Are you thinking about finally going on that long awaited trip with your family but don’t quite know how, where and what? There are so many questions you may be asking yourself and the initial excitement and joy of spending some quality time with your loved ones is starting to turn into a daunting task creating stress and anxiety. 

Do you take the car or are you thinking about traveling by plane? Are you going to stay at a hotel, Airbnb or with friends and family at your destination? Where and what are we going to eat? You get the idea …..

All those unanswered questions make the wonderful idea of a family vacation sound disheartening and we may be inclined to postpone the trip to when our kids are older …. 

Wait! Stop!

Traveling with children can be incredibly rewarding. And, as with most things, the more you do it, the better you get at it. Practice makes progress. Start by going on a short trip over the weekend and stay about 2 - 3 hours away from home. See how it goes and take it from there. It will give you a taste and idea of what type of traveler your child is.

Sabine and I, both moms of older kids and experienced travelers share some lessons learned and travel tips below.

Traveling with your baby

They say that when traveling with a baby, it is important to be prepared for anything. And while I tend to agree, I would like to argue that you should be prepared for anything up to a certain extent. You can go mad packing everything under the sun.  Remember that you need to carry all of the supplies you bring plus your baby. 

When preparing, consider the time of day of your trip. Are you traveling during the night or during the day? Make sure to pack plenty of diapers, wipes, formula (if that’s appropriate for you), and bottles.  Have supplies for a potential poop explosion in a separate bag in your diaper bag, in it include a change pad, wipes, change of clothes.  That way if there is a messy change, all you need to do is grab that separate bag and it has all you need.  Bring along a few favorite toys - when traveling during the day - and a blanket for comfort. Remembering you are your baby's biggest entertainer as well as all the new surroundings.  If you’re traveling by plane make sure to have your baby drink during takeoff and landing. The swallowing helps with the pressure on their ears. I learned that my kids had a hard time adjusting to the rapid change in air pressure during the descent and so I would give them children’s Tylenol about an hour before we landed.  Make them feel as comfortable as possible. Remember, a comfortable baby is a happy baby. If you’re traveling by car, plan to stop frequently for diaper changes, feeding, and stretching. You may also want to consider bringing a stroller or carrier for when you’re out and about.

Sabine shares, “I remember when my son was just about 4 or 5 months old, we rented a chalet about 3 hours away from home and it looked like we were moving …. I packed everything I could think of to make sure my baby boy was safe and comfortable when all he really needed was fresh diapers, some clothes and mom or dad. The travel bed that I brought, only took up space in our tiny bedroom as my little guy was very happy to sleep with mom and dad.”  

I had a similar scenario, when we were traveling by plane with my then 5 month old for the first time. My goal was to nurse my son during take off and landing, read him some stories during the flight and have my husband walk up and down the aisle to keep him settled.  All was going according to plan until we were making our final descent and he didn’t want to nurse but I could tell his ears were bothering him.  I was so stressed and worried about disturbing the other passengers.  He finally settled and though I felt some gazing eyes, I reminded myself I was doing the best I could.   

But my stress grew again when we got to the resort.  It was gorgeous but I had this thought my baby could only sleep in total darkness, afterall that was our set up at home, and the bedroom had this opening at the top that let in lots of light for his daytime nap.  Like why would they have that, I asked myself??  I was stressed worrying about how I would get my baby to nap.  Sleep was so important not only for him but I needed the rest too.  I drove the concierge, my husband and myself crazy trying to find a solution.

In the end he often napped in the stroller the resort provided as we walked along the beach or on the canopy bed on the beach.  I hope you are noticing a theme here, you can deal with any bump along your travel journey if you are calm.

Traveling with a toddler

Once your baby is starting to be mobile and potty trained, flying isn't the most pleasant experience. Be ready to get into the tiny bathroom stall on the plane to help them do their business and don't forget to pack extra clothes and wipes for the occasional accident. 

Dress your kids in comfortable layers—preferably without buttons, zippers, or anything that could prevent them from getting to the bathroom in time. The same applies to shoes: Avoid laces and opt for slip-ons. 

Two days before Sabine's trip to Europe her almost 2 year old daughter decided that now was a good time to be a big girl and use the toilet. She vehemently refused to wear any sort of diaper on the plane. Thankfully she was able to convince her to at least wear a pull-up for night time, reducing mom’s stress level quite a bit. 

One of the most important things you need to be aware of is that your flight or car ride may end up being the most exhausting part of your trip.

Traveling with a preschooler

At this age, children are becoming more independent and curious. They may be more interested in exploring their surroundings and trying new things. When at the airport or train station talk about what is happening, explain the different jobs people do to make the train or plane work. 

Ensure that you either have a carrier or an umbrella stroller ready to use for your child when they are tired and you are not done exploring. . 

Your child may very well fall asleep in the carrier as you continue to explore the sites. I highly recommend the ergo baby carrier as it supports front and back carry and is very supportive on the hips, if you have a heavier child.

When traveling with preschoolers, try to involve them in the planning process by letting them help choose activities and attractions to visit. Pack plenty of snacks, water, and activities like coloring books, stickers, and small toys to keep them entertained. 

You may also want to bring a small backpack for your child to carry their own snacks and toys.  This gives them a sense of autonomy which goes a long way in keeping them settled.

Think about bringing surprises. A wrapped new plaything has two advantages: Kids love to unwrap stuff, and a new toy has more attention-grabbing pull.  These do not have to be expensive toys and you can also dig out toys they haven’t played with in awhile…it’s new again when it’s wrapped up!

On one of my plane trips overseas my son told me after about 1h into our 8h flight, that he was done now, and was going to get out. After explaining to him that this was unfortunately not possible, I presented him with one of the surprises I had prepared for him. Fortunately it did the trick, distracting him from the idea of getting out of the plane and keeping him busy and entertained for a good while. 

Most important travelling tip!

Regardless of your child’s age, it is important to be flexible and patient when traveling with children. Try to build in plenty of breaks and downtime to allow for rest and relaxation. Remember, the journey can be just as important as the destination when traveling with children, so enjoy the moments and make the most of your time together.

If you take anything away from the stories that Sabine & I shared it is that ultimately you can plan and prepare as best you can but they are kids and they may have a hard time and in those moments our role is to put our own oxygen mask on first so we can help them get theirs on.  To that end, a 5-4-3-2-1 grounding exercise is not only helpful to ground yourself but you can do it with your young child to help them settle as well.  It only takes a few minutes and you can do it anytime, anywhere.  Notice when you are regulated and grounded you are in a much better position to support your child.

P.S. Does your child lose it when you say ‘no’?  Check out the blog, “15 Ways to say no without saying no.”  

P.P.S.  Want more support on keeping your cool when your child is having a hard time, book a completely free call to get custom advice here.