Toddler Travel Tips to help reduce the stress of family travel

Your toddler travel tips are guaranteed to help reduce the stress of travelling with toddlers. All our tips have been put together from our experience of travelling around the world with our two toddlers. So whether you are looking to fly, cruise or road trip with toddlers this is the guide for you. 

Toddler Travel Tips

For ease of navigation, this guide is split into sections of travelling, packing and staying and in this guide, you will learn:

• Tips for flying with a toddler
• Road Tripping with Toddlers 
• How to pick the best travel destinations and hotels when travelling with toddlers and 
• what to pack for travelling with toddlers

Flying with a toddler 

Perhaps the most questions we get from readers who are planning to go travelling with a toddler for the first time is about flying. Whether long haul or short fly, the idea of flying with a toddler can send a shiver down the back of even the most experienced parent. 

However with these tips, we take the stress out of flying with toddlers. 

Decide on how you want your toddler to sit on the plane

The first thing you will need to decide when flying with a toddler is how you want to sit with them lap toddler vs own seat. 

It can be much cheaper to have your toddler travel on your lap however it can be very uncomfortable on long flights (trust me I’ve done it) and there are also safety concerns by having a lap baby. 

And if you do decide to get your toddler their own seat the next decision you have to make is whether you not you will use a car seat or another restraint in the seat. The benefits of using a car seat on the plane are that it secures your child well in their seat but also ensures your car seat arrives undamaged at your destination. Just be sure that you have an FAA-approved car seat that fits the dimensions allowed by your carrier. 

However, the only downside to this is that once it is in place it will have to stay there for the whole flight. 

Pack your Carry on Carefully

Once you have selected the seat configuration for your family then next thing you need to do is pack your carry-on carefully to get through airport security. 

Toddler milk, formula and baby food is considered essential by the TSA so you can bring this on board in larger quantities than you are permitted for other liquids. Just be sure to pack it near the top of your carry on in clear ziploc bags so you can get this out and scan it at airport security. 

Generally speaking in my toddler’s carry on I have:

• milk, food and snacks packed in Ziploc bags, 
• diapers and changing accessories, 
• pacifier/dummy and bottles to use during take-off and landing
• spare clothes
• screen with toddler headphones
• medicine including something in case of ear pops and teething
• toys including no mess and no noisy toys such as Water wow colouring books, coloring, cars etc, 

For more information on the best airplane snacks for toddlers check out this post. 

Have a travel stroller and carrier

We always take a stroller when we travel with a toddler. We usually gate-check this where possible so we can use in the airport and then pack it away in a travel stroller bag. However, on top of a stroller, we also travel with a carrier. If you have a carrier with non-metaliic elements you may even be able to baby wear through security.

Find Airport Playareas

And once you are through airport security we recommend going to find the airport play areas if the airport has one, or just finding a good space where your toddler can burn off some energy before your flight. 

Go to the toilet before you board

And we always recommend using the toilet before you enter the gate area whether your little one is potty trained or not. Because trust me it is easy to change in an airport bathroom rather than an aeroplane one, and there is nothing worse than a freshly potty-trained toddler shouting they need the toilet while the seat belt sign is still on.

Use Pull Ups 

I also always put my toddler in pulls up for flying even once they are potty trained. That is because there may be turbulence or long periods when the seatbelt sign is on and they will be unable to use the bathroom. 

Give your toddler something to suck on take-off and landing

And finally remember to give your toddler a bottle or a pacifier for take off and landing to help their ears pop. 

Road Trips with toddlers 

If you are doing a road trip with toddlers then the car set up will be very much the same as at home. However added tips for long journeys include: 

• Pack plenty of snacks 
• Plan rest stops carefully 
• Plan longer drives for evenings and during toddler nap time, 
• Bring entertainment

How to pick the best travel destinations for toddlers 

So now you know tips for travelling by car and plane, we turn our attention to how to pick the best travel destinations and accommodation for travelling with toddlers. 

I am a big believer that there is no bad destination for families but you have to plan your itinerary and accommodation carefully. 

We recommend that whenever you put together an itinerary to find family friendly tours, playgrounds or some child-friendly attractions such as aquariums and beaches to add to your itinerary. 

And while you are here check out our toddler-friendly destination guides:

• Las Vegas with toddlers
• Palm Springs with toddlers
• Portland with toddlers
• Pittsburgh with toddlers
• San Francisco with toddlers
• Best Asian countries to visit with kids
• Japan with toddlers
• Best countries in Europe for toddlers
• London with toddlers 
• Paris with toddlers
• Budapest with toddlers
• Iceland with toddlers

Also one of the best things about traveling with toddlers as opposed to older children is that you aren’t tied to the school vacations. Therefore if you can try and travel in the off-peak season in term time to save money but also to get away from the crowds. 

What to pack for toddlers

Whenever we pack with a toddler we always have the following on our packing list:

• stroller and travel stroller bag
• carrier
• car seat and car seat bag
• snacks 
• bottle and pacifier
• clothes + spare clothes
• diapers and changing gear
• entertainment including screens with headphones, low mess and no noise toys
• pack and play (optional)
• blackout blind (optional). 

And there you have it, our best toddler travel tips but if you have any other questions please drop us a comment below and we will do our best to answer.