Traveling with young children can sound daunting, and, yes, it requires a little more planning, but in the end, it is so rewarding. The ability to still “get out there” and see the world, or the country, or the state, or even your city, is always a amazing. Plus, the memories you will begin to build with your children are priceless. No, young children will not remember the details of the trip. In fact, they may not remember the trip at all, but they will begin to build their understanding of the world and their relationship with it. Take lots of pictures. Someday they will be able to look back and know the fun times you had, and maybe you can recreate the trip later when they are older.
I know when I began planning my first big trip with my daughter, I spent hours scouring the internet for the best baby travel gear, tips for flying, and the best baby-friendly activities in the city we were visiting. While all this information is important, now that I have more experience traveling with a baby/toddler, I realize what gear you buy or what destination you pick is less important than the mindset you have while planning and enjoying your vacation. Therefore, my top four tips for traveling with young children have nothing to do with where to go or what to buy, but how to plan and how to enjoy.
Define your expectations
The most important point to remember is that travel is a state of mind, not a destination. You do not have to get on an airplane or drive far to have a travel state of mind.
I am an ex-pat. I have lived abroad for over ten years. Therefore, as you read through my blog, many of my trips seem big or exotic, but that is just a byproduct of the ex-pat lifestyle. You do not have to travel big. The trip of a lifetime may be down the road. If you are new to traveling or are nervous about undertaking a big trip with small children, start in your own town or the next one over. You can go to a local museum and feel like a tourist if you enter with the right mentality. You could discover ways to view your home with fresh eyes or just practice for a more extensive trip on the horizon.
If you are here with the mindset of a big trip, ask yourself, what feeling do I want? I think we often get caught up with the idea of exciting places we want to see without considering what the trip would entail. If you need relaxation, then a big city with lots of noise will never be a good trip – even if it is a place you are longing to see. So, before picking a destination, pick a feeling; then choose a destination to fit that need.
Plan realistically
This one can be hard. I have always loved to travel. My pre-motherhood trips would be jam-packed with sights, food, and activities, which often included destination changes. My favorite trips were ones where I hit the bed exhausted at the end of the day with sore feet and a mind full of the fantastic things I saw.
Traveling with young children is a whole new ballgame. Where I used to have a range of stops/activities a day, I now choose one and plan the day around that. Traveling with children means breaks, snacks, and breakdowns, but if you are realistic about this in your planning, you will be fine.
My advice is to choose one activity or destination. Then look at what other interesting sites/activities may be in the vicinity. For example, if I know I want to visit a particular museum, I will look at the best way to get there from my accommodation and look at if there are any smaller sites on the way we may want to look at and if there is anything else of interest around the museum. This does not mean that I plan on visiting all of the smaller sites in the area. However, it is good to have a general idea so if you finish early and the family still has energy, you can see something else nearby without trying to travel to the other side of the city for the next site.
Always have a backup
Things happen. This is true for any trip, but especially when traveling with kids. Maybe you had an activity planned, but you can tell your child is not in the right mood. Always have a kid-friendly backup. See if there are any great parks in the area or maybe a zoo. Travel can be overwhelming for small children. So many new things, and they are being asked to sit in a stroller or a carrier or walk more than they like while being out of their comfort zone. Recognizing a cranky day or an overwhelmed child and switching up the plan for a lazy day and picnic in a park can help reset the mood and ensure the rest of the trip runs smoothly.
Do you have any other tips for planning trips with small children? Leave a comment below and let me know!
Be flexible
The absolute most important advice I have is to be flexible. I am a planner. I absolutely love researching my chosen destination and picking the best things to do, but the biggest lesson I have learned traveling with my daughter is not to hold on to any of those plans too tightly. Keep those backups in mind, and be ready to release even the most exciting plans you made. Sometimes the best moments come out of flexibility and letting things flow.
Nicole Abiad
Expat, Mother, Traveler, Educator
I am a seasoned traveler with a firm belief that adventure doesn’t stop at parenthood! Through advice, reviews, and research, I hope to help you continue your adventures and share the gift of travel with your family!
