Whew, we ripped the bandaid off. We made it to Florida and back with our very active 18-month old. And Emmett was a complete rockstar. I had some anxiety around the whole vacation. Not only because trapping him in an airplane seat for hours on end seemed like an impossible task, but also because I knew his schedule would be all out of whack for a week. I’m a mom, it’s kind of my job to worry now, right? Even so, I knew the payoff would be much greater than the cost. Traveling with a toddler is no easy task, but the second we saw his little toes in the sand, we forgot all the worry.
We did feel very prepared. We pride ourselves in being pretty efficient travelers and wanted this first experience with Emmett to be a good one. Or as good as it could be. So we bought all the things, thought through scenarios and asked for advice. Between getting there and back, we definitely found some favorite products that made our mobile lives much easier.
Favorite Products For Traveling With A Toddler
Liki Trike
When we invested in this 5-in-1 trike for Emmett, the travel benefits were definitely what intrigued us most. We had zero trips planned, but knew eventually we’d be hauling E through an airport, needing something to contain him. Finally seeing the trike in action made me (and everyone who encountered us) a true believer. It collapses to fit through the scanner at security. Unfolds in 5 seconds. Easy to maneuver, even with one hand and luggage in tow. We used it right up to scanning our tickets and gate checked. One airplane on our way home was large enough for us to stow it with our carry-ons making it even easier. If I had one complaint, it would be the handle doesn’t really have a place to be stored after collapsing so we carried it with us. A small inconvenience in the grand scheme of things. There is a separate travel bag Doona sells, but I didn’t want to deal with one extra step. Once we landed in Florida, this was Emmett’s “stroller” for the trip so it was being used constantly. We honestly can’t wait to travel with it again!
Amazon Fire Kids Tablet
I know, I know. Let’s all roll our eyes at screen time while traveling. We had no idea what Emmett would want to do on the plane. Would he sleep? Would he want to play? Walk around? Cry the whole time? So we broke down and bought the tablet. Lifesaver! We downloaded all the Blippi episodes we could, added some bluetooth headphones and he was entertained for 80% of the flight. I’m the crazy mom who times screen time each day so this made me nervous. But he was completely fine. Travel is so stressful as it is, never feel guilty for utilizing modern tools we have to make our lives easier.
SlumberPod
I am very much regretting not capturing Emmett in his SlumberPod. If you have no idea what I’m talking about, check it out here. I went to link this most genius product (has been featured on Shark Tank!) and found that they are SOLD OUT. Looks like families are traveling this summer and everyone buys the SlumberPod for good reason. Let me break it down for you – it’s basically a toddler tent. A breathable, black-out toddler tent that fits over a standard pack-n-play. We haven’t shared a room with Emmett since he was about 4 weeks old and he sleeps best when it’s pitch black. The Pod fixes the problem of carrying blackout shades wherever you go or having to shove kids into a closet or bathroom at the hotel just so everyone can sleep. It’s genius. If you want one, get on their waiting list!
Herschel Strand Sprout Bag
Thankfully, we already had a stellar travel diaper bag to use as a carry-on for all of Emmett’s things. I’ve been a huge fan of our Herschel diaper bag since before E was even born. I took it on a trial run for our babymoon in Maine and knew right away I loved this thing. It fits so much stuff while still being able to zip. We cram snacks, diapers, wipes, toys, blankets and there’s still a bit of room for random items. Unfortunately, the Sprout bags are a little harder to come by right now. I linked the ones I could find!
Tips for traveling with a toddler
Take the advice, read the articles
I took advice from friends, I researched the products, I read the blogs from travel pros. I loved this specific article from Lovevery for unique entertainment ideas.
All the snacks & all the water
Emmett’s eating schedule was all over the place on both days we traveled. He wasn’t super into airport food (who is?) and we were so thankful we overpacked on snacks. Those veggie pouches were lifesavers when all he would consume otherwise was Goldfish crackers or fruit snacks. And water. Keep them hydrated!
Embrace the chaos, be flexible
We have a pretty strict schedule at home. He knows the rhythm and what to expect. This made me most nervous going into not only the airport situation, but also vacation in general. But you know what? Emmett did amazing. He went with the flow, still slept through the night, was in a great mood. I learned so much about him on the trip and now I don’t feel as anxious when things get out of whack at home either.
On top of that, you just have to embrace the chaos. We were chasing after our 18-month old 24/7 and at times I was utterly exhausted. But T and I would look at each other and remind ourselves how worth it the experience was. He saw the ocean for the first time, he experienced life outside the norm, he had a freaking blast.
100% worth all the trouble.
100%.
xoxo. B
