Traveling Abroad with a Toddler and Baby: Tips to Make Your Trip Smoother

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By Amber WilliamsSep 11, 20240 comments

Is Traveling Abroad with a Baby and Toddler Doable?

Absolutely! I hauled my toddler and baby abroad numerous times to different countries. For context, my husband and I were always there to handle everything together; we flew economy class the whole way, we stayed in budget hotels or Airbnb options, and I was actively nursing my baby.

We didn't have the budget to splurge on more legroom, cutting in line at Customs, renting cars, or nice hotels, so the tips I provide below are from traveling with littles minus the bells, whistles, and shortcuts.

Planning, preparation, and patience are vital to making trips abroad with little ones enjoyable!

How Can I Make Flights and Airports Easier with a Baby and Toddler?

International flights can feel like forever with a baby and toddler, especially if your little ones are restless and refuse to sleep. Breaking up your flights into shorter legs helps get "wiggle and run" breaks. Specifically, walking, riding escalators, and playing in the airports will help your toddler rest on the flights.

Yet, there may still be a seven, nine, twelve, sixteen, or whatever-hour-long flight that your toddler will struggle with. This is where you need to get creative.

Tips for Managing Your Baby on a Long Flight

On all my trips, I found the baby stage far easier to handle than the toddler stage. Babies are not interested in walking, running, climbing, or jumping around, and they sleep longer. So, as long as they are fed, changed, and held, babies tend to be oblivious to other noises, neighboring screens, and turbulence.

Here are a few tips that helped me travel with babies less than a year old:

Tip	Explanation
Nurse right before or right after takeoff.	If your baby is an excellent sleeper, nursing before boarding your flight will likely put your baby to sleep through the rest of the boring stuff. Once airborne, the plane's droning will likely keep your baby sleeping well. If your baby is too interested in everything happening, try nursing after takeoff to help settle your wee one for a long nap.
Nurse right before landing.	Try nursing if your baby is awake and a bit cranky before landing. A full belly may soothe your baby before landing. Once on the ground, your baby may be easier to entertain with looking out the window, watching people move around, or playing with puffs (for babies already eating food).
Bring out only one or two baby toys at a time.	More toys will probably not help a fussy baby and will definitely give you more things to keep off the floor. Changing a toy out before your baby gets into a cranky or fussy mood will also help maintain interest.
Bring lots of clothes and diaper changes.	Traveling will cause constipation, diarrhea, big diaper blowouts, and lots of spit-up from your baby. I packed six fresh outfits for the baby for sixteen-hour flights, with four more in my carry-on bag for a refresher at the airport. I always had to dig into my carry-on before our final destination. I also packed fifteen diapers in the diaper bag and another fifteen in the carry-on for those long flights.
Bring lots of wipes.	You should bring at least two packages of wipes on the flight because you will use them for both your littles.
Pack at least two light baby blankets.	Lightweight cotton or muslin baby blankets are excellent for travel. They don't take much space, can be hand washed in a jiffy, keep your baby warm but not sweaty, provide shade over strollers and car seats, and can serve as an impromptu rug, playmat, or major spit-up towel. I typically packed two for each child on the flight and two more in the carry-on because messes happen.
Bring a baby carrier.	At some point on those long flights, you may need to walk up and down the aisle or around the back to soothe your baby's crying, restlessness, upset stomach, or sleeplessness. Your arms may get incredibly tired from hauling bags, lifting your baby, and holding your toddler, so having a baby carrier is an arm and back saver.
Pack puff snacks for your baby.	If your baby is already eating food, puff snacks may help you stave off fussiness in taxiing, waiting in line, or stressful situations.

Tips for Managing Your Toddler on a Long Flight

Toddlers struggle the most on long flights. Honestly, you can't blame them because they need to move to develop. Toddlers are just not wired to sit still for long periods! So, having little activities, snacks, and walking breaks will make the flight more manageable.

Cute toddler girl on airplane with her mom

Here are a few tips to help you prepare:

Tip	Explanation
Let your toddler pack a toy bag or pocket.	Toddlers constantly try to practice independence, so letting yours choose some toys will help provide a sense of responsibility for the trip (particularly for two- and three-year-olds).
Bring a portable screen to keep little eyes off neighboring screens.	Unfortunately, some folks don't care about the toddler beside or behind them watching the gory or sexually explicit movie on their screen. Despite more kid-appropriate content on their own screen, my three-year-old's eyes kept wandering to Jason Bourne and whatnot on nearby screens. On the next trip, the Kindle kept little eyes on better content until most neighboring screens shut down. Then, we settled down for a nap.
Bring toddler-sized over-the-ear headphones.	International flights often provide cheap earbuds for watching in-flight movies, but they don't fit little ears.
Pack a couple of favorite books.	My toddler and baby loved storytime, so I always brought a couple of good storybooks to calm them down. It was a familiar activity that made them sit in one place and sometimes put them to sleep!
Bring a coloring book and a fun writing utensil.	None of my little ones ever liked crayons, but they loved pens. I usually allowed pencils, but pens were special because I only brought them out when traveling.
Bring a toddler water bottle with a tight seal.	The pressure on the plane will make water come up the straw, so release the pressure through the lid before handing the bottle to your toddler.
Pack toddler snacks.	Whether to make waits a bit easier, settle restlessness, buy time, or hold over until the next meal, bringing snacks your toddler likes will make traveling easier.
Take walks on the plane.	One-year-olds don't understand waiting at all, so when they want to walk or climb, they go for it. Taking frequent trips up and down an aisle or around the back will help alleviate some of those wiggles. Two and three-year-olds tend to understand timers a bit better. For this age, I would set a timer until the next walk, which helped keep us from being as frequent a nuisance to those in aisle seats.
Change diapers in the back.	I tried to get my toddler to the bathroom every couple of hours, but travel makes bellies do unpredictable things. Though you can still change your toddler on one seat (with coordination), it's a lot easier on the floor in the back of the plane. Besides, toddler poop is something else, and the smell sticks around longer than baby poop.
Bring lots of diapers, wipes, and bags.	You will probably go through lots of wipes and diapers. I packed at least ten pull-ups in the diaper bag and fifteen in the carry-on for refills. As a general courtesy, please put poopy diapers in plastic bags before throwing them away on a long flight. If you don't have any, ask the stewardess for one.
Bring a comfort item.	If your toddler uses a comfort toy or item at home, bring it on the trip. Trips bring lots of new experiences, sounds, smells, and faces, so having something tangible from home is a source of comfort.
Bring a toddler card game.	A card game that your toddler enjoys may help with restlessness. Whether it's a matching game, UNO with more straightforward rules, or a stacking game, spending time playing it with you will help pass the time.

Tantrums are just a part of doing anything complicated with toddlers. If you struggle with handling these already or want to get some ideas for handling tantrums away from home, check out this guide: The Ultimate Guide to Toddler Tantrums: How to Handle Them Like a Pro.

Other Tips for Taking a Baby and Toddler on a Long Flight

Tell your little ones about the trip in detail before you go, especially in the days leading up to the flight. Talk excitedly about airports, planes, where you will go, and things they can expect to see along the way.

Of course, your baby won't understand much, but your toddler will likely have tons of questions. The more you talk about the trip and what to expect, the more excited your toddler will be. Each of my kids traveled fairly well as toddlers because they were ecstatic about planes and airports and knew something when they saw it.

We all know in-flight meals are not tasty, but if we act that way in front of our toddlers, they will mimic our disdain. So, make the most of it! Bring a food set with a lid to divvy up in-flight meals and avoid the otherwise inevitable sliding and spilling. Moonkie's silicone feeding set is easy to pack and clean on the go!

Finally, put miles in the airports. Escalators, play areas, luggage buggies, super long hallways, signs, planes, and all the hubbub are new and exciting to most toddlers, so let them walk around and explore. Generally speaking, the more they move at the airport, the more content they will be on the plane.

How Can I Make Walking Around a Lot Easier with a Baby and Toddler?

One thing is consistent about traveling abroad: you'll probably walk longer and farther than you do at home. That would be a small matter on your own, but a baby and toddler complicate things!

Mom and boy first steps in the city

Here are a few tips that have helped me in various places and seasons with little ones:

Comfortable Shoes and Clothing + Extras

Wearing a solid pair of walking shoes is crucial to helping your knees, ankles, and back, especially while carrying or keeping up with little ones. Pack another pair in case that pair gets wet. Wearing soggy shoes is not pleasant!

The same goes for your toddler because he will be doing a lot of walking, too. Though joint pain may not be as much of a concern for your toddler, getting shoes wet will be, so pack an additional pair for him as well.

Packing flexible outfits that breathe well for a lot of walking and are easy to dress up is genius. If going somewhere cold, follow recommended clothing guidelines from local friends or bloggers. Layers are fantastic in any season because you can add more or shed some to be comfortable inside or outside throughout the day!

I suggest layers for little ones, too, because of accidents, playing, walking a lot, and temperature variances throughout the day and venues.

Cleanliness

Regardless of where you go, washing hands often is vital. Little ones just don't understand that licking the subway handrails or laying on the bus station floor is disgusting, so bring wipes, sanitation wipes, and hand sanitizer to make things a bit better.

Whenever we boarded a bus or train for a long ride, I would wipe down the handlebars within the little ones' reach to make myself feel a smidge better. In some countries, soap is not provided in public bathrooms, so having a little bottle of hand soap is nifty to avoid cracking skin from too much sanitizer.

Encouraging Your Toddler to Walk

You can bring a stroller for your toddler, but walking is so much easier around stairs, cobbled streets, or places packed with people. But your toddler needs to want to explore and be interested in walking so much (otherwise, you will be carrying a toddler!).

Buy a cheap camera for your toddler to take pictures with. This can slow your pace a lot, but at least your toddler will walk on her own! Besides, you'll look back on those pictures with giggles later.

Invest in a multitool with a compass, thermometer, magnifying glass, and whistle. We got one for our three-year-old son on a trip, and it worked wonders for motivating him to explore with us. He wanted to know everything and finally had a tool to help him answer some questions.

We asked questions about these metrics to help redirect his attention at times. Moreover, we taught him to blow the whistle when he couldn't see us, which ended up helping us in one tense moment of panic.

Sing walking songs with your toddler to encourage exploration or just reach a rest point. Snacks also help, but they are not always available.

Walking and Waiting

Sometimes, you need to walk to wait. This process may seem endless to your toddler, so try making it a bit quicker by filling out customs forms or other documents ahead of time. Toddler girl looks at airplanes from airport terminal

In the airport, using a suitcase your toddler can ride and sit on in line will help mitigate some whining.

Should I Worry About My Baby and Toddler Not Liking the Food?

If your toddler is not a terribly picky eater at home, plenty of appealing foods will likely be at your destination. However, picky toddlers will require some planning. Once you reach your destination, find a grocery store and purchase some things you know your picky eater will eat.

Whenever possible, ensure there is at least one thing your toddler will enjoy in each meal to encourage him.

Babies are typically easy to introduce new food to, but arming yourself with a few things you know she will enjoy from a grocery store soon after arrival may save you some headaches.

Do you have a picky eater? Here are 10 Tips for Handling Your One-Year-Old's Picky Eating.

Tips for Taking Care of Yourself While Traveling Abroad with a Baby and Toddler

It is easy to get worn down while caring for little ones, especially when traveling abroad. You don't have all your go-to tools and brands around you, the comfort of your home is far away, and jet lag takes a more significant toll on you than the kids.

A family in their sleepwear reading a book.

Here are some ideas for taking care of yourself while traveling abroad with a baby and toddler:

Tip	Explanation
Stay up as long as you can during the first two days.	Some say that jet lag lasts one day for each time zone hour you are removed. So, if you travel seven hours ahead, you may need seven days to recover from jet lag. However, staying up as late as possible on the first two days helped me sleep deeply and wake up at a typical morning time, regardless of how many hours ahead or behind I was.
Eat small portions often during the first two days.	Some people struggle with stomach issues when traveling, so eating big meals three times a day could prolong those issues. Opting for smaller portions throughout the day may be easier on your belly!
Drink lots of water.	Coffee is tasty, but coffee drinkers tend to drink even more when tired or jet-lagged. Unfortunately, this may not bode well for upset guts. However, the greater danger is not drinking enough water. Caffeinated drinks will not replenish the water you lose traveling and walking around, so please remember to hydrate!
Bring Tylenol or something to help with achiness and headaches.	Ideally, you won't have to use any medicine at all, but the soreness, headaches, and jet lag take their toll. Instead of searching for something locally, bring something you use from home.
Schedule downtime for kids' naps.	Toddlers and babies struggle with jet lag a bit, but not as much as adults. So, schedule a regular naptime, just like you do at home. Sure, you won't be able to explore as much or as consistently as you would like, but that nap will help reset everyone's attitudes and make evenings much better!
Bring a backpack instead of a purse.	Your hands will be full with managing your little ones, holding stuff, and snapping a few pictures, so use a backpack instead of a purse. Backpacks have more room for all the things, are more difficult to snatch, and have more pockets to stay organized.

Read Sustainable Traveling with Babies and Toddlers: How to Stay Green on the Go for more on taking care of your little ones and yourself while away from home.

In a Nutshell

Traveling abroad with a baby and toddler is totally doable and rewarding! Even though your littles won't remember the trip, they will gain some insights they will build on in future experiences.

My own children don't remember any of those early travels, but they handled later trips so well because we laid the groundwork back then. Besides, I treasure the memories and pictures from those early trips, yet I must admit that I've blocked most of the pain and tiredness I felt.

Have you traveled abroad with your little one yet?