13 Tips for Smoother Travel with Babies and Toddlers
Summer is officially here and already going by too quickly. The world also finally feels like it is officially open for business (thank you endless pandemic) This might just be the perfect time for finally planning that trip you’ve been craving or getting out to see family you have missed over the recent years.
There is just one (or two) small hesitations left. Travel with littles. Yikes! The thought of travel with a baby or a toddler is enough to put most folks off the whole idea. Word of advice.
Take the trip!
I promise you it will be worth it. And you know what? Traveling with your baby doesn’t have to be scary. Follow these practical tips for easier travel. Here’s to smooth sailing!
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1. Expectations:
Expectations are everything! Seriously. Your expectations set the tone and are also the cause of your stress. Make sure your expectations are realistic, things aren’t going to go perfectly and that is OK. Also make sure you aren’t living in dread about the trip either.
Expect the worst. Be prepared for the shit show. Prepared being the key word here. Expect that there will be crying at times, there might be a meltdown. And know that you are doing the best you can, that your baby and toddler is human and have confidence that implementing these tips will make things smoother (although not perfect) and that will help remove the dread part.
2. Don’t sleep train
Travel and the ease of travel is maybe my top reason for loving NOT sleep training my babies! OK maybe my top reason is because it just feels right to snuggle my babies to sleep. But I have heard and seen real nightmares of little ones not being able to sleep on the go or in “new” environments because they have become so conditioned to sleep in a specific set up.
There is real peace and ease that comes from knowing your baby or toddler can nap when they need to in your arms, a carrier or stroller. Read here for tips on supporting your baby to sleep. If you have already conditioned your baby to only sleep in a particular environment you may want to practice napping elsewhere before you take your trip.
3. If you can schedule a portion during sleep or nap do it!
While I love the idea of having flexibility in your routine, your baby or toddler will very likely have established their own rhythm or flow for sleeping. Go with that and use it to your advantage on longer trips. If you can plan a portion of the trip during a time they are sleeping, do it! It is always easier to travel with a sleeping baby.
This might look like starting your drive around bedtime so they can sleep most of the way in the car. I personally don’t love driving at night but will plan my day prior accordingly so I can do it safely and knowing they will be able to play when we arrive at our destination. This might also look like a late morning or afternoon flight to coordinate take off with nap time.
If you are worried about getting them off their routine know that they can still get quality sleep on the go (especially if they are used to falling asleep in other places outside of their bedroom) and also know that they will be able to get right back to their routine or rhythm within a day or two.
4. Follow Their Routine but Be Flexible
This goes hand in hand with nap time and feeding schedules. This is one of the reasons I speak to rhythms over routines often. If you already have some built in flexibility in your day it will make travel a bit easier (and every other day in my opinion.) You want to be mindful of when they will be going down for a nap or bedtime and help them get there as needed. You also want to make sure you are keeping meal times in mind and what you will be eating when you are on the go.
On our most recent trip my daughter, who is almost 2 has been weaned from breastfeeding during the day, was having a hard time falling back to sleep on our very early flight out. Typically we just nurse to bed now and occasionally during the night. It was 5AM and she clearly wanted and needed to go back to sleep, typically I would not be breastfeeding her at 5 anymore as she usually wakes up between 6-7AM. However here is where flexibility comes in. To get her back to sleep as she was thrown off I needed to nurse her again. It made for a much smoother flight as she slept the rest of the way. Don’t worry she was back on her typical routine the next day.
5. When Traveling with Baby or Toddler Make Sure to Bring all the Snacks
This might be my number one parenting tip of all times for all situations! Never leave home without a variety of snacks you know your kid will eat. A hungry belly is a cranky belly (at least in my family where hanger is a very real thing!)
Snacks can also be a good distraction and keep them busy depending on what you bring. Peeling an orange or hard boiled egg is a great activity and a yummy snack. Have a variety of their favorite go to’s as well as some snacks they don’t have regularly. Novelty can go a long way with a toddler.
6. Novelty toys
Speaking of novelty. Bring new toys or toys they don’t play with all the time. New things are exciting and exploratory. A new toy can hold your little ones attention for a lot longer than a familiar one. New toys do not need to be expensive. It can be a new mess free color book or a new paint with water book. Don’t complicate it, if your toddler loves Hot w]Wheels a new Hot Wheels car can from the grocery story might be perfect. If a new toy isn’t in your budget then just take something out of rotation until the trip.
For long car trips and plane rides I pack a little backpack full of toys and books and make sure there is at least one new thing in there. Bonus: have your toddler help you pack the bag ahead of time. This brings added excitement for the trip and the toys that they brought.
7. Sensory toys for the win
Sensory toys can be pure magic with keeping little ones quiet. The Cleveland Clinic talks about sensory toys having a calming effect and helping your little one learn to be more flexible. Both traits are exactly what you are looking for in a little traveler. Plus there are a ton more benefits such as improving proprioception and fine motor, learning cause and affect and you can find a good variety that pack up nicely on the go.
Here are a few of my favorites:
A quiet book or busy board
Wax Sticks (seriously the best thing ever, I think my husband had more fun then the kids)
These amazing suction cup crinkle toys. Stick them to the window or seat tray in front of you
A variety of fidget toys including this slug
And of course for your real little one a sensory book is always a good choice
8. For Smoother Travel Bring Your Babies Comfort Item
There are a few things not to leave home without when you have a baby or a toddler and their comfort item is top of the list. Whether it is a specific pacifier, blanket or cuddly toy make sure it comes with you on the trip. This one is worth a double check!
9. Rules for screen time can go out the window
OK, maybe rules in general can go out the window while you are traveling. Travel days are not the norm, they aren’t your typical day and yes they can be treated as such. No it will not make your toddler think they can watch movies all day everyday or have pretzels for breakfast just because they did this one time on the way to visit grandma a few states away. To make screen time more manageable for everyone consider these headphones designed for 1-7 year olds. They are volume controlled, soft, flexible and CUTE! Not everyone on the flight needs to hear Bluey or heaven forbid Cocomelon!
10. Gate Check Your Gear
Gate checking your baby gear can make for a smoother airport transition. You can gate check strollers, car seats and large carriers like the Osprey Poco. Having these items with you can make getting to and from your gate a lot easier. You can also check these items free of charge with your checked luggage.
11. Plan Extra Time When Traveling with Baby or Toddler:
You will need extra time so plan ahead for it so you don’t feel frazzled.
You can bring breastmilk, sealed formula and toddler drinks such as PediaSure through security but they will need to be scanned and that can take extra time.
If you are driving you will want to accommodate for potty breaks and simply time to stretch your legs. If you are driving during the day when your little one is mostly awake it can be a really long day seated in their car seat. Rather than eating in the car (also for safety reasons with baby eating in the car) make sure you add time in to eat outside. Depending on the length of the trip planning 20 minutes at a playground or an hour at a new museum can make for a more enjoyable adventure. These little breaks may add some time but can be a huge relief for you and you little traveler.
12. Control your Energy when Traveling with Baby or Toddler:
Like it or not, parenting often comes back to us and the state that we are in. Are babies and toddlers feed off of our energy. If you are anxious about the trip your baby will pick up on it and often act due to feeling anxious or worried. Planning ahead, resetting your expectations and working on calming your nervous system through deep breathing or journaling leading up to the trip can be really helpful.
Try some box breathing during the trip to calm and reset yourself. To box breathe it is equal counts for the inhale, the pause, the exhale and the pause think 4-6 seconds for each phase.
13. The Best Tip When Traveling. Don’t Apologize for Your Baby
Yup, you heard me right. Possibly the best tip I can give you is to not apologize for your baby or toddler. Yes, they might cry, they might have a hard time here and there throughout the journey but you do not need to feel bad or guilty about that.
They are human! Babies and toddlers are a huge (and vital) part of our society and deserve to be treated as such. You and your baby have every right to be traveling to where you need (or want) to go. Be confident in this and confident that you both are doing the best you can with what you have at this time.
No need for bringing goodie bags or ear plugs for passengers around you, you have enough to bring as it is and THEY are adults, if they are bothered by noise then they need to bring ear plugs for themselves! Same goes if you are driving and worried about having a “cranky” baby in a rest stop.
Take some deep breathes, prepare what you can and GO FOR IT! You got this mama!
Thank you for sharing!
