To all traveling moms out there, I get it, and I feel you. While it isn’t easy to go on a family travel with little kids, but I hope this blog will encourage you to do more of them because I’m sure it will bring lasting memories for the whole family!
This post about Family Travel with Little Kids was written by family travel expert Marcie Cheung and contains affiliate links, which means if you purchase something from one of my affiliate links, I may earn a small commission that goes back into maintaining this blog.
Family Travel with Little Kids
Often, I find myself looking back on what happened within the year and ever further back. It gives me this sense of nostalgia, pride, and fulfillment to recall all the family travel we took and how I survived it all while having two kids in tow.
It may be all for family fun, but bringing two kids on a family vacation is no joke. I have zero regrets, though, because I know every single family vacation I have ever had and will have with my kids will become lasting memories for the whole family.
One particular year that I’m most proud of was around 2017. We spent our first full year at our new home and have established great friendships with many of our neighbors. My oldest started preschool this fall. My youngest transitioned from a newborn to a young toddler. But what stands out the most in 2017 involves our family travel.
When I started Marcie in Mommyland last year, I focused on encouraging families to explore the world with their kids. Initially, I just shared what works for my family. It’s been such a learning experience and I’ve been really trying to connect with all my readers (including YOU!)
What I’m realizing is the biggest questions I get from friends, family and readers are:
“How are you able to travel with your kids?”
“I’d never be able to do that!”
“Isn’t it exhausting?”
The truth is, sometimes family vacations with my kids drive me NUTS.
I’ve held back tears trying to install a car seat in a hot car in Hawaii while my toddler (who was crying) and I were recovering from the stomach flu.
We’ve walked past incredible restaurants in Paris only to pick up mediocre take-out because our kids were over-tired. Or they want to stay places hours longer than I’d like.
I’ve had to quickly put a pull-up on my preschooler so he wouldn’t have an accident on the airplane when the fasten seat belt sign was on for hours.
And change my baby’s poopy diaper in my airplane seat because of said fasten seat belt sign, only to get scolded by the flight attendant.
Sometimes, my kids don’t nap, which means we have to cancel our evening activities to handle meltdowns.
These times suck.
Instead, I try to focus on the truly special memories we’ve made because we weren’t at home. I think about the absolute amazement on my son’s face when he saw the Arc de Triomphe for the first time and recognized it from his travel book.
And feeling stunned when my youngest devoured handful after handful of poi in Maui. I looked back on the first trip I ever took with my baby at MommyCon Vancouver.
You see, family travel is so much more than hauling your kids to see statues or tour museums.
For us, it’s about exposing them to a world outside of our bubble. It’s them hearing people speak different languages. And figuring out how to entertain themselves on a 12-hour flight. It’s a whole experience of making lasting memories.
Family vacations are about them adapting to new places and living situations. And being part of the planning process.
How YOU Can Travel with YOUR Family
1. Figure Out What Type of Trip Sounds Manageable
I know how overwhelming it can feel when you read about families traveling to Paris, Barcelona, or Hawaii. Even Disneyland may feel like too much of a stretch for your family. That’s okay.
Think about what would be the least stressful for you. Maybe it’s driving a few hours and spending the weekend somewhere fairly local.
Or taking a short flight to stay with family who can help with the kids. Or traveling with extended family or a nanny. The main goal is finding a trip you will enjoy with your family.
2. Manage Your Expectations
It’s easy to get sucked into the world of Instagram and Pinterest and think, “Oh, it looks like toddlers are so well-behaved and happy at blah-blah! Let’s go there!” That’s bound to set you up for disappointment.
If you imagine your child in the same poses as the #kidsofinstagram and doing the same activities during family travel, you will get frustrated and angry when they want to run around and eat snacks, trust me.
Instead, spend a few hours watching what your kids do at home, on a play date, or running errands. This is what they will do when you’re traveling, and they will be a bit more tired.
So, if your kids get antsy being in the stroller for more than 30 minutes, skipping the art museum and heading to a park might be a good idea.
If your kids only eat mac and cheese at home, chances are they won’t spontaneously become foodies just because you’re at a restaurant you’ve been dying to try.
Your kids will be themselves no matter where they are. Embrace that.
3. Get the Right Mindset for Family Travel
I admit that sometimes I have to pump myself up for some of our adventures. During these times, I usually listen to inspirational audiobooks Shonda Rhimes’ Year of Yes: How to Dance It Out, Stand In the Sun and Be Your Own Person.
I’ve also discovered the Dream Big Podcast. It’s a kid-friendly podcast that encourages children to pursue their passion. Each episode is 20-30 minutes, so it’s not a big commitment.
I like that I can listen to it in the car when I’m driving around with my preschooler. The host is a super bubbly 8-year-old girl pursuing her dream of hosting her show.
I like it because her mom, Olga, is so supportive. It reminds me to let my kids take the lead sometimes. That’s when their personalities and talents get to shine!
4. Just Do It
Family travel is one of those things that you can’t just theorize. The only way to learn and grow is to get out there and just try it out.
The first trip I ever took with my son was a 14-hour flight to Thailand when he was 6 months old. We hadn’t even gone for a car ride longer than 90 minutes at that point. I was petrified and so stressed out.
But, we did it an he actually slept for 95% of the flight and the other 5% was spent eating. I couldn’t believe it.
That made me a bit overconfident, so I took him on a solo trip to Kauai. He screamed for 5 hours straight on the flight home, and I thought I was going to lose my mind.
Now I always pack lots of snacks, a baby carrier, and extra binkies with binky clips. Knock on wood, I haven’t had an issue since.
Family Travel Can Be Incredible
Navigating the waters of family travel has been eye-opening. I’ve learned to slow down my pace…drastically.
Instead of quickly moving from one attraction to the next, we now take our time and really enjoy exploring. Sometimes, just sitting on a park bench while eating a crepe and chatting with my kids can be just as powerful as admiring world-renowned art in a museum.
I loe these tips! When we first started traveling as a family I was SO overwhelmed. And yes it can still be very stressful, BUT I have definitely learned your advice on Manage your Expectations! Once I was able to take a step back, and just let it go and be in the moment it was so much easier! Love all of your pics too!
Managing expectations seems to be the secret to parenting!
I’m always in awe of family travel bloggers, especially those with young kids. Most of my friends with kids would agree about the planning part. I can’t imagine changing a crying baby on an airplane seat, and I’m sure your advice and experience is valuable to many parents that like to travel!
Traveling with little kids takes a lot of energy and I’ve never felt so judged as a traveler! But, I’m hoping to help other parents learn how manage.
Thank you so much for your honesty! I’ve read too many family travel blogs that oversold the ‘travel is always great with families” narrative. I think you’ve shared some practical tips on how to stay sane and set manageable expectations too!
Yes, I was realizing that I was becoming one of those people! It’s not always those picture perfect moments!
As a new mom, first time mom, this post is just so real for me! I’m gonna have these exact moments happen to me too, right? Looking forward to travel with my little one and have some awesome as well as awful moments! Haha!!!
I’m so glad I could help! I remember feeling like there was no way I’d be able to haul everything the first time I traveled with my baby. But, the more trips I took, the better refined my packing became!
Love these tips! My little one was so easy to travel with as a baby, but now that she’s a toddler, managing expectations is my number one priority!
Yes, traveling with a toddler is a whole other level š
I agree…family travel is incredible…if you go to the right place for the right amount of time. I am a mom of to boys and our last family trip to the beach for a week was absolutely exhausting. I was one of those moms dragging a stroller through the sand and carrying about 20 bags. The struggle was so real! LOL However, we had a magical trip to Disney (when I only had one child) a few years ago and it was incredible. So I say YES to family trips and making memories but know your limits. Thanks for sharing your “real” ideas and tips. It helps!
Yes, you hit the nail on the head: Know your limits! What works for one family might not work for your family!
Most definitely traveling with small kids coudl be stressful but seems you guys had so much fun. You little one looks so happy. Thanks for all the tips!
My boys love our adventures!
Hi there – You beutiful words makes me happy. The right mindset is all you need to make your family vacation works. š There are a lot of advantages for kids traveling from a young age – some of them include empathy, confortable in different environments etc. I donāt have kids but it makes me happy that when I decide to start a family I will still be able to continue traveling. Thanks for sharing! – Ella
You are so welcome! I hope that you’ll embrace traveling with your kids, whenever that may happen š
Great tips! Managing our expectations is a big one. I hate when I see people rolling their eyes at the parents with the screaming baby like its never happened/never will happen to them. Kids will be kids and thats just something we all have to recognize and cope with sometimes.
Yes! I feel like families who travel are judged so harshly. But, it’s really amazing how supportive people are who have done it.
These are such great tips! It sounds like traveling with the kids so worth it and you’ll cherish the memories forever. I hope you have a Merry Christmas.
Merry Christmas to you, too!
Traveling with kids much be stressful but also so much fun. I will share your post with my friends who have kids and want to travel. I am sure they can pick a tip or two from here.
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Your little captain is sooo cute! When naps don’t work it must be really hard, but rewarding if it does I bet. Just do it, I guess that is the way to go!
Thanks! He’s pretty happy-go-lucky!
I don’t have kids yet, but when I do I would love to continue travelling with them. This article was such an amazing read! I’m stock piling this for future reading š I love your honesty in the changes you have to make, but how in the end, it’s all worth it. I love how you let your kids be real and you aren’t holding up an unrealistic #instakids ideal that is unattainable for most (if anyone)! I wish you and your family a lifetime of mindblowing, awe inspiring travels š
It is a bit of work, but we make the best memories!
I love traveling with my kids. Now that they are older it’s easier but when they were younger we made it work. You just need to get out there and do it!
Yep, just do it!
These are some great tips! As someone who loves to travel with my husband, I have to admit that the scare of traveling with children has made us delay starting our family. Hearing that it’s possible gives us hope – HA! š
Oh it’s totally doable! It’s just a different pace!
I am glad that you shared this post about traveling with kids. I have been encouraging a lot of people to do that. Yes, we have to manage our expectations and go gentle but it works so well in the long run. Those memories with the kids is worth a billion. I love your little sailor…really cute.
I was just thinking about how much fun we had in Rome when our oldest was a toddler. He doesn’t remember that trip, but we remember his expression as he discovered GELATO!
Oh this is such a helpful and motivating post for all the new mommies out there. I do not have kids but I definitely intend to travel along when I do. I know it might be taxing sometimes but it is definitely worth it to share your travel experience with the little ones.
I’m glad you found it helpful!
These are fantastic tips. we are planning a big vacation next year and I know these will help
Have fun on your big vacation!
I think it’s really wonderful that you find the time and positivity to travel with young children! I did the same with my son when he was little–I just don’t think that having a family should stop adventures even if it is a little more work! Good for you!
Exactly! We’ll do it as long as it works for our family!
I love this post. I don’t have kids (yet) but I know I will be the same type of mom. Kids really need to get out of their bubble and explore and hear new languages and see how other people live their lives. That’s so important! I truly feel like exposing them to culture will, in turn, make them cultural, sensitive adults. I can’t wait to travel with my future children! š
It’s really been great for our family. I just didn’t want them to be scared to try new things or meet new people. So far so good!
Some truly great points there. I almost always travel with my family that consists of two small kids so well aware of everything that goes on with “family travel”, and I so agree that it is about being in the right mindset. Funny thing is that whenever people talk about solo travel and how big a deal it is, I am like, have you tried travelling with two kids? One of the biggest aspects of family travel, as you mentioned, is managing expectations. Having kids around does mean sometimes missing out on certain activities, but I’m all okay with that.
Haha! I think the same thing! Traveling with two kids is a whole lot different than traveling solo! I’m okay with missing out on some activities, too because I think each activity is so much richer because I get to experience things from my kids’ perspectives.