Why it’s so hard to travel with kids under 3 and what you can do about it.
It all begins with an idea.
Most people think travel with kids under 3 is pure torture but I’ve taken my 3 year old son on a trip every year of his life and managed to make each of them just as enjoyable as a trip without kids.
Here’s how I did it.
Let naps work for you
Grocery store make the best pit stops
Screen time?
Toys and activities to fight the boredom
Take time to see the world through their eyes.
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links, at no cost to you. Please read my terms of use policy for more info.
Let Naps Work for You
Naps are the best time to make miles and enjoy a peaceful drive so try to plan your day so that you are traveling during naps. Avoid planning excursions either right before or during naps. Right before naps kids are at their fussiest so everyone’s enjoyment of the excursion will be lessened. Your kid may be able to nap in the stroller or carrier during an excursion but they won’t sleep as well and you will spend the whole time worrying about them waking up.
Grocery Stores Make the Best Pit Stops
When you are planning stops on your trip make sure to be stopped for at least 20 minutes. Kids need time to get out of the car and get some exercise. A 5 minute gas station stop is not going to cut it (you may end up with a kid who is even fussier than they were before the stop). Grocery stores are great! There is plenty of space to move around. Kids love going down the aisles and looking at things and if they’re learning to walk helping to push the cart is great practice. Also you can pick up healthy snacks without the gas station mark up. And you don’t have to worry about inclement weather the way that you would at a park.
Screen Time?
This is a very personal question and I think the choice should be entirely up to you. I personally make sure that there are lots of options for my kids to choose from and I include screens in those options. I have picked out some educational apps that are loaded on a tablet. I also download a few of their favorite movies.
Toys and Activities to Fight Boredom
Kids attention spans are very short. The first time I went on a trip with my son I was very surprised by how quickly he went through the toys I brought him to play with and after he played with them once he didn’t want to go back to them again even if it had been several hours since he had played with them. So bring as many toys as you can fit in your bag. Most of these toys should be completely new to your kids. If they have been played with before they will hold interest for a shorter amount of time.
Here are some of my favorites to bring along.
This little plush is great for building fine motor skills. All of the different buckles will keep your little one busy for at least a little while. And the compact size makes it perfect for travel. If your kiddo is mouthy there is an aglet on the back that you may want to remove.
These books come in so many themes that you can easily find one that will match your little ones interests. Kids love popping the little dots on their own and they also have great stories for reading together.
This is a wonderful compact toy with so many things for kids to explore.
These are amazing toys that kids think are complete magic. All you need is some water and the colors of the picture magically appear plus some hidden images for kids to find.
I have found that kids under the age of 2 don’t seem to see the magic of this and aren’t into coloring the picture.
Give your kids a flat place to play with toys keep a snack or draw a picture. It also has a cupholder to keep your kids drink close.
I understand that travel is already expensive and so buying a whole bunch of new toys can be unrealistic. What I like to do is buy a few really special toys and then go to the dollar store. I just go through the toy section and grab anything that is small and not too messy. It’s pretty impressive what you can find at the dollar store. Once I’m done in the toy section I like to go through the craft section. Really think outside the box about what things your kids might enjoy exploring.
Take Time to See the World Through Their Eyes
I always try to remember why I’m traveling with my kids. It's because I want them to see the world. So, when they're making us late for dinner because they found an interesting leaf on the ground or just want 5 more minutes to do something, I take a breath and really watch what they're doing. I try to remember what it was like to be a kid and see things the way they are seeing them.
Happy Travels!
Have older kids too? Check out these other posts for tips on traveling with them.
How to Enjoy Traveling With a Kid Who is 3-6 Years old
It all begins with an idea.
Travel is so important for kids. It helps them to see that other parts of the world are not so different from home and people are just people no matter where you are.
Kids love travel too. With new things to see and do all the time they are truely in their element. But that doesn’t mean that traveling with kids isn’t hard at times. Here are the things I do to make it a little easier and even more fun.
Roadside Attractions
Balance Education With Fun
The Right Toys Keep Them Happy
Make it Magical
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links, at no cost to you. Please read my terms of use policy for more info.
Roadside Attractions
When a long drive is required for a trip I like to add in some stops at roadside attractions rather than just stopping at gas stations when needed. Roadside Attractions are often something that adults look at and think nothing of. I know I don’t really care about seeing a giant peanut, but kids think these things are amazing. These stops also usually take a little longer so that kids get a chance to stretch their legs and even run a little bit. It’s easier to get back in the car after a bit of exercise than a quick trip in the gas station. And these stops still usually have a restroom so that everyone can get their needs taken care of.
Balance Education With Fun
Kids love to learn but they don’t want every moment to be a structured lesson. Try to mix up excursions so that some are educational like museums and others are just fun. I love incorporating mini-golf into every trip I go on.
The Right toys to keep them happy
It’s important to bring the right toys if you have a long drive or flight. The toys have to be small and versatile and it’s best if at least some of them are brand new. Kids will play with a new toy for longer before getting bored.
Here are some of my favorites.
This is a great fidget toy that really challenges kids creativity. They’ll spend hours seeing how many different shapes they can make.
This compact puzzle is great for teaching patterns and colors on the go.
Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
Your kids will have hours of fun making silly faces with these books. With 30 different scenes and reusable stickers the possibilities are endless.
Let your kids test their searching skills again and again with this dry erase search and find book.
These are a great way to introduce puzzles to your little one because the magnets help the pieces to stay in place as they figure out what goes where. You may want to grab a couple of bags to put the pieces in when they are not actively being played with as the pieces tend to slide off when being stored vertically.
These mess free books are so magical for kids. Just put water in the pens and the colors appear like magic. Plus there are hidden images that only appear once colored. And once the page dries out it goes back to white so that it can be colored again.
These little games are great if your wanting to minimize screen time. They feel like a video game but the work with simple mechanics.
These do contain water so you may want to check the guidelines before trying to take them on a plane.
This is such a great way to take the classic memory game on the go. With no worrying about loosing a card or have to figure out a flat surface to play on this is perfect for any kind of travel.
These are a great twist on the classic fidget spinner. They spin in the same way that kids are used to but they can also manipulate the arms into all kinds of different shapes.
This travel tray is perfect for any long trip. It has a dry erase board on it’s surface for endless creative drawing. plus a cup holder and tablet stand to keep thing in place while on the go. It also has a strap that fits nicely around a car seat to keep it in place while in motion. And it folds up for easy packing.
Make it Magical
This is the age of magic for children. They see magic everywhere so go with it. Pretend that there are fairies in the trees. Stay up late so that they get to see the stars. Come up with games of pretend to play along the way that incorporate the landscape you will be seeing. Or even look up local legends and tell them to your kids while you drive. They will love every minute of it and it will make the trip more memorable for them over the years.
Happy Travels!
For more resources for traveling with kids check out these other posts.
How to Have Fun Traveling With Kids Over the Age of 6.
It all begins with an idea.
By the age of 6 travel starts to get a little bit easier. Naps have gone by the wayside and they are really coming into their own. This is the age when you can really start to use travel to help shape your little ones. Here are the things that I like to do.
Incorporate their interests
Include volunteer activities
Do things that expose them to the locals
Keep them busy on long drives or flights
Scavenger Hunts
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links, at no cost to you. Please read my terms of use policy for more info.
Incorporate Their Interests
Your kids have really started to develop strong interests and they will absolutely love it if you do activities on their trip that help them explore their interests.
Include Voluteer Activites
Kids love feeling helpful and there is no better way to teach them to be contributing members of society than to have them participate in volunteer activities. Kids can learn so much about the world when they participate in these activities. They gain empathy and awareness of things they can do to help the world when they grow up. You can even make your whole trip volunteer-based by planning a voluntourism trip. These trips can be anything from beach clean-up to building projects in third-world countries to animal conservation projects.
Do Things That Expose Them to the Locals
This can be a hard thing to do when planning a trip on your own but there are tours that you can book that incorporate activities where you interact with the locals. Adventure by Disney tours include experiences like tea hosted by a local family or learning a craft taught by a local artisan. If you are interested in learning more about Adventures by Disney click here.
Keep Them Busy on Long Drives or Flights.
Traveling with older kids may be easier than it was when they were little but they still get board on long drives and flights. Here are some great toys and activities to keep them entertained during these boring parts of the trip.
This book has puzzles, mazes, dot-to-dot, and drawing activities that are perfect for keeping a kid entertained on a long flight.
This journal has great prompts to help kids write about their trip. This activity will not only keep them busy during the trip but makes a great keepsake for years to come.
Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
With more than 125 puzzles your kiddo will be busy for ages.
These games are played with a dry erase marker and can simply be wiped off when done. The games can be played solo or with a buddy.
Bring out the creativity in your kid with this great fidget. I can be twisted bent and folded to make all kinds of different shapes.
These magnetic tangrams are perfect for travel. They are so compact and come with a book of puzzles for your kids to do. Or they can get creative and come up with their own pictures.
Watch your kid become a little detective as they work their way through this great activity set.
This next generation Rubix Cube is a wonderful challenge for kids. And it’s so small and light weight that it will fit into anyone’s travel bag.
Screen free gaming! After a while your kids will be so engrossed in these challenging games that they wont even remember that there is no screen involved.
These games are filled with water so make sure to check TSA guidelines before taking them on a plane.
This game is great for your kid to play by themselves or with someone else. and it comes with tones of different cards that are compact so that they pack easily to keep the game challenging for extended play.
All of the fun of a traditional spinner plus the fun of a transformable toy that gets creativity flowing.
With a place for everything this tray makes travel so much more comfortable for kids. Plus it has a dry erase board built in so that they can create wherever they go.
Things to do on your Maldives Vacation
It all begins with an idea.
Maldives Islands are a collection of islands off the coast of India. They are a complete paradise that are surprisingly cheap to visit. Once you're there you’ll want to find ways to fill your time. You won’t want to miss out on whale watching, swimming with the rays, or the myriad of water sports available.
Below are some family friendly tours you can enjoy while enjoying this Maldives Island beach paradise.
Full-Day Private Four Islands Tour in Addu City
Get off the beaten path and see islands in Maldives that are not commonly visited. Have the opportunity to explore the unique local culture of these beautiful islands from the comfort of a private car.
During this fun-filled day, you will tour a World War 2 base, go to Feydhoo Island, visit mosques, and a nature park.
Private Snorkeling Tour in Maafushi Island
On this enchanting tour, you will explore Turtle Reef and Biyadhoo Reef. You will have the opportunity to see Dolphins, Turtles, and more. Everything is provided by the tour company including lunch and a cozy beach towel. So simply book the tour and prepare to enjoy the beauty of these spectacular reefs.
Maafushi: Shipwreck & Nurse Shark Snorkeling with Dolphin Watching
Want to take the adventure up a notch? Then it’s time to book this Snorkeling tour where you will get to see a shipwreck up close and swim with the sharks! This full-day tour will definitely have the kids talking for years to come. Lunch and all of your gear will be provided so that all you have to do is enjoy the experience.
If you don’t have a full day to take a snorkeling tour you don’t have to miss out on the fun. This 3-hour tour takes you to 3 different snorkeling locations by speed boat! Have the opportunity to swim with rays turtles and nurse sharks then have the rest of your day free to enjoy something else.
Underwater Scooter Rental in Maafushi
Effortlessly glide through the water to view colorful fish, turtles, and more with an underwater scooter. You no longer need to be a strong swimmer to enjoy diving under the water and seeing what lies at the bottom of the reef. Click here to add this to your Maldives vacation.
Maafushi: Wakeboard & Water Ski
Have fun zipping over those waves with this fun experience. Choose between wakeboarding and water skiing. If you haven’t ever tried one of these water sports before, no worries, a lesson is included with the booking.
Maafushi: Kite Surfing & Windsurfing
There are so many water sports to try in the Maldives. Kite surfing and windsurfing are both exciting ways to get some exercise. This experience even comes with a lesson if this is your first time.
Maafushi Parasailing Experience
Take to the skies with this exciting experience. Enjoy birds-eye views of the island and get your adrenaline pumping. You can ride side-by-side with your kid or go up for a solo experience.