PACKING TIPS FOR TRAVELING WITH KIDS
By: Lia Garvin | July 8, 2021
You’re vaxxed up, things are opening back up and you’re ready to hit the road. And then… you remember that you have to bring your child with you.
While I can’t promise your toddler won’t insist you sit with them in the back seat of the car, or scream at the top of their lungs during takeoff and landing, I can share some packing list items that make for smoother kid travel. That’s all we can ask for, right?
SNACKS
While moms naturally acquire the ability to always remember to pack snacks the moment they give birth, travel snacks aren’t just about having food on hand, they’re about having the right kinds of snacks. One of my biggest lifesavers for air or car travel has been baby meal pouches, as many as I can fit in my purse in as many flavors as they sell at Target. Brands like HappyTot, HappyBaby and Plum Organics have delicious flavors with no added sugar.
Since consuming a pouch can take under 15 seconds depending on how hungry your toddler is, my favorite snack-time life hack is packing a bento box with a wide variety of options for your toddler to choose from. If your toddler is like mine and loves one food item one day and won’t go near it the next day, choices are our friends. I pack the bento box with fruits, hard cheeses, soft nuts (like walnut pieces) and crackers, and my toddler turns eating into a fun activity she can do for 30+ minutes.
ACTIVITIES
Once snack time is over, you likely have several additional hours to kill depending on how much screen time you want to offer. My trick here is to pack several new books your toddler hasn’t seen, and dole them out one at a time, every hour you’re on the road or in-flight. If they read through the first book in three minutes, use all of your willpower to not just hand over your whole stash the first 15 minutes of the trip. Instead, stagger them. You will thank me later.
If you’re in the car, I’m a big fan of Leapfrog books that have songs or have activities, because they feel new and fun for longer periods of time. If you’re traveling in a plane, on behalf of myself and the entire flight crew, we ask that you skip the musical books and toys.
CLOTHES
If you are traveling for a few hours, you’ve likely packed enough baby clothes to dress an entire preschool. But what about you? Sitting next to a bored toddler, it is guaranteed that most of the snacks you meticulously packed in the bento box will end up in your lap, so come prepared.
And then there’s changing a baby in a one-foot by two-foot closet also known as an airplane bathroom stall, or better yet, a road-side gas station. Things might go haywire and you’re going to want a change of clothes for yourself handy.
For the toddler, along with hats, bring multiple kinds of shoes. My toddler is in a jellies phase, which are great for the beach, but make her slip when running around at the park, so I’m always grateful when I remember to pack a few options. Toss a few extra pairs of those microscopic toddler socks into your bag as well, since inevitably one will get lost along the way.
AND FINALLY...
Last tip: take a deep breath and remind yourself that you’ve survived worse and can get through this. It will all be worth it once you arrive at your destination.
BONUS ADVICE
Travel Tips for Babies (0-12 months)
- Change diapers right before flight and right when you get off the plane.
- Send swim diapers, sunblock, high chair, pack and play ahead to destination.
- Bring pacifiers, snacks and bottles for takeoff and landing (more than 1).
- Pack plastic bags (like the ones for doggy poops) to toss dirty baby diapers into.
- Depending on age, the Boppy nursing pillow really helps as a little seat if they have to sit on your lap or as a barrier/belt if you have an extra seat to sit them in.
Tips and tricks for flying with toddlers
- Book a direct flight or one with a longer layover.
- Visit the airport restroom before your flight.
- Take advantage of pre-boarding.
- Buy a separate airplane seat for your child.
- Gate-check baby gear.
Bonus tips for all
- Rent a carseat with your car at the destination airport.
- Wear your child on and off the plane to have your hands free.
- Pack lots of extra footed onesies.
- Try to get a bulkhead seat so your child can sit on a blanket and play on the ground.
- Put noise-canceling headphones on your child during naps to block out announcements.
- Use stroller toy loops to hook toys onto the back-seat organizer, so they don’t go flying.
Good luck out there!
Lia Garvin, mother of a smiley and rambunctious toddler girl, is on a mission to arm people with tools and skills for living the best versions of themselves. She has almost a decade of experience working in some of the largest and most influential companies in tech including Microsoft, Apple, and Google. As a Senior Program Manager at Google and executive coach, Lia leverages her leadership coaching and program management skills to examine the challenges holding teams back from doing their best work. Learn more about her coaching at www.reframewithlia.com