The following content may contain affiliate links. When you click and shop the links, we receive a commission.
Long before kids, my husband and I loved to travel. When we had our first child in 2013, we promised we’d still travel as often as possible. It might have looked different and felt different, but we made it a priority. We traveled all over the country with our oldest while she was only a few months old and we took our first big international trip with her just shy of her first birthday (I’ll never forget her staying awake the entire red-eye from Los Angeles to Berlin!). Since then, we’ve added a few more kids and have learned a thing or two about traveling with them.
Here are my top ten tips for making travel with kids just a little bit easier.
- Set realistic expectations and take it slow. The reality is when traveling with kids you just can’t move at the same pace. Car seats, strollers, meltdowns, naptimes… they’re all just making things a bit harder. Since there is not much you can do to avoid these things, try to embrace them and adapt. Stay in a family-friendly neighborhood that is walkable with playgrounds and cafes. Think fewer taxis & more walking and enjoy a stroller nap with a cup of coffee while out exploring. I love doing this because you get to live like a local and have a completely different experience than you otherwise would.
- Consider staying in a home rental over a hotel. We love doing this for so many reasons. Mainly so we can have space and the kids can nap if need be or head to bed, and we can stay up late and enjoy the evening with a glass of wine. I always love home rentals because you have the option of cooking, nothing extravagant, but just a couple of comfortable meals – things your kids are familiar with.
- Set yourself up for success on flights! Make the timing as convenient as possible, pack plenty of healthy snacks (some favorites here!) that you know your kids will eat, and bring their leak-proof water bottles. These aren’t only great for the plane to avoid spills, wet clothes, and tears but also to have on hand during your trip. Pro-tip, if traveling abroad with an infant, call ahead to see if the airline will allow you to reserve a bulkhead with a free bassinet. For long flights, I like to bring these so the kids have more space to lie down.
- For older children & toddlers, I love to pack a small backpack for them full of surprise activities that they aren’t allowed to open till they’re on the plane. I’ve put together an entire edit of airplane activities for kids that are all available on Amazon.
- Keep it simple! Pack as little as possible (it will still seem like a lot!). I love to use different colored packing cubes for each family member to keep clothing organized and separated. These are our go-to packing cubes – I have had them for years!
- Consider a travel stroller (here’s the one we’ve traveled with for years) and stroller bag for the stroller to avoid it getting damaged. Also, I’ve always found it easier to travel through airports with a baby carrier and check the stroller at the check-in counter. Invest in a quality umbrella stroller that will make its way over cobbled stone streets and city sidewalks. We’ve traveled with ours from Berlin to Manhattan and in between and it’s still going strong. I also love the warranty when you use the stroller bag while traveling. A recline is almost a must for naps!
- Hands-free car seat bag! If you’re traveling with a car seat make sure to invest in a car seat bag that can be worn as a backpack. p.s. You can always use it to stash diapers, wipes, and anything else that might not fit in your checked bag.
- Be prepared! We have a fully stocked travel first aid kit that’s always at the ready. It includes the basics like Acetaminophen (love this one with no artificial coloring or artificial sweeteners), Motrin, Pedialyte (this has helped us through many stomach bugs & dehydration while traveling), diaper cream, Neosporin, Benadryl, a thermometer (hands down the best rapid read digital thermometer ) and bandages (my kids LOVE these!).
- When all else fails, I always have a charged iPad and headphones at the ready. I load them up with games and age-appropriate movies before our trip. They get tucked away when we’re at our destination but they’re great while traveling to give you a break and it’s a treat for the kids!
- Have fun! It won’t be like this forever and you’ll someday look back on all the hiccups that came with traveling with young children and laugh. Now go book the trip!
Travel Favorites
Girls:
Boys:
Travel Gear:
A few of our favorite travel memories
Traveling abroad with the kids to Amalfi, Venice, Germany, Prague, London, Ireland, France & Portugal. Staying stateside and adventuring to Hawaii, Washington, Arizona, Utah, New Mexico, Illinois, Wisconsin, Colorado, Maine, NH, New York, DC, South Carolina & Florida! Please do not hesitate to reach out or drop a comment below if you have any questions or need suggestions!
Make sure to check out my post from our previous trips