Family travel is no joke. Especially with babies and/or toddlers. Now I could go on and on for days about what I’ve researched and what I’ve found works the best through successes or mistakes of my own.
But if you don’t have that kind of time on your hands, then here goes my top 3 suggestions for making travel more enjoyable and less stressful when you are towing along the wee ones. Follow these tips for some fun times ahead (like me and my buddy in Zion in the picture above).
#1) Time is not on your side.
Give yourself plenty of extra time, for EVERYTHING. And then more time on top of that. Travel takes longer with kids – getting them ready, bathroom breaks, feedings, diaper changes, loading and unloading, packing luggage, etc. When you are traveling, it all adds up, and it can feel like it is all slowing you down as well.
When you feel like you are on a time crunch, you just feel stressed, anxious, and impatient. You are more likely to forget things. Get on the wrong train. Bicker or blame one another. Or even worse, take it out on the innocent kiddos. You don’t want to get to that point, because those kids at some point will test your patience.
But the trips where we allowed ourselves puh-lenty of extra time, we were much more relaxed, patient with each other and the kids, working together. Things went much more smoothly.
So whenever there is a time commitment or schedule (like a flight reservation), leave much earlier than you think you should. Having a few extra minutes in the airport is never a bad thing because you can eat, get organized, settled, use the bathroom, change diapers, and most importantly – let the little rascals burn off some energy before having to sit for hours.
#2) Pack light. Pack right.
In terms of extra time, the same goes for packing before the trip. It always takes me much longer than I anticipate. There is so much to bring and organize. You aren’t just packing those days – you are doing everything else you typically do to take care of the house and kids. So it will take much longer. I know it sounds like common sense but it took me a few failed attempts to realize it. Do as much as you can 2 weeks in advance, then more last minute things 3 days in advance, saving the day before you leave for final laundry items, fresh food packing, and other to-do’s that have to be last minute. Sign up below if you want me to email you my helpful packing lists.
Pack in an organized manner, because things are bound to get messy as you travel. Consider packing cubes if you think that will help. I’d personally rather not mess with them.
The times that I packed very light, it felt so much easier to travel. There was less to keep track of and organized, especially if you are flying or going to multiple stops. For a door-to-door road trip, it’s not as crucial.
#3) Size matters.
The more space you have, the more relaxed you will feel, especially for a longer trip. Otherwise you may start to feel on top of each other.
This goes for the rental car and/or your own car. We recently got a Toyota Tundra because it is so much roomier than our old Explorer. It makes for a much more enjoyable road trip!
Same goes for wherever you choose to stay, whether it be a hotel room, suite, or apartment. Opt for a bigger room whenever possible (at least >350 square feet). Or better yet, one with a separate living space, kitchenette, and/or bedroom. You all will sleep better, for naps and at night. And it’d be nice to enjoy some vacation time with your partner after the little ones are asleep, without the worry of keeping them up.
If you do want more in-depth travel tips, read my 15 Secrets to Traveling With a Baby or Toddler.
