Let’s be perfectly honest with each other for a minute. Life with toddlers is no picnic and travelling with toddlers seems like the kind of picnic where ants go marching in, right? Toddlers are constantly on the go, completely lack the ability to reason, are often unable to communicate and they come with a LOT of gear at this age.
I mean, can we just talk about the gear for a second? Bottles, baby food, plastic dishes and cutlery, playpens, soothers, blankets, toys, diapers, teethers, bibs, car seats, booster seats, and the list goes on. So why in the world would anyone want to travel with toddlers?
While there is a smaller group willing to attend the travelling toddler picnic, the truth is it doesn’t have to be a disaster. And you certainly don’t have to miss out on experiences because you’re knee-deep in toddlerhood. In fact, travelling with toddlers might just be one of the best experiences of your life.
Here are 9 things you can do to make travelling with a toddler a much more enjoyable experience.
1. Manage your expectations
If you’ve never travelled with a toddler, your trip with one is going to be an entirely different experience than what you're used to. That doesn't make it bad.
You will spend the majority of your time chasing your toddler around, just like you do at home except that wherever you are probably has little to no babyproofing. Your time endlessly sitting in a lounge-chair by the pool or eating at fancy restaurants is probably on hiatus - for now.
When you don’t know what to expect, it takes days to figure out that this is just what holidays are like now. Believe me, I’m speaking from experience. Our first toddler trip was a real culture shock. We were halfway through the trip before we felt like we settled in. In hindsight, OF COURSE it was different, but I wish someone had told me to brace myself! It’s not that we weren’t expecting different - we just weren’t expecting SO different.
But once you manage your own expectations, you can settle in and enjoy what toddler travel is like. I would have hated to miss out on the cool trips we took with our kids when they were young just because it was more difficult.
Anticipate that your kids will probably be tired and grumpy. They likely won’t nap well or eat like they normally do. Their schedule will be off and they’ll probably be experiencing a lot of stimulation. It’s okay though. When we know to expect it, we can parent it more patiently.
2. Take Grandma (or any other capable adult who loves your children)
If it’s an option for your family, take someone along with you. Grandparents, aunts, and uncles, a nanny, or babysitter. The benefits are two-fold. First, you’ll have an extra set (or two) of hands to help, and believe me you’re going to want them!
But the other benefit, which is really cool, is that someone who loves your child gets to enjoy the trip too! Watching a toddler experience the sand or the pool or seeing their little face light up when their favorite Disney character is right in front of them is an experience and memory no one will forget!
3 - Pair down to the essentials and find items that can do double duty
When we travel, our stroller is the single most important baby item we have. It serves as a stroller (obviously) but it also doubles as a high-chair, a play-pen for naps, and the basket on the bottom makes the perfect make-shift diaper bag.
4 - Choose a hotel or resort that offers room service.
Eating out has many benefits but the novelty of a restaurant with a toddler will wear off fast -- if you were able to get them to sit quietly in one at all. At the end of the day, toddlers are too tired and impatient (and parents probably are too) to sit in a restaurant. Ordering room service is a great way to unwind and still keep everyone fed. It also doesn’t matter if they’re running around screaming in the nude while they eat (maybe that’s just at our house).
5 - Don’t over-schedule
If you have a tendency to schedule as many activities for your trip as you can, do your best to cut back when you’re traveling with toddlers. Not only will there be many things that are not toddler-friendly, they just may not be up for all the extras.
Before you go, research the different activities that are available in the area that you could do with your toddler. Pre-schedule your must-do activities - the ones you want to go on even if your toddler is in full-on epic meltdown mode. Other than that, keep a list with you so that if you have a day you think your toddler is up for an extra activity you can add it in. If they’re not up for it, you’re not committed and don’t feel obligated to go.
6 - Spend the extra to upgrade your accommodation
I learned this one the hard way on our last vacation. There’s nothing I love more than a good deal and once in a while, I push it too far. In an effort to keep the cost of our last trip down, I chose a hotel with reviews that weren’t quite to the standard I normally choose.
It probably wouldn’t have been a big deal if we were travelling without kids, but there were some things I failed to consider ahead of time. Travelling with toddlers means that everything, and I do mean EVERYTHING will end up on the floor. Blankets, stuffies, soothers, bottles, you name it. When the room feels dirty and their soother keeps hitting the ground, it can be stressful and hard to relax.
The other thing I failed to consider was that kids need space to play when you’re in your hotel room. Somewhere they can sit with their toys.
Spending a little bit more money would have gotten us a bigger room at a hotel that I would have felt more comfortable with things being on the floor. Upgrading would have made my trip more enjoyable, and taken the additional stress and worry out of the equation.
7 - Choose a family-friendly place to stay
Speaking of accommodation, always look for a family-friendly place to stay. You’ll be amazed at how helpful and accommodating the staff at these places are. From helping with luggage, to having baby gear available these simple differences will have a significant impact on the overall experience of your holiday.
8 - Consider an Airbnb
Depending on where you’re going and what you want to do while you’re there, an Airbnb might be the perfect option. A bigger space with separate bedrooms can help everyone to sleep better and having kitchen facilities make the transition from home to holiday less intrusive.
Many Airbnbs or VRBOs also have baby gear available. Anything from cribs, to playpens to highchairs and sometimes even baby-friendly floaties for the swimming pool.
9 - Opt for the minivan
If you are going to rent a vehicle for your trip, the minivan is always worth it. Period. Trying to fit your luggage into the trunk of a car like it's a puzzle with no edges will definitely be the thing that makes your head pop off. It's just not worth it.
Travelling with toddlers is challenging. But it’s also really awesome. They are learning, engaging, and exploring, and it’s quality time you just don’t get at home. Be as prepared as you can, and then anticipate that there will be things you simply can’t prepare for. Bloom where you are planted.
Even if it is hard, and not quite what you had imagined, your toddler will be through this phase before you know it. Don't miss out on this once-in-a-lifetime experience with them just because it might be a challenge. Enjoy the experience as much as you can. You’ll be glad you did!