Travel with Kids: 56 Top Travel Tips from Real Mums and Dads

Travelling with kids: one of the most fun, rewarding and sometimes hair-pullingly frustrating things you can do as a family! We asked over 50 mum and dad bloggers for their top tips on how to make family travel run that little bit smoother, and they came through with an absolute treasure-trove of ideas.
Scroll through all 56 tips, or click on the bookmark list below to jump to specific advice sections for each stage of family travel.

• Journeys and Transport
• General ‘getting there’ and ‘getting around’ tips
• Advice for long drives with kids
• Top tips for flying with kids
• What to bring
• What to pack to keep kids happy
• Packing tips that help you stay ahead
• Make hotels family-friendly…
• When you’re there…

First things first…

Wise words to remember before you hit the road

“Adjust your expectations. You’ll need to add more rest stops on car journeys, and traipsing the tourist hotspots from dawn till midnight won’t be as much fun. For a while, you’re going to have to slow it down, and move at your little one’s pace. Oh, and it gets easier each time!”

- Luschka, Diary of a First Child

“GO ANYWAY.  Life is never going to align perfectly with your vacation plans so just plan to go anyway (and buy travel insurance just in case).”

- Kim, Traveling Mom

“Things don’t always go to plan so you need to be flexible and relax your routines. Often this will lead to amazing experiences you would have missed otherwise. One of my favourite travel experiences happened when we were forced to stop driving because my son wouldn’t stop crying.  We stopped at a farm shop on the roadside and arrived just in time for my son to feed the lambs.  If my son hadn’t been crying we would have driven right past.”

- Catherine Way, Adventures With Kids

“Try not to feel pressured into spending heaps of money if you’re on a tight budget. Your kids are happy to be away with you so simple pleasures will work wonders.”

- Liz, LivingwithKids

“Prepare yourself mentally ahead of time for the fact that you won’t always be able to keep your kid on his normal schedule/routine while traveling, and that’s ok.  Don’t sweat the small stuff.  The world won’t end if a nap is skipped or lunch is eaten at 3 pm.”

- Amy Nielson, A Good Life

“We never forget to pack our sense of humour. When we have one throwing up from car sickness and we’ve taken the wrong turn or can’t find someones favourite teddy, we really do need to remember that one day we will look back at these times and laugh and truly miss them.”

- Christie, Home Grown Mama

 

Journeys and Transport

General ‘getting there’ and ‘getting around’ tips

“In our family, food fuels a pleasant trip – to anywhere. When we drove up from Melbourne to Sydney, we made sure we had sufficient stash of snacks in the car. Kids use up their energy really quickly even when they’re just sitting in the car. So have some healthy snacks like fruits, raw vegetables, biscuits and also include some treats like lollies (this makes a great bribe), to keep them going before you stop for a break.”

- Norlin Mustapha, Just Us Kids Online

“Have pasta/carbohydrates to fill children up so they nap if the journey is very long and you need a break!”

- Emma Bradshaw, Emma Bradshaw

“Try to keep to your child’s normal schedule as much as possible when you’re on the road— for naps, meals and bed time. It will help with jet lag and overall crankiness (for both of you).”

- Kayt Sukel, Travel Savvy Mom

“Travel with kids is easier in stages: they’re a great excuse to plan a leisurely route and make the journey as much a part of your holiday as the destination.”

- Tim Atkinson, Bringing up Charlie

“Travelling by public transport is wonderful as it’s great time spent with excited kids – instead of being stressed about driving with kids arguing in the back, we get to spend extra time with kids who are still thrilled to be on a bus or train.”

- Zoe, Playing by the Book

“If you take food, you don’t have to search for expensive and unhealthy food and drinks at an unknown destination with tired, hungry, grumpy children.”

- Nicole Finlayson, Everyday Insanity and Delight

“Although it’s nice to be able to wheel around kiddos (and their gear), there are a lot of places that are not stroller-friendly. The good news is that babywearing has come a long way and even kids up to 40lbs can be carried easily and comfortably all day long. Before you set out with a big and bulky stroller, make sure that it will be worth lugging around the globe.”

- Leanne, Rave & Review

“Designate a child to each person so you only have one or two to worry about instead of all of them.”

- Caroline Davies, Frog in the Field

“Don’t worry about heaps of toys: often you and the window are entertainment enough until sleep hits.”

- Emma, Forever

“Certain models of car seats are narrow enough at the back to fit into airline seats and can be taken into the cabin for children under three. My son slept for the entire flight in a familiar comfortable seat, and our Britax Prince seat at £60 paid for itself after one trip. Once your child is three you can put the seat in the hold and still save money on not having to hire dodgy car seats at your destination.”

- Sarah Trivuncic, Maison Cupcake

Advice for long drives with kids

“Before departure, make photocopies of your route, and let each child pick a pit stop that appeals to them along the way. It doesn’t matter if their selection is a greenway, museum, tourist attraction, or the World’s Largest Ball of Twine; they’ll be anticipating it with excitement, making the miles fly by!”

- Amy Whitley, Pit Stops for Kids

“We’ve worked out that the best time to go is definitely evening.  We do supper, bath and then into the car.  Eventually they will fall asleep and you don’t need to stop for food/the loo etc, as you wouldn’t normally be feeding/changing them at that time anyway.”

- Harriet, Plan B

“Include frequent bathroom and play park stops to stretch those crampy legs, lots of snacks and water, making sure the kids are comfortable in their seats, not too cold or hot and music and DVDs to keep everyone amused and the boredom at bay!”

- Michelle, Farmer’s Wifey

“I will make a sheet full of everyday things that we may spot on the journey and then put this on a small clipboard, my seven-year-old will sit there for ages trying to spot and tick off his list a yellow lorry or red telephone box!”

- Michelle, Mummy from the Heart

“If you can afford it, invest in an in-car DVD player. It has saved our sanity more than once.”

- Emily Vest, Pants with Names

“Map out the towns that you intend to stop in for morning tea, lunch, afternoon tea and overnight stop. Try to choose slightly larger towns that will have a visitor centre because they are most likely to have bathroom and eating facilities. This is so helpful for children (and parents) to know because they can have a good idea how long they will be in the car for.”

- Tracy, Our Life in Blog Form

“Even though my daughters are 11 and 14 they still like to play ‘the car game’ when we’re driving to our annual holiday in Wales. They get money rewards for spotting cars with unusual colours:  50p for a pink car; 30p for an orange car; 25p for a yellow car and 20p for any other unusual looking car.  It keeps them busy and it’s a bit of fun, and you wouldn’t believe the number of pink cars they spotted last year!”

- Not Supermum, Not Supermum

“When I was potty training my daughter, I always kept a potty and a bottle of water in the car. I used the water to clean the potty out after each use. I also, poured a little water in each time, in case she had to do #2, it wouldn’t stick.”

- Kai Harris, Bargain Mom

“Be eager to entertain them yourself; it’s too easy when travelling to draw an imaginery barrier between front seats and back seats.”

- Garry Fisher, The Blog Up North

“Make regular stops at parks with play equipment to help them run off their energy.”

- Erin, I May Not Be Perfect

Top tips for flying with kids

“Make sure your child is used to wearing headphones. There are loads of kids shows on the in-flight entertainment, but younger kids especially might not like the headsets, or understand that they have to keep them on. By practicing at home with them in front of the TV, your child will be more able to sit back and enjoy that episode (or ten) of Dora on a long haul flight.”

- Rhiannon, Flour Child

“Try to factor in a stop over even if for just one night.  We never stay for more than a night or two as we are usually keen to get to our destination.  However the stop is a great chance for us all to stretch our legs and get some decent rest and a good meal, and this really helps with the jet lag later.”

- Sim, Kookaburra Laughs

“If flying long haul with an under-two, you need to pre-book the bassinet seats by phoning the airline.  It doesn’t cost anything extra, but if you don’t, they’re not guaranteed, even if you’ve specified the age of your child(ren!) when you booked.  Also, not all airlines have them, so definitely check before you before you book.  The difference between having an 18-month-old on your knee and not for twelve hours is unquantifiable!”

- Harriet, Plan B

“We tell them beforehand that they are going on a “special mission”. We pack them their own little backpack full of little games, books and non-messy snacks.  This is their “mission pack”.  By the time it comes time to go they are so excited that even boring bits like lining up for security checks become part of “the mission”.”

Tonia, Life in the Country

“Make friends with the crew, take lots of nappies, walk up and down the aisles at frequent intervals and try not to get too stressed if your baby won’t settle – I know it can be difficult when you feel as though other passengers are glaring at you, but all you can do is your best.”

- Liz, LivingwithKids

“Gift wrap number of little toys and activities and pack them in the child’s hand luggage.  They don’t all have to be new – a mix of 50/50 new things to old favourites is about right. Then when you’re on the flight dish out the presents every half hour. This both gives the kids something to do and also gives them something to look forward to.”

- Dan Hughes, All That Comes With It

“Pre-board if possible so you can have time to get settled in, especially if you are travelling with a car seat as these can be a struggle to secure.”

- Colleen Lanin, TravelMamas

“Try breastfeeding, or giving the baby the bottle. The sucking action will help reduce the pressure during the flight. Breastmilk or milk also acts as a mild sedative so it helps calm fussy baby down as well.”

- Felicia Singkang, My Life in Mono

“We filled several small zip-lock bags with her favourite cereal and stashed them in all our hand luggage. That way we always had access to one of the bags and she could ‘top up’ if she didn’t eat all the airline food.”

- Fussy Eater’s Mum, Life with a Fussy Eater

Like this tip? Check out Fussy Eater’s Mum’s five tips for surviving a long-haul flight with kids.

What to bring…

What to pack to keep kids happy

“Pack colouring-in and story books, stickers, games, small cars, trains, dolls and anything else they might like that is light and small and easy to find if it gets lost under the seat.”

- Dannii, Dannii Beauty

“Upload their favourite film to your iPod for emergencies.”

- Claire Walsh, Being a Mummy

“Make some story magnets and play with them on a baking sheet – they’re great fun for telling stories on the go and the magnets mean they won’t get lost down the car seats.”

- Cathy James, Nurture Store

“Pack a holiday bag for each child to keep them entertained. In the bag, the child can store activities plus any additional treasures they collect along the way. Family holidays are all about creating precious memories that last a lifetime!”

- Kelly, Be a Fun Mum

“I always make up a bag for each child when we’re setting off on a long journey.  The bag includes a bottle of water or squash, some healthy snacks, a notebook and pencil and other things like a new book or magazine and their Nintendo DS. I don’t let them have the bag until we’ve set off and it always keeps them quiet until we get to our destination.”

- Cass Bailey, The Diary of a Frugal Family

“A magic painting book is good for long haul flights. Buy small toy animals, figures or vehicles but make sure nothing makes a noise.”

- Nova, Cherished by Me

“Whenever we are going on a trip somewhere further than the local supermarket, the whole family pack a bag each. Into these bags go a snack, a drink, a pack of colouring crayons, a notepad/colouring book, a favourite story and a couple of small toys. Those who are old enough to have them also pack mp3 players, or computer games, or if it is a car journey a couple of CDs!”

- Pippa Wright, A Mother’s Ramblings

Packing tips that help you stay ahead

“Camping shops are a treasure chest of light, durable and small-scale essentials for travelling parents or parents on the go, so just because you may have never been camping don’t underestimate the potential. Most quality camping stores now have a children’s section too, so you can pick up clothing for your kiddos that is light, suitable to a range of climates, washes well and dries quickly. Invest in multipurpose accessories and clothing.”

- Kasia Pawelski-Leach, Kasiabear

“Inspect the backpacks. Invariably, one of the kids will try to sneak in a whole box of Legos”

- Rachel, Letters to Ames

“Remember to take lots of baby wipes for spills, or to clean messy hands after snacks.”

- Jacqui Paterson, Mummy’s Little Monkey

“Bring along basic meds and a thermometer (and check nearest hospital locations at destination prior to departure).”

- Mama Pumpkin, A Mother’s Monologue

“I find it helpful to wear something with plenty of pockets so I have everything we’ll need to hand. I usually take some clothes pegs and long shoelaces which always come in handy for everything from pinning up shade on a pram to tying favourite toys on so they don’t get lost in transit.”

- Ellen Arnison, In a Bun Dance

“Breasts are best! Breast-feeding is not only going to be free, but also, easy to pack with nothing extra to lug around. It takes care of feedings and soothing young ones.”

- Drea, Oh Dear Drea

“Always pack a complete change of clothes per child, right down to knickers and socks, along with an old towel and keep it at hand in the car or on top of the luggage in the boot. It’s a godsend if anyone is travelsick – as are ziplock sandwich bags! Shirts and cardies are easier and cleaner to take off than T-shirts and jumpers when covered in sick too!”

- Cheryl, Madhouse Family Reviews

“When packing extra clothes in the diaper bag, pack each set in individual zip lock bags so that when you need them, you don’t need to search through the bag for the shirt, the trousers, socks and so on.”

- Felicia Singkang, My Life in Mono

“Bring a pack n’ play for baby to sleep in and play in safely in hotels – one that has wheels and collapses to carry around and travel with easily.”

- Penelope Guzman, Penelope’s Oasis

Make hotels family-friendly…

“Ask questions when booking accommodation. Ask if balconies are child friendly. Ask if they have any safety equipment they can offer you. When you get there do a reconnaissance of the room.  Move things out of drawers and cupboards and put them in safe places.  Don’t be afraid to re-arrange the room to suit your family’s needs and your children’s safety. Blue tack can be your best friend.  It can be used to subdue sharp corners on furniture and also to assist to keep drawers and cupboards shut.”

- Kirsty de Roach, Baby de Roach

“Take a simple blackout blind kit. We take either black bin liners or tin foil and some masking tape or blu tak to stick it on the window, otherwise we find our children are awake when the sun comes up and in summer this can make for a very long day and tired children and tired parents when you want to be enjoying your holiday. Masking tape can also be used to cover any plug sockets in reach of little fingers.”

- Ella, Notes from Home

“We always choose hotels that are self contained, they are usually more family-friendly and it works out much cheaper and healthier when you can prepare your own meals (especially breakfast and a packed lunch to take).  Plus eating out is fun for adults but boring for children after a while, so saving only one meal out a day makes it much less stressful and more enjoyable for all!”

- Dani, Heath and Fitness Mum

When you’re there…

“Take one of those hop-on, hop-off tour buses. It will get you to all the destinations you want to visit and save your arms and legs and sanity if you explore the town the way you did before you had children (i.e., on foot and subway or bus). Some come with packages that include admission to the attractions you want to see.”

- Donna Schwartz Mills, SoCalMom

“Travelling with children exposes you to connecting with locals and actually immersing yourself in a new culture – locals often love children and they provide a perfect opening for conversations. When travelling in Italy with our curly blonde toddler high up in a backpack,  we were forever being asked about our little “Bottecelli cherub” – he lapped it up  and so did we, and we enjoyed conversations that wouldn’t have happened without him.”

- Lisa, Giving Back Girl

“Holidaying with older children can sometimes be a bit of a challenge, mine being no exception.  One minute they’re excited about travel and the next claiming they’re B-O-R-E-D.  For that reason, I like to involve my sons as much I can in our finely-tuned holiday plans.  By simply asking their opinion about which museum, landmark or restaurant they’d be interested in visiting at your travel destination can get them more excited and motivated about the holiday.  Also, giving them a job like writing the postcards to send to friends and family helps to relieve any boredom factor that might set in.”

- Karen, If I Could Escape

Thanks to Into Somerset, fiskfisk, Wendy Copley, Brit, Frans Persoon, cafemama, Wendy Copley, the loushe and macross00 for the images off Flickr

Ready to start planning a family holiday? Browse a global selection of cheap hotels as well as check out our favourite family-friendly events in London.

Have we missed anything? Let us know and share your top family travel tips in the comments…

Related posts:

1. London Family Travel: the Disney 50 and Four more Kids’ Events for 2011
2. Four Ideas for Family Christmas Holiday Breaks in the UK
3. Eco Travel Guide: Five Super-easy Steps to more Sustainable Travelling
4. 2011 Travel Guide: Best Breaks in 2011 Part Three – September to December
5. 2011 Travel Guide: Best Breaks in 2011 Part Two – May to August