How to survive travelling with a toddler
/Be prepared to buy a lot of fluffies and hot drinks
I love how people will smile at your crazed child, as the toddler bolts full-flight across a museum or through a tour group. Café visits are a welcome reprieve on our holidays, where we sink into a chair for a quick rest. That’s so long as the toddler doesn’t start throwing pieces of scone at my head, while yelling “Mummy!” at the top of his lungs. The best cafe we’ve been to so far on our trip to Nelson and Motueka has been the Woolshed Café which has a huge outdoor area and friendly farm animals to pat. The worst was Pics Peanut Butter World – not because the café was bad, but because our over-tired toddler was hyped up on peanut butter and in need of a nap.
Stick to the nap routine
Even if the location changes (going from a cot to a car seat, or a pram) we try to keep the afternoon nap at the same time. This might mean structuring the whole day around the nap – choosing a morning activity and an afternoon activity that will fit in around it (which can mean some early starts) or planning for a carseat nap. We’ve found it helps keep an element of predictability and rhythm to the day. In saying that, there will come a time when toddlers miss their nap, or it’s the length of a couple of Wiggles songs. It can be painful at the time but try not to sweat it.
Pack a special baby/toddler first aid kit
A couple of nights ago R got his leg stuck between the slats of the back of a dining chair. Cooking oil is not a standard component of a first aid kit, but lots of other things are. In our first aid kit, we pack Pamol, teatree oil/antiseptic cream if you’d rather, plasters and a thermometer. When we were planning one of our first holidays when R was a baby, someone suggested packing a baby first aid kit, and it’s a habit that’s stuck.
Always have multiple snacks on-hand
The day at Pics Peanut Butter world was the day multiple snacks were offered: crackers, pizza, cheese scones, fruit… but still everything was rejected in favour of a couple of sips of my Matcha latte. You win some, you lose some. However, I do recommend having lots of snacks available to stave off toddler hanger.
Make sure you have time to yourself
Travelling with kids isn’t the same as travelling on your own or with your partner. It’s hard to find time to truly relax and unwind, and we have to somehow create these moments for ourselves. Earlier this year we went on holiday with my mother-in-law, mostly out of necessity because we were going to a wedding. But it turned out really well – she got to spend time with her grandson and be an extra pair of hands, while enjoying some time in Northland and Auckland. And of course I highly recommend tag-teaming with your partner, so you can each have a few hours of time to yourself and go off and do your own thing.
Enjoy the time spent gazing at flowers, patting sheep and running up and down a lookout track
The little things toddlers fixate on are often the most joyful and hilarious parts of the holiday. Pointing at animals non-stop and picking wildflowers/”putiputi” as R calls them, showing off his Te Reo skills, can really make you stop and slow down. Savour it while you can… in five minutes time, they’ll be wanting another snack or stealing sips of your latte.
What are your top tips for travelling with toddlers?
