Traveling light with a toddler? is that an oxymoron?

In regards to the car seat - we bought a product called GoGo Kidz Travelmate that attaches to her car seat and has wheels and a telescopic handle so you can just wheel it through the airport (even leaving the child in it if you prefer). It is great and worth every penny of its $89 cost to not have to lug that car seat over our shoulders!

Yes. Traveling light with a toddler is an oxymoron. We took our four-year-old with us last year for a month. She also went when she was 5 months old. There's a lot of good advice on the "Traveling With Kids" section of the Graffiti Wall.

You didn't say what your itinerary is, but I suggest fewer destinations with longer stays. I wouldn't take the car seat only for the airplane (how do you even fit a car seat into an airplane seat?) but if you'll be renting a car, obviously, you'll need it. You should take a cheap umbrella stroller - they're hard to find there. We took the fewest stuffed animals we could but that's an individual call. We had a video IPod that was great for some entertainment.

Remember that you can buy everything you need over there so don't stress about diapers, etc.

What else concerns you? Oh, most hotels have cribs. Our kid was horrified to find one in the room but we took the mattress out and put it on the floor and she loved "camping out".

First off, elmo and elephant stay home. Just main stuffys go,, less for you to lose and keep track off.Try to be a little more matter of fact over this , I wouldn't and didn't allow myself into being manipulated by tears, I had three kids so they each brought one special stuffy and one special blankie, they owned lots ,but we set a limit. Thats what parents do, say no.
If you have enough time , get child toilet trained, at three they are not allowed in preschool here unless trained, so I assume you have started anyways. You will likely still need diapers for nightime though.
Car seat, well , thats your call. If you are not renting a car I would not ( and did not) even bring one. You cannot lug a carseat around to use on metro or tubes, so really not quite sure logic in bringing it ( unless as I said you are renting a car, and even then, if short term rental I would just rent one from rental car company)

Lightwieght stroller is nessesary, try to get one with a canopy.

Personal opinion, if plane ride is long, or a red eye, then I think a kind thing to do is give her something to help her sleep. I used motion sickness med as 2/3 of my kids were car sick types anyways, side effect of drowisness was a benefit. Some people use decongestants for that too, which by the way, if you child has any form of stuffy nose before the flight PLEASE give them some decongestant or antihistimine so they do not scream in pain when the pressure in their little ears is impossible for them to clear!! Talk to doctor about this, flying with a head cold of any sort is torture specially for tots.

Here's Rick's tips for traveling with a young child: click

It's been a long long time since I traveled with little ones, but my recollection is that it was a lot easier to travel with a diapered child than a very recently potty trained one. When they have to go, they have to go RIGHT NOW!!! It will put a premium on your knowing in advance how to find a bathroom immediately. Also, be prepared for regression on that issue--when kids get stressed, even in a good way, and their schedule is topsy turvy, potty training is sometimes "forgotten" a bit.

I agree that it is better to stay longer in each place--the logistics of travel and setting up again in a new hotel room aren't worth it.

As for the plane, luckily most flights to Europe are overnighters, and kids usually are better sleepers than we are. Definitely plan for landing earpain--especially if your wee one has the sniffles. Talk to your pediatrician about this. Have her in diapers for the flight--the airplane toilet can be unnerving for a little kid.

Enjoy your trip!

I travelled with mine (overseas) when they were 2 years old and 5 months old. I took umbrella stroller (a good thing to have), and the car seat because we were going to Hawaii and rented a car for two weeks. It was a nuisance to haul through the airport! Diapers were bought abroad. Toys we limited and ended up losing on the bus in England (son). He cried like heck for the darn red car, so we went from store to store until we found the same shape, but different colour. He still remembers that car he lost (and he's graduating in two weeks,LOL). Take as little as you can possibly get by with, and forget the tons of books. Take one book with several stories.

One thing that was indispensible was an immersion cup heater for making his meals..we made soups, noodles, kids meals. Don't worry about entertaining her when there....Evan had a ball chasing pigeons and a short stay in parks found him playing with kids he couldn't understand except for the universal game of race and chase. The other kids always had a ball to share. We got one stupid thing on the trip that he played with for hours! One of those stupid sticky things you throw at the wall. The other toy was a clacky thing that a storekeeper gave him in Germany when he got his leiderhosen.They have toys there so don't worry about taking along too much. An easy small stroller is a must with all the cobblestone.

one other thing...if she likes her peanut butter, take that with you as it can be hard to find and may not be the same consistency.

Thanks for the comments so far. I'd love more of the "how to take less" info.

(I'm perusing the rest of this site which does have some good general kid-travel stuff. We're doing things like fewer stops with home bases and rental cars. Just FYI, this trip is to Australia. I know Rick is famous for Europe, but figure the "light" technique can be used on the other side of the world too.)

My research so far has led me to believe I'm better off bringing the carseat than hoping and renting the whole way, so I figure that I'll be towing a rolling checked bag with the carseat strapped on while wearing a carryon backpack. Mom will be wearing a carryon backpack and towing the kid on a Trunki. Hopefully that leaves enough hands free to hold onto the little one in public / mass transit at some of the layovers.

David: New Jersey/NYC to Australia--wow--how many total hours from your departure airport to your final destination airport?

I was leaning away from an umbrella stroller, but Mom disagrees. Domestically I find that the little one rides on my hip or my shoulders when not walking (still under 10kg). I'll ask my mates down under how hard they are to find there.

Pat, I hear your comments on reducing stuffed animals. I think we can get it to 2 bears and their blankets - I'll try it next time to grandad's.
And I'm perfectly willing to buy diapers abroad if she's not 100%. (Anyone know how hard they are to find in airports? I haven't flown since thinking of that - we've been roadtripping since birth.)

Any suggestions on really compact ways to entertain on the plane?

Right now books are tactile "I want to turn the pages" as much as the pictures and stories. I tried scanning one of her favorites and reading it on the laptop and she wasn't interested. (I thought the laptop -required anyway- could replace a shelf of books but I was wrong.

We're splitting the flight up: 4hrs+9hrs the first day, 14 hrs a few days later, and 3hrs+1hr a few days later. (of course that doesn't count the "must check in x hrs before" requirements and getting past security)
We considered the 24hrs all at once option, but couldn't get on it with the frequent flyer points.

David,. after reading about how long your flights are ,,, all I can say is you are incredible.. I cannot even imagine,. The longest flight I took with babies/toddlers was about 6 hours. Kids also did a 5 + 5 flight when there were about 10-13,, and then at 14 each older child did about 11 to Europe.

Whatever gets you through flights that long is what I would take, even if you take a bunch of books and then give them away( leave at a hotel or something) as you travel and buy new ones. Which also is another great idea, you are going to an english speaking country, they will have books there you can buy as you go!

PS Since you are going to Australia you really don't have to take much of anything, I mean they have all the foods etc you would be used to , and same brands of diapers too I bet. Also since we are not talking Europe I think it is easier to find a public washroom in Australia then it would be in Paris! LOL

Have fun.

G'day David, welcome to Australia mate. ;-) Super long travel is no cause for alarm from we intrepid people. Can I suggest that perhaps you can wean your daughter off a few of the must have bulkier toys. Perhaps even use a new toy a as a bribe. Personally I'd be asking the rental company to book for child restraints. I know that they are available. Check Hertz, Avis, Thrifty, Budget etc websites. When my sister migrated for two years with a 3 y/o and a 12 month baby, it was just the fold up umbrella stroller for the baby, and a brand new toy...a koala which played Waltzing Mathilda. I'd also talk to your doctor. Three can be a pretty independant young lady. I'd buy her a small backpack for her own special goodies. She can practice wearing it to the shops, to visit grandparents. Involve her as much as she is able in the whole process. Hunt out a book of our unique wildife for her. The airline should be able to provide somebooks for her to read and colour in. Goodluck.

David, I am interested in your flight paths. East Coast to West Coast, then 14 hours to Sydney direct. Are you doing circle pacific or something?

Kent...last year it took us 44 HOURS to fly from Bishkek to Melbourne via Istanbul and KL. Now, that was fun and a half. But we brought home a daughter-in-law so the long haul was worth it. Melbourne to Europe is 22/23 hours, plus layovers etc etc and we live 3 hours from Melbourne.

Yes, get her a backpack-Dora the explorer of course. She'll feel grown up and she can keep toys, books and a jacket. Also get her a picture book of plane travel. Tell her that at takeoff and landing you'll all make funny faces together and do the ones that help relieve ear pressure. That would be more fun than gum.

My kids started at three with those little rolling suitcases that are plastic and feature cartoon characters. It was "their" carryon with a change of clothes and EVERYTHING they were going to play with on the trip. We did it for cartrips, planetrips, even daytrips when my son was particularly clingy. They pulled it, they helped pack it.

I also have a teenage son who remembers that he lost his stuffed animal as a toddler. It was very traumatic at the time. I encourage you to take pictures of all the favorite, irreplacable toys/animal along in a photo albulm,and buy a new similar stuffed "travel friend".
Happy travels. Kids are great icebreakers and enforce the need to slow down and enjoy where you are.

David, I have on occasion seen a business man taking a photograph of a child's favourite toy ...dad was OS on work, child was sent the phhotos via email. Perhaps your well travelled daughter would like an album (after the trip) of the travel adventures of her favourite toy. Even have it made into a book.

David, we traveled a lot with our son when he was quite young. We would purchase a "small" toy just for the plane ride. That way, he had something new to entertain for the hours on the plane and we had peace and quiet (remember "transformers"?) I second keeping your child in diapers or pull-ups on the plane so you don't have to try to get to the bathroom when the stewardess is trying to serve meals or the plane is landing. I also liked the suggestion of her own little suitcase--with all her loveys in it. That would help limit what she takes. Good luck--I envision her screaming as she enters the third airport!

I have not taken my children overseas, but they have flown a number of times domestically.

I found that at the 3 year old stage, anything NEW is exciting. I had my son carry a small backpack for his own carry on. I got a few small new books (discount store stuff) and wrapped them. I would let him unwrap one at each leg of the trip. HE was thrilled by this. I also found that blank paper with a few crayons and some sheets of stickers provided lots of fun. A small Magnadoodle can entertain for a while too.

We've always taken ONE lovie, nothing more. Other than that, I don't take anything I'm not willing to lose. We'll take along a bunch of those happy meal toys, etc. and if they are lost- GREAT!

Also, no better way to keep a child happy than food. Be sure you aren't begging the flight att. for the bag of pretzels. I know there are different restrictions now, but keeping a child in drinks and snacks is paramount.

continued-

There are also some websites that have children's stories as MP3s. You could download some of those for her to listen to, or do it the "old fashion way" with books on tape like we do. This is a nice way for a child to tune out a bit from the constant noise of an airplane.

Good luck!

How close is your child to three and how long before your trip? If it is coming up soon, I would not try to potty train. I have a 13 (boy), 10 (girl), 4 (girl), and 2 (girl) year old, and they haven't been to Europe, but I have done significant US travel with them, and I spent 6 years of childhood in Europe. I second the poster who said that diapers will be easier. I am planning on diapers for my two year old who will be almost 3 at the time. I can take a couple of packs of diapers, and as they leave my luggage, the load will lighten or it will make room for purchases.

Travel with a freshly potty-trained child is a challenge. They will need to use the bathroom frequently (and often at bad times!), and European restrooms can be a challenge. I have a public restroom phobia that goes back to scary toilets in childhood. ; ) Also, as noted, kids sometimes regress during times of stress (good or bad). I might even take some sleep diapers for my four (will be five) year old, just in case!

The trend I'm hearing is that the hours on the plane outweigh the hour trying to get to/from it.

Aside from minimizing the stuffed animals and reconsidering the carseat, there aren't too many people telling me to bring less? I just know that I've never wished I had more to carry before.

David, like any holiday, pack light. You will all be tired from the trip out, although excitement will wipe out some of that. Don't forget that crossing the International Dateline make it all seem longer. Going home will be amazingly swift...you are back on the West Coast before you leave!! I'd suggest some practice packs and whittle unnecessary stuff. After all, you and your wife will be pulling/carrying/lifting it all for the duration of the holiday. I'd love to know where you are travelling to in this wide brown land, and hope that every day is special. The airports have chemist shops which I am sure will sell diapers. More expensive than at a supermarket unfortunately. I hope your airline lives up to the expectations which you need fulfilled. Their online site should have details for travelling with children.