Travel has always been one of our passions. In fact, we typically skip things like Christmas gifts to put that money towards a trip instead. Our home is also pretty lacking in interior decor. But again, it’s because we’d much rather spend our money on plane tickets to experience a new destination. And like many other avid travelers, our love for adventure didn’t stop after we had a baby. But it’s no surprise that travel changes with kids.
Well, the best part is that you don’t have to stop traveling once you have a child! Of course, it’s going to look a bit different from before. And we’ll be honest: it can be quite challenging at times. However, despite any tough moments, we’ve never regretted traveling with our son. We’ve seen him learn resiliency, develop a healthy curiosity, and grow in his confidence. Therefore, we won’t be stopping any time, even after our second child is born.
So how does travel change with a baby or toddler? Here are 5 ways (and tips to make it a little easier):
1. YOUR PACKING LIST WILL GROW EXPONENTIALLY
It is amazing that the smallest member of your family will likely have the most amount of luggage. Sure, their clothes may take up less room. But you’re probably going to have to bring plenty of extra sets in case of accidents. And don’t forget about diapers, cleaning wipes, bottles… the list goes on and on.
What we recommend is thinking through a typical 24 hours with your baby and what they require throughout the day. You obviously don’t have to bring everything when you travel. But there may be some things that you may slip your mind if you’re packing the night before. Things that weren’t absolutely necessary but were helpful when we brought them include items like mealtime accessories (bibs, baby tableware and utensils), a baby monitor, and a sound machine. (Tip: you can also use a white noise app on your phone to save space.)
Think through your child’s particular needs as well. For example, our son has sensitive skin so we make sure to bring lotion and soap for him that we know he won’t react to. He also has a nut allergy, so making sure we pack things like his EpiPen and children’s Benadryl for any other possible reactions is important.
For a more thorough resource, check out our Essential Packing List for Traveling With a Baby.
2. YOUR PACE WILL SLOW DOWN
Maybe your style of travel was already slow and relaxing. But before we became parents, we had a very fast-paced, cram-as-much-as-you-can-in-a-day style of travel. For example, when we road tripped through Utah, we left early each morning to head to spend the whole day at a new National Park. And at Disney World, we also used to wake up early to get to the theme parks before they opened to beat the long lines and stayed until close.
So when we had our son, our pace had to slow down. Our hikes got shorter and less demanding. We spent more time at hotels than we had ever before, whether it was due to naptime or early bedtimes for him. Luckily, our little guy has always been a low sleep need kid. This definitely came in handy when traveling. Even if he missed a nap, he wouldn’t have a meltdown. And because he gave up regular naps when he was 2, this gave us a little more flexibility during our trips.
But many babies and toddlers (and parents for that matter) need a nap during the day. So finding lodging that’s conveniently located can be a huge lifesaver. Or if your travels include driving, try to schedule those drives during naptime, especially if your child sleeps well in the car.
3. BIGGER ACCOMMODATIONS ARE HELPFUL
Once we had a child, the most significant way our overnight travels became more comfortable was by booking suites that have a separate living room area. Typically, you’ll find these labeled as “One Bedroom Suites” or something similar, vs. a Studio Suite which is usually just a larger single room.
This way, once our child goes to bed at an earlier time, we don’t have to spend the rest of the night whispering in the dark. With a separate living room area, we can relax more comfortably with some food, drinks, and TV.
The best news is that two-room suites aren’t always significantly more expensive, especially when you’re looking at all-suite hotels. We prefer to stay loyal to the Hilton family of hotels. So brands like Embassy Suites, Homewood Suites and Home2 Suites all have rooms with separate bedrooms. Bonus: all three of these brands also come with free breakfast!
Another option is booking a rental through a site like Airbnb. However, our preference is always to stay in hotels and build up our points.
4. YOU CAN'T EASILY UBER AROUND
This was maybe one of the hardest things for us to get used to. Before our baby, we’d plan our travel so that the airport, hotel, and/or attractions were located in a way that we could easily and affordably rideshare for distances that weren’t walkable. We could also avoid having to drive in unfamiliar and potentially crowded areas.
However, with small children, car seats are a necessity. And while I’m sure there are some drivers who don’t mind letting us put in a car seat, we just didn’t want to deal with the hassle. And vehicles with car seats included aren’t available everywhere when it comes to ridesharing.
So when traveling with little ones and you don’t want to deal with driving, pick destinations that have strong public transportation networks, like major cities or Disney World.
5. CAR SEATS ON A PLANE
Speaking of car seats, when you do choose to bring them to a destination you’re flying to, you’ll need to decide whether to check your car seat or bring it on the plane.
Checking a car seat is the much more convenient option since you don’t have to worry about getting it through security. However, you do run the risk of it getting lost or damaged. We highly recommend getting a car seat bag to protect it during transit.
Bringing the car seat onto the plane is also an option, especially if your child is very small but is old enough to require their own seat. We have done this several times, and it was helpful in keeping our squirmy son more secure in his seat and also in falling asleep. It’s a safer option, but it is a bit of a hassle to bring a car seat onto a plane.
Once our son was bigger, we used the CARES harness to keep him safe and secure in his seat, which we highly recommend for fidgety child.
HAVE KIDS? YOU CAN STILL TRAVEL!
As you can see, traveling with kids has its unique challenges that you’ll have to get used to. But every time we’ve taken our child somewhere, it has always been a very rewarding experience, not just for him, but for us parents as well. Don’t let the challenges deter you from traveling with a baby or toddler. We’ve found that the good far outweighs the tough moments, and it gets a little easier every time!
If you have any questions, please let us know in the comments below, and check out our Trips & Tips for more posts on family travel!