How to Travel More Efficiently With Kids (and Love It!)

Family, Product Reviews, Travel
December 8, 2025
8:46 pm

Love to travel—but not sure how it’ll go with kids?

Here’s the truth: there is no perfect time to start traveling with kids, and you shouldn’t let the idea of traveling with little ones keep you from exploring what you love. Bring them along! Kids gain so much from experiencing new places—confidence, curiosity, flexibility, and pure joy.

We started traveling with our first at 4 months old. He flew to/from nine destinations in his first year. For his fifth birthday, his wish was to see “a lot of cactuses” and the northern lights. So of course, we took him to Joshua Tree National Park–read more about our JTNP experience HERE.

Why Travel With Kids and Grandparents?

Travel is for everyone—babies, toddlers, big kids, parents, AND grandparents. Age doesn’t limit adventure. Bringing multiple generations together creates lifelong memories and helps kids feel safe, supported, and excited to try new things.

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Let’s Be Real: Traveling With Kids Isn’t Perfect

Yes—traveling with kids adds cost, logistics, and chaos, no matter how practiced you are. Some things are just out of your control: sickness, tantrums, wild moods, or unexpected disruptions.

But there are beautiful parts too:

• Traveling with babies can be easier than expected—they’re not mobile yet, they love to snuggle, and breastfeeding or prep-ahead bottles make flights manageable.

• Traveling with toddlers is more challenging, but watching them explore tiny airports, wander new paths, and absorb the world is worth every ounce of effort.

Technology, better travel gear, and smarter planning make all of this easier than ever.

Below are our most-used, parent-tested strategies for flying with babies, toddlers, and young kids.

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Top Strategies for Traveling With Babies & Toddlers

1. Divide and Conquer at Drop-Off

If your airport offers outdoor check-in, drop off one adult with the luggage and kids.

The other adult parks off-site (we do this to save money), then takes the shuttle in.

This saves time and energy—trust me, you’ll want that energy later.

2. Use Smart Stroller Options

• Infants: The Doona is still our #1 pick. You can use it well into toddlerhood depending on size. It’s FAA-certified, collapses easily, and turns into a stroller in seconds.

• Toddlers: A lightweight collapsible stroller saves your arms and sanity. Our Gb Pockit GoCity collapsible stroller isn’t the most ergonomic for the rider, but it’s perfect for travel days—and even our 5-year-old still hops in when tired.

➡️ See our stroller recommendations and full travel gear guide here.

3. Rent a Luggage Cart

The first time we rented one, we wondered why we waited so long. It’s worth every penny—now it’s part of our routine.

4. Try Rider Suitcases for Kids

Kids under 5 love anything they can ride or pull.

We bought the Stokke JetKids BedBox when I was 7 months pregnant and juggling a toddler—and it immediately became a lifesaver. It:

• Carries their favorite items

• Gives them a place to sit and ride

• Doubles as a footrest on flights

• Makes airport travel fun

Little brother uses it now, so it’s paid for itself.

5. What to Pack in Your Carry-On

Keep flights smooth with a mix of familiar comforts and surprises:

• Favorite toys

• Sensory gadgets

• Music + kid headphones

• iPads (we didn’t use screens until ages 3–5)

• A few wrapped toys for them to open mid-flight

• Baby essentials: bottles, pre-measured formula, pacifiers, and noise-canceling headphones

6. Rent the Big Baby Gear When Possible

For babies, renting things like:

• Pack-n-plays

• High chairs

• Beach toys

• Bouncers

• Infant seats (non-car-seat)

…saves so much space.

Car seats, though, are personal. For infants, we always bring our own. They aren’t always cleaned well, and we want the best fit and safety.

7. Traveling Without Car Seats

For toddlers and big kids, it’s easier:

Many services—including rental car companies, hotel transportation partners, and even some rideshare options—provide car seats.

Kidmoto is a worldwide taxi service with certified car-seat installers. We almost booked them in NYC until we found out our hotel offered safe transportation for a similar price.

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More Resources for Stress-Free Family Travel

➡️ Ultimate Guide to Multigenerational Travel: From Infants to Toddlers

➡️ Top 10 Family Travel Must-Haves for Stress-Free Adventures

➡️ Joshua Tree National Park Family Guide

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Final Encouragement

Kids don’t need the perfect age or perfect itinerary. They just need you—and the adventure. Travel teaches them flexibility, wonder, and confidence. And traveling with grandparents creates stories your kids will tell forever.

You don’t have to wait. Start small, stay flexible, pack the essentials, and enjoy the journey—chaos and all.

Hey, It's Tiffany!

Click around and read up on everything family, home and travel related!

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Meet the Blogger

Hi, I’m Tiffany Dill!

As a mom with profound hearing loss, I know firsthand the beauty and chaos of navigating life with young kids, extended family, and all the little surprises along the way. At Blue Day 2, I’m all about creating spaces and experiences that bring joy to families of all ages and abilities. From home designs that work seamlessly for everyone to sharing my favorite picks from my LTK and Amazon shops, I’m here to make life and travel simpler, more accessible, and filled with joy. Stick around for plenty of inspiration, a little less stress, and a whole lot more fun as we embrace life’s perfectly imperfect adventures together!

Let's Get Personal!

Click on the tabs below to learn more fun facts about me. Do we have anything in common?

Tiffany, you've been married to Andrew for over 16 years now. Any special anniversary traditions?

Oh, absolutely! Every year since we got married in September 2008, we’ve worn the exact same clothes we left our wedding reception in. Yup, I'm talking my gold cocktail dress, wedding jewelry shining, and Andrew rocking his wedding suit. We’re not about to let that tradition slide. It’s been 16 years of pure anniversary magic. I guess you could say we’re "stuck" in our wedding day outfits, but in the best way possible!

Completing an Ironman and earning a doctorate in occupational therapy in the same year sounds intense. How did you pull that off?

Intense is one way to put it! But honestly, raising two energetic boys might just be the hardest thing I’ve ever done. The Ironman and doctorate were definitely tough, but mom life? That’s the ultimate endurance race. It’s the one that keeps me—and even Andrew—on our A-game, every single day. I wouldn’t trade it for the world, though. There’s nothing like their opposite personalities and they surprise you with so much joy even in the chaos, and that's where my energy goes—no finish line required.

You’ve set a pretty ambitious goal with playing ‘Sweet By and By’ on the piano. What’s the story there?

Ah, yes! I miss playing the piano. I started playing piano since second grade and even made it to an advanced level through college. But now, my life goal is to master Sweet By and By (again) before I leave earth. It’s definitely a stretch, but that’s the fun part, right? First, though, I need to add a piano in a room I’ve been dreaming of since we built our home. Playing piano was always my outlet. Until then, running is my stress reliever.

Hidden talent alert: You can read lips. How’d you discover that one?

Oh, this one goes way back! When I was four years old, I managed to fool five different audiologists during my hearing tests. It wasn’t until a doctor noticed that I wasn’t repeating what she said when she turned around (back in those days they didn’t cover their lips nor did they have tinted windows in the sound booth)! I had spinal meningitis at 13 months, which nearly took my life and left me in a coma for a week. As a result, I had to start over on a few developmental milestones and missed a lot of early speech and language development. Thanks to years of speech therapy and a knack for lip-reading, I still manage to fool people with my profound hearing loss. It comes in handy when someone wants to know what the ref said on the field or TV, or if I’m in a crowded room and want to eavesdrop—just kidding. Sort of.

On the flip side, what are some things you’re not a fan of?

Confined spaces. Cilantro. Olives. Blue cheese. I could live without all of those. And don’t even get me started on being stuck inside for hours at a time. I'm much more suited to wide-open spaces, the great outdoors, and pretty much anything that involves fresh air.

We all know you’re a planner, but what do you hold closest to your heart?

Sentiments. They’re irreplaceable. There’s something about the things that carry emotional weight—whether it’s a moment or an object—that just can’t be duplicated. I’ve learned to really appreciate the simple, meaningful stuff in life. In fact, our Christmas tree is adorned with over 20 years of ornaments symbolizing memories from a loss of loved ones to trips and even sour times. It’s like finding joy in the simple little things whether they are happy or sad or even bad memories.

You’re a busy mom and entrepreneur, but how do you manage to squeeze in family time?

Time? What’s that? Ha! Honestly, there’s just not enough of it. And the thing is, we can’t get it back. So I prioritize memory-making with my family. That’s my top priority. Whether it’s hiking, running, biking, traveling, or exploring the great outdoors with my boys, I live for those moments. In fact, I devote one day off work a week to be with my little guys and my husband and I carve out a weekly date night.