I Love to Travel with Kids Who Are “Too Young to Remember It”

Hear me out-- and tips for why maybe you should also do this

I remember the first time my daughter saw the ocean. She was seven months old, six time zones away, and it was four a.m.

A notoriously light sleeper, I knew the second I heard her cry from the hotel crib that we would be Getting Up for the Day. I scooped her up, fed her and walked her down to the beach. It was early and we saw surfers paddling out, people walking to work, and vendors setting up their stalls for the day. She looked around, seemingly amazed that so much “new” could fit into one moment, eyes stubbornly wide (read: not sleeping). Normally I’d be annoyed and frustrated to be awake, but somehow I was more… curious? She was starting to pull up to stand, and I watched her negotiate this new skill on the unsteady, sandy terrain. Despite my exhaustion, I thought about how, if we were home, I would be rushing through my morning routine to get to work, sorting through questionable laundry, and pouring long-cold coffee from a mug into a travel tumbler before hustling out the door.

But now, I had nowhere to be except for here, and suddenly the ocean, completely new to her, felt brand new to me, too. Instead of tired, I was energized, happy, and calm. She giggled at me. I giggled back. I had been unsure about this trip, but now, traveling with kids had hooked me. I was a convert.

When I mention I like traveling with my kids, I often hear a chorus of “what? Parenting on vacation is hell,” or “We call those away games because you’re just doing the same stuff in a new place,” and my favorite, “They won’t remember any of it!”

They may not. I am no cognitive scientist, but I can’t imagine sitting at home until I am suitably convinced that my children will be able to form memories. As a working mom I rarely get to abandon structure and slow down with my children. When I do, I love experiencing something new through their eyes. It goes beyond just taking time away from work— when I’m at home, if I see a pile of dirty dishes, I’m going to do them right away. In a beach house? They can wait until my up-past-their-bedtime kids and I are done baking cookies.

Yes, traveling with little kids is hard but worth it. Here are my tips for traveling with under-fives in a way that preserves a lot of adult sanity and fun.

First, a big perspective shift. Vacations with little kids are not relaxing in the traditional sense. I prefer to think of them as doing something new as a family rather than unplugging and recharging. I’m not saying you can’t or won’t get to chill, but if your main goal is to return blissed-out and caught up on sleep, you’ll often be disappointed.

Booking

If you can, try to figure out a setup where there is a separate sleeping space for kids. Otherwise, you will be going to bed when they do. AirBnbs/VRBOs or extended stay are great for this, but if you can’t find that or it isn’t accessible, the little sleep tents that fit over a pack and play work wonders in a pinch. We use a SlumberPod (I get no commission on ANY of these links, they don’t know I exist, I’m just a fan).

It is especially great if you can find a place with a patio, balcony, or other small outdoor space for adults to sit and read, drink coffee, etc., without waking the kids.

I also rent baby gear locally a lot of the time. Services like BabyQuip are great because that gear is bulky. The only thing I always bring is the stroller (more on this later).

Packing

There are two schools of thought here— bring absolutely everything and bring as little as you can get away with. They both have their own merits and I’ve done both at different ages and stages. You know best if having everything will give you a sense of security or make you feel encumbered and insane.

That said, if you have access to a local drugstore or grocery, I recommend buying most consumables (diapers, wipes, snacks) locally. The more you don’t have to carry, the better. Also, it forces you to triangulate this location right away, which often pays dividends when you realize you forgot something.

I swear by packing cubes, and I pack them according to activity rather than item type. I’ll do one with all their bedtime stuff, one with bath, one with swim, etc. That way, if you arrive late and it’s time to crash, you have everything you need for a quick bedtime ritual in one place. Alternatively, if you arrive and the pool looks inviting, you can quickly assemble a swim bag without tearing through everything at once.

If you use a baby monitor, I have not had good luck with video monitors or other WiFi-enabled tech when in a new place. There are cheap audio monitors and these are, to me, the ideal when traveling. They’re no-frills, reliable, and won’t take an entire evening to set up.

Disposable is great for limited periods. If you have a formula-fed baby, I highly recommend buying some of the hospital nipples that fit directly on ready-made formula for when you’re on the go. When they’re done, just throw the entire thing away! Nothing to wash.

In a similar vein, do not bring pool inflatables on a plane. They’re a pain, they take up a ton of space, and they WILL rip in transit. I’ll usually buy a very cheap one locally and pass it along to a newly-arriving family when we leave.

Also, make sure to have a change of clothes for everyone— including for you— in your carry-on if you fly. Ask me how I know (I bet you can guess).

Walking

My MVP is a foldable double umbrella stroller. Kids who are in a new place love to walk around to see it, and generally we split the morning or evening getting-ready time like this— while one parent showers, the other parent stroller-walks the kids, then switch. Having excited or bored (or both!) kids underfoot in a hotel room is not easy, and so I sidestep it whenever possible. The bonus is it gets you exploring. I have discovered many secluded snow-cone shacks this way.

Driving

If the public transit isn’t great where you’re going, and it’s accessible to you, rent a car or drive your own. If you rent, rent it for the entire time. Car seats and cabs are a pain to coordinate and the last thing you need is to be stranded at dinner because you have no way to get anywhere else.

Routine

Every kid adjusts to disruptions to their routine differently, and you know what your kids can handle. That said, I aim low here (and in all things, but that is another article) and use the Rule of One. If the kids get one full meal and one stationary (non-stroller or car seat) nap or quiet break per day, I am pretty happy with that. Trying to force your home routine when you aren’t home will often make you crazy and, more importantly, it almost never works because you aren’t home. Try not to worry about forming bad habits. To reassure you, I have never done anything on vacation that I couldn’t undo in about three to five days at home, even with my sternly regimented oldest. One of the great things about little kids is they may not even notice that they stayed up way past their bedtime or that they rarely ate a full meal before one p.m. when they were in a different place.

There is an adage, “never try to make a happy kid happier” (I attribute this excellent advice to

Sarah Radz

), and it’s especially true when traveling. Kids are meltdown-prone in new places, and so if you land on an activity they are really enjoying, stay as long as it’s still fun (within reason). You don’t need to get to the next thing or get them an ice cream or head back for a nap. You need to lean into this moment of good fortune. Order a cold beverage of your choice. Vibe.

The Magic of a Local Playground

One of the things I always do as soon as I can is scope out a local playground. Another great thing about little kids is you don’t need to do big things to entertain them— a playground they’ve never played on is a huge treat. I love a local playground because you can usually meet local families, and they are the best source of insider information about where to go and what to do with kids. Traveling with kids puts you into the everyday life of a city in a way that’s hard to replicate when traveling with adults, and I love that, too. You will end up outside of the tourist bits, seeing and doing some really interesting things you might have missed.

Check Your Memberships

If you are a member of your local zoo, children’s museum, aquarium, or similar, it’s always worthwhile to see if they will do reciprocal privileges in a different city.

Keep it Simple

Most very young children do not need a lot to be happy and entertained. Resist the urge to do everything and try to pace yourself. I love walk-up activities with no formal start or end time, but I know in the world of Fast Passes and early entry this is rarer. I try to only have one non-negotiable every day, though, and everything else I cancel or push back with abandon. I love an easy hike or a free nature center with volunteers who enjoy teaching little children about, say, owls.

Plan for Germs

Little kids with developing immune systems often get a little sick when traveling. I always pack basic children’s meds, prioritize outdoor activities, and have a plan for a kid who is too sick to leave the room. I don’t want to say to expect it, but I frankly expect it. One of my favorite hacks for a “down” day is a few books or games they have not seen before. Doesn’t need to be expensive, just something new. Consumables like coloring books are great because you don’t need to bring them home.

You don’t have to take your kids halfway across the world or even down the block, but I hope if you take nothing away from this, you consider doing the thing with your small kids that feels a little intimidating. It might not be a trip, maybe it’s just a restaurant outing, and maybe you curse me the whole time! Or maybe you don’t. Either way, get out there. It’ll be fun, and if it’s not? It’ll be interesting. Bon voyage!