Early in 2024, we went on a weekend away with our little one (then just shy of a year old). I reflected on this trip and the lessons I learned in an 041Baby column shortly thereafter.
As it turns out, this holiday experience was basically no help in what we planned and pulled off in December: a two-week international trip with a toddler.
It was however a learning experience in its own right, so let’s jump into what will soon become unsolicited travel advice I will share widely and frequently.
- Time is of the essence – allow yourself plenty of time for planning. An international trip requires a lot of bits and bobs, from the obvious (passport and visa) to the easily-forgotten tasks (calling your bank so they don’t block your credit card the first time you swipe abroad) – and that is without factoring in the baby-specific requirements. Also make sure you read up on the airline rules and allowances for young children
- Age is not just a number – travelling with a toddler can be stressful, but on the other hand, kids under two years old basically fly for free, so weigh up the pros and cons
- Doctor knows best – good grief, do people get crucified on social media if they ask for any family travel advice and even consider medicating their child! This is a personal choice, so my two cents: ask your pediatrician, so that whatever you decide to do, you know it is safe for your child
- Be flexible – this was the hardest part for me: you’re on holiday abroad, so you want to see the sights, but your child has a schedule of meals and naptimes. The reality is, some days your toddler will have to keep snacking until you get somewhere you can give them lunch, and naps might be delayed – and you have to get OK with that for your own sanity. It’s temporary, and when you get home you can pick up the normal routine again; your child will be fine (they can’t even tell time anyway)
- Remember to pack your sense of humour – in our case, I planned absolutely everything to the last detail, and we ended up getting stuck in Johannesburg for two days after an unprecedented flight delay that led to us missing our international flight and having to wait 48 hours for the next one. Chaos is inevitable, and you just have to navigate it as you go and deal with one crisis at a time (which is what parenting is, really, isn’t it?)
- Take tons of pictures – my son is not even two yet, so he won’t remember the many sights he saw; but I will be able to tell him and show him the photos of his many adventures
- Be proud of yourself – before we left, I told a colleague how anxious I was about travelling with a toddler, and she said: yes, but some people would let that stop them from going. So if you are planning a trip, be proud of being brave and making family adventures possible!
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