Tips for Traveling with Little Ones

This post is sponsoredby Carter’s; however, all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

Spring time is one of my favorite times of year. I love gearing up for traveling to see family and the fun, warm weather months. We already have several fun weekends planned to go back home to see our parents and I cannot wait. I will admit that I am slightly nervous to start traveling with TWO little ones in tow. I feel like we have really nailed down the best way to prepare for traveling with Brooke, and I am confident that if we stick to these tips below, that we will be great traveling with two as well! Take a look at my tips for traveling with little ones and comment if you have any good ones that I missed!

Make A List

I always start by making a list. I write out how many days we will be gone, consider our plans and create a list of what we will need. This includes everything from outfits, to sippy cups, to baby food, to diapers. I try to start with the beginning of the day and think about what we will need for bath time, bed time, meal time, etc. This really helps me get everything down all in one place. Next, I also take a look and see if there is anything I can eliminate from the list to simplify our packing. I hate overpacking, so I am constantly looking for ways to simplify our list.

Plan Outfits

THIS IS KEY!! You can end up really overpacking in this department if you don’t plan ahead. Plus, if you are anything like me, you probably want to head out and grab a few new outfits for your littles for the occasion. I tend to run to Carter’s before traveling, because they make it super easy to keep your little one looking cute for spring. They have baby clothes, toddler clothes, swim suits and even baby shoes. Their soft knits, rompers, easy outfit sets and swimwear help you stock up on everything you need for the warmer weather. My favorite has to be their essentials; I love their knit shorts and tees that you can interchange. Not to mention, their eyelet dresses and crisp button-down shirts are perfect Easter essentials if you are traveling for the holiday.

Our next travel plan is to see our parents and celebrate Brooke’s birthday, so I wanted some fun, but casual outfits for Brooke. Her birthday party theme has to do with fruit, so I when I saw this adorable pineapple shirt, I had to have it. Plus, I grabbed the shorts she’s wearing in denim and two colors because they are perfect essentials like I was talking about above. Be sure to check out Carter’s for your spring toddler and baby clothes and use this great coupon!

Have A Game Plan

The next thing I do after shopping is come up with a game plan for the trip. I think about the route we will take, how long the trip will be, and any stops we may need to make. I try to think about the ideal time to leave for naps and feedings. This helps me come up with the best plan for success on our trip. Traveling at nap time is always ideal, but not always possible.

Brainstorm Activities

Since traveling at nap time isn’t always feasible, I also try to come up with great activities. I try to plan a few that involve favorite toys and some that involve certain songs. I always have a fresh book, and toy that Brooke hasn’t played with in a while so that it will hold her interest. Then, I plan to have a certain movie if all of the other activities fail. And, if that fails, I plan an outside activity if we need to make a quick stop to get out some energy. I’ll admit, bubbles are go to for this! They are easy, fun, quick and hold attention!

Create A Sleep Plan

Creating a sleep plan has been VERY important for us when traveling. Brooke has always been an amazing sleeper because of her routine, however, when she is out of her normal element, sleep can be a lot harder. Because of this, we always have a plan and back up plan for where she will sleep. For instance, we might pack the pack n play, but if that doesn’t work, we will make a palette on the floor. Along with this, we also discuss a “bedtime” beforehand so that we are on the same page when we arrive. If we don’t set a time, she will end up staying up really late and then the next day will be hard.