A to Z of Traveling with Babies and Toddlers
Hey guys, this is my last post of the A to Z series of Traveling with Kids. I hope you liked reading our travelogues and found the tips helpful. My only aim to share our travel experiences was to show that traveling with babies and toddlers is not that difficult. It’s one of those things that you learn to enjoy once you step into it.
Mommies and daddies, there is nothing that can stop you from traveling and exploring new places with your kids. You just have to prepare well and take that plunge. I feel if I could convince even one family to keep their fears aside and plan their first vacation with their child, my work will be done. But this is not the end, it is just the beginning. And soon we will see more and more families taking up traveling with their babies.
The world is waiting for you!
26 Best Tips for Traveling with Babies and Toddlers
I am listing down 26 of our best travel tips which we have learned during the last 3 years of traveling with Nemit. Some of these we learned from our own mistakes. And, others from our own hit and trial. Check these out-
1- Prepare yourself. Ask yourself if you are ready for it or need more time. If every time the answer comes a ‘yes’, then don’t think much & take the plunge.
2- Prepare your child. If your baby or the toddler has a routine for most of the things then half of your work is already done. If not, try maintaining a schedule for your child. It will not only help during your vacation but will go a long way.
3- Travel as a Family. I have shared this tip earlier also and I will say this again. Remember when you are on a family vacation, your focus should be on your family only.
4- Divide your tasks. To avoid any difficult situations divide your baby duties so that it doesn’t feel like a burden to anyone. Don’t set unrealistic expectations & clear the expectations before taking the trip.
5- Packing. Don’t overpack otherwise most of your time will go in finding stuff from the bags. Use packing cubes if you have a small baby, these cubes will be really helpful in keeping the small clothes organized in one place.
6- Where to go. You should do thorough research of the place where you are going to. In addition, plan your itinerary very carefully, keep a day free in your plan.
You may also read – 5 Tips to Plan a Kid-friendly Holiday!
7- Booking a Flight. If you are afraid of taking a long flight with your child, prepare in advance. Book a flight time which corresponds to your child’s nap time.
8- Keep them engaged. Pack enough activities to keep him engaged and also keep a lot of snacks for munching.
9- Booking a Hotel. Before booking a place to stay do check the latest reviews on Google as well as travel websites. Also, remember to book only a kid-friendly hotel.
10- Book an Airbnb. If you are planning a budget trip, look for an Airbnb property.
11- Keep Balance. It’s important to keep a balance between leisure time and activity time. Toddlers don’t like lazying around for long, keep their interests in mind.
12- Be Flexible. When you are traveling with kids, you can’t be on a tight schedule. Be flexible and open to last minute changes.
13- Entertainment for kids. Look out for fun entertainment options for your toddlers. Check if there’s an amusement park where you are going and plan half a day for them. For babies, look out for safe play areas.
You may also read – 11 Cool Outfit Ideas for Toddler Boys for a Vacation!
14- Meet the locals. An excellent way for kids to learn about people and their culture. And, also to make new friends.
15- Travel Bag. Keep a backpack instead of a handbag for a day out. Always carry the wipes, snack box, an extra outfit, and your child’s favorite toy in the bag.
16- Travel Essentials. Make note of travel essentials you need to carry always. When Nemit was a baby, his carrier was an essential item for us. And, when he graduated to toddler stage, we always carried his stroller along.
17- Check the weather. Always check the weather during your travel dates.
18- Medicines & Prescription. Before going on a vacation, get a general checkup done for your baby. And, get a prescription for travel medicines.
19- Keep a torch. During our Meghalaya trip, we realized how big a mistake it was to not keep a torch with us.
You may also read – 5 Summer Vacation Ideas for Families in India!
20- Carry a power bank. Again, if you are traveling to an offbeat location, the power bank is a must.
21- Keep your cool. It is very easy to get frustrated when you are in a new place & your kids come up with weird demands or start showing tantrums. Losing temper may not help anyone, try to take control of the situation with a cool mind.
22- Booking a driver. Most of the times we book a single cab for our travels. But there were incidences when we didn’t like the behavior of the driver. Hence, it is advisable to confirm the booking for the whole trip only after spending 1 day with the driver.
23- Check your documents. I have mentioned in one of my posts, how my mom had to go back from the airport when the officials found her passport damaged, which she was not aware of. It’s always better to check all the documents before taking the trip.
24- Carry enough cash. Even though there are ATMs everywhere, it is still a sensible idea to carry enough cash. And, don’t keep all the cash in one place.
25- Keep a nice camera. Invest in a nice phone with a great camera or buy a nice camera to capture all your lovely travel moments with your family. These will become your most treasured memories.
26- Enjoy your time. Most importantly, don’t forget to enjoy each and every moment with your kids. Make the most of this time and you will go back as a better person. Take my word!
So, these are some of the best tips from our travel experience and these somewhat cover the A to Z of traveling with kids. I am sure these tips will come really handy for families traveling for the first time with their babies and toddlers. Don’t forget to leave a comment below and do share it with your friends and family.
Today is Day 26 of #BlogchatterA2Z and the letter of the day is ‘Z’. My theme for the challenge is ‘Traveling with kids’ & I have chosen Z for Z.
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I’ve travelled with my son since he was two months old, and we continue to travel almost on a monthly basis with him. In fact I find that travel is the best way to engage a toddler’s mind. Great tips, I agree with each one!
Congratulations on completing the challenge Neha. It was a pleasure to connect with you and I look forward to read more of your work.
I would love to read more of your travel stories with your son. It’s always a pleasure to watch parents enjoy travel with their child. Thank you so much, Noor. Surely, we will be in touch.
Congrats Neha and great tips.
I had just nominated you for Sunshine blogger award, read more here
https://surbhiprapanna.com/2019/05/11/excited-to-get-nominated-for-sunshine-blogger-award/
Thanks for nominating me Surbhi, will soon write a post.
These tips are really going to help a lot for all travelers with kids …I too believe to keep enough cash and camera to capture the moments!!
Thanks Ruchi 🙂
Hey that’s a comprehensive and exhaustive list buddy, so much of vital information at just one place
Thanks, Roma glad you find these tips helpful 🙂
Great tips, I have travel less with kids but now I will keep a check on this list.
Hope you find these helpful in your future travels
Very valuable tips and suggestions.I myself travel a lot kith family and these tips will keep handy.Thanks
Thanks, Snehlata glad to know you find these tips valuable 🙂
this post is great to go with for all the one who keep traveling with even tips too.. so well written post ty for sharing 🙂
These tips are really helpful and should be followed when travelling with infants or toddlers. I have travelled a lot with my daughter and have followed almost all these.
A detailed list for sure and yeah it will help the families who are planning on a vacation
Very informative post Neha! You included all the points which we should be aware of at the time of packing and travelling as well.
This is an exhaustive article and very helpful for frequent travellers like me. I will keep it as a ready reference of travel better with kids.
These are such wonderful tips for ready reference. I love travelling with my kids and agree that proper planning can ensure a smooth and safe trip.
these are very good tips you have mentioned. I have travelled with my tiny one too and he is now quite a pro at it.
These are some great tips for parents to plan well when traveling with toddlers. I would share it further.
IK am yet to go on a proper holiday with my kids. hope to do it soon.
These are awesome tips Neha. I too believe in preparing your child first. I do talk to tuggu days in advance so that he know what all he might except there. And air bno is something we need to yet explore
I have been travelling with my kids since they were 6 months. Patience is the most precious immaterial possession in every travel. Literally heaps and heaps of it.