How To Travel Abroad with Babies and Toddlers
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Jump to Complete Kid-Travel Shopping GuideYou’ve heard it said many times…you can’t travel anymore when you have kids. Get all your traveling out of your system before you start having little ones.
Sure, yes, it is much simpler to travel without kiddos, but it’s a shame that we automatically assume it cannot be done. In fact, traveling as a family can be so beneficial to your child’s development and broad understanding of the world. I’ve been there, though. You start to think about car seats, strollers, and long plane rides, and you just don’t think it’s possible.
Eventually, I decided it was worth giving it a try, did some research, and took my toddler (while pregnant, mind you) on an international trip. It required a lot of preparation but was so worth it.
In this blog post, I will give you an honest and in-depth guide to traveling abroad (or domestically) with little ones. Before jumping on an 8-hour flight with a 2-year-old, do yourself a favor and educate yourself on what you’re getting into and how to ensure your trip runs as smoothly as possible. You will be so happy you did.
Here’s what we will be covering:
How to mentally prepare your child for extended travel
What to consider when choosing kid-friendly accommodations
Survival tips for long air travel with kids
Do my kids need passports, and what’s the process?
How to travel light and why that’s so important
Other things many parents forget to consider when traveling internationally
So, if you’re itching to travel and explore but don’t think it’s realistic to do it with your kid(s) and you’ve given up, you’re in the right place. I’m here to inform and empower you so that you can confidently prepare for your dream vacation.
When I found out I was pregnant at 22, in some ways, if I’m being completely honest, I thought my dreams of exploring different countries and cultures would never come true (or at least not for a long time).Years later, the travel bug eventually overcame my fear of traveling with kids, and I decided to try it—not by traveling to another state but by taking a three-week family trip to Europe because I’m extra like that.
Here’s what I learned along the way and how you can approach your trip feeling prepared.
“Two of the greatest gifts we can give our children are roots and wings.”
One. How to mentally prepare your child for extended travel
If your child is old enough to communicate with you (even minimally), I highly recommend warming them up to the idea of travel. Traveling can be scary for even us adults, so imagine being only a few feet tall and taken from everything familiar (structures, schedules, even their own bed) and how challenging it would be to process emotionally.
Preparing your child is also beneficial to you as the parent because their understanding of what’s to come will decrease the chances of tantrums and meltdowns.
Kids will be kids, of course, but informing them on what to expect can significantly decrease their anxiety.
Here are some things that will help prepare your child for travel:
Print out coloring sheets of airplanes and the locations you plan to travel to. You can do this by googling “coloring pages of planes” or “coloring pages of Italy,” for example.
If you don’t feel like searching for coloring pages or don’t have a printer, you can also grab this cute coloring book.
Pro tip: color along with your child and use this as an opportunity to talk about your upcoming trip and how they feel about it.Watch videos online about what it’s like to fly on a plane, ride on a taxi, or any other method of travel you may experience. This will help your child visualize exactly what it will look like and will, therefore, make it less scary in real life.
Role-play you and your family boarding a plane and exploring the world! I bought this Peppa Pig airplane, and it really helped her feel in control of the process. “Just like Peppa!” she said as we boarded the plane.
Two. What to consider when choosing kid-friendly accommodations
This may be one of the first steps to plan your trip after choosing the location and booking your flight. It’s also one of the more daunting steps since kids seem to need so much to function. You’d be surprised how accommodating some places are for children, especially compared to the US.
Here’s what you should consider when choosing a place to stay:
Do you need a crib?If your child co-sleeps, this may not be necessary. However, if they are used to sleeping in their own space, you should check to see if the place you are staying has a crib.
This will more likely be the case if you stay at a hotel instead of an Airbnb, for example. I was pleasantly surprised by how many hotels said “crib available on request” under amenities.
Would you like some space from the kiddos?If you feel like your mental health needs quiet time to stay intact, consider staying at an Airbnb. You will more easily find multi-room options for an affordable price. As you may have noticed, hotels sometimes charge an arm and a leg to book more than one room.
Do you need a bathtub?The vast majority of places to stay will only have a shower. If you stay longer than a day or two, you will likely grow tired of using the soap and rag method.
When choosing accommodations, check to see if there is a bath. If this proves difficult, I have a solution for you.
Bring one of these so you can easily give baths on the go.Do you need a fridge?If you are breastfeeding and planning to use a pump on your trip, you will need a fridge to store your milk.
Don’t worry; this is a common amenity, but it is not safe to assume it will be available without checking.
Also, if you plan on coming back to your place for naptimes or breaks throughout the day, you may realize you need a fridge to store snacks and quick meals because kids be snacking.
Are you going to have a stroller (more on this in the next section)?What does this have to do with accommodations? Well, some places overseas, unlike in the US, do not have elevators, and if they do, they might be really tiny (like really tiny).
Check to see if there is a place where you can store your stroller. See if the hotel you are staying at includes “baggage storage” or ask your Airbnb host.
Lastly, is this place close to what we plan to see and do?This is fairly obvious, but you underestimate how tiring getting from A to B with kids can be.
Make your life easier and ensure you won’t take two trains and a taxi just to see the sights.
Three. Survival tips for long Air Travel with kids
For some reason, thinking of putting my toddler on a plane for over 8 hours was the most intimidating part of the trip.
She could barely sit still in the car for 30 minutes sometimes; this was surely going to go horribly wrong, right? Well, it wasn’t perfect, of course, but what I did to prepare made it so much more doable.
Here’s your survival guide for air travel with little ones:
Are you bringing a stroller or a car seat?Stroller Tips
If you decide to bring a stroller, you can push it up to the airport gate and leave it at the bottom of the boarding bridge (they will instruct you on this).
Your life will be made easier if you bring a stroller that is made lighter and with travel in mind. That heavy-duty stroller you use at home might not be your friend when you are trying to fit it in small train cargo spaces or the trunk of your Uber.Strollers honestly are your best friend when traveling because they offer so much extra space that you wouldn’t realistically be able to carry otherwise. Also, do you really want to carry your kids whenever they get tired?
Car Seat Tips
If you bring a car seat, get a belt to attach to your luggage so you can travel with it more easily and a bag to keep it clean. Make sure to check your airline’s website to see if strollers and car seats are included with your flight (they usually are).
If you hate the idea of traveling with a car seat and your child is 2 years old or older, consider some alternatives.
We invested in this car seat alternative for use in taxis and Ubers, and it was a lifesaver.Initially, I wasn’t so sure about it because it seemed unusual, but this car seat vest is crash-tested, safety-certified, and meets or exceeds Federal Standards (FMVSS 21). It is a safe temporary alternative for your kids when you know you will need to jump in a car during your trip (you most likely will, and often).
Imagine just throwing this thing in your carry-on instead of hauling a large car seat around, not to mention risking damaging it. Ensure your child meets the weight requirements and you buy the appropriate size.
Pack an airplane bedI was amazed to see how innovative this is; I wish they had a version for adults! Having a bed like this will make it easier for your kid to get the sleep they absolutely need to prepare for the busy day ahead.
If you want to have an extra tool in your arsenal just in case they are too wound up, don’t feel bad about busting out the sleepy-time gummies.
Download content on a device ahead of timeIf you have YouTube Premium, you can download content ahead of time on the app. Netflix also has a downloading capability.
Lingo Kids is a fantastic educational option for kids that also offers offline gaming. Grab some cute kiddie headphones, too!
Pro tip: test out the games and videos without data or wifi before boarding the plane. Sometimes, content does not completely finish downloading, and you do not want to find this out when the flight attendant says, “You may now turn your devices on.”Get plane-friendly toys.This means toys that are intricate enough to capture their attention for more than a minute or two and do not include tiny pieces that will inevitably fall under your seat. I learned that last one the hard way.
Check out my Kids Air Travel Must-Haves Shopping Guide here to see lots of airplane friendly toysBring a few snacks…especially if you have a picky eater. It’s not uncommon for kids not to like the foods airplanes offer. Don’t overpack, though, because you don’t want to take up unnecessary space in your carry-on.
Dress your kids in warm and comfy travel clothesInternational flights can be pretty exhaustive, and you want to make sure your child feels cozy and ready for a nap.
Check out my list of cute, comfy, and affordable Kids’ Travel Attire hereShould you get your kids their own suitcases?I spent an embarrassing amount of time researching the best kid-friendly suitcases for our European trip.
Here are a few things I think you should consider when picking a kid’s suitcase:
First, how independent is your child? Are they old enough to pull the suitcase themselves? If they are too young and you won’t have a stroller, a ride-on suitcase could help with the long journeys across the airport and to your room.
The downside is the limited space inside the suitcase, so you may want to treat it as a “kiddie carry-on” for iPads, snacks, toys, and other items.
If they are old enough to pull their own suitcase, I suggest getting a regular kid-sized suitcase (meaning the handle is at their level). If you are worried about space (especially if you are bringing more than one child), consider bringing a regular-sized suitcase for them and plan on pulling it yourself.
“When you travel with your children you are giving them something that can never be taken away – experience, exposure, and a way of life.”
Four. Do my kids need passports, and what’s the process?
If you travel internationally, yes, your little one needs a passport. Getting a passport, as you know, if you already have one, is a bit of a pain. I procrastinated on this step for a while because the process seemed intimidating. However, when I finally completed it, I realized it wasn’t nearly as bad as I thought.
Here’s what you need to know to get your child a passport:
Start the process as early as possible. Even if your trip is not confirmed and your flights are not booked, go ahead and start gathering documents and maybe even apply for your child’s passport. Receiving your passport could take 2-3 months (not expedited), so don’t put this off.
Gather your documents. Documents generally include your child’s birth certificate (certified copy), your proof of relationship to the child (certified copy), and the photo ID of parents or guardians (photocopy and physical copy). Visit this website to learn more about this.
Print and fill out Form DS-11 from your government website (if American). Read the guidelines carefully.
Find a local passport agency (usually a post office) and book an appointment. Keep in mind two things:
Do they take passport photos at this location? If not, you must bring a picture of your child that fits the requirements. It’s much easier to have them take the photo because the requirements are a bit complex if you don’t know what you’re doing.
Make sure both parents (or all guardians) can make the appointment because they need your approval. If this is not possible for you, they explain what exceptions can be made online.
Expect to pay the passport fee and decide if you will pay for it to be expedited or wait the normal amount of time.
Five. How to travel light and why it’s so important
I can virtually guarantee that you will pack things you will never use. This is unavoidable, but you want to make sure it is a very small percentage of what you bring.
The quality of your trip will significantly increase if you take the time to pack smart and light. Here are a few recommendations for packing light:
Condense your diaper bag into a small and portable diaper bag. This diaper bag is kind of like an extra little bag you can bring on a flight since it attaches to your stroller. I didn’t know these existed, and it was crazy helpful.
Think ahead on how many diapers and how much formula you may need to get through this trip. How many diapers does your baby use per day? I accounted for about 4-5 per day.
If your trip is longer than a week, it is likely unrealistic to bring enough diapers for your whole trip. Bring enough to get you through your travel days and buy more at your destination.
Sizes and styles may vary depending on your visiting country, but a quick Google search will help you find what you need.Think similarly for formula; do a little research on what formula options are in the country you are planning to visit and choose the closest equivalent to what they are used to using.
Worst comes to worst if you really don’t think you can condense your travel load, consider shipping a box of souvenirs or overflow items to your house toward the end of your trip.
“Deciding not to travel with kids because they won’t remember is like not reading them books because they won’t remember the stories you read them.”
Six. Other things to consider when traveling internationally
Bathroom stops
Even “bathroom culture” differs between countries. Do a little research beforehand, and don’t be surprised if you must pay a small fee to use the facilities.
Power
Check the electrical outlet situation in your visiting places. Next, consider all the electronics you will need on the trip (breast pump, chargers, etc.) and make sure they are dual-voltage devices.
Then buy and pack corresponding adapters. I recommend buying a few because nothing is more annoying than sharing one charger with your entire family. Holidays
Celebrating a holiday overseas can be a special and unique family memory. We spent Halloween in Rome, and it’s something we will never forget. As we know, many of the American holidays we celebrate are not widely observed worldwide.
However, if you do a little research, you may be pleasantly surprised to see how many festive events you can participate in.
For example, Italy does not technically observe Halloween as an official holiday, but I was able to find several exciting Halloween-themed parties for kids and spooky events. Another thing on holidays. Make sure you are not planning to travel a lot during local holidays. I made this mistake traveling from Italy to Portugal during All Saints Day and couldn’t figure out why flights were so expensive and places were so congested. Large crowds with little kids are less than ideal.
Stroller travel
Believe it or not, stroller travel doesn’t have to be a nightmare anymore. Google Maps now has a feature for wheelchair accessibility when using navigation walking. Before starting your route, include this as a filter, and ensure there will be ramps wherever you go.
Scale down
Last but most importantly, do not feel bad about scaling your trip down to a more realistic itinerary.
The point of the trip is to have fun and enjoy the experience, not just to check off a to-do list. People traveling without kids will not usually understand this. If you are traveling with extended family or friends and they want to do 3 to 5 things daily, it’s okay to opt out. However, doing 3 to 5 things a day with kids is not a good time for anybody.
If you want to do one fun thing per day and have a nice meal at night, that is more than fine. You may even want to consider making time in your itinerary for leisure days when you can reset, go for a walk, or take the kids to the park.
Even playgrounds can look different and exciting in different countries, and sometimes, the most worthwhile parts of your trip will be the mundane moments.
IN CONCLUSION
Alright, you’ve got this mama. Yes, it’s a whole lot more to think about than when you were traveling solo, but the capacity for impact is so much greater.
Take your time, plan ahead, and you will get the hang of traveling with kids. Reject the cultural notion that your travel days are over and provide your children with life lessons only being out in the world can bring. When we returned from our trip, I was amazed at my daughter's growth. It’s heartwarming when she asks my husband and me, “Remember Portugal?”
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Bion Viaggio!
