Traveling With Toddlers

Traveling with your toddlers or babies can be very intimidating. There are so many different things to consider and so many more eyes you feel like are on you while on a plane. Here are some tips and must have products that I hope can help your travels go smoothly!

1. Have a toddler that gets motion sickness?

This was a huge concern of mine while driving 3 hours to the airport and then flying on a plane with a toddler that gets sick on short car rides..

Motion Sickness Tips:

1. Keep them cool. Use fans, fever patches and cold sips of water.
2. Try natural remedies like motion sickness bracelets (sea bands) or suckers.
3. If they are old enough try dramamine for kids (consult with your pediatrician before giving your child any new over the counter medicines).
4. Keep a change of clothes for both yourself and them in your carry on. Don’t forget a “sick bag” for spoiled clothes.
5. Bring vomit bags.
6. Try not to show your nerves to help them feel relaxed and calm. (Nothing makes an upset tummy worse than being upset and nervous.)
7. Take things slow.. Take short breaks to get some fresh air and stretch for a moment. (We learned this the hard way on our way back from our latest vacation.. After flying all night we just wanted to get home. We went straight from flying to a very bumpy shuttle ride to a 4 hour car ride through the mountains only to be met with a toddler who got very motion sick 30 min from home..)

2. How do you keep your toddler entertained and happy on a plane?

We have all been on a flight with an unhappy baby.. This in return has instilled an unwanted fear of being that parent with the screaming baby or toddler. The truth of the matter is, babies and toddlers cry. If that happens on your flight with your baby or toddler just remember YOU ARE STILL AN AMAZING PARENT! It is not your job to keep all the strangers sitting around you happy. If they are truly bothered they can turn up their headphones or lend a helping hand or word of encouragement.

Entertainment Tips For Plane Rides With Toddlers:

1. Bring NEW toys they have never seen before. (They don’t have to be expensive just little things from the dollar store.)
2. Wrap the toys. This provides entertainment twice. Once while unwrapping and then while playing with them.
3. Let this be a guilt free screen time. If a screen is what’s needed to keep your little one entertained and your nerves at bay then so be it!
4. Bring stickers! (This was surprisingly a huge hit for us on our first flight)
5. Window clings. These are perfect for planes.
6. Water wow books. They are mess free and have an element of surprise.
7. Magnetic drawing pad.
8. Coloring books and crayons.
9. Playdoh. Create a fun play doh themed sensory box.
10. Books (I like plane related books to help easy any flying anxiety)
11. Toddler busy books.
12. Dolls and doctor or dentist kit.
13. Most importantly bring their favorite blanket or stuffed animal so they feel comfortable and safe.

3. How do you ease your way through a airport with a toddler?

This is where the larger items come in. It is definitely not always fun having to travel with more things while also trying to keep your toddler from running astray. Here are some tips and products that can hopefully help traveling through the airport, lines and on the plane go more smoothly.

Travel/Airport Tips and Products:

1. Compact stroller. We have and love the Doona trike. I have never received more comments on something then when I am pushing her around in this. The Doona is on the pricier side but there are a lot of similar and more affordable options.
2. Stroller or carseat bag. No one wants to lug around a big carseat, so getting a bag for it to go in makes this easier. Bonus if it has backpack straps.
3. Stroller bag for gate check in. This helps protect your stroller while traveling.
4. Airplane toddler bed. Help your toddler get comfortable during the plane ride with a airplane bed. There are a lot of different options at different price points.
5. Toddler ride along luggage. This is another option especially for older toddlers.

4. Snacks, Snacks and MORE Snacks.

If there is anything you don’t want to forget while traveling with a toddler it’s the snacks! The last thing you want is a tired, grumpy and hungry toddler and snacks always help! This is another areas that you have to drop the mom guilt and bring out all the goodies! Along with the healthy stuff too of course.

Snacks And Containers We Love: (My Daughter does have a soy and dairy allergy so this reflects that)

1. The first snack I always pack is fresh fruit. You can never go wrong with berries.
2. Freeze dried fruit. Or as we like to call them at our house crunchy strawberries, blueberries etc.
3. Fruit bars. We love That’s It bars and Nature bakery fig bars.
4. Natures best snacks. The best part is there’s a character on the bag. So “Elmo Snacks” are a win for us.
5. Kids Lara Bars
6. Crackers
7. Packets (Make sure they are the right oz for a plane and don’t need to be refrigerated)
8. Seaweed! This is a must for us. My toddler would eat seaweed all day if I let her. It’s salty, crunchy and fun to eat.
9. Reusable pouches are great to travel with. Great way to get a mess free smoothie for your toddler on the go.
10. Compartment snack trays. A variety of snacks always makes a toddler happy.
11. Don’t forget snacks for yourself!

At the end of the day simply take a deep breath and remember you’re going on vacation. Traveling with a toddler might not be perfect, but allow them to help you slow down a little and enjoy all the ups and downs it takes you on. There is nothing more beautiful than seeing a new place through the eyes of a child. I’ll leave you on this short funny travel story.

While we were in the airport my daughter needed her diaper changed. We went to the bathroom and I was all sorts of stressed trying to make sure she didn’t touch anything or fall from the changing table. Then once I was done changing her. I was trying to go to the bathroom myself while making sure my toddler didn’t swing open the door. Then she just randomly shouts “WOW… looks at this beautiful new bathroom, I have never seen it before” And honestly it stopped me in my tracks and I just laughed and agreed. Because the reality was that it was a beautiful bathroom and we hadn’t ever seen it before. To me it was just a nasty public bathroom full of germs but to a toddler it was a beautiful new place..

Enjoy your vacations and don’t forget to stop and smell I mean enjoy all the new bathrooms (roses).

As always please use parental discretion when using these products and tips. You know your child best and how to keep them safe and having fun while traveling. 

XO,

Diy Mama Kayleen