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Traveling with a toddler may be daunting, but don’t let that hold you back from making new trips! With a little preparation, flexibility, and travel tricks and tips, you can make the journey less stressful on you and your toddler. Traveling with a toddler may at times be challenging, but the experiences and memories are well worth it!.
I’ve been traveling with my daughter since she was born. Her first trip was a 6.5-hour road trip to our family lake cabin when she was three weeks old. She slept the whole time, so we thought that traveling with an infant was easy! A few months later, and we took her on an 8-hour road trip to visit family. The trip there was without incident, but she cried the entire way home, so we wondered if we would ever be able to travel with a toddler. Since most of our family lives six hours away, we had to figure out how to make road trips enjoyable for all of us. After some time, we have developed a system that is working for us. My daughter and I have now crossed the state dozens of times—just the two of us and our big dog! We’ve also traveled internationally and completed a trans-Atlantic flight with great success.
For me, the memories and experiences we make along the way are what make all the stressful and wild moments in between totally worth it. I hope other parents agree about traveling with children, so I’m passing on my best travel tips and hacks to help empower you to tackle your next adventure!
Traveling Tips for Young Children and Toddlers When Traveling
Tip #1: Bring the Right Snacks While Traveling with a Toddler
I never imagined I’d be a “snack parent,” but here I am! Snacks are absolutely essential when traveling by air with a toddler. A well-stocked snack bag can stave off meltdowns and entertain your toddler on lengthy flights or road trips.
Snack Ideas for a Road Trip or Plane:
- Sliced fruit (apples, bananas, grapes)
- String cheese or cheese cubes
- Hummus and crackers
- Puffs or cereal for easy snacking
- Pretzel-shaped nut butter packets
- Granola bars
- Squeezable fruit pouches
- Popcorn (for older toddlers with good chewing ability)
- Small servings of mini sandwiches or wraps
Pro tip: Place a number of snacks in small containers or zippered pouches to avoid spills and messes.
Tip #2: Schedule Around Nap Time When Traveling by Air with a Toddler
When my daughter was a baby, we planned road trips during naps to get as much quiet travel as we could. Even now as a toddler, she knows that long car rides typically come with a nap included.
Helpful Hacks:
- Bring a warm blanket and pillow for extra comfort.
- Utilize a white noise machine or application if your child snoozes better with some ambient sound.
- Try a naptime or early morning departure to align with their natural sleeping routine.
- In case of air travel, attempt to book flights around nap or bedtimes.
Tip #3: Keep Children Occupied with Activities While Traveling with a Toddler
Long road trips or flights in automobiles or airplanes could be an eternity for young children. Keeping them occupied with fun activities is the key!
Activities for Car Trips:
- Sticker books
- Magnetic drawing boards
- Audio books or children’s podcasts
- Fidget toys or busy boards
- Window clings (for decorative car window fun!)
Activities for an Airplane:
- Post-it notes (one of my top airplane travel tips for kids!)
- Small coloring books and crayons
- Interactive tablet apps or educational games (pre-downloaded prior to class!)
- Reusable sticker books
- Small fidget toys or mini puzzles
- Threading lacing beads or cards
Pro tip: Wrap small new toys or books and present them every so often throughout the journey as a surprise to make things interesting!
Tip #4: Tablets as a Travel Lifesaver when Traveling with a Toddler
We restrict screen time at home, yet we do make a special case for traveling. The tablet is reserved for lengthy automobile trips as well as plane flights, so it’s that much more special. We have an older version of the Amazon Fire Tablet. My toddler is mesmerized when we bring it out, which makes those extended travel days so much easier!
Tablet Best Practices During Travel:
- Pre-download movies, TV shows, and games.
- Wear kid headphones so as not to disturb other passengers.
- Buy a durable tablet case to protect it from drops.
Tip #5: Pack Smart with a Traveling with Kids Checklist
A good packing list can help avoid last-minute haste. Here is a straightforward child travel checklist:
Traveling with Children Essentials:
- Diapers, wipes, and a portable changing pad
- Spare clothes for accidents
- A small first-aid kit (band-aids, baby Tylenol, etc.)
- Comfort object (pacifier, favorite blanket, or stuffed animal)
- Spill-proof snack cup and sippy cup
- Baby carrier or travel stroller (Read here: Best Baby Carrier for Active Moms)
- A wet bag for dirty clothes
- Packing cubes (Read this article: Stay Organized with Packing Cubes)
Pro Tip: For flying, I suggest a carry-on that has all the necessities within easy access.
Tip #6: Traveling Internationally with a Toddler
International travel with a tiny human takes a bit more preparation, but it’s totally doable—and so worth it!
International Travel Tips for Toddlers:
- Check Passport & Documents Ahead: Look over your toddler’s passport and check visa requirements for where you are going.
- Select a Family-Friendly Destination: Opt for locations with parks, open areas, and amenities suitable for children.
- Transition to Time Zone Differences Gradually: Where possible, transition your child’s sleep schedule a bit earlier a few days prior to travel to help ease jet lag.
- Pack Comfort Foods & Familiar Items: A favorite snack or comfort item can be comforting to an overwhelmed toddler in an unfamiliar place.
- Prepare for Long-Haul Flights: Pack additional activities, additional clothing, and prepare to walk up and down the aisles when your child becomes distressed.
- Embrace the Adventure: It will not always go according to plan, but travel is such a great way of exposing your child to different cultures, languages, and experiences!
Tip #7: Be Flexible & Accept the Madness of Traveling with a Toddler
The most crucial flying travel tip for flying with a toddler is to be flexible! Nothing will go exactly as planned. Your toddler might refuse to sleep, only eat packaged food, or be stuck to an electronic device all day long. And you know what? That’s alright! A single day off balance will not disrupt all your routines.
Final Words: Travel with Confidence!
Traveling with a toddler is difficult, yet extremely rewarding. The secret is preparation, patience, and realizing that everything might not go exactly as planned—but that is all part of the adventure! Whether you’re driving or flying, these children’s travel tips will help make your journey more enjoyable and simpler. I hope these tips and hacks encourage you to tackle your next vacation.
Do you have a favorite travel hack for children? Leave your best tips for toddler travel in the comments below! Happy travels!