Traveling with a Toddler Part One: How to plan a Kid-Friendly Trip That You're ALL Excited About!
Because no, a trip with a toddler is not relaxing in itself, but there should be pockets where it DOES feel like a vacation—yes, even for you. (I promise it's possible! Here's how to plan it!)
Pssst for the best reading experience, open this post in your browser or Substack app! Or press “play” above to listen to my voice recording of this post! (It’s a long one–put it on while you fold laundry/clean the kitchen!)
After many requests, I'm finally pressing "publish" on the sequel to “How to Travel With a Baby” and “How to Plan a Vacation with a Baby.” Because, as we all know, babies turn into toddlers—and toddler travel is its own ballgame!
Since June was just a few months old, we’ve taken her on all kinds of trips—some of them I’ve done solo–flying west to visit family–but also lots of adventures as a family of three–from camping in Illinois and Montana, to hiking through Yosemite, to laid-back beach vacations in Florida, to road-tripping along Australia’s Great Ocean Road with my MIL.
And yes… we’ve run into plenty of hiccups along the way. Some particularly wild ones (a lot of barfing, if we’re being honest 😂) and plenty of curveballs thrown into our plans—but through it all, we’ve never once regretted taking the trip. ♥️
I hope the biggest thing you take away from this post is this: You can have an amazing time traveling with your kid. And you can do it in a way that works for your family.
So let’s dive into the first post of this series–planning phase—the first (and arguably most important) step in setting yourself up for a trip that everyone enjoys.
What we’ll cover in this part of the guide:
In this post, we’re diving into the planning phase—because if you set your trip up right from the beginning, everything else gets a whole lot easier. I’m walking you through how to:
Choose a destination that works for everyone.
What types of trips are a good fit—and which ones you might want to save for another time
How to actually enjoy yourself (and yes, at times, make it feel like a vacation!)
What to think about when booking accommodations
How to figure out a sleeping setup that works for your whole crew
The biggest mistakes I see parents make when planning travel
Planning ahead for:
Potty training and travel—what worked for us
Motion sickness tips if your kid gets motion sick!
What’s coming in Part 2: All About the Plane
This one’s going to be all the logistics and survival tips you need for the airport and in-flight experience, including:
Considerations for picking the right flight time and seats
Jet lag and time change tips
Sleeping on the plane (as much as possible?)
Navigating potty stuff on planes
Other random hacks we’ve picked up along the way
What’s coming in Part 3: Packing + Gear
Everything we bring (and what we don’t bother with), including:
What toddler gear is worth schlepping and what’s not
How to handle car seats, strollers, carriers, etc.
Our favorite activities, toys, and snacks for the road (or sky)
The bags and organizers I swear by for keeping my sanity
Where to go: What type of trip works best with a toddler or young kid?
First thing’s first—you need to decide on a destination.
Like anything, the ideal destination will vary based on your family, what you like to do, and for sure the age of your kid(s). But here’s my two cents below.