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The toddler age is just so fun and there are plenty of perks when traveling with your kids at that age… but not without it’s own unique travel challenges, too!
Plane Travel
Entertaining on a flight with a toddler just got much more involved, so make sure you come prepared. That means constant interacting with you toddler, movies, toys and snacks, snacks, snacks!
Itinerary Planning
Kids are more active, so beach or pool time becomes a good option because they will really enjoy it at this age. Sightseeing is still a good idea, but if you thought you were going at a slower pace with a baby in tow, just wait until you go with a toddler!
Once your child enters into toddlerhood, carving out nap time will be more important in order to fend off toddler meltdowns and tantrums. Try to plan your days out in blocks: morning block activity, nap activity, afternoon block activity.
Plan activities that your toddler will enjoy, too.
Know where any parks or green spaces are in case your toddler needs to run around a little bit before sightseeing in the stroller. Think about running them outside before going into a museum or somewhere you need them to sit still for a long period of time.
Sleeping
Daytime Naps: I suggest that every other day or two to make sure you get a good nap in the hotel crib. Days that you aren’t napping in the crib, try to plan your activities out so that you are able to give them a good nap in the stroller. Maybe you need to do a walking activity around nap time to keep the stroller constantly moving, or whatever suits the unique napping-on-the go needs of your child. Make sure you bring appropriate sleep cues when you are out during the day to help your toddler fall asleep.
Nighttime Sleeping: Once Claire went from baby to pre-toddler days (at about a year), it took longer to get Claire to go down to bed. Have patience as they may need to sleep with you in the bed for a little bit to settle them down. Check out our tips for sleeping away from home.
Time Change: It’s more difficult for a toddler to adjust to a new time zone than an infant, so be aware of this. Note: I said more difficult, but not impossible.
Try to get a hotel room with either an extra room or corner carved out so you can put the crib in there or a balcony you can escape to while your child sleeps. That way they don’t have you as a distraction when they are trying to go to sleep and you can enjoy your own quiet time!
Diaper Changes
Oh my gosh you practically need a haz-mat suit changing a toddler’s diaper! While you could get a pass changing a little baby’s diaper out in the open, doing the same with a toddler’s stinky diaper does not always go over too well. Plan on bringing some diaper bags in case you aren’t near a garbage can (I love the arm and hammer one’s with the light scent to help block out the smell… because my gosh it really stings the nostrils now, huh?!). Also, still plan on bringing an extra pair of pants around with you because diaper blow-outs still happen!
Feeding
Be mindful of the timing of your meals. Going out to eat late with a baby is much simpler because they can sleep in a carseat/stroller/carrier. With a toddler, try not to eat out too late to make sure that they can last through the meal and you have a nice time.
Once your baby starts eating solids and no more milk, picking your restaurants got a little trickier, depending on how your child eats. Especially if your baby is a picky eater!
When we travel overseas where the cuisine is considerably different from what we eat day-to-day, we always stop by farmers markets and grocery stores to pick up lots of snacks that we know Claire loves in case she doesn’t love what is put in front of her at lunch and dinner.
Think about packing some reusable baggies/ziplocs to store their favorites when you are on the go.
I like to pack a good amount of her favorite snacks (like cheerios or Nutrigrain bars) so I don’t have to stress about finding something when we initially arrive.
Calling ahead to make sure you have a refrigerator in your hotel room is helpful, too. Be mindful about highly perishable items though, because some mini-fridges are meant for keeping things cool- I get a little weary about storing milk and yogurt over long periods.
And always remember, a fed toddler is a happy toddler… but same goes for mommy! Don’t let an afternoon go sour because someone got hangry. Always pack snacks!
Perks of Traveling with a Toddler
Going out and about is so much fun! Your toddler will love to run around and explore new things with you.
Experiencing a new culture through the eyes of a toddler is amazing! You will notice and appreciate things that you wouldn’t have thought about had your toddler not pointed them out.
A whole new world of activities are now on your travel itinerary: children’s museums, science centers, and anything with a hands-on component are now on your radar.
Your toddler learns so much and so quickly, and exposing them to new experiences, sights and sounds will grow their vocabulary.
Considerations and Watch Outs:
Travel and sightsee at an even slower pace- even slower than when you had an infant or small baby. I notice that moments when we rush around, it’s not fun for anyone. But the slower we go, we have exponentially more fun!
Patience, patience, patience. Meltdowns will happen. Having trouble sleeping will happen. The best way to combat these are slow down, eat lots of snacks, and get in good naps.
Pro Tips for Traveling with a Toddler
Always travel as if you know you will be back. (Thanks, Rick Steves for this advice!) If you go into your trip thinking “I spent so much money on this trip and we didn’t have time to see this, or we missed that” then you are missing out on enjoying the things you do get to do.
Pack extra clothes for your toddler in your day bag!
Don’t let anyone dissuade you from traveling with your toddler! We have found our fondest travel memories have been when Claire was a toddler!
If you are traveling with a toddler, you may be interested in these articles, too:
Tips and Tricks for Eating Out with a Toddler
Tips on Sleeping Away from Home
