The ultimate guide to traveling with toddlers
Coming from someone who has done it over 30 times with a two year old.
One of the top reasons people cite for not wanting to have kids is to maintain personal independence. If you dig more deeply into that, I’m sure you’ll hear the desire to travel freely come up again and again. My husband and I spoke about not wanting to fall into the cliché of parents who felt stuck with their kid, little did I know, traveling was about to become a non-negotiable in our lives and we were going to get a crash course in traveling with a baby.
Since having Zaia, it’s not an exaggeration to say I’m on a plane just about every month, if not every other, most times with Z in tow. If I had to guess, I’d say she’s probably been on over 30 flights and she’s not even 2 1/2.
The best flight I ever took with Zaia, she was four months old. After that experience I will absolutely recommend flying with a baby. It took a whole two years after that for us to actually have another smooth flight again. While all babies are different, I feel like the moment kids are mobile, trying to glue them to your lap/seat is impossible and since Zaia started walking at 11 months, the last thing she wanted to do was be pinned down. Unlike many kids, my daughter also refuses to sleep on the go, so no matter how many times I’d strategically plan a flight for her nap time, she’d basically flip me off and do her own thing (or that’s what it felt like). Yes, traveling with a toddler on a plane is a whole different ballgame.
So if I’m keeping it real with you, if your child is little, being breast/bottle fed and happy chilling in your arms, take the flight! If your child easily naps on the go, take the flight! If your child is under two and likes to wrestle you the minute you try to put them in their seat, say a prayer, pack all the patience you can find, and take the flight! Because even on my worst flight days (and I’ve had quite a few of those), I’ve never regretting taking the trip.
Armed with the knowledge that its pretty much always a crap shoot when you go flying with your baby/toddler, I’m still encouraging parents to take the trip. Missing out on the places and people I love is really not an option for me and if you feel the same, but are overwhelmed at the very idea of family travel, I got you. As much as I try to steer away from overconsumption culture, there are still things I just think we need/make our lives absolutely easier. So here is the most comprehensive list I can think of for what I find helpful when traveling with our little one. I’m not going to say this is going to guarantee anything stress-free, (because hello, kids), but it’s the travel gear that will hold you down. I’ve broken it down into two categories: Getting There & Your Stay since you have to think about both, separately. If you want me to share my packing list, let me know and I’ll provide that in another post.
GETTING THERE! ✈️🚘
Collapsible stroller: This is a non-negotiable IMO. Even if my daughter doesn’t want to sit in the stroller, at least it holds all our stuff. I have the Yoyo Babyzen stroller and LOVE it. But there are also more affordable options that have great reviews. Look for ones that can fit in the overhead bin on a plane and can handle different kinds of street conditions. You’ll regret getting an inexpensive one if it also has poor quality wheels and doesn’t maneuver easily, especially if you plan to do a lot of walking at your destination. The Doona is great but really only worked with us till my daughter was 12 months. After that it was too small. (If you decide to bring your regular stroller, beware that it will not get handled with care so you might want to get a bag for it or something.)
Travel car seat: It is never a requirement for your child to sit in a car seat on a plane. In fact, under two, your kid sits on your lap for free. But if your child is in that super mobile, don’t hold me down stage, and you can swing it, I’d recommend buying them a seat and putting them in the car seat. Since they’re used to being in a car seat they may be more comfortable and chill. I bring a car seat with me because I know I’ll need it at my future destination for Zaia. There are two I recommend. The Cosco Might Fit 65 or the WAYB Pico Portable Car Seat. Don’t worry about the bulk of the Cosco one because I found it can secure to a stroller with either a luggage strap or bungee cord. The WAYB one is obviously very pricey, but the portable nature makes it preferred for a trip where you may be using multiple cars.
@heyjessmolinaAfter more than 20 airport visits, this was our smoothest travel day. No extra bulk, a happy, calm toddler and items we were able to easily able to move from plane to car. I feel like i hit some type of motherhood lotto with this one. #toddlertravelhacks #travelingwithtoddlers #strollerhack #flyingwithkids #toddlertravel
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Enable 3rd party cookies or use another browserChange of clothes: Obviously pack your kids extra clothes in case they have a blowout or potty accident, but I’d also suggest bringing an extra shirt for you. After one flight where my daughter threw up on me, I really wish I’d had a shirt change so I didn’t have to smell like vomit for the next few hours.
Loaded iPad: Parents, travel day is the not the day to worry about screen time. That little tablet will be your best friend. I originally bought an Amazon Fire Tablet and hated it. It was so hard to navigate especially because it’s really not compatible with YouTube where I download the three hour long versions of Daniel Tiger and Mickey Mouse. Instead I got her a refurbished iPad from Best Buy and a thick protective cover. Before flight day remember to download all the shows and movies and charge it up so you’re good to go. The tablet has absolutely proven most effective in keeping my daughter entertained on a plane. Pro tip: have them test out the headphones before the flight so they get used to the sensation.
Snacks: When you think you’ve packed enough snacks, pack more. This is also the time to let your kid eat that “special” treat – the item they never get, but always want. In Zaia’s case it’s Doritos – and a small bag can keep her quiet for about 25 minutes.
A girl in her happy place = mami in her happy place. Stroller Hook: OMGOMGOMG - if there’s one thing I’m going to urge you to get, it is these $17 hooks for the stroller. I don’t know what kind of velcro these are made out of, but they are so strong and literally hold everything. I hook bags to it and our portable carseat and it’s never buckled under the weight. Just make sure your child is sitting or there’s a weight in the seat to counterbalance the added weight on the stroller or it’ll tip over.
Activities: I got a lot of questions about activities for the flight and honestly, now that a show can hold Zaia’s attention, I’m fine with her zoning out on the iPad. But for the sake of being helpful, here are things I would recommend if your child is in the pre-screentime era. (Side note: I know all we hear about is how screen time is destroying our children, but I promise, giving yourself grace and giving your kid a tablet for the day will save both your sanity.)
For kids 3-10 months: bring a couple Indestructible books. I don’t know how they did it but these really can’t be destroyed. Bring them to read but most importantly so your child can munch on them and fling them around without hurting themselves or you. You can also pack other sensory toys, like a spinning fidget with pop sockets or a pull string activity.
For kids 11 months - older: You can bring coloring books and crayons. I love these No Mess markers. Also, Zaia is obsessed with stickers so as long as there are a bunch of those, she’s happy. We particularly enjoy using these sticker face books which give her a chance to learn more about the parts of a face and different animals. If your kid is older and can get into a puzzle, consider one of those as an option as well.
Their Stuffy: We bring along her Minnie stuffy which I think helps for when she needs a cuddle or feels overwhelmed going through the airport. (Make sure you wash any stuffed animal after a trip because they will end up on all sorts of floors).
Wear Sneakers: If that child can walk it will absolutely be walking/running through the airport. My daughter has decided she is trying to go for the Gold and had me sprinting in our last airport run. Some dude was literally like, “do you want me to catch her?” as I ran after her with the stroller. Trust me, sneakers will be your best bet.
YOUR STAY: 🏝️⛺️🏠
Slumberpod: You can tell I’m a first-time mom to an only child because my bougie daughter has gotten used to sleeping in the bat cave, AKA, a room with blackout curtains and a sound machine. To replicate this environment, I bring the Slumberpod with us everywhere. Once she’s asleep I can move about the room without her seeing the lights and my every movement. It’s a gamechanger.
Portable Sound Machine: This one is great for their room and can hook to your stroller.
Beach/pool toys: The first few times we ended up in a beach/pool environment, I showed up empty handed thinking my daughter was going to just be satisfied hopping over waves or splashing in a big pool. No, she was not. Other kids had toys and she wanted them. Now I don’t go empty-handed. I pack a silicone sand set and some toys for her to throw around in the pool. This last trip I learned about the magic of inflatables, because even though she doesn’t use them to swim, a family kindly shared a rainbow floaty with Zaia and she was in heaven. The beauty is they take up basically no packing space so you know I will be adding those to my list.
Swim lessons: This is not something you can “bring” but it is absolutely the best thing you can “do” for you and your family. We have a pool so we started Zaia in swim lessons at around 16 months and now she pretty much swims independently. Yes we are always in arms-reach of her, but she knows how to swim, float, and safely jump – it’s really incredible to watch. The peace of mind you’ll have as a parent not worrying every second is priceless and watching them express their independence while safely navigating a pool is a real source of pride. I HIGHLY recommend you put your kid in swim classes ASAP and by next summer you’ll be enjoying water activities so much more.
Snacks: (Yes, more snacks) If you’re at an AirBnB you’ll probably do some type of shopping, but if you’re at a hotel, bring extra of your kids favorites so you’re not dropping $8 every time you need to give them a bag of chips to hold them over through dinner time. Pulling out a bag of gold fish has saved my life multiple times.
I had someone ask me for a tip on packing light and in truth, kids require a lot of things. But there are some ways you can lighten the load. Think about where you’re staying and if you’ll have access to a washer/dryer so you don’t overpack on clothes. Consider purchasing diapers at your destination to save space. Pick the shoes that go with most fits. Bring smaller toys. And make a list to keep yourself from really going overboard.
I hope you found this list helpful and most importantly, I hope you don’t let the fear of traveling with your kid stop you from experiencing life’s great adventures. Yes it’s A LOT of work, I’m not going to front like it isn’t, but seeing them experience new environments will bring so much enrichment to your lives. And whenever possible, bring a grandparent, friend, aunt or someone who can be an extra set of eyes and hands because then you're really setting yourself up for success.
Any tips I missed? or if you have any other travel q’s feel free to drop them below.
Buen viaje!
Abrazos,
j