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Toddler Takes on Travel

Writer's picture: Elizabeth EirwoodElizabeth Eirwood

Updated: Jul 26, 2022





This post may contain affiliate links. The experiences and opinions are my own.


Over the past month, we have been to three different states and five different cities. We traveled on planes, trains, and cars. We have stayed with friends, family and in hotels. Along the way, I've learned a lot about what it's like to travel with a toddler. Here are my biggest takeaways


1) Keep the schedule relaxed. This is vacation, after all. One of the biggest lessons I learned was to build in plenty of extra time and make sure there are no tight turnarounds. Toddlers often need extra time to warm up to new people, places, and situations. The last thing you want to do is rush them from one event to another.


2) Pack cheap toys. I bought a pack of fidget toys like this one and these sticker books. I also picked up coloring packs from Target's Dollar Spot. I knew that if we lost any of these along the way-- and we did-- it wouldn't be a big deal. They were all small and didn't take up much space, but they kept him thoroughly occupied. We didn’t go through all the fidget toys and the ones that we did use are still being played with back at home. The sticker books have been an even bigger hit and we use them daily now.

Shedd Aquarium, Chicago

3) Don't overdo it. Our first day in Chicago was packed full. We didn't have a second to breathe. Romi took a nap in my arms at brunch. I woke up the next day with a throbbing headache and a crabby toddler. I knew we'd overdone it. Traveling is exhausting, so once you arrive at your destination let your time be more relaxed.


4) Bring something familiar. Don't let your kid be in a completely new setting. Make sure you have some familiar comfort items that will remind your kids that life hasn't changed completely. We brought two "animal friends", a couple of favorite books, and his special blanket.


5) Don't expect your kid's behavior to be the same. Being out of their element can make some kids act out. It can make others clingy. It made mine quiet-- something he's never been accused of in his life-- with occasional outbursts. It would have been easy to lose my temper at the outbursts, but I reminded myself that he was overtired, in unfamiliar surroundings, and without impulse control.


6) Let your child guide the routine. It's okay to let your usual routine fall away a little bit while you're away from home. Let your kid's behavior, energy, and mood guide how bedtime, naps, and meals look. I made the mistake of not following his cues and I regretted it. Pushing him to go to bed when things were too exciting or to stay up when he was too tired backfired. Follow their lead and once you get back home the familiar surroundings will make it easy to fall back into your usual routine.


7) Make time for yourself. Even though I was exhausted, on our first night at the beach I put Romi to bed, made myself a margarita, and sat on the balcony while the waves crashed and the live acoustic music washed over me. It was child-free heaven and it filled my cup. Vacation with kids can feel chaotic so find a way to carve time out for just you.


8) Take pictures of yourself, too. Don't forget to include yourself in the pictures. We sometimes forget to turn the camera around and we cut ourselves out of the memories. It's hard to get family vacation photos! I took my tripod and Bluetooth shutter so that I could capture candid and posed photos of us living our best vacation lives. Years from now, you'll be glad you have the reminder of those special times.


Where are you and your family headed this summer? Let me know in the comments!


Cheers,







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