Traveling with toddlers can be a wild ride, but a bit of prep can make all the difference. Check out these smart hacks for keeping your little one happy and the itinerary on track.
As if keeping your kid busy, happy and healthy on your home turf isn’t difficult enough, why not pack it all up and do it all in a new, strange locale? We joke, but it really is fun to travel with littles. Everything is new and exciting, and the smallest things can bring them the biggest joy.
The trick to travelling with toddlers is to plan, plan, plan in advance so you can relax and go with the flow when the moment arrives. With that in mind, here are a few hacks to make your next getaway a breeze.
Pack like a pro (especially snacks)
Most, if not all, issues you’ll have while travelling with your toddler can be equated with boredom, tiredness or hunger. All of the above can be avoided or fixed at least partly with the right supplies—especially that last one. Pack a Munchkin Bento Box with kid snacks of all kinds (there are five compartments you can load up!). Toddlers love (the illusion of) choice and a picnic doubles as a distraction. For a hand snack on the go, the Munchkin Snack Catcher and Elephant Flip N Lock Straw Cup both keep food and drink contained in the car or on a plane, where the flight attendant will be eternally grateful.
Keep little brains busy
Healthy snacks (sugar’s only gonna make this harder), sound-reducing earplugs or headphones, a favourite stuffy and boredom-busters like activity books, stickers, crayons and markers are all wise choices. Novelty is key here, and you’ll probably ditch/lose it all anyhow, so it’s also a great time for slime, fidget toys, window clings and other dollar-store finds. Everything can be packed into the bottom shelf of your Sparrow Ultra Compact Stroller, which you can unload as you settle in and fold away into a briefcase-sized bag to be stored in the trunk or in an overhead compartment.
Minimize and maximize screen time
Wait, what? Yes, you read that right. In the days and weeks leading up to travel, try to minimize your kid’s screen time to a few minutes at a time. Then when you finally sit down to a long plane, car or train ride, a preloaded iPad or tablet with a movie they love or a few episodes of Bluey will feel a special splurge for your little one.
Get those sillies out
If and when you need your kiddo to sit still, be it on a long bus ride or at a fancy restaurant, much of your toddler’s behaviour will relate to whatever you did the hour before that. Get out any excessive physical energy in advance by running around at a nearby park or even just walking to your next destination.
Drive late, fly early
If you’re blessed with a kid who sleeps in the car, it’s very worth upsetting your sleep schedule to drive in the dark. (There'll be no traffic and it’ll be quiet in the backseat—a road trip miracle!) This is less true of air travel, as your toddler will likely be far too excited to sleep on a plane—at least until after takeoff. But the real reason to choose the morning flight is that the later you fly, the better chance your takeoff time will change and all your scheduling plans will go to you-know-where.
Bring a friend (for everyone)
If you have a parent-friend or couple you like enough to travel with, by all means double up and go together. Two sets of parents will halve the amount of stuff you need to carry, not to mention up your potential for time alone or with your partner. Coordinate who is packing what for the kiddos, and take turns trading off who’s on child care so you can truly get the break you need while you’re away.
Hack your hotel
Speaking of hotel rooms, call in advance to see what they can offer you. Cribs, pack and plays, bedrails and highchairs are often available upon request. If not, here are a few makeshift ideas: A pool noodle stuffed beneath a fitted sheet makes a pretty good bedrail; a bath towel atop a desk equals a changing station; and a crib in a closet can be a sweet (quiet and dark) secret bedroom your toddler will totally love. And if the room layout isn’t working, feel free to move furniture around as necessary.
Splurge on some comforts
Consider all the cash you’re saving on not going out until the wee hours and invest in the little things you never needed when you were travelling solo and childless. A few things that are absolutely worth paying for include direct flights, reserving a kid-friendly window seat well in advance and upgrading to a suite with more space to spread out. Trust us when we say it’s money well spent.
For more about the first few years with your new addition, check out [hub address].
