My Best Tips for Traveling with Toddlers – Part 3

Family vacations can be a lot of fun. Your family gets to spend time together. A lot of time together, and your toddler loves this. Time away means more hours with you and much fewer good-byes. It also means more relaxing time, for everyone. Your toddler astutely picks up on your emotions, so when you’re chillin’ out, they are as well. It’s no wonder, then, that returning home from vacation and back to the normal day-to-day routine requires some adjustment. Like many events in your little one’s life, shifting from vacation mode back to home life isn’t automatic. Think of this as another transition for your toddler. They need some time, and your patience, to make the switch.
In my last post, Traveling with Toddlers Part 2, I shared my tips for enjoying your time away, and today I’ll give you my best advice for making the transition back home.

WHAT YOU CAN DO TODAY: Make the transition easy, and not abrupt.
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My Best Tips for Traveling with Toddlers – Part 2

Summer travel can be a whole lot of fun… and a whole lot of stress and hassle. If you’re approaching your family vacation with caution or even trepidation, I understand. Let’s face it; traveling with toddlers requires a lot of preparation and patience from you. In Traveling with Toddlers Part 1, I gave you my secrets for a stress-free travel day, and now I’ll share with you my best tips for enjoying your time away once you’ve arrived.

Lower your expectations. This is number one on my list because it can make such a big difference. Remind yourself that your toddler can only handle so much before he or she becomes overwhelmed and fitful. It’s tempting to want to see and do it all as soon as the plane lands or you arrive at your destination, but your excitement and eagerness may very well backfire. Your toddler doesn’t share your drive to go, go, go! Lower your expectations about what can be accomplished in a single day, and by doing so you will tend to be more in sync with what they can realistically do—and enjoy.
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Traveling with Toddlers- Part 1

Family vacations can be a mixed blessing. Remember how fun and easy they were before you had toddlers in tow? If you’re approaching your summer vacation with caution or even trepidation, I understand. I’ve been there. My husband and I have traveled extensively with our 3 children– east coast, west coast, the midwest and to Europe. I recall (not-so-fondly) hours of children’s screams down the highway and near wrestling matches within the airplane aisles. And what I’ve learned over the years and from hundreds of parents of toddlers I’ve met along the way is that the secret to a stress-free family vacation comes down to preparation, realistic expectations and distraction.
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