Zoë Foster Blake’s Tips For Travelling With Toddlers & Kids

Make a list, pack early and pack smart. Things we nearly forget but always need: drink bottles, a few books, water shoes and hats! Dump everything into a suitcase a week in advance, then go back the day before and cull anything unnecessary. Travel bags/cubes make it easier for you to organise kids' clothing into categories e.g. underwear and socks, swimwear, tops, bottoms, sleepwear etc. and stash toiletries separately – the Gro-To Big Kids Bundle is the perfect assortment to get kids excited about packing. 

Let kids choose a few items to bring and give them a sense of ownership over their stuff. Cover their bed with a few options to gently guide them in the right direction (ie. away from oversized and over-the-top items).

If you’re staying at a hotel, call and find out what they provide – save yourself from lugging a travel cot, pram or beach towels halfway across the country and back. 

Snacks, snacks, snacks, more snacks and hoodies. Buy or make a ton of little snacks to keep them occupied the entire trip. Hoodies are for everyone because planes, airports, taxis and long car rides demand snuggly warm fleece. If you’ve got a lightweight scarf bring it along too as it makes for a great blanket/light shield. 

Give each kid their own travel backpack with teddies, a drink bottle, snacks, activities, books, and a hoodie. It makes it easy for them to access and they learn responsibility.

Cheap travel treats (small kids toys, cars, figurines, sticker books) come in handy to give kids when they’re being helpful or reach a certain time. 

Download TV shows, movies, audiobooks and stories, and some educational games (we love Reading Eggs and Kiddopia) onto the iPad before you leave the house, and don’t forget headphones!

Keep a mini-medi kit in your bag with kids Panadol and bandaids just in case, and pack a full change of clothes for kids (and yourself!), plus undies or nappies – mainly in case of mess, but also in case of lost luggage.

Where possible, arrange for long trips to happen overnight. Travel, especially planes and airports, are very stimulating and you have a better chance of kids sleeping if it’s dark, boring and already bedtime as you travel.

Everything takes longer with kids; arrive at the airport early. If you’re travelling as a family, get one parent to board first and grab cabin space for all bags, then the other parent boards last with the kids (who ideally have done running races in the airport to burn up energy).

Kids under two years of age don’t get a seat: they’re on your lap. Ask kindly, persistently, sweetly at check-in and the gate if they have any vacant seats you can snaffle.

Consider the ‘split up.’ One parent and kid/s sits a few seats away. This gives some excitement and a ‘fun new’ destination for the kid/s when they swap.

When booking accommodation, think about dark bedrooms, noise, proximity to parks, playgrounds, beach etc. and whether there will be enough space to play indoors for rainy days – speaking of weather, check the forecast and if it looks like it’ll be a wet one, consider adding some boredom busters, like board games and puzzles, to your packing list along with raincoats and gumboots.

Book one or two activities in advance to give the trip some shape, but keep the general itinerary flexible: plan one big activity per day and a bunch of small ‘maybe’ activities if time (and tantrums) allow. And don’t forget to leave plenty of room in your day for meals, lazy mornings, and do-nothing downtime. 

Holidays are great for relaxing strict routines and being a bit loose, however kids still need some structure and good rest. Too many late nights, big days exploring, cousin battles and bad naps add up. Factor in ‘reset’ days where everyone can rest and take it easy.