Not Another Basic Travel-with-Kids List (I Promise)
Look, we get it. You're already tired of reading the same painfully obvious advice about traveling with kids: bring snacks, pack wipes, don't forget diapers—groundbreaking stuff, right? Well, this isn't that. Because honestly, if I see another recommendation to "just bring an iPad," I'm going to scream into the void.
Instead, here’s an actually useful, borderline controversial, thoroughly unfiltered survival guide for traveling with kids—crowdsourced from some of the coolest, most well-traveled moms I know (some of whom shall remain unnamed... for obvious reasons). This is the good stuff. The real stuff. The “how are we still alive?” kind of stuff.
SANITY STARTS HERE
Put on a (mostly) good face
"Parents with a positive attitude make all the difference—learn to put a good face on uncomfortable situations.” – Mónica Fonseca
Accept the travel reality:
“Newsflash: your precious routine is officially cancelled. Naps are suggestions, nutritious meals are mythical creatures, and that’s totally fine. Embrace the chaos.” – Camilla Marcus
Lower expectations:
"Lower your expectations.” Those three words have really helped me embrace (and even enjoy) the chaos of family vacations with two under three" – Elin Strong
No Big Deal No Big Drama:
“The key was never making a big deal out of anything. Kids adapt. Start early, teach them to roll with it. They’re resilient—and it sets them up to be confident travelers who can go anywhere, do anything. No fear.”- Linda
Memory beats reality:
“Even if it feels like everything goes horribly wrong…your kids will still make awesome memories. My husband and I look back on some trips in horror. No AC?! Grumpy toddler!! No sleep! But my daughter, even years later, remembers everything from the same trips as amazing and wonderful.” Allison Blackwell
AIRPLANE & AIRPORT HACKS
Ear Pressure & Feeding
Warm bottles for takeoff and landing (ask flight attendants early!).
For older kids, try a lollipop
Packing & Organization
Personalized packing cubes - Andrea L.
Minimalism: “Less is always more.”- Monica Fonseca
Ship diapers and bulky essentials ahead to your destination - Camilla Marcus
Kid Entertainment (That Actually Works)
Blue painter’s tape: Endless, quiet entertainment.
Majo Idea Sets: These save sanity (and marriages).
“Reusable sticker books, water-drawing pads & for my youngest, I also packed a busy book “ Catherine Newell-Hanson mom of MILKTEETH
“Water Coloring Books , Sticker Stamper & Puffy Stickers” - Amirah Kaseem
Montessori Apps: Pok Pok Playroom, Montessori Preschool App, Khan Academy Kids.
Yoto Player / Tonie Box: Screen-free, sanity-friendly entertainment
"Lots of snacks. I like to curate a snack box for the plane with many options in it - And then I bring extra snacks for the trip too." Monroe Alvarez
“Give them a cute backpack—roomy enough for their random treasures but small enough not to become your problem. Let them help pack it too. It gives them a sense of agency and eliminates any future complaints about forgotten stuff. You chose that rock, babe—not me.”- Marissa
TRAVEL MVPs (That Deserve the Overhead Bin)
Sleep Comfort
Travel Nest Inflatable Cushion - Off-Camera swears by this.
“There are so many cute little ride-on suitcases now—it’s like giving your kid a toy and a mode of transport. Plus they double as footrests on long-haul flights. Highly recommend.” – Carla
Strollers & a Portable Car Seat
Single kid: Babyzen YOYO² ( most loved)
Two kids STROLLER “This was a game-changer for trips in general. We researched lots of umbrella strollers (the travel kind that folds easily) and this had solid reviews. We loved it. Is it perfect? No. But it really helped get two toddlers through many airports and cities, and we kept it in use for ages back home in LA. It also has a car seat adaptor.” Catherine Newell-Hanson
If your baby is under 18 months, do yourself a favor and choose the Doona—car seat and stroller all in one. It’s heaven-sent. My only complaint? They don’t make a toddler-sized version, and honestly, it breaks my heart.
“Oh one product I can’t live without now is the WAYB | Re-Certified Pico Portable Car Seat, but you have to get the travel bag, and it’s got so much extra room to stuff in diapers!”- Annie
JET LAG & SLEEP STRATEGIES
– Shift schedules mid-flight:
”Start adjusting sleep and mealtimes on the plane—yes, even if it feels weird. Aligning to the destination ASAP is the best way to avoid zombie children.” - (Amanda)
– Sunlight is your best friend:
The second you land, get outside. Sunlight is nature’s melatonin and helps reset everyone's body clock—yes, even yours.
– Melatonin for kids:
If you’re that parent considering melatonin (hi, same), the move is 0.5 to 1mg about 30 minutes to 2 hours before bedtime. Try it before you travel so you’re not 35,000 feet up managing unexpected chaos.
– Viburcol Natural Suppositories (Europe only):
A magical little secret. Totally natural, calms the nervous system, and helps with sleep. (Not sold in the U.S., so stock up if you're abroad.)
– Time zone who?
For shorter trips (under 5 days), some parents swear by just staying on your home time zone. It’s chaotic but… sometimes less chaotic than trying to reset the whole family clock.
– Dark hotel room = survival:
”Bring blackout shades or even tape aluminum foil to the windows if you have to.”-Chloe
CONTROVERSIAL TRUTHS
Unpopular, But True
Don’t haul bulky gear
Borrow or rent car seats and strollers at your destination (Eliana).Carry-on only if possible
And honestly? Life-changing.- Camilla MarcusNo screens until meltdown
The iPad isn’t your first line of defense. Use it as the emergency card, not the welcome gift. -AndreaKids don’t care about the itinerary
Don’t over-plan. One big activity a day, max. Everything else is vibes, snacks, and naps. -CarolinaNew Toys for the plane
”Just buy lots of new toys she would love and literally show them all on plane. One by one”– Olga IanulYou can skip the travel crib
Floor beds, hotel couches, or a stack of towels—safe sleep doesn’t always mean lugging your own crib. -Andrea M.Skip the red eye unless your kid is a unicorn
That “they’ll sleep the whole way” dream? For many of us, that’s a lie. Learn from our mistakes.
ELEVATED HACKS
Book private airport transfers
Luxury? No. Essential for sanity. -ElianaSource trusted nanny services at your destination
“A night out saves your mental health.” – Monroe AlvarezTreat your Airbnb host like a concierge
Ask them for babysitter recs, restaurant tips, hidden gems—they almost always know what’s good. -Anna M“Get on the plane last with the little one (ones) -- my husband gets on first (typically boarding group 1-2) and gets all our bags and gear settled. I then walk on with baby last (group 5) so we have less time to keep her busy and occupied.
A shift from waiting 45 mins for full plane to board versus 20. Makes a big difference, especially at the baby and toddler stages!”- Dana Curatolo
Pack a roll of dog poop bags
Not just for diapers—wet clothes, snack trash, surprise barf cleanup. Slim, cheap, genius. (A more elevated take on this is these mesh zipper bags)Invest in the headphones. Not for them—for you. If they’re comfy, cute, and limit volume, you might just get 20 uninterrupted minutes of peace. Worth every penny.
Ask for Help: If you need a stranger to lend you a hand, ask, people want to be helpful - Mamala Organics
“We don’t do iPads at home, so they are novel to them. everyone gets to bring their one plus one book + a stuffy on the plane”- Claire Khodara
“My number one is to take a hot bath as soon as I get to my destination because my body aches so much and it's really good for the post-flight circulation!!” - Annie
Airtag the Toddler – “If your kid is anything like mine—aka a professional runner—you need an Airtag. There are cute bracelet options, but I swear by the little ones that clip or stick inside clothes. They can’t rip it off, and you won’t lose your mind every time they disappear behind a suitcase carousel.” – Sabrina
Make a mini 'calm kit'
A zip pouch with a tiny sensory toy, lavender balm, a few lollipops & maybe a xanax for yourself? - whatever works.
Got a rogue parenting move that saved your sanity mid-flight? A hack so weird it shouldn’t work—but does? A trick passed down in the group chat that deserves a Nobel?
Drop it in the comments. We’re not here to judge—we’re here to steal each other’s survival tactics.
Besos,
Victoria
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Gift-wrap each little toy you’re carrying on the plane. I didn’t usually buy new toys to fly with our toddler, but wrapped each of his hot wheels and trains in wrapping paper and tape. It’s a game of minutes! Here’s the object, can you guess what it is, ok can you open it, wow look at that! Now you can play with it! And there’s a few more minutes gone by. ✈️
Overheard at an airport as a mom was bringing starbucks donuts to her kiddos- “calories in!” And that is my food vacation motto w my kiddo. “Calories in!”