Traveling with a Toddler
Unless you're a new subscriber, you probably already know Andrew, my mom, and I took Lex to France for the first time this past August. It was so amazing to take Lex to my old childhood park and to see Paris through his eyes. We had been reading him Babar so he was SO excited to look for the Mustache Man all around the city. That said, traveling with him to another country really humbled me. I am certainly not deterred from traveling with a toddler but there are a few things that I would have done differently.
First, change my mindset. Second, plan earlier so I can pack less. I know it is so naive but I truly didn't realize how much traveling with Lex would affect our trip. I think if I had drastically lowered my expectations and realized how much time would be occupied with nap time and bed time, I think I would have been less disappointed and more relaxed. Being in France really feeds my soul so I love to be out and about walking around, popping in stores and stopping at cafés when the mood strikes; that just isn't always feasible with a toddler.
When we got to Paris, it became quickly apparent that we stayed about 15 minutes too far away from where we wanted to be every day. If you're going to Paris with a kid, I would highly suggest staying somewhere smaller place but close to the sights you want to see and if you want to prioritize size, try to pick a spot 2 or 3 blocks away from a bigger metro stop (smaller ones don't have elevators). BUT! For safety reasons, you don't want to be too close to a metro or a train station.
Also if you're traveling with a child but don't want to go to sleep at 7:30… I would suggest adjusting their bed time at least 30 minutes to an hour. They are already going to have jet lag, why not make their bed time more in line with European eating times? Lastly, it's worth packing the vegetable pouches they like and be mentally prepped for meal time squabbles. Lex isn't a terribly picky eater but I did get a little mom anxiety that it was tough to get him consistent healthy options.
One thing I didn't realize until I needed to feed Lex was that so few restaurants in France have menus online. It's totally normal for a great restaurant not to have a website at all, much less a menu. In comes the veggie pouches--I like this one and this one because they do not have any fruit in them. By the end of the two week trip, Lex probably had eaten at least a dozen or so croissants!
Second, pack less. I know. It's so obvious but when you have a baby or toddler and you prioritize sleep, you know that it's all about creating the a similar environment as they have at home. For Lex that's his bed. The problem I ran into was that because we decided we would go only a few months before we would travel, a lot of AirBnbs that already had cribs on site were either booked or a million bucks. Unfortunately, that means my advice is basically plan as early as you can with a toddler or baby so you aren't traveling with too many extra things.
The things we don't travel without:
The Slumber Pod- This thing is so amazing in every way. We didn't have it the first year of Lex's life and it made it so hard to travel and enjoy ourselves after Lex's bed time. We finally invested in it and because of the pod and the blackout cocoon, we got the separation we needed and he got the darkness without us having to fuss with the disposable blackout shades. There are two minor downsides though--the pod can get warm so I would get the one that comes with the fan. It also is like setting up a tent with the rods & all. It is borderline funny trying to set it up alone.
Affordable alternative to the slumber pod--these peel & stick blackout shades can help create the dark environment that most kids need to get a full night of rest. We used to use the pleated paper ones but these look way better.
Pack and play mattress topper--When we traveled Lex would just sleep on the “mattress” that the pack and play came with. Once he was allowed to sleep on something a little softer, we got this and he would sleep SO much better. When you're traveling and enjoying vino, every extra minute of sleep counts!
Small sound machine- This one is great because of its size and it's chargeable so if you want to let your kid nap on the go, you don't need a plug.
Adapters, adapters, and more adapters!
The things we should have left at home:
His Pack ‘n Play! Yes, it comes in a convenient bag but it was a pain to lug around. It's worth trying to find a hotel or AirBnb that already has a crib or pack and play! Just make sure to bring your own sheets. Also random but it is also worth asking what size bed the place has--remember that the bed is likely a different European size!
His Nanit monitor. We love this thing at home but when we're traveling, it's a royal pain in my a$$. Because it requires wifi, it can become complicated. Most hotels these days don't have wifi passwords but instead use stupid sign-in methods that aren't compatible with the Nanit. If your monitor requires wifi, save yourself the headache and use this one from Amazon. It has SO many great reviews and is under $50 too.
