Traveling with an infant or toddler

Could you make traveling with kids less stressful? Could you pack less?

The answer is NO. But there are always some solutions to help you out and to make everything a bit easier for you.

Try to prepare a list. If the list is too long, you can reread it and cut some things out.

Here is my way of doing it, but I would be to happy hear how you manage with your packing, too!

First step:

Pack when your children are asleep, or when they’re away. If your partner has the time to look after them, that would also be a good time. But in my experience, it is better if they’re away.

Why? Because you have the peace and quiet to concentrate, to focus and to get the packing done quicker. If you had an infant or a toddler crying around you, you wouldn’t be able to concentrate. You probably wouldn’t even have time to check your list and make sure that you didn’t miss anything.

Second step:

The things which you can’t leave out from your list!

Medicines and first aid kit.

1-2 sets of spare clothes

Wet wipes, clothes (in case you may have to clean up)

Food, snacks, crackers and enough fluids

Toys, activity and drawing books for the toddler. Make sure you take more than one toy. If going on a long trip, they will get bored really quickly.

By now, your trip is almost sorted.

Now they need only one last thing: attention. Yes, I know. Your trips and your holidays may never be relaxing once you start traveling with your little ones.

But all your memories will last a lifetime - that is for sure!

One final tip for toddlers that just started walking and exploring the world - they need space, and want to go out and explore. In some cases, they can walk a little on the train, or on the plane, but it is not the safest time. Definitely no walks on the bus. If you already taught them to stay seated in the car with a seat belt, you will have to teach them the same in public transport. Show that you’re seated, and that you fastened your seatbelt. After all, we are the best role models for our little ones, no?

If you travel by car, maybe it’ll be easier to make more stops and let her/him out for some time to walk around and explore.

However, it is a lot harder to keep them still in a bus, train or plane. You just need to be ready with toy variations, stories, or even songs. You can give them a magazine which they can rip apart, a sticker book, a balloon even, and of course lots of toys so they won’t have time to get bored.