Travelling with Toddlers: What You Need to Know Before You Go
- The Less Travelled Path
- Apr 8, 2024
- 8 min read
Travelling with toddlers can be an exciting and rewarding experience for the whole family. It allows you to create lasting memories and expose your little ones to new cultures and experiences. However, it also comes with its own set of unique challenges. In this article, we will provide valuable tips and essential information that every parent should know before embarking on a journey with their toddlers.
Family travel is not just about ticking off destinations from your bucket list; it's about building strong bonds and creating shared experiences. Whether you're planning a vacation or visiting relatives, travelling with toddlers requires careful planning and preparation to ensure a smooth and enjoyable trip for everyone involved.
Here are some key points we will discuss in this article:
Choosing the Right Destinations and Accommodations: Researching and selecting destinations that offer suitable attractions and amenities for families with toddlers is crucial. We will explore how to consider factors like safety measures, available facilities (e.g., playgrounds, swimming pools with shallow areas), and room configurations when choosing accommodations for your stay.
Essential Items to Pack for Smooth Travels: Packing wisely is essential when travelling with toddlers. We will recommend must-have items such as a lightweight and compact travel stroller, comfort objects from home, snacks, and toys to keep them entertained during the journey.
Overcoming Common Travel Challenges with Toddlers: We will provide practical tips for preventing and managing motion sickness in young children during different modes of transportation. Additionally, we'll suggest strategies to help minimize the impact of jet lag on your toddler's sleep schedule and overall well-being.
Making the Journey Enjoyable through Fun Activities and Games: Long journeys can be challenging for toddlers, but they can also be an opportunity for fun and learning. We will share creative ideas for portable and mess-free crafts that toddlers can engage in while en route to their destination. We'll also recommend interactive games or songs that not only entertain them but also have educational value.
Embracing Flexibility and Taking Breaks to Rest: Travelling with toddlers requires flexibility and allowing time for rest. We will explain the need for flexible schedules and suggest ways to incorporate their naptime or bedtime routines, even when away from home.
By following these tips and being well-prepared, you can make travelling with toddlers a joyful and memorable experience. So, let's dive in and discover how to overcome the challenges and embrace the joys of family travel!
1. Choosing the Right Destinations and Accommodations
When traveling with toddlers, it's crucial to carefully choose your destinations and accommodations to ensure a smooth and enjoyable experience for the whole family. Here are some essential tips for making the right choices:
Researching Family-Friendly Destinations
Look for destinations that cater to families with young children. Consider attractions and amenities that are suitable for toddlers, such as parks, interactive museums, or child-friendly restaurants. Ensure that the destination offers a safe and welcoming environment for families.
Considering Toddler-Friendly Accommodations
When selecting accommodations, prioritize safety measures and facilities that are toddler-friendly. Look for hotels or rental properties with features like playgrounds, shallow swimming pools, or play areas specifically designed for young children. Additionally, consider room configurations that provide separate sleeping spaces or cribs to accommodate your toddler's needs.
By carefully researching and selecting family-friendly destinations and toddler-friendly accommodations, you can create a travel itinerary that caters to your toddler's needs while also providing an enriching experience for the entire family.
2. Essential Items to Pack for Smooth Travels
When you're traveling with toddlers, it's important to pack the right things to make your trip go smoothly. Here are some essential items that you should include in your packing list:
1. Travel Stroller
A lightweight and compact travel stroller is a must-have item for getting around easily with your toddler. Whether you're navigating busy airports, crowded streets, or tourist attractions, having a stroller that is easy to fold and carry will make your life so much easier. Look for one that is sturdy enough to provide comfort for your little one but also convenient for you to handle.
Here is our favorite, it weighs in at only 12 pounds and is extremely easy to maneuver around and fold up:
2. Toddler Travel Essentials
It's always helpful to bring along some comfort objects from home to make your toddler feel secure during the journey. This could be their favorite blanket, stuffed animal, or any other item that they are attached to. These familiar things can provide a sense of security and help them adjust better to new environments.
Don't forget to pack some bedtime essentials as well if you'll be staying overnight somewhere. Having their own pajamas and a small night light can create a familiar sleep environment and make it easier for them to fall asleep in an unfamiliar place.
A game changer on one of our last trips where we room shared with our toddler and baby was this pop up black out tent for our toddler to sleep in. It created his own space that was black out and gave us privacy to watch shows or hang out in the room without waking anyone up. We researched several different ones and ended up buying this one as it was the best quality and had the best reviews.
We put a double mattress inside from the pullout couch, you could also use a cot if they are available.
If no extra mattresses are available, we also have one of these travel toddler beds that is amazing and easy to pack anywhere.
If there is an extra bed available for your toddler, you could also put the black out canopy tent over the bed and add some inflatable bed rails to keep them safe.
3. Health and Medical Items
When you're traveling with kids, it's better to be prepared for any health-related issues that may arise. Make sure to pack the following items in your travel kit:
Children's pain reliever/fever reducer
Adhesive bandages
Antiseptic wipes
Any necessary prescription medications
Having these basic medical supplies on hand can save you from unnecessary stress in case your child gets hurt or falls sick during the trip. It's also a good idea to carry a small first-aid kit with you for any unexpected minor injuries.
4. Entertainment for Kids
Let's face it, toddlers can get easily bored, especially during long journeys. To keep them entertained and occupied, make sure to pack some fun activities for them. Here are a few ideas:
Although we don't normally have a lot of screen time, we absolutely love the Amazon Fire Tablet. It has in depth parental controls and comes with a 1-year free subscription to amazon kid's content. On longer flights iPad time has been a must for our toddler to make it through as quietly and smoothly as possible
While watching their shows, playing games or listening to music/audiobooks they will need a good pair of headphones. We love the PowerLocus Kids Headphones, they come with their own carrying case, several different cords for different uses and safe volume limit.
When they are ready to put the screen down and do some coloring, we loved having this multi-use tray to color on, store water bottles, hold the iPad securely and keep all of their little things from flying around.
Our toddler has really enjoyed this busy board as well. There are several different pages to keep them busy and it uses great hand eye coordination skills as well as learning key concepts and matching.
Try to choose toys and activities that are interactive and engaging without being too noisy or disruptive to others around you.
By packing these essential items thoughtfully, you can help ensure that your toddler remains comfortable and content.
3. Overcoming Common Travel Challenges with Toddlers
Travelling with toddlers can present unique challenges, but with some practical tips and strategies, you can overcome common travel hurdles and ensure a smoother journey for both you and your little one. Here are some suggestions for managing motion sickness and minimizing the impact of jet lag:
Preventing and Managing Motion Sickness
Motion sickness can be a common issue for young children during different modes of transportation. To prevent or alleviate motion sickness in your toddler:
Ensure they have a light meal or snack before the journey, avoiding heavy or greasy foods.
Keep the vehicle well-ventilated and avoid strong smells that may trigger nausea.
Encourage your toddler to look out the window and focus on a fixed point in the distance.
Consider using acupressure wristbands or ginger candies, known for their anti-nausea properties.
If possible, choose seats that provide a smoother ride, such as over the wings in an airplane or towards the front in a train.
Minimizing the Impact of Jet Lag
Jet lag can disrupt your toddler's sleep schedule and overall well-being. To help them adjust more smoothly to the new time zone:
Gradually shift their sleep schedule a few days before departure, aligning it with the destination's time zone.
Keep them well-hydrated during the flight to help combat fatigue.
Encourage outdoor activities upon arrival to expose them to natural light, which helps regulate their internal body clock.
Stick to their usual sleep routine as much as possible, including naps and bedtime rituals.
Be patient and allow time for adaptation; it may take a few days for your toddler to fully adjust.
By implementing these tips, you can make your toddler's travel experience more comfortable and enjoyable. Remember that every child is different, so it's essential to tailor these suggestions to your toddler's specific needs and preferences. With proper preparation and a flexible mindset, you can navigate the challenges of travel with a toddler and create lasting memories along the way.
4. Embracing Flexibility and Taking Breaks to Rest
When you're traveling with a toddler, it's important to be flexible and make sure they have enough rest and comfort. Here are some tips to help you have a smoother trip:
1. Be Flexible with Your Schedule
Toddlers like having a routine, so try to include their naptime or bedtime routines in your travel plans. This might mean changing your schedule or being okay with unexpected things happening. Being flexible with your schedule will help your little one get the rest they need and reduce the chances of them getting really tired and upset.
2. Plan Regular Breaks
Long trips can be exhausting for toddlers, both physically and mentally. It's really important to plan breaks during your journey, especially if you're driving or taking long flights. You can stop at places that have things for kids to do, like playgrounds or play areas in airports. This way, your toddler can move around and burn off some energy. These breaks are not just for resting but also give your child a chance to explore new places and not spend too much time looking at screens.
If your toddler is potty trained it's great to bring a travel potty seat to have on hand wherever you go. This one is great as it has an extra splash guard at the front.
3. Make Sleeping Easier
Sleeping in a place that's unfamiliar can be hard for toddlers. To make it easier for them, bring things from home that they're used to sleeping with, like their favorite blanket or stuffed animal. You can also use portable blinds that block out light or small machines that make calming sounds to create a sleep-friendly space wherever you are.
We have brought travel black out blinds for spaces where our kids had their own room and didn't need the canopy black out tent.
4. Adjust Your Expectations
It's really important to change what you expect when you're traveling with a toddler. Understand that what they need might be more important than seeing all the sights or going to certain places. Be ready to go slower and have more time where you're not doing anything special. Remember, the trip itself can be an adventure, and what's most important is enjoying it with your little one.
By being flexible and making sure your toddler gets enough rest while you're traveling, you can have a better time and feel less stressed. Just remember that every child is different, so it might take some time to figure out what works best for your family. Stay patient, be ready for things to not go as planned, and enjoy the special moments along the way.
As far as packing goes, we would highly recommend getting some packing cubes for all of the little clothes, blankets and toys. It helps keep everything organized and easy to find.
Remember, the journey is just as important as the destination. So don't let the fear of traveling with a toddler hold you back from exploring new places and creating lasting memories as a family. With a little preparation, flexibility, and a whole lot of love, you'll be surprised at how smoothly your travels can go. So go ahead, pack those suitcases and embark on your next adventure together!
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