How to Make Your Baby Love Travelling as Much as You Do

Traveling with a baby may seem scary at first, with parents worried about tantrums, disrupted routines and restless little ones. Yet cultivating their passion for travel from an early age is achievable and enriching for both the parent and baby. You just need some thoughtful adjustments in the way you plan and approach the trips, and soon you could turn even the most skeptical little traveller into a budding globetrotter.

Photo by Michelle Spollen on Unsplash

Start Small Before Taking Big Leaps    

When you want to start traveling with your baby, you might be a bit scared. So it is better to begin small. Begin by taking short, local trips, whether that means visiting nearby towns or country escapes. Anything will help your little one adjust to new environments without feeling overwhelmed. Short trips also allow the whole family to adjust to travelling with additional luggage, schedules, and any unexpected stops along the way. Something longer journeys won't do until your child becomes accustomed to being on the move.

Establish a Flexible Routine

Babies thrive on routine, but travel presents new rhythms and unpredictable scenarios that may make their travel enjoyable for both of you. To make their experience pleasurable for them, create an adaptable structure into your plans by sticking to familiar naps and feeding times while being open to slight adjustments as needed. Packing familiar items such as their comfort blanket, sleep aid or sippy cup may create a sense of normalcy even in unfamiliar settings. Creating the balance between an adaptable schedule and familiar rituals will ensure they feel secure even while away from home.

Make Travel Interactive

Babies are inquisitive by nature, and travelling provides the ideal platform to satisfy their wanderlust. Engage their senses during trips by exposing them to new sights, sounds and textures. For instance a coastal getaway could include playing in the sand while listening to waves crash on shore and feeling the salty air on their skin. Visiting a farm could involve seeing colorful animals up close or hearing nature's sounds. Engaging all their senses while exploring makes each outing into an exciting journey. 

Finding Baby-Friendly Destinations

Not all destinations offer equal travel experiences when travelling with young children, so choosing baby-friendly destinations is important to having a pleasant journey experience. Look for accommodations suitable for families, accessible transit options and kid-oriented attractions that meet those criteria. Resorts with play areas or restaurants equipped with high chairs are an invaluable asset in making vacation time enjoyable. Cities with stroller-friendly pavements may make all the difference too. While mild climates reduce any discomfort from extreme heat or cold that could prevent both the  parent and child from suffering, keeping everyone feeling at ease when travelling together.

Pack Smart but Don't Overpack

Traveling light may seem like wishful thinking when travelling with a baby, but smart packing can make all the difference. Prioritise important items like nappies, baby food, a compact stroller and weather-appropriate clothing as priorities when packing smartly. Use items with multiple functions, such as a travel baby bassinet that can double as a “playpen”. Be sure to research all available amenities and supplies at your destination so as to avoid overpacking. Many accommodations provide useful items like high chairs and cribs, making packing lighter possible. Simplifying packing not only creates more space but can help ease travel-related anxiety as well. By prioritizing compact yet thoughtful packing lists with versatile products you can enjoy an easier travel experience without feeling overwhelmed.

Make the Journey as Enjoyable as the Destination  

Making the travel pleasant can often be the hardest part, from long car rides to flights. Ensuring your baby remains entertained and content during the transit phase is very important. Bring along toys, books, or videos specifically aimed at babies to keep them engaged and content. Frequent breaks allow little ones to stretch and release pent-up energy. Feeding during take-off and landing may ease the ear pressure discomfort on flights. By creating pleasant journey experiences your baby will start associating travel with fun rather than fuss.

Encourage Social Interaction  

Travel offers incredible opportunities for babies to interact with new people and build social skills. Your trip may see your little one connecting with strangers such as baristas, laughing alongside other children at parks and babble-speaking with fellow train passengers, all wonderful chances for interaction. Such positive social interactions not only enrich your travel experience but also help create an atmosphere of safety and comfort for your baby when experiencing new environments. Your baby needs early experiences of support to adapt well and feel at ease in new surroundings as they develop. Travel provides opportunities for this early socialization to occur and will have lasting results, helping your little one build self-confidence and interest for what lies beyond. By exposing your little one to various interactions during travel, you provide invaluable foundations for emotional and social growth as well as making your travels more joyful for all involved.

Be Patient and Manage Expectations

Instilling a love of travel into your baby doesn't happen overnight as each child's reaction varies, making every trip unique in terms of how they respond. The key is being patient and managing expectations. Some trips might go smoothly while others could present challenges. Celebrate small wins along the way such as when your little one sleeps through their first flight or enjoys trying something new. Over time your effort will create amazing memories, making a little traveller eager for new adventures.

Travel Benefits Go Beyond Childhood

Teaching your baby or toddler how to appreciate traveling provides many lasting advantages that will serve them in adult life. Travel helps nurture creativity, adaptability and cultural awareness, important traits which can only enrich their adult experiences. Early travel experiences provide children with unforgettable memories while sparking their curiosity and developing an appreciation of our world. Travel teaches children flexibility and problem-solving skills that they'll carry throughout their lives. Exposing your baby to different cultures, languages, and environments helps them appreciate diversity and think globally. Building an early interest in travel is more than an immediate pleasure, it's an investment in their future and shaping them into open-minded, adventurous individuals.

Photo by Nathan Dumlao on Unsplash

While travelling with a baby may present unique challenges, the rewards more than compensate. By crafting an engaging travel experience and developing their curiosity for exploration from an early age, you can set them on their journey of discovery for life. Careful planning, patience, and an adventurous spirit will create memories to cherish throughout their lives. After all, life is too beautiful to wait until their grownup years before sharing its beauty.

2025 Summer Travel Trends

It's no secret that travelers are spending less on travel this year. Everything is more expensive and also completely unpredictable. Some of us are still traveling as usual, but doing so on an even stricter budget. I have to get out of here, but I also don't have the same money as I usually do. Let's look at the other travel trends happening right now with summer travel:

Infographic credit

I just went to Las Vegas earlier this month, took an overnight trip 2 hours away for a family reunion, and will be traveling again at the end of September, right as summer, technically, ends and I'll be going out of the country. I know a lot of folks are concerned about leaving the U.S. and trying to return, which is valid, so we'll see how that works out for us. I'm highly aware of my privlege when it comes to that, though. I'm white, I have global entry, and I don't have issues traveling normally. I did get flagged as a "random check" on this last flight I took, but they just tested my phone for whatever they test electronics for, gave it back, and sent me on my way. It took 30 seconds. I often wonder if I have been flagged so often because I have a foreign-sounding name. Unfortunately, there's nothing I can do about that, short of go legally change it to something American sounding. That seems like a lot of effort for something I don't want to do, though.

Anyway, let me know what your travel plans are for the rest of the year or in 2026, or what concerns are weighing you down right now, because I'm sure there are a lot.

My Favorite Road Trip Tips

Are you planning a road trip soon? I've taken so many road trips that I feel like everything is second-nature now, but I realize a lot of people are just dipping their toe into road tripping and probably don't have those same instincts. For you, I bring you some of my favorite tips.

A road trip can be long and boring if you don't plan it right. If you do, it can be a great way to see a lot of interesting stuff, listen to some cool music and podcasts, and give you a whole new way to travel. Whether you're taking a long or short trip doesn't really matter. You pretty much want to do all the same things, just maybe take less food/snacks.

Get your car checked out first

You don't want to get halfway to your destination and then have your car break down over something that could have been prevented. If you can, get AAA, get a tune-up, check your tires, and make sure you have a safety kit in your car for any breakdowns. I also keep a 2-liter bottle of water in my car, a blanket, a travel towel, a larger first aid kit, and a Halo Bolt. All of these things take up not that much space and can be invaluable if you need them.

Hydration

I travel with someone who drinks a lot of liquids, so I have a small cooler bag that I fill with preferred beverages that I keep cool with frozen water bottles and large ice packs I make out of Stasher bags filled with water. They don't leak and can be used for food, snacks, and other small things while on our trip. It's easier than buying ice and lasts much longer, too. Put your drinks on the floor of the backseat, where it is easy to reach for the passenger, so you don't have to keep stopping when you need a new drink.

Snacks & Food

If you're traveling a short distance, then a bag of snacks is great to have on-hand. I either keep it on the floor next to me (on the passenger side) or put it within easy reach near our drinks. If you're traveling a longer distance, then you're going to want to have a separate bag with more substantial foods. Even if I'm traveling alone, I have granola bars, chips, dip, and something sweet. I will then pack a cooler with fruit, cheese, lunch meats, potato salad, fried chicken, and cut up veggies, like carrots, to have a meal when I stop at a rest area or a park. It saves money and gives you a reason to stop and stretch your legs for more than 2 minutes.

Plan Stops

Listen, being in the car for long stretches is booooring, even if you're listening to a great book or playing games. I use Google Maps before I leave to see what's available along my route and pick some things that sound fun to stop and check out. You need to stretch your body and walk around, so make those stops more fun than just walking through the rest area to the bathroom and looking at brochures for places you don't need...though oftentimes they will have coupons for places you're near and you might save some money on somewhere you were planning to go anyway, so don't pass those up either.

Bring Entertainment

Load up your phone with podcasts, books, and music that you love or don't have time to listen to normally. This is your chance to catch up on those things. It also helps when you're in the middle of nowhere and there aren't any radio stations. If you're traveling with kids, bring them books, travel games, video games (this is the time), movies, and whatever else they always want to do, but you don't want them to stare at screens for 12 hours a day. Ask them where they want to stop along the way, too, so they have something to look forward to. These backseat car organizers are great for all their things.

Chargers

Don't get stuck 5 hours from where you're stopping for the day with dead phones and tablets. Remember all your chargers and make sure you have cords that are long enough to reach the backseat if you need them. Back-up batteries are also a great thing to have. This one allows you to charge several things at once and even has attached power cords.

Paper Map & Emergency Numbers

Yes, you have your phone with GPS, but sometimes things don't go as planned. Make sure you have contact numbers and addresses on paper and also a map, just in case. If you don't need them, that's fine, but if you do, you'll be so grateful you were prepared.

Pack Sparingly

Again, I know you have all the space to bring things with you when you road trip, but that doesn't mean you should cram everything you own in there. You should still pack light and only bring things you need. It is nice that you have a place for that extra pair of shoes and your coat, but you don't want to have to drag 5 suitcases into every hotel you stop at, because that's annoying and because you can't leave them in the car where people will see you are traveling and break in and steal all your stuff. Be mindful of what you need and what you don't. It really makes your trip more comfortable and less of a hassle. 

What are some of your favorite tips for a great road trip?

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