Navigating the Joys and Struggles of Traveling with Children!

Traveling with a toddler or little ones can feel really overwhelming. I know so many families who just opt to not go further than a couple hours drive for their holidays and vacations while their kids are so young. But for those who feel the itch to get back out seeing the world and who want to share it with their toddlers, I have some favorite advice just for you! Jude took his first international flight at 18ish months when we moved to England and has since seen three more countries with several more on the list for this year.

So we have been navigating the toddler traveler for a while and have learned a lot of lessons so you wont have to!

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1.

Travel before they turn 2

So I realize this one can’t really be helped but you save so much money by littles under two flying free. And if they are still small in size they offer a lot of great options on International airlines to allow you to lay baby down or in a bouncer while in flight. At 18 months Jude was able to fit right in their little bouncer chair and slept the full flight from USA to the UK pretty much. We also found under 2s have a lot more adaptability to travel changes, he could fall asleep in the baby carrier or stroller with ease so we didn’t have to plan every day around naps.

2.

Book Direct Flights

Sometimes this isn’t possible but if you can I would definitely recommend spending the extra cost for direct flights to your location. Or even a direct flight to a nearby spot spend a day or two there before flying direct to your final destination. Layovers are very challenging for toddlers and open you up for more potential flight delays and travel disruptions so we prefer to avoid them whenever possible.

3.

Pack Light

If this is your first flight internationally with a toddler you may be tempted to pack everything! But packing light is the key to having a stress-free adventure. Whenever we can we take only carry-ons or pack together in one checked bag. Thankfully all baby equipment like strollers and car seats can be stored for free under the plane so you don’t have to wait in the checked bag lane or pay the extra cost.

Before booking your accommodations reach out to the hotel or Airbnb to find out what they offer in terms of crib/cot or even high chair. We have been blown away by some of our family-friendly Airbnbs because they include ALL the things you need so you don’t have to travel with them. Some have had children’s dishes, toys, and even pack&plays.

4.

Carry on all the necessities

While packing light is essential bringing all the necessities for survival on the plane ride is also important. We usually pack one bag completely dedicated to Jude’s must-haves. This usually includes LOTS and LOTS of snacks and changing supplies. Since Jude has gotten a bit older (almost 3) he also loses interest pretty quick on flights and wants to run around so we’ve recently started bringing a bag of brand new toys to reveal throughout the travel and trip. I highly recommend the Sensory boxes on Amazon that are full of little things that give Jude at least 10-15 minutes of fun and usually deescalate any tantrums from exploding. We also use my Ipad when needed to keep him focused on a movie or show. If we are really planning ahead we will go several days without screentime prior to the trip so that having a movie on feels like a new treat once we are on the long flight. Lots of families also invest in the kid tablets so they can save both games and shows offline, we haven’t gotten there yet but could be a great way to keep little ones entertained on a long international flight.

5.

Recreate a sleep routine

One of the biggest reasons young families avoid travel is the fear of throwing off a little one’s routine. I am so with you! Sleep for us is crucial and giving Jude a sense of normal during our adventures is one of our highest priorities. Of course, this has become harder as he has gotten older and wiser! He gets mostly excited to be in a new place and rarely wants to fall asleep when there is so much to explore. I remember the early days being able to nurse, swaddle and lay him down in any crib/cot but now as a 2+ yr old, he has his own opinions about his sleep routine. For us, that means listening to him bang around in his new space for a while before passing out or having to lay down with him until he feels comfortable in a new place. For those that cosleep or can easily share a bed with their toddler, it can be even easier for you to travel.

Some of the ways we maintain routine are;

Blackout Curtains: They now sell travel curtains with suction cups that go straight on the windows. We like to make the room super dark so it’s as close to home as possible.
Travel Sound Machine: Jude has always loved white noise so this helps bring familiarity to his sleep space wherever we are.
Book accommodations with a separate room or large closet: Jude literally would never sleep if we tried to co-sleep on vacation. So we usually have to set him up in a second bedroom or large closet. He really doesn’t need much space and we prefer it small and contained as much as possible. We usually book an Airbnb or try to book a hotel where at least a pack and play fits in the bathroom (but that’s for a very limited trip usually one night)
Allow for the first days of our trip to be settling in days: We don’t plan to do much those first days while Jude settles in and we adjust to the jet lag. Sometimes things work perfectly and Jude is ready to rock while other trips take a full 48 hours to feel safe.

6.

Bring the good stroller

Some people swear by the umbrella strollers for ease but our Jogger Stroller has sort of become a “can’t live without” item for us. The durable wheels and easy-to-fold nature of it make it way more long-lasting for a family who does a lot of travel like we do. It’s also saved us money from buying an extra travel stroller that we only use on trips. We use our jogger for everything and it’s going on almost 3 years of non stop use at this point!

7.

Stay longer in one place

When possible stay long chunks in the same place. Before having a kid we used to hop around while we traveled, every couple of nights in a new city or country. But over the years and many trips, we have learned that having a home base is far more enjoyable while traveling with a little one. We’d rather take a long day trip and skip one nap than start our whole sleep routine over every few days. Of course, this does limit you on how much you can see of one country but it also opens you open to staying somewhere off the beaten path that may be in between two great cities. While in Portugal we found a small mountain village called Silves to make our home that was about 1 hour from everything in the Algarve. While in Italy we chose Florence as our base so we can easily take day trips to Rome, The coast, and Tuscany.

8.

Schedule energy release time

This is something we are still learning as Jude gets older. Some days just getting out is enough to exhaust our toddler while other days we really need to set aside an hour to run around in the park or throw rocks into the sea. We try to book accommodations that have their own garden or yard as well so there is space for him to play even when we are relaxing at our home base. A favorite trick we use is doing an hour of running and playing at a local park, nature hike, or child-focused activity right before going out for a nice dinner. It makes him a lot calmer and hungrier for a good meal just like us!

9.

Just do it!

I know it can feel overwhelming! And you may be reading this and thinking, my kid/s just won’t be able to handle this! But here is the thing, YOU CAN! Take the leap and book the trip, the more often you do it the more adaptable your little one will become. Of course, there are some places that should be saved for adult travel but so much of the world is family-friendly. I would say most of the world is much more family-friendly than the US even! In our travels around Europe, we have found so many family-focused accommodations and bonuses including; fast lanes for check-in and security at the airport in most EU countries, accommodations with everything you need to stay with a child, in Amsterdam we even found baby sleep rooms in the airport for long layovers that were amazing and free, and just an overall joy and acceptance of having children around.