
If you do get a 2nd bedroom or separate living space, consider bringing a small baby monitor for some peace of mind in unfamiliar surroundings.
Lastly, don’t skimp on rental car size. Although we have been lucky to get free upgrades, probably because they feel sorry for us. Once you pack all of your stuff in, you don’t want to feel like you are in a clown car. Now, speaking of limited space…
10. Pack early and light
Use a packing list and don’t wait until the night before an early flight to finish packing. It’s never fun staying up late and then wondering if you got everything covered.
Learn how to pack smart, bringing just what you need. The least amount of bags you have, the easier it will be to get from place to place, with less to keep track of. Your room and car will feel less cluttered and crowded too.
If taking a long trip, you can always bring your own travel size laundry detergent (whatever you typically use to avoid unwanted reactions) and wash clothes in the room, hit up a local laundromat, or scout and book hotels that have a self-launder setup. It’s easy to get in a load or two while the kiddos are napping.
Bring an extra set of clothes for them and YOURSELF for the plane. You never know what could end up on you. Ah!
11. Do a trial-run with your luggage.
Once you know what suitcases and bags you will need, create a game plan for how you will carry and load them (and the kids!) through every scenario necessary on your trip, whether it be from car to airport shuttle, then into the airport and through security, through train stations and onto trains, Uber/taxis, rental cars. And don’t assume there will be elevators – some train stations in Europe only have stairs.
I know it sounds silly and a bit obsessive, but I recommend actually practicing your plan to make sure you can carry it all safely while still looking after the little ones. Do it at least 2 weeks in advance in case you need to order something that will make it easier to manage everything.
There are a number of combinations you could do to carry everything through an airport, but here’s just one:
and roll the suitcase
12. Gear up.
The right travel equipment will make it easier to carry everything and keep your hands as free as possible, especially at an airport where you will need them most. Take the time to research and get what you need. From travel car seats and strollers, to cribs, suitcases, diaper bags, and more, having your fave travel essentials will make your trip easier.
What you get will depend on where you are going, whether you plan on checking luggage, using a stroller vs. carrier, etc. Our most recent favorites are a car seat travel backpack (that fit 2 carseats!) and a backpack duffle that my husband used as his suitcase.
Umm quick side note: When juggling luggage and little ones, suitcases with spinner wheels are easier to maneuver than the old-school standard wheels. Just a heads up, in case you are like me – the only two humans left that are using the old classic with two wheels.
If you aren’t sure what you need or where to start (if you don’t know what you don’t know, right?), read The Best Baby and Toddler Travel Gear and go from there.
13. Consider their ages.
Think about your kids’ ages and amount of luggage when picking modes of transportation and hotel locations. When you have infants or young toddlers, I’ve found that renting a car is easier than say hopping on and off public transportation, or reserving ubers or shuttles with carseats, etc. We’ve done trains in Europe and it was fine, but definitely more of a challenge loading and unloading everything, getting to seats, etc. With your own car, you aren’t on a schedule, which is less stressful. In your own private car, you won’t have to worry about disturbing anyone (anyone else, that is) if they get cranky.
Consider age when picking destinations. We like hiking and exploring major European cities while ours are babies and toddlers. I think it’s easier and more fun to gallivant around Rome with a 7 month old in a baby carrier versus say, a 5 year old, who might enjoy something more interactive at that age like Disneyworld or Atlantis Bahamas.
But if that doesn’t work with your bucket list, then go for it, and take that 5 year old to Rome! So many places are more kid-focused and kid-friendly now with plenty to offer. They could learn some of the language, take cooking classes, do a scavenger hunt, bike tour…the possibilities are endless.
14. Don’t underestimate them.
Kids, especially babies and toddlers, are more resilient and adaptable than you might think. And the earlier you can start them traveling I think the more adaptable they will be to those changing environments, altered schedules, crowded spaces, and new faces.
Every trip we’ve taken I’m actually surprised by how well it goes and how easy it becomes. Initially it was the anticipation and the unknown that was the scary part. Once you see that they (you!) can do it, you’ll be that much more confident and encouraged for the next trip.
15. Don’t underestimate yourself, and what you can do with them.
These days places are more kid-friendly, or at least kid-welcoming. If there is something you want to do – look into it and make it happen. Wine tasting in Tuscany. Antelope Canyon tours in Page, Arizona. Luge slides in Germany. Champagne at the top of the Eiffel Tower. Bike tour around Nice. Walking pub tour in London. Suspension bridges in Switzerland.
Of course we do plenty of fun kids activities also (hiking, train rides, parks, playgrounds, picnics, zoos, etc.). But just know that you can have some more “mature” fun as well and do what you really want to do.
In London with our 7-month old, we enjoyed elevated views of the city at the fancy Shard. We had a blast, baby included.
not too fancy for this little guy
Life is too short to wait until your kids are older to travel. Don’t take anything for granted. Get out there and explore while you can!
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