Traveling with toddlers: pack snacks and sanity
From toddler tantrums to “Baby Shark” on loop, here are five travel hacks that might just keep your sanity intact at cruising altitude.
I’m often asked what it’s like being a journalist. Over the years, I’ve given people many answers; some glamorous, some exasperated; but here’s one I don’t often admit: sometimes, journalism is a curse.
Let me elaborate.
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Last Friday morning – wait, not morning, it was the crack of dawn – (the kind of hour only bakers and pilots enjoy), I found myself at King Shaka International Airport, sipping coffee with a colleague while waiting for a flight to Cape Town.
And let me pause here to emphasise the coffee. I was toddler-free for a change, which meant I could actually sip and savour my cappuccino while it was still hot, without being interrupted between sips. Bliss.
But as I sat there, enjoying my brief escape from motherhood’s sticky fingers and Peppa Pig reruns, I realised my brain just wouldn’t switch off. Journalism is like that annoying friend who never leaves the party. You want peace, but it keeps poking you with story ideas and questions. And so I found myself observing everyone around me, constructing storylines and coming up with angles in my head. See? Curse.
Among the morning crowd were several moms with toddlers in tow. Now, let me just say: any woman who gets to an airport at 05:00 with a small child is a superhero. Forget capes; those moms had already survived 100 meltdowns and possibly 50 outfit changes before sunrise.
It reminded me of a friend, an avid traveller, who was told she’d “probably stop travelling now that she has a baby”. Her response? Not a chance! She simply adapted and made sure her baby adapted too. Honestly, I think that deserves a standing ovation (and a free upgrade to business class).
So, in the spirit of keeping our tiny humans happy at 30 000 feet, I chatted to seasoned, independent travel agent Katie Pillinger of ENVOYAGE. She shared five survival tips for travelling with toddlers; because, let’s be honest, you’ll need more than coffee and blind optimism.
Katie’s top tips for travelling with toddlers:
- Prep like a pro. Pack the night before so you don’t forget essentials like snacks, IDs, or the holy grail of calm: their favourite blanket or stuffed animal. Comfort is key. Dress your toddler in soft, cosy clothes. Bonus points if they look nap-ready.
- Gentle transitions. Keep the vibe calm — dim lights, quiet voices. Avoid rushing. Toddlers sense stress faster than WiFi.
3. Fill up a vanity bag with new toys that your toddler has never played with before. The novelty will keep them busy. Think sticker books, buildable magnetic toys, colouring books, busy books and the like.
- Snacks, snacks and snacks. Think bananas, fruit sticks, yoghurt pouches, muffins. Basically, anything they can eat without redecorating the plane seats. Pack them into a snack box with different compartments.
- Download entertainment onto your phone or iPad; or keep a book handy – and don’t forget child safe headphones – they are a game changer.
So there you have it. Travelling with toddlers may not be a holiday for you, but at least with these tips, you can survive the journey, and maybe even sip your coffee hot … for once.
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