11 Sanity-Saving Tips: The Ultimate Toddler Travel Survival Guide
- teamthomastravels
- 1 day ago
- 4 min read
Travelling with an independent, feisty two-year-old is all about compromise.We’ve found that the secret to a successful trip is viewing our family as three autonomous beings with equally important needs and wants, which means that our itineraries have to include activities that appeal to everyone. This involves a mix of group activities, toddler-centric fun for Jamie and "tag-teaming" solo wrangling so David and I can enjoy less kid-friendly treats like quad biking or a spa visit. Let’s be honest: travel is undeniably more complicated with a little one in tow, but it’s entirely possible to keep your sense of adventure (and your sanity) intact.
In order to ensure we all have a good time and survive the trip without a nervous breakdown, here are our top tips for traveling with a toddler:
1. Slow down: one thing we've learnt is that if we all want to enjoy the trip,then for now, the days of cramming in dozens of activities and eating lunch on the go will have to wait. David and I used to be terrible for just skipping lunch and pavement pounding, but with a toddler, stopping for meals and keeping the day calm is essential.
Planning fewer things also gives you a buffer. Toddlers are unpredictable; if a lunch takes forever or you’re hit with an impromptu "poo-nami" and outfit change, a more relaxed schedule prevents a domino effect from ruining your entire day.
2. Choose the right "ride": Every child is different, but Jamie will tolerate being in his backpack carrier far longer than his pushchair - perhaps because he’s at face height? If we’re doing a "grown-up" activity like a guided tour or a museum, we usually opt for the carrier.
That being said, consider your back! A full day of carrying a heavy toddler is exhausting. Plus, a pushchair offers extra storage and a much better environment for naps. We choose based on the day's specific terrain and goals.
3. Use steam valves: if we need Jamie to be restrained in his backpack carrier or pushchair for a time while we do an Emma or David activity, we need to make sure that the day plan also includes some "steam valves" - periods of running around freely or some toddler friendly activities like a playground, park, beach or children's museum. You might even find that some of it sightseeing allows for this, like exploring a palace grounds, or a museum with lots of steps to climb.
4. Overpack clothes (and bring hand wash): never underestimate a toddlers ability to get through multiple outfits in a day! We also take a small tube of travel hand wash to keep our luggage light but our supply fresh. To stay on top of things and tackle stains we wash leggings, bibs and vests in the hotel and leave them hanging to dry while we're out for the day.
5. Bring your nappy brand from home: this might seem like an annoying extra, especially if you're travelling in a first world country, but after a disastrous pack of Walmart nappies that led to three pairs of wet trousers in 90 minutes, we'll never travel without our old faithfuls again! They don't need to be expensive either, we swear by Tesco and Lidl own brand.
6. Bring familiar snacks: Never travel without the snacks they love from home. You'll want them on the plane plus a hangry toddler in a foreign supermarket where nothing looks familiar is a recipe for disaster...
7. Bring a carry on sized travel cot and pushchair: To maximize checked luggage space for clothes and nappies, we use carry-on-sized gear for bed and stroller. We love the Arc 2 travel cot by Littlelife which packs down into a super convenient carryon sized backpack and the Cosatto Yo pushchair, which is air-cabin approved and fits in the overhead locker. Having the pushchair the minute you get off the plane is miles better than trying to manage a wriggly, bored toddler in a long passport queue!
8. Prioritize familiar sleep cues: Even if your schedule goes out the window, familiarity helps a toddler settle in a new place. We always bring Jamie's nightlight, favourite cuddly toy, white noise/lullaby and his usual sleeping bag to recreate his home routine as much as possible.
9. Don’t make the trip all about the toddler: If you choose a destination like Disneyland solely for the toddler, think again. Toddlers get overwhelmed, can suddenly decide they hate things they previously loved, and throw tantrums for reasons known only to them. If that happens, you’re stuck at an expensive destination you didn't even want to visit!
Our advice? Choose the destination for the grown-ups (so long as it’s safe for children) and build in toddler-friendly moments along the way.
10. Fly at bed time: Whenever possible, we plan long flights for the evening. If Jamie sleeps for a good chunk of the journey, we might actually get to sleep too! It beats wrangling a bored, active toddler for ten hours in the daylight.
11. Consider the type of trip: if your toddler is going through an anti car seat phase, planning a roadtrip with hours of driving every day is going to be a massive head ache. Literally. We found this out the hard way when exploring New England last year and Jamie screamed for the entirety of Every. Single. Drive. Remember, everything is just a phase, so save the road trip for next year and choose a different style of travel for now.
Joking aside, we love travelling with our little boy. It sounds cliché, but seeing things through a child's eyes is truly magical. Whether it’s the excitement of catching a beach train or the awe of walking beneath enormous trees, these small moments are often the most memorable.
Still waiting for our new arrival or expecting your second? You might enjoy our pregnancy related travel blogs! All written from direct experience, including:
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