Traveling with a baby or toddler can be a daunting idea. There are so many fears and uncertainties during that first trip with your baby or toddler: will they sleep? how will the car ride go? what do we pack without packing up the entire house? After our first ever vacation with our daughter this past week, I have come up with some tips and tricks to help with traveling with a baby or toddler on vacation.
5 Essential Tips for Vacations with a Baby or Toddler
1. Plan Ahead
Choose a baby/toddler-friendly destination:
When planning a vacation with your baby and toddler it is important to plan ahead. The first thing we did when planning our trip was to find a location that was family-friendly and had plenty of activities. The place we stayed was near many child-friendly activities like the aquarium, splash pads, and the zoo so there was plenty to do to keep kids entertained (especially for toddlers). Make sure your destination is close to medical facilities as well in case of emergencies.
2. Pack Wisely
Bring essential items:
Bring enough diapers, wipes, formula/breast milk, baby food, and extra clothes for your baby. Don't forget any comfort items such as blankets or stuffed animals. For toddlers make sure you bring favorite toys. We know my daughter needs probably two or three outfits a day depending on her meals or activities so we made sure to pack at least two outfits per day. Also know what activities you will be planning to do and bring the specific required items such as sunscreen, bathing suits, or splash diapers for waterplay.
Medications and first-aid:
Pack any necessary medications, such as fever reducers, allergy medications, along with a basic first aid kit.
3. Choose Baby-Friendly Accommodations
Look for accommodations with amenities like cribs, high chairs, and baby-proofing options
We chose an Airbnb that had many accommodations for babies and toddlers. They had cribs, toys for all ages of children, and a nice area outside where the kids could play.
A separate sleeping area if possible:
We did not have a separate sleeping area for our daughter and it did make it more difficult moving in an out of the room when she was either napping or down for the night. It also made it so that instead of falling back to sleep when she woke up early she would want to get up because she could see us. I recommend bringing a baby monitor as well, so that when your baby is napping or sleeping you can keep an eye on them. Our daughter actually got her leg stuck in the crib they had at the Airbnb and we were able to catch this quickly because we had the monitor.
4. Plan Time of Travel Around Baby's Schedule
Consider the best time to travel:
Plan your travel around your baby's schedule, aiming for times when they are typically well-rested and in a good mood. All babies are different so when you decide is the best time to travel will be different from others. But keep in mind when your baby eats and sleeps to maintain some sort of routine during travel. For our toddler we knew that she would need to expend some energy as we got later into the day so we stopped at an indoor playground to help her stretch, but rest stops are great for this as well if they are on the way!
5. Maintain Routine
Stick to your routine:
This is essential to having a successful trip. Try to maintain your child's regular feeding, sleeping, and playtime routines as much as possible during the trip. We made sure to continue feeding our daughter at the same time every day and followed our normal bedtime routine to ensure she felt as comfortable as possible. The one day we deviated from her routine was a nightmare! We missed one of her naps and it was a very stressful and tear-filled day afterwards.
Bring familiar items:
Bring along familiar items such as toys, blankets, stuffed animals to provide a sense of normalcy for your child. We brought our daughter's favorite toys and stuffed animals and even her sheets to make her more comfortable during our trip.
Conclusion
It is important to remember that there will be both good and hard moments while you are away. You are bringing your baby or toddler to a new environment away from what is familiar and comfortable for them but with extra planning and preparation, it will be a rewarding and memorable experience. These tips will help ensure a smoother and more enjoyable vacation for both you and your little one.
Thanks for reading!
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