Traveling With a Toddler – An Ultimate Guide for Mommies

Toddlers are kind & generous creatures but they may create a mess while traveling. Traveling with toddlers is not as easy as you may think. Some parents think that it’s a piece of cake but that’s not true at all.

With proper planning and following the useful travel hacks, you can make your travel experience hassle-free and memorable. Also, you have to consider which toddler essentials to pack and which not to. So, in this detailed blog post, we are going to share traveling with a toddler checklist with important tips.

Traveling with a Toddler Preparation

Whether you are traveling with a toddler internationally or traveling with toddlers in car, enough preparation is essential. So, you should prepare yourself in these ways:

1. Choosing the Destination

Picking the right destination is must for safe, enjoyable & memorable trip. Try to choose family-friendly destinations that perfect matches with your toddler age and preferences. Do not commit a mistake to choose destination that is not family-friendly. Here are some family-friendly destinations that you can explore with toddlers:

• Italy
• Japan
• Indonesia
• Costa Rica
• Canada

2. Packing Essentials

After selecting the right toddler-friendly destination, go for right packing essentials that you want to pack. From clothing and footwear to snacks and comfort items, ensure that you pack all the things that you need during your journey. Other than clothing and footwear, you need to pack:

• Toddler-friendly snacks
• Comfort items like blanket & favorite toy
• Essential Travel documents
• Health items like necessary medications & first-aid kit

3. Travel Gear

Travel gear and packing items are different from each other. Packing essentials are items that are must for toddler’s comfort & safety. Travel gear includes all the items that help with the travel logistics. Do not forget both of these especially when traveling with a toddler on plane. You have to pack travel gear:

• Best strollers and carriers
• Travel cribs
• Diaper bags
• Feeding supplies
• Entertainment supplies for toddlers

Transportation Options

Whether you want to fly on plane, ride a car or use public transportation, you should have an idea for different modes of transportation. Must consider these things earlier for different transportation modes:

4. Tips for Booking Flights when Flying with a Toddler

• Try to book direct flights if it’s convenient for you.
• Dress you & your toddler comfortably.
• Find out airport play areas earlier.
• Must check flying with a toddler TSA rules beforehand.
• Arrive airport early.

5. Airport Navigation & Flying with a Toddler Identification Tips

• You must know airport location earlier to avoid inconvenience.
• Consider documentation earlier.
• Check for whether stroller passes through security check or not.
• Follow airport rules and regulations.
• Allow yourself extra time.

6. In-flight Entertainment & Comfort Strategies

• Bring a favorite toy.
• Pack comfort items like stuffed animal and blanket.
• Bring snacks.
• Do not forget to travel with a stroller.
• Check seats before boarding.

Driving with a Toddler

It’s not too easy to drive with a toddler so prepare yourself earlier to face any consequences. One of the valuable tips when driving with a toddler is to put your toddler in stroller. Without stroller, you can’t safely travel with your toddler or kids in a car.

7. Planning Road Trip Stops

On a road trip, when you travel from one place to other, consider all the stops that fall in your distance. Do not forget these stops as you have to stop in case of emergency or for regular breaks. Also, you can purchase anything from these café stops or rest areas.

8. Snacks & Entertainment for Long Drives

Without toddler’s snacks on a road trip, you cannot satisfy your toddler hunger cravings. Plus, without entertainment options for long drives, toddler not only get bored but also irritate you. So, try to pack snacks and entrainment essentials that entertain and engage him/ her.

9. Car Seat Safety Tips

• Keep child rear-facing.
• Install toddler car seat correctly.
• Keep car windows & doors close.
• For enhances stability, use tether strap.

Public Transportation

Sometimes, you may need to travel on public transport with toddler. If it happens, you need to navigate bus & train stops that falls on your way. Also, must consider the accessibility considerations so you won’t face any issues when searching for any bus or train. Plus, carry stroller safely on public transport.

Accommodations

Just like various travel modes, accommodations also play an important role in making your journey comfortable.When travel with toddler, must consider these accommodation factors:

10. Choosing Family-Friendly Lodgings

Whether you want to book hotels or vacation rentals, choose family-friendly accommodations wisely. Family-friendly accommodations will help you make your stay memorable. Plus, you can avail of with amazing family-friendly amenities. Before going for any accommodation, must look at these things earlier:

• Toddler-friendly amenities
• Hotels allow portable cribs and strollers or not
• Child-friendliness
• Hotel size

11. Settling In

After choosing any hotel or lodging option, you need to make settings. You can create a toddler-friendly space and establish a routine during travel.

If the hotel allows you to change or create settings according to your will, nothing is better than setting in for a comfortable stay. Try to clear these things earlier.

Activities and Itinerary Planning

When traveling with family, toddlers, or kids, you have to make plans accordingly. Search for activities and make itinerary planning that would be favorable for toddlers.

12. Choosing Toddler-Friendly Activities

Every country or state has its own toddler-friendly activities. For example, if you are going to Florida, you need to search for toddler-friendly activities near your location. It could be in the form of outdoor & indoor attractions. Plus, you can go to other different kid-oriented places or attractions like:

• Kid-friendly museums
• Play Areas
• Parks
• Zoos

Maintaining Routines

Maintaining a balanced sleep schedule and mealtime is essential while traveling. Toddlers or kids usually get tired during travel. So, you have to maintain these things.

13. Sleep Schedules

Tips for keeping bedtime consistent:

• Do not forget to bring a lovely item for your child.
• Avoid motion sleep.
• Must bring comfortable clothes for your baby.
• Try to quit travel when it’s sleep time for your toddler.

Napping strategies on the go:

• Bring along a stroller.
• Try to cover him up with a snooze shade.
• Take a ride with silence if possible.

14. Meal Times

Every parent knows their kid’s meal time so do not forget to manage it timely. While on the go, must-pack meals and snacks for your toddler that you think best snack/ meal options for your toddler. Plus, try to find toddler-friendly dining options that not only provide quality food but also a relaxing environment for toddlers.

You can pack toddler-friendly snacks:

• Smoothies
• Muffins/bars
• Energy bars
• Fresh veggies & fruits
• Oatmeal

Other than these, you can also pack those snacks that your toddler normally likes.

International Travel with Toddler Checklist Essentials

With the above-mentioned travel gear or packing essentials, you can bring these things also:

• Foldable travel tray
• Drawing board (magnetic)
• Window clings
• Snack spinner
• Magnetic travel tin
• Kids tablet (digital)

Wrapping Up!

Are you ready to traveling with a toddler to make your experience unforgettable? You can do it easily as you need to follow this blog post guidelines. We summed up all the main checkpoints in one blog post to give moms a stress-free experience.

Next time when travel with your toddler, infant, or kid, follow the guidelines mentioned here. We assure you that you won’t regret it and will definitely enjoy a satisfying & remarkable experience. Get ready now and prepare for the best.

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