tips for traveling with toddlers
These are some of our favorite things that we always make sure to bring with us on longer trips–if we will be on a plane, train or bus for a few hours or more. It's great to have things to pull out when you're in a waiting room or on transportation and need to stay seated. Traveling is full of unfamiliar environments and experiences. At times all of the sounds, smells and spaces can lead to sensory overload and it can be uncomfortable, so we’ve put this toolkit so that you can rest knowing that you’re prepared.
Recommendations:
-Withhold toys in the weeks leading up to your trip! Then when you pull it out it's something new and exciting and holds their attention for longer.
-Putting each activity in a different bag or container can make it more exciting to open when you pull it out, especially if your kiddo doesn’t know about all of the things you’ve packed.
-Think about what you bring. Avoid anything with multiple small unattached pieces. You’ll be in a moving vehicle of some sort and once a small part falls on the ground it can roll anywhere. Speaking from experience…..you don’t want to have to deal with that.
-You can bring food on airplanes! This is a great way to save money and all pull out something familiar and predictable for your child in a pinch. That includes liquids or puree snacks like applesauce pouches (see below). So bring their favorites!
-We prefer to have a dedicated bag for our child–an opportunity to practice responsibility and autonomy. But it’s a good idea to keep a couple things in other bags too! You never know when you’ll need it most, so put a snack and activity in each carry-on you bring.
**There are special regulations in place for families traveling with small children and the TSA (within the US) has recommendations for things like putting milk in clear, plastic bottles but you ARE allowed to bring them. Check the website for the latest protocol and look into regulations for the countries you’ll be traveling through if you have an international itinerary. Some airlines also have limits on how much liquid you can bring, but most defer to security guidelines.
