There’s a misconception that once you have children, you can no longer travel, or, if you do, it will be too stressful to be worth it. Reader, I’m here to tell you this couldn’t be further from reality.
Some of my family’s happiest memories are from our travels abroad: marveling at the Eiffel Tower on a summer night, making pasta together in Italy, jumping into the Mediterranean at the Grand-Hotel du Cap-Ferrat, which our children affectionately call “the pool house.”
Traveling is a wonderful way to connect with and enrich young imaginations, but as any parent will understand, the journey can quickly descend into chaos without the proper preparation. And with three kids under five that have collectively visited six different countries (including our home country of New Zealand—a 17-hour flight from New York), we have experienced a lot of trial and error over the years.
The main things to consider when planning are what to pack, the travel logistics, and the destination. (Should you settle for a Caribbean all-inclusive over Capri, or is Disney World the only place that’s actually exciting for kids?) From airport survival techniques to crafting itineraries around routines, these are my top insider tips for traveling with toddlers and babies.
Preparation
Create an itemized list of the most cumbersome items that you’ll need; The Doona convertible car seat and a fold-up travel stroller are always at the top of our list (we alternate between the Yo-Yo and the Silver Cross Jet), followed by kids’ carry-on suitcases with fun prints (State Bags and Pottery Barn have some great options). Invest in backpacks with luggage sleeves and load them up with essentials for the flight: a change of clothes, something warm, hand sanitizer, diapers, wet wipes, snacks, coloring books, and non-noisy, mess-free toys.
If you’re pumping, portability is key; I used to use the Willows or the Elvie inserts but have found the Zomee to be the most effective, even if you do have big bottles protruding from your chest (concealed with a nursing cover, in my case). And to limit excess bulk, leave the nursing pillow behind and request an extra cushion when you board the flight; it’s all about minimizing the items to keep track of while having access to everything you’ll need.
Sudden turbulence has been making headlines lately, and since not all airlines offer infant seatbelts, I would advise buying a baby flight vest to keep little ones secure; we have the Baby B’Air, which is sturdy and functional.
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At the Airport
Making your way through the airport is undoubtedly the most challenging part, but I cannot overstate what an absolute game changer American Airlines’ Five Star Service is for families.
On a recent (and perhaps overly ambitious) trip to Europe, we were equipped with seven suitcases, four duffel bags, and two strollers—a moving circus from the outset. However, once we arrived at JFK, we were met curbside by an AA representative who engaged with the children and escorted us through a check-in that felt more like a luxury hotel lobby than a major international airport. From there, we breezed through security in an expedited line and arrived at the glossy new Greenwich Lounge, which offers a la carte dining, sophisticated relaxation spaces with nursing areas, and Champagne on tap. No hustle, no halogen-lit halls, and no reason for the dreaded toddler tantrums that travel often triggers.
Getting on the actual plane is usually a mad scramble for families, too, but we were ushered to the gate with attendants who assisted with our luggage and happily sang along to The Wheels on the Bus—something that we had no energy for after a 3:00 a.m. start. They took us all the way onto the plane first and ensured that everything was stowed away securely. Et Voila!
This simple add-on improved the experience immensely, but the real advantage was when we arrived in Rome and the driver was nowhere to be found. He didn’t speak English, and we don’t speak Italian, and instead of standing at the arrivals hall, he was waiting in a car park a mile away. We would have been lost without the AA attendants at Fiumicino Airport, who coordinated with him and helped to keep everything together while happily entertaining the toddlers.
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On the Airplane
If you can, book a flight that aligns with sleep schedules. We often take red-eye flights to Europe, and the nighttime routine can generally remain the same, but for the bath: dinner, book, bed (and perhaps some games and cartoons pre-loaded onto an iPad).
Plan to nurse or bottle-feed during take-off and landing to ease ear pain from the change in cabin pressure, and, if accessible, book the bassinet in advance. For older kids, Stokke’s JetKids Bedbox is a worthwhile investment, but be sure to check that the airline will allow it. And if you’re flying business class, check the plane model when you’re booking as some have more modern cabins with closing doors for added privacy (Air France and Delta both have this option).
It goes without saying that planes are a hotbed of germs, so I always carry a pack of Lysol wipes and sanitize the seat area as soon as we board. Another tip? Have the kids wear slip-on shoes rather than lace-ups, and pack disposable slippers so they’re not making bathroom trips in socks that will absorb everything.
At Your Destination
Pre-arrange everything that you can at the hotel: the crib, the diaper pail, baby toiletries, a bottle warmer, and a baby bath. To free up even more suitcase space, ship diapers ahead of your arrival and any formula or purees you may need.
There is a huge difference between hotels that simply allow children and those that truly value them as guests, but more luxury hotels are prioritizing families, and some are masters of anticipating their needs. Take Airelles Chateau de la Messardiere, where rooms are equipped with play tents, new toys, Bonpoint bath amenities, macarons, and freshly prepared food. Once young jetsetters have settled in, they can board the choo-choo train down to the kids’ club and unleash their creativity with a variety of musical instruments, a costume center, a games arcade, and a farm where they can play with animals and collect eggs to bake cakes with.
It’s worth connecting with the concierge to inquire about children’s activities that you can sign up for (e.g. Antigua’s Jumby Bay offers kids’ wildlife safaris; Amanyara has exclusive science camps), and also to coordinate trusted local babysitting services for a child-free dinner, which you are bound to want at some point, even if, like us, you have a martini in one hand and the Nanit live-streaming on your phone in the other.
