Short answer: the secret to traveling with a baby, toddler or young kids is planning around them: two main activities a day at most, a carry-on packed with spare everything, familiar comfort items, and sleep routines kept as close to normal as possible. Book a hotel room that actually fits your family (with a crib requested in advance), and the rest gets a lot easier.
Traveling with kids is a little like herding cats who need snacks every 40 minutes. It’s also where some of the best family memories come from. Flying across the country with a baby? Road-tripping with a toddler and a tween? These are the tips that make the trip smoother for everyone (including you).
Plan around your kids’ interests
Pick activities your kids will actually enjoy for their age and energy level. Children’s museums, nature walks, interactive exhibits and playgrounds usually beat a three-hour art gallery tour.
Our rule: no more than two big activities a day. Overscheduling wears everyone out, and tired kids are not fun kids. Leave room for naps, snacks and random exploring. But don’t give up on yourself completely. One kid-focused and one grown-up-focused activity per day is a fair deal (within reason, since some places really aren’t for kids).
Pack the carry-on like it’s a survival kit
With babies and toddlers, your carry-on is your lifeline. Pack diapers, wipes, baby food or formula, bottles and at least one full change of clothes (for the kid, and honestly, maybe for you too). Always pack more than you think you need, because flights get delayed. A spill-proof cup, baby utensils and a portable changing mat finish the kit. For older kids, snacks and water bottles prevent a lot of meltdowns.
Bring comfort items and entertainment
Familiar things help kids settle into a strange hotel room. Bring the favorite stuffed animal, blanket or pacifier. For the flight or car ride, pack a mix of toys, games and books, and download shows or apps on a tablet before you leave home.
Taking a tablet on the plane? Bring kid-sized headphones so the whole row doesn’t have to watch cartoons with you. We like these headphones and this lovely Montessori backpack for kids.
Sort out sleep before you arrive
If your baby needs a specific setup to sleep, bring what works at home. Many hotels have cribs or playpens, but request one when you book so it’s actually there. A travel crib or bassinet can help if your child sleeps better in their own bed. Keep bedtime routines as close to normal as you can.
Book a room that fits the whole family
A “room for four” can mean one double bed and a sofa. Enter every guest, with kids’ real ages, when you search, and check the bed list before you book.
Heading to Asia? Here’s a trick from our founder, Talia. In places like Thailand and Japan, kids often share their parents’ bed, so when you enter young kids’ real ages, many hotels don’t give them a bed of their own. A family of five can end up with two twin beds. Talia searches for five adults first, so only rooms with enough beds show up, then switches back to the real ages before booking and checks whether the price changes.
Keep everyone hydrated
Bring a refillable water bottle for each person. It matters most in hot weather and on flights, where the cabin air dries everyone out. You can’t take water through airport security, but you can take an empty bottle and fill it up after. We love Contigo bottles: practical, good-looking and tough.
Childproof the hotel room
When you get to the room, do a quick hazard check. Cover outlets, secure cabinet doors and move anything dangerous out of reach. A few outlet covers in your suitcase make this a two-minute job.
Choose your gear wisely
A lightweight, foldable stroller makes airports and city sightseeing much easier. For crowded markets and bumpy paths, a baby carrier or sling keeps your hands free. A stroller travel bag protects it on the flight.
Stick to familiar routines
Kids feel more secure when meals and sleep stay on schedule. Keep naps and bedtimes as regular as you can. Pro tip: if you can, plan flights or long drives around nap time.
Get travel insurance
Family travel insurance covers surprise medical bills and trip cancellations if someone gets sick. With kids, that’s a risk worth covering.
Manage jet lag
Crossing time zones? Start shifting your child’s bedtime by about 30 minutes a day for a few days before you leave. Once you land, get everyone on local time as fast as you can. Our jet lag guide for adults and kids has the full routine.
Help little ears on the plane
Pressure changes during takeoff and landing can hurt kids’ ears. For babies, feeding (breast or bottle) during these moments helps. Pacifiers, drinks and snacks work too. Older kids can chew gum, suck on hard candy or play a yawning contest.
Save on the hotel, spend on the fun
Family travel takes patience, but the stories are worth it. Take photos, keep a little travel journal and embrace the chaos.
Family rooms can cost very different amounts on different booking sites, so compare before you book. We built Hotel Ninja, a free Chrome extension, for exactly this. It shows the final price for the same room on other booking sites, with taxes and fees included, and it keeps your guest count and kids’ ages so you compare rooms that actually fit your family. More money for ice cream.
Frequently asked questions
How do I keep a toddler busy on a plane?
Pack a mix of small toys, books, stickers and snacks, and download shows or games on a tablet before you leave. Bring kid-sized headphones. New or “travel-only” toys tend to hold attention longer.
Do hotels provide cribs for babies?
Many do, but supply is limited. Request a crib when you book and confirm it with the hotel before you arrive, or bring a travel crib if your baby sleeps better in their own bed.
How do I help my child with jet lag?
Shift their bedtime by about 30 minutes a day before the trip, then get them onto local time as soon as you land, with daylight, meals and bedtime on the new schedule.
How do I find a hotel room that fits my family?
Search with the real number of adults and children, including kids’ ages, and check the bed list for each room, not just the occupancy. A “room for four” can mean one double bed and a sofa.
