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One of my biggest fears was traveling by air with my toddler. It was for this very reason that we delayed traveling with our son over long distances until recently. When he was almost 20 months we figured it was about time, especially since we love to travel and had been dying to go to Europe. We had gotten quite used to frequent road trips and had introduced our son to road trips early on, and considering he loved the car seat it had worked out very well. Now it was time to broaden his horizons and bring air travel in the mix.

Before we embarked on our momentous trip, I did extensive research on what should and should not be done over the course of the trip, including what we should take along to keep our toddler engaged. Here is a list of the things we brought:

  • Coloring books and washable markers
  • A couple of board books
  • Play dough
  • Drawing board and washable crayons
  • Stickers
  • Random new toys
  • A blankie or any other toy your toddler may be very attached to
  • And last, but not least, an iPad (mini) in a protective case

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We were embarking on an 11-day mini Euro trip with stops in Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam, Zurich, Lucerne, and Fussen, to name a few. It was a very ambitious but doable plan — for us (each family has its own interests and limitations, so let those guide you). My husband and I love to travel, and luckily our son has adapted well to the lifestyle. However, this vacation was on a whole different level. Not only were we planning to travel by plane, we’d be taking trains between cities and traveling in taxis, buses, metro, trams, and boats — oh, and the cable car rides in the Alps. I think the only time our son must have felt really at home was when we rented a car for the last three days of our trip and he was in a car seat.
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When traveling with toddlers, do:

  • Plan! Planning is the key. Research extensively all the places you will see. Make a plan for each day, including what activities you’ll do. Be sure to include room for flexibility in your itinerary every day to allow young ones to blow off steam and unwind.
  • Buy all tickets in advance, if possible, so you won’t have to wait in long queues anywhere.
  • Pack light. This will make your life a lot easier.
  • Start packing a week in advance to see which things are essential and which you can live without. You may have to take out and put items back multiple times to figure that out.
  • Buy a great umbrella stroller, preferably one that reclines. This was the best investment we made for our trip. (My vote is for the UPPAbaby G-Luxe.)
  • Gate check your umbrella stroller. You’ll want to have your toddler in the stroller when trying to move quickly through airports or train stations.
  • Always have all the toddler essentials in your baby bag, including a change of clothes for you and your kids, extra diapers, and a first aid kit.
  • Prepare for worst-case scenarios; you’ll be pleasantly surprised when your toddler doesn’t have a meltdown and things go according to plan.
  • Take advantage of the free plane ticket if your child is less than 2 years old, and have him sit on your lap.

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When traveling with toddlers, don’t:

  • Plan the vacation for kids only. Go to the places you want to see. Skip the zoos and aquariums — you can always go to your local zoo or aquarium.
  • Make reservations at fancy restaurants. Toddlers don’t care about fancy meals. Instead, choose restaurants that combine great food with a kid-appropriate atmosphere.
  • Don’t forget to have fun and take tons of photos!

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