19 Terrific Tips and Tricks for Traveling with Kids (from Real Moms!)
Traveling with kids can feel daunting, but seasoned moms have shared their best-kept secrets to make family adventures smoother and more enjoyable. Here are 19 tips and tricks for traveling with kids from real moms to help you plan stress-free trips! (okay maybe not stress-free but definitely more memorable and less stress.)
1. Pack Smart, Not Heavy
Create a packing list and stick to essentials. Use packing cubes to stay organized and avoid overpacking. If your child requires diapers, pull-ups or other similar necessities consider getting them at your destination. Make sure your child does not have any skin sensitivities. If you’re going to a country or area that have similar regulations for baby care products as where you live then this is a great travel hack.
Unless you’re going to be traveling for an extended period of time another mom told me that kids wearing the same clothes from the previous day is not a big deal. They are going to have fun and get dirty no matter the clothes. Pack the necessities, like extra underpants and other “under things”.
2. Bring a “Travel Go-Bag”
Have a separate bag with essentials: diapers, wipes, snacks, a change of clothes, and entertainment for quick access. When you travel with kids , you can have an extra bag, like a diaper bag on top of your carry-on. Pack how many diapers you think you will need and add 2-3 more diapers just in case. Pack a full brand new pack of wipes. All the snacks and foods especially if your child has allergies. Pack extra shirts for adults too, if there is a mess with kids that will get on their clothes it will likely get your clothes dirty too, e.g spit up.
Some extra things I would pack in my go-bag are band-aids, a water bottle (apparently a bottle of frozen water will get you through the security. I have yet to test it out but let me know if you try it out), and activities for the kids.
3. Snacks, Snacks, and More Snacks
Healthy, mess-free snacks are lifesavers. Think trail mix, granola bars, and cut fruit in resealable bags. Pack snacks they love to eat. I like to pack veggie muffins, cheese bread, clean-made fruit leathers. Snacks will get you through the flight. Snacks will save you when you’re on the brink of insanity. Pack so many snacks and when you think you have enough, pack some more.
4. Plan Your Travel Time Wisely
Choose flights or drives during nap times to make the journey smoother. Booking flights that depart very early or late at night can be hard for sleep on the children. If you can avoid them, most parents recommend that you do.
Book flights that require connections accordingly to match your schedule and your children’s schedule. A great piece of advice that I loved was give yourself time, rushing children makes the travel hard for everyone, especially the kids. Whatever you have planned, kids are adaptable and remember as long as you’re there, calm and together, your child will be fine.
5. Book Kid-Friendly Accommodations
Look for hotels or rentals that offer cribs, high chairs, or kid-friendly amenities. There are many accommodations that are kid-friendly. Some all-inclusive hotels have child-care facilities, kid-friendly activities scheduled throughout the day. A mom I follow on instagram that loves to travel with her family always suggests traveling to a hotel that is all-inclusive on meals. With kids, having options for meals or the opportunity to try and test these new foods makes the travel experience much better.
Mom friends of mine have said that they would not leave their children at the resort’s kids-club where they provide child-care. This, of course, is a matter of preference. I think for many parents, they don’t feel comfortable leaving their kids with strangers. For my husband and I, we travel with our kids to spend time with them and make memories. I would also recommend making sure that the resort is clean. There has been concerns that hotel cribs are not as clean and properly turned down like hotel rooms.
6. Invest in Lightweight Gear
Strollers, car seats, and travel cribs designed for portability make moving around much easier. I found that for little ones less than one, you will just need to take your bucket seat but for young children as young as 3 years old, there are compact travel car seats that make it easier for you to pack and go. Car seats are only required if you are traveling to a city location. If you are traveling to a resort destination, a car seat may not be needed. If you need a car seat but don’t want to travel with one you can likely rent one at your destination.
There are many great strollers made for travel but to be honest they are not cheap. When I looked into travel strollers two caught my eye: the Yo-Yo Babyzen and the Ergobaby Metro+. Check out the reviews if you’re interested. There are many others also if you’re looking for gear in a more budget friendly range.
7. Use Apps to Entertain
Many parents suggested downloading kid-friendly apps or shows on a tablet for long waits or flights. Don’t forget headphones! Something else I found that is a great alternative to to screen time is the Yoto Player. The Yoto are these audio players that can play stories, sounds, lessons, and music. These are played using cards. I will write a review sometime with all the deets.
If you’re interested, check out my referral link and get 10% off your first purchase.
8. Create a Family Travel Journal
Encourage older kids to document their experiences through drawings or writing, making it a fun, educational activity. Take lots of photos and capture those memories together as a family. My cousin does this amazing journaling method where she draw words (like in a fun font) that summarizes the day she had or how she felt that day. She also grabs postcards and adds them to her journal. Small props like, stickers, ticket stub, small flowers, leaves, and receipts, just to name a few that you can put/glue into your journal pages. These small additions will bring your memories to life. It makes an amazing keepsake and an amazing way to see the trip through your child’s lens.
9. Involve the Kids in Packing
Let them choose a few favorite toys or books. This gives them a sense of ownership and keeps them engaged. For younger children, the new place, the potential time difference, and the plane ride could be made easier by their favorite toys, books and other things.
A recommendation would be not to take things that are irreplaceable. If your child is particularly attached to something and losing it would be difficult, might I even say, potentially devastating for them, I would recommend leaving it at home.
10. Always Have a First-Aid Kit
A travel first-aid kit is always a good idea. You can always make your own, include band-aids, fever reducers, allergy meds, and any prescriptions your kids might need. Other good additions would be wipes, hand sanitize, hand cream, and lip balm. Pack these small enough that you can take it on the go during travel days but also during your trip. A small first-aid kit is a definite must-have when traveling with kids.
11. Dress in Layers
Airplanes and road trips can have fluctuating temperatures, so dress everyone in comfortable layers. Many parents have told me that it was better to wear layers to stay warm but have the option to take off layers when it gets too warm.
Many parents say comfort is key. Make sure to dress your kids, on travel days, in comfortable, light and breathable clothing. Comfortable clothes makes for comfortable kids and that makes traveling with kids more pleasant.
12. Use Ziplock Bags for Everything
From organizing clothes to separating dirty laundry or storing leftover snacks, these are a mom’s best friend. This is a great tip from a mom but I thought it was not the most environmentally friendly. There are travel bags that you can squeeze the air out of that make great replacements for ziplock bags. They also compress clothing so you can fit more in less space. There are also something called Stasher bags. These make great replacements. They are dishwasher friendly, durable, and best of all, versatile. You can use it for packing food (which is what it is for) but also for dirty and wet clothes (maybe even for a first-aid kit). Happy packing!
13. Scout Play Areas at Airports
Many airports have kid-friendly zones, perfect for burning off energy before boarding. This will also prevent your young children from playing in areas where they could get hurt or cause a log jam. For example, on those moving walkways or playing in the stores increasing the potential to get lost.
14. Make Time for Downtime
Don’t over-schedule. Allow for breaks, naps, and spontaneous playtime. I found that the greatest difference when traveling with young children is the daily schedule. When my husband and I traveled alone before children, I remember having jam packed days. We were out from morning until late in the evening. An overpacked schedule is not only hard on the kids but can make the whole trip feel difficult. I found that when I traveled with my 2 kids, age three and one, when we planned more than 2 or 3 things a day it got very hard on them.
We as parents have to remember, for many kids, that when the high of the travel excitement dies down, reality sets in that they are in a strange place, away from home and this can result in whining, tantrums, and clinginess. Slowing down and allowing breaks for normal day routines help when traveling with kids. Quiet times and one and one times with your kids back in your hotel room or a playgound will help these beviours
15. Pack Familiar Comforts
A favorite blanket, stuffed animal, or pillow can help kids feel secure in unfamiliar places. I found that it also helps to pack familiar foods. I found that my kids did well with their favorite snack and treats when it got pushed passed nap time or when they got too tired of walking or sitting in the stroller.
For some children, their parents are enough, so don’t be surprised when your child wants to share your bed in the evenings or want to sit on your lap during meal times. Embrace it and let them make you their safe place.
16. Try the “Toy Rotation” Trick
Bring a few new or hidden toys to surprise your kids when they get restless. Many of my mom friends recommended getting new toys for trips and the flights. If you have older children, the dollar store has many activity books and sheets that make it easy to keep your kids busy and entertained.
If you have to Yoto Player, new story cards would be perfect in these occasions. Something I really like about the Yoto stories is that many of the cards can be matched to a book. For example, my daughter has the “Mercy Watson” series on Yoto and we also have the book series. She loves to follow along.
17. Get Kids Involved in Itinerary Planning
Older kids will appreciate being part of the decision-making, and they’ll be more excited about the trip. Show them pictures and tell them all the options of sights they can see and things they can do. Let them choose and plan out when and how with them. This autonomy will provide them with excitement of the trip and the planning process.
You can do this with young children too. On the day of, let your child choose where to spend the day. Provide them 2 or 3 options for the big thing of the day. This makes it feel like their trip too, this sense of involvement is something you want when traveling with kids.
18. Be Prepared for Delays
Have extra diapers, clothes, and snacks in case of delays. Patience and flexibility are key but it is easier to be patient and flexible when you got extra snacks, games, toys and other goodies to ease your little ones during the wait.
Delays can happen anywhere not just during the flights. Be prepared for delays and waits during your trip also.
19. Take Lots of Photos—But Stay Present
Capture the memories, but don’t stress about getting the perfect shot. Enjoy the moments with your little travelers. A helpful tip from a mom is to take photos on “live”. Kids are always on the move and that makes it hard to snap a good picture. Live setting on your phone camera makes it easier to find a good photo. Another mom friend told me that taking videos are much better for looking back on the memories.
Traveling with kids doesn’t have to be overwhelming. With these tried-and-true tips from experienced moms, you can focus on making beautiful family memories! Traveling with kids is hard but so so worth it. Ask any mom.
