Traveling with toddlers can be a very. daunting. task. Honestly traveling with children period is difficult, but toddlerhood particularly poses extra challenges. Tiny humans at this age would like to be fully independent, but obviously cannot be…they think they know how to do everything by themselves [spoiler alert: this usually ends in a mess]…and they’re too young to bribe because they don’t care [counting down the days until bribery means something]. Thus, traveling with these little ones adds an extra layer of the OMFG factor. My little guy and I have done several trips from DC to San Diego to see family…here are some of the things I have learned through these trips:
Things to pack in the airport diaper bag:
...More diapers and wipes than you think you need. For some reason, at least in my case, my son decides to poop 200 times during a travel day. Better to have extra than not have at all…airports do not usually have diapers available
...Pack a sippy cup for water and a sippy cup [or bottle] for milk [unless you’re breastfeeding in which case you don’t need any of that]
...Travel. Bib. This is a must have!! you don’t want a mess on the plane
...Extra shirt and pants for the babe. My son’s diaper has leaked twice in his whole life and both times were in an airport
...Pack more snacks than you think you need. You can bring any amount of food in when traveling with a baby and TSA says nothing. Do not rely on the airport to have snacks your child will eat. Bring something that is new and will be exciting for them…or just something you would not normally allow them to have. My son’s special airport snack is Trader Joes mini cheese crackers.
...Diaper changing mat! you do not want to put the babe on those gross airport changing tables without a mat between them and the germ infested table!
...Hand sanitizer and hand wipes for baby! Just trust me Extra pacifiers if your child uses them…five second rule does not apply in an airport…that’s just gross
...If you are at the burp cloth stage, make sure you have at least 2
...As far as toys, bring things that DO NOT make annoying sounds or sing obnoxious songs. I bring a travel busy board for my son that I got on amazon … Magna tiles are also great because they are magnetic so they don’t get spread all over the place as easily…and to be quite honest, my son likes playing with an empty water bottle and putting the cap on an off for like 20 minutes so save your water bottles!
...Noise cancelling earmuffs! Banz is a good brand. You will be glad you have these if your toddler falls asleep on the plane. You never quite realize how loud the PA system is and how incessantly the flight attendants feel the need to talk about a mileage plus rewards card until you are holding a sleeping toddler. I have almost volunteered to open five rewards card accounts just to get these people to shut up.
Arriving at the airport:
...You can check both your stroller and carseat for free…they are classified as “exception items” with every airline. Do it. It’s two less items you don’t have to lug through the airport
...Bring your carrier, strap the kiddo into it and wear him/her through the airport on your front with your diaper bag on your back
...Put ALL of their snacks / drinks / and baby wipes in gallon sized plastic ziplock bags easily accessible at the top of your diaper bag and then REMOVE them from the bag and put in a bin at security. If you don’t, some TSA dude with no children will dismantle your entire perfectly organized diaper bag to remove these items for scanning purposes. It is incredibly annoying to have to reorganize a bag at the end of a security line. You will thank me.
Right before boarding:
...Go to the bathroom and change diapers! it is so much better to have a fresh start before you get on the plane…if you’re lucky you can avoid the plane bathroom all together…or if your kiddo is like my son, they will poop during takeoff every single time
...When you get on the plane Take out those extra wipes that you packed in your diaper bag and WIPE EVERYTHING. The seat. The armrest. The tray table. The window if you have a window seat. Your kid will touch everything and if they’re like mine, they will want to lick everything too…toddlers are weird.
Now …for the most important bit of advice I can give you for traveling with a toddler. If you are not pregnant, ORDER WINE. It does not matter what time of day it is or where you are going. Get the wine. You deserve it. Traveling with kids is no easy feat…so if there are things that can make it more palatable, no one will judge you for that…and if they do, they have no children anyways so their opinion does not matter.
This is my “expert advice” on traveling with a toddler. My son and I seem to have a really good rhythm down with this method. I hope it can help some other mamas out there too!
Pictured below: Axel's first airport experience
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