Traveling with toddlers? Helpful tips from child experts
MANILA, Philippines — No one will argue with you if you say that toddlers are most difficult to deal with. They are at an age—which is between 1 and 3 years old—when they are transitioning from being cute and cuddly babies to preschoolers.
It’s that stage when they like to explore new things, recognize themselves as individuals, imitate the behavior of adults and older children, and begin to show both greater independence and a defiant behavior. “No” is their favorite and operative word.
So, if you happen to be traveling with a toddler (no choice; he is your kid!), good luck! You need all the help that you can get. But before you embark on that “exciting” trip, load up on these “traveling with toddlers” tips that child experts Kristin Gallant and Deena Margolin, LMFT, have to share with you.
The preeminent experts in all things toddler and preschool-hood, featured on Fortune’s “Creator 25” list, and real-life best friends and moms, Kristin and Deena are co-founders of the trailblazing Big Little Feelings, a resource hub for parents to navigate the toddler and preschooler years. It is actually a no-judgment parenting community with a service-driven Instagram account and online courses.
Kristin is a mom of three and a parent coach, while Deena is a mom of two and a marriage and family therapist. The two of them put up Big Little Feelings during the pandemic, where they went from complete obscurity to 3 million Instagram followers and 200,000 clients for their courses. Among their followers today are celebrities such as Eva Mendes, Blake Lively, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Sophie Turner, Amy Schumer, Maren Morris, Jerry Ferrara, Hilary Duff, and Mickey Guyton.
Here, they are graciously sharing some helpful tips on traveling with toddlers:
Airplane Tip 1: Let boundaries and structure go out the window. Seriously. Be gentle with yourself. On travel days with kids, we are all just trying to survive. This means lollipops, infinite screentime, truly whatever we need to do to make it to the destination. Hot tip: If you're doing an iPad on the airplane for the first time, practice using the headphones at home ahead of time so your kid can understand how it works.
Airplane Tip 2: To prevent and soothe ear pressure / pain on the plane, the experts recommend - 1) For babies, give them a pacifier, bottle, breast, whatever you feed them with to suck on. 2) For toddlers, give them a snack to chew on, as chewing / swallowing helps to relieve the pain.
Travel activities: 1) Put different snacks in a container with different compartments. This is a fun way to give them snacks while also keeping them busy! 2) The experts love these water books for travel days. They provide a fun, mess-free way for your kid to get creative!
Sleep Tip 1: Make sure their sleep environment is as similar to their home sleep environment as possible. Bring their favorite nightlight, sound machine, sleep sack, whatever items cue sleep and make your little one feel most comfy at nighttime.
Sleep Tip 2: Here are our favorite options for baby sleep arrangements: 1) Pack-and-Play: bring your own or ask your hotel if they provide. 2) Local crib rentals: (usually you can find with a quick Google search!) Especially helpful for older tots who are uncomfortable in a pack-and-play. 3) Slumber pod: Great option for those sharing one hotel room.
Safety hacks: 1) If you are worried about your older toddler rolling off a hotel bed, use a pool noodle underneath the fitted sheet to create a barrier at the edge of the bed! 2) Bring childproof safety locks to put up high (and out of reach) on any balcony doors (especially if your kid already knows how to unlock doors).
Toys/fun tip: If the experts are travelling somewhere where they will be swimming, they like to ask the hotel ahead of time if they have kid's toys - buckets, water toys, pool floaties, etc. If they don't have them ahead of time, another option is to rent them (you can usually do this through the same crib renting service) or have them shipped to the hotel ahead of time.
Get in the bathing suit. Get in the pool / ocean. Make memories with your kids. Enjoy your life!
PAEC gears to go global with 'edutainment' concepts
The Philippine Amusement and Entertainment Corporation (PAEC) recently met with the Chief Executive Officer of the most prominent attractions in the world during the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions Expo (IAAPA).
PAEC pursues its mission in bringing world-class attractions to its guests alongside promoting the heritage, culture, products, and people, the Filipinos as a brand that is worthy of the international spotlight. With the multiple concepts that are unique from each that PAEC have produced, the company is just at its starting phase of making it big in the industry of amusement and attractions. A lot is to be expected in the coming days when PAEC will once again unveil series of unique attractions that will surely create lasting memories among its
guests.
