While we all love nothing more than going away on a holiday - be it a weekend getaway or an overseas adventure, nothing has the potential to ruin travel more than having a tiny toddler along for the ride! Toddlers have very specific needs and ways of existing, and sometimes travel doesn’t really agree with their tendencies.
Toddlers thrive on routine, sameness and knowing what to expect, and oftentimes holidays are just the opposite. Filled with new experiences, a complete change of routine, different food and a packed schedule - this is the perfect recipe for some challenging toddler behaviour. So does this mean that you need to cancel any trips for the foreseeable future? Definitely not! Below are some tips to make travel with your toddler much more manageable and enjoyable for the whole family.
Bon voyage!
Let them play!
Toddlers need time in their day for some free play. This can often fall by the wayside when you’re on holidays as days are usually filled with activities and it can be go go go! Site seeing might be on your bucket list, but it sure isn’t on your toddler’s! Search for nearby playgrounds, or block out some time for your toddler to play in your hotel room. Some unscheduled play time might be just the reset your toddler needs to be able to get through the rest of the day. It takes a bit of a change of mindset when you’re travelling with toddlers, you might need to keep your schedule a little bit more spread out and don’t overdo it with activities that aren’t toddler friendly. If you have a jam packed day ahead, make sure that the next day has some breathing room for your toddler to regain their energy. It’s also helpful to look up if there are any child specific activities/ installations happening at your location, that way you still get to have a new experience, but your toddler will also have a good time.
Another important thing to consider is that toddlers need movement in order to be able to sit still for long periods of time. So before you’re set to board your flight, let your toddler run around the airport as much as they can! Or if you’re on a long drive, plan stops along the way for your toddler to move - you can look up if there are any playgrounds along your route to stop off at. This also goes for any activities you’re doing where your toddler will be expected to sit quietly for a while - let them get their jiggles out before and after!
Routines are your best friend
Toddler’s thrive when they have a predictable routine - this might be a daily rhythm of how their day flows, or it might be specific routines for bedtime or mealtimes. While being on holiday brings a lot of inevitable changes to routines, where possible try to incorporate your toddler’s routine to bring a sense of calm and familiarity for them. Pack a few of your child’s favourite books from home to read before bed, even their familiar blanket will help them feel more secure.
It is also an inevitable part of travel that your toddler might not sleep as well as they do at home. This might be as a result of the environment being different, but also because of the flexible schedule of being on holiday. Late nights and skipped naps are the norm on holiday, but this will certainly catch up with your toddler leading to more grumpiness / meltdowns / general misery. So figure out a way to meet your toddler’s need for sleep with your need for restaurant dinners and full day schedules. This might mean ordering room service once in a while for an early dinner and bedtime, or prioritising a nap every few days. Toddlers can sometimes force you to slow down the pace of a holiday, which can be a welcome change for everyone!
Keep your expectations in check
As mentioned previously, while grown ups crave the novelty of being on holiday, all of the changes in environment and routine can be very unsettling for your toddler. They love the boring predictability of home, so it isn’t uncommon to have your toddler arrive at the destination and immediately demand they want to go back home. Rather than seeing their behaviour as ungrateful, understand that from their point of view they’re feeling lost, confused and overwhelmed. It will take them some time to settle in, so the best thing you can do for them is just let them be. Read some books with them in their holiday bed, play in the room for a while or go for a walk. Empathise with them that “I know everything feels a bit new and different on holiday” and reassure them that you’re staying with them the whole time, and in a few days you’ll go back home. All of the changes might also mean that your toddler won’t be behaving at their best. Expect an increase in tantrums, moodiness and overall irritability, and just know that they’ll be back to their usual self once you’re back home, or if you’re away for a while, once they get used to their new surroundings. It’s also normal for toddlers to cut back on eating while they’re on holiday. They may initially stick to eating familiar snacks or foods only, while they get used to everything. So no need to worry about them skipping meals or refusing their meal - trust that they’ll eat if they’re hungry, once they’re feeling more relaxed.
Be prepared
My final piece of advice is to be prepared with the best travel items and toys which will make travelling so much easier for everyone. Holidays usually extended periods of time on airplanes, long car rides, waiting in line at airports and eating out at restaurants. Sure, it’s up to you how much screen time you want to provide in these out of the ordinary circumstances, but it can be so helpful to have some novel and interesting toys to keep your toddler busy and engaged during travel. Here is a comprehensive list of travel toys that are sure to help make your travel smoother - there are a range of toys to suit different developmental levels as well as interests. And at the end are some other travel essentials which will also make for a problem free trip with your toddler.
Wishing you a safe, fun and smooth holiday!
Jenna
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