Toddler Travel Tips

With summer in full swing, so are vacations! We’ve been on a few road trips with Ellie this summer and picked up a few new tricks along the way. Traveling with an older, potty trained, non-nursing toddler is a whole different ball game! Here’s a few of our favorite traveling tips for keeping your toddler happy (and keeping your sanity!)

Prepare Early There’s nothing worse than a dead tablet ten minutes into the trip! Start preparing for your road trip (or flight!) early. I always like to add a few movies to our tablet that she hasn’t ever seen (hello classic Disney movies!) and download a few new preschool apps. Make sure everything is charged and ready to go the night before to reduce frantic running around in the morning.

BYOP (Bring Your Own Potty) If you’re road tripping, pack the potty, tp, and some lysol wipes. Packing your little one’s plastic potty is so much easier than dealing with gross gas station bathrooms and comes in handy when your little one has to go RIGHT NOW (and the nearest exit is a long ways away!)

Pack Healthy Snacks There’s nothing worse than feeling sick and bloated while on vacation. We always like to pack some healthy snacks and meals while traveling. One easy way to make sure that homemade meals are included is to stay at a vacation rental property. Places like Wyndham Vacation Rentals offer in-home amenities like fully-equipped kitchens, living rooms and multiple bedrooms.

Organize Outfits in Ziplock Bags When we traveled to Norway last year I used this trick and have loved it ever since. Pack each outfit in its own Ziplock bag. I always include everything I need – full outfit, shoes, socks, panties, and hair bow. It makes the mornings so much quicker and allows Ellie to choose her own pre-picked, already matching outfits (meaning no tantrums!)

Travel in Comfortable Clothes I hate traveling in uncomfortable clothing and so does my toddler! Dressing in leggings or sweats and a light t-shirt make all the difference while traveling. No tugging or complaining about the straps on her car seat hurting. And just in case, bring an extra outfit! If you don’t make it to the potty in time (or spill a juice box all over!) you’ll be prepared.

Pack a Few Surprises This could be a toy they haven’t seen in awhile, a new book, or a rare treat! And don’t pull out these surprises right away. Keep them for the last leg of the trip or to help prevent a meltdown after seven hours of driving through the desert.

Stay Somewhere Kid Friendly It’s never fun when your hotel room is four stories high, has no AC, but you can’t open the windows because there’s no screens or child safety locks! (True story!) Whether you’re camping, crashing at a relative’s house, or staying in a vacation rental, nothing beats kid friendly. With Wyndham Vacation Rentals, you can get the added bonus of hotel-like amenities at many of its properties such as shuttle service, a concierge desk, and housekeeping. Housekeeping with a toddler? Yes, please! Not to mention, having a washer and dryer is an extra added bonus.

Have a Schedule but Be Flexible My daughter does best if she has a nap during the day, so regardless of where we are, we always try to schedule one in. Often times her nap happens in the car or stroller, but we try not to miss it. However, if her nap doesn’t happen one day, I try not to stress. We’re on vacation! Being flexible is the trick to a happy trip!

Stop Stressing Once you’re packed up and on the road, stop stressing and enjoy! The memories begin here!