Traveling with toddlers!
Part 2
Travelling with toddlers…what an experience! We have been fortunate enough to travel all over the country with Penelope at such an early age. She is now 3 1/2 and over the past 2 years we have travelled cross country by car, travelled the east coast by train and plane, and have just had the most awesome adventures. AND, I have learned quite a few things along the way that I want to share.
Travelling with an infant vs travelling with a toddler is SO different. They are way more active, constantly hungry, and you may be travelling during prime potty training times. This adds a whole new level of stress too. I have tons of tip and tricks that have worked well for whatever types of travel you will be headed on. I have “standardized the process” for travel with my toddler. Keeping things consistent, no matter what mode of transportation we are on, have made things easy for her because she knows what to expect.
You may find yourself toting around WAY MORE than when your kiddo was an infant. True, they may no longer need diapers, but their clothes are bigger, they have more needs for entertainment, and SNACKS! To keep things lighter, we splurged on a very lightweight travel carseat. We love the WAYB Pico car seat. It is super lightweight and folds up like a briefcase. It is only front facing, so do what is best for YOUR family when it comes to how you choose to sit your toddler in your car, but I am just sharing what has worked for us. Next up, try to consolidate bags. I personally fit all of my daughter’s clothes and my clothes in one suitcase. Yes, they sell tiny human suitcases, but let’s be honest, they aren’t going to roll it, you will! And that is just one more thing you have to drag. If you are not going for an extended stay, I encourage you to consolidate. I do have a small backpack that she wears for travel. In this bag we put her snacks, tablet, and her toilet seat covers (we use these). It isn’t too heavy for her, but it has the most basic needs that will be easy for mama to find.
Let’s talk a potty training toddler on the go. If you are potty training, I highly recommend bringing your own toilet seat covers (just don’t use the adhesive they come with unless you plan on spending several minutes trying to get it off the seat!). Remember, consistency with potty training is key. Lining the seat with something your kiddo is familiar with, and that you let them know “now the potty is clean” will help reduce withholding during travel. Prepare for accidents! Have an extra set of clothes in your bag that you can change your kiddo into if there is an accident. We haven’t dealt with many, but we are always prepared. Also, expect for more frequent breaks. We try to time these in 2-3 hour intervals. This may be more frequent than normal bathroom use, however, you don’t want to get stuck on a stretch on highway that has no restrooms, airplane that has the fasten seatbelt sign on, or amtrak stop where the water is off (yes, this happened). So plan the restroom stops in advance!
Next…travel toys and entertainment. Ok, I get that we all want to reduce screen time - but let’s be honest, how many of you have sat on a flight without any screen time?! It is unrealistic to expect the same from small children. We allow unlimited use of her tablet on flights, long train rides, and long car rides. She has toddler friendly headphones so the volume is controlled, and she has the ability to play games, draw, and watch TV or a movie. Essentially, it is many modes of entertainment in one. This is one of the occasions that I believe screen time is totally fine in! We also pack 1 coloring book and crayons, and 1 book to read. That’s it! No figurines that will get lost, no balls, no small toys. Keep it simple! She also brings her own stuffed animal and blanket to be comfortable.
Last, but certainly, not least…we can’t forget the SNACKS! These should be snacks that your toddler loves! There is no time for a fussy eater on the go when you have limited options. Snacks we travel with include: fruit snacks, fresh fruit (orange, banana, apple all travel well and we add peanut butter for extra fat), bars (we like kids cliff bars, that’s it bars, and z-bars), string cheese if you have the ability to keep things cool, crackers, and jerky. I also pack her own water bottle and just empty it before TSA if we are flying. Think about having a snack per hour of travel (especially if you are unable to stop for food). This may be “overpacking” snacks, but seriously guys, no one wants a hangry toddler.
Hopefully you find my travel series with infants and toddlers helpful! As a first time mom figuring all of this out, it can be overwhelming. But at the same time, travelling with your kiddo and allowing them to experience as much of the country and world as possible is really amazing. So take the trips! Don’t wait until they get older when you think it will be “easier”, because it likely will never be easy! Make the memories, be flexible, keep calm, and practice your deep breathing :)
If you found this helpful, drop a comment, send me a message or share with a friend!
In good health,
Dr. Megan