40 helpful tips from mums, dads and mummy and daddy bloggers to help you plan, book and get the most out of your next family holiday with a toddler.

1. @theblondenomads

2. Embrace slow travel
Travelling with kids is very different to travelling alone or as a couple. We used to
squeeze as much as we could into each day, but now we have to slow it down a little
and stop and smell the roses, pick them… and maybe even make a fairy garden with
them! When travelling, remember that everything is new and exciting for your little
adventurers and it’s not just about your destination but all the fun activities you can do
along the way.
Tracy Morris from The Blonde Nomads (Ziggy and Marli’s Mum)
#1

3. Make it easy for them
When we’re at home, my toddler is mostly beyond sitting in a pram and is happy to
walk. I always take a pram when we travel though because kids can get tired quickly,
there’s sometimes jet lag, often long nights, and new experiences. I take a pram so that
she can chill out and rest her little legs while we explore.
Chantelle Ellem from FatMumSlim (Mum of Lulu and Lacey)
#2

4. Baby carrier
Packing tip
We always pack using re-usable large
Ikea snap lock bags. We place
everything Reid will wear each day in its
own bag. This saves so much time
going through the suitcase looking for
socks, underwear and the rest of his
outfits.
Jarrad from
@the_real_dads_of_Melbourne
(Reid’s Dad)
#3

5. Holiday magic
A toddler still interacts with the world and other people
with such pure innocence. It humbles you and helps you
believe in magic again. You’ll delight in their curiosity,
their playfulness, their friendliness, and willingness to
explore.
Craig from YTravel Blog (Dad of Savannah and
Kalyra)
#4

6. It’s the simple things
Toddlers love exploring new worlds and while they like to
be busy, they also love to take their time to explore. They
will feel new texture with sand between their toes or
digging in the dirt. Learn new words like “moo” when
they see their first cow up close on a farm stay. Have a
piggy back ride with dad on a bushwalk or just splash in
the water. You will create memories by keeping it simple.
Diana (Mum of Hugo, Timothy & Joshua)
#5

7. Babies versus toddlers?
If you've been traveling with your child since they
were a baby, you'll find that it's now possible to pack
in more activities than before. You'll be able to
engage your toddler in theatrical shows, hikes or
tours around markets. My two-year-old daughter
absolutely loved watching traditional dances in Bali
and seeing giant Buddha statues in the temples of
Laos. It can be so much fun taking short walks in
the countryside with kids at this age, pointing out
plants and animals to them and seeing their
reactions. But still, I recommend taking things slow
and not packing in too much as toddlers still need
their daily nap and down time. You won't need to
pack as much now as before, but I advise taking
along snacks that they enjoy and items that are
particularly close to them (like a stuffed toy) just to
make them feel more comfortable and at ease.
Nellie from Wild Junket (Mum of Kaleya)
#6

8. Beach is best
Keep it simple with a beach break; wherever
there’s water, there are always happy toddlers.
The new sensations of sinking their hands and
feet in sand, waves breaking across their toes
and floating in the calm waters of a sheltered
beach is all a toddler needs between nap and
meal times. Don’t overthink the itinerary, simply
swim, sand, sun and repeat. We have had
some wonderful worry free family holidays by
Queensland’s family friendly beaches near the
Whitsunday’s Whitehaven Beach, Fraser
Island’s Lake McKenzie, Stradbroke’s Cylinder
Beach and Tangalooma Island Resort on
Moreton Island.
Rene Young from Together We Roam
#7
Whitehaven Beach

9. Mini me time
Make some "little me" time. Just like adults
connect with our environment and need
moments alone to appreciate and breathe it
fully in, kids need some me time too. Find a
moment where your little one can be safely
alone to immerse themselves in nature. Pop
them on a grassy knoll overlooking the sea,
a safe distance from the water at the beach
or under a big shady tree and just let them
be for a while. It will do wonders for you
both.
Narelle from @alittleatlarge (mum of
Baylee and Tiah)
#8

10. Junior Explorers
Follow a give and take formula. If they
need to sit still on an aircraft or bus
allow for some energy burning play
before and after. Remember, toddlers
are not designed to be sedentary. They
are explorers and movers. Allow extra
time for play, movement and activity
when possible.
Kylie Camps from
The Sleep Mama
@thesleepmama
#9
Hamilton Island

11. Long drives
Island time for toddlers
If you’re visiting the Great Barrier Reef for
the first time with a 1-3 year old then visit an
island. Island hopping on the Great Barrier
Reef is best because it gives them a break
from the boat action and a chance to burn
some energy and run around. There’s a
greater chance of them popping their head
underwater with a mask or goggles to see
some reef life. Kids learn the art of
snorkelling and ducking their head
underwater better with their feet on solid
ground. If you can’t get them snorkelling
then there’s always the sand to play with.
Kate Richards (Josh and Charlie’s
Mum) from Adventure Mumma
#10

12. Flying with toddler
I still swear by ‘Fly Legs Up’ the flight
hammock. If your toddler needs a nap
they can sleep on a flat surface and if
they want to play there is room for
their toys without picking them up off
the ground every two seconds.
Katie (Oxley’s Mum)
#11

13. Slip, slop, slap
Having two redheads and living in Queensland my
primary concern is around sun safety, because the
beach and pool are where you want to be and the kids
love it. Be prepared with a large beach bag, a sun
umbrella or shelter, reusable swim nappies, broad
brimmed hats with a cord and long sleeved rashies and
swimmers (if you like to match check out Babes in the
Shade). Don’t forget a large beach towel or picnic mat,
hooded beach towels for the littlies, water bottles,
snacks, snacks, snacks, beach or pool toys and your
phone or camera to capture the special moments.
Alex (Edward & Daniel’s Mum)
#12

14. When 4 wheel driving use a
small towel rolled up to help
keep sleeping toddlers’ heads
steady in their car seat. There
is something special about 4
wheel driving on Fraser Island,
the motion ALWAYS puts my
kids to sleep.
Louise and Jenni from
Paging Fun Mums
#13

15. #14
Pack a favourite item from home.
Wherever we travel we always pack our
favourite pillowcase washed in lavender
water. The smell, the sleep signals and
the deep, blissful rest is part of a good
holiday experience for everyone. We
don't leave home without ours. If
lavender is not your thing, any essential
oil can be used as a laundry wash or
pillow spray.
Narelle from @alittleatlarge (Mum
of Baylee and Tiah)
Brisbane

16. #15
Freebies for mini mes
Make the most of the free
entry. One of the most
brilliant things about toddler
travel is that they often gain
free entry to theme parks
and attractions. Your toddler
is not too young to go. They
love to explore, play and see
new things just like you do.
Generally, they will just be
happy just to be with you.
Make the most of this, the
older they get the more input
kids will have into your
itinerary.
Paula Geinitz from Jet
Setting Kids

17. Splish splash
Choose a hotel or resort with a kid-friendly pool. Your
toddler will love splashing around the shallow end.
Christine Knight from @adventurebabyblog
#16
Surfers Paradise Marriott Resort and Spa

18. Flying with toddler
Offer your little one a new toy or book when
you begin the journey. We bought Animal
Airport for Bonnie and she loved it!
Stella from Kumpas Yoga (Bonnie’s
Mum)
#17

19. Be sure to pack a camera with
a 'sports' mode for capturing
images of a busy moving
toddler. Even better, bring a
tough camera that they can
use to capture some photos
from their perspective.
Louise and Jenni from
Paging Fun Mums
#18

20. Start them early
Toddlers get used to travelling.
Starting them young means they’ll
adapt and grow into better
travellers. Both of our girls are
excellent travellers and very
independent.
Craig from YTravel Blog (Dad of
Savannah and Kalyra)
#19

21. You know what they say about "terrible twos"?
Don't believe them. They're the best age to travel
with! We just returned from a three-month trip
around Southeast Asia with our two-year-old
daughter and we had the best time. In all honesty,
traveling with a toddler is much more rewarding
and fun than traveling with babies. It's such a
magical time: they're now walking, talking and
interacting with you and other people. They react
to people who are smiling at them, their eyes
widen at the sight of big mountains, and they are
just soaking up everything like a sponge. In short,
they've become their own person and are
experiencing the world just as we are.
Nellie from Wild Junket (Mum of Kaleya)
#20

22. Take a little bit of home with
you.
Our eldest son always struggled to
sleep in any bed that wasn’t his own.
So one thing we started doing was to
pack his bed/cot sheets and his
pillow when we travelled. We would
literally take the cot sheets off his cot
and shove them in the suitcase.
After a few days he was usually
settled but for those first few nights -
having a bed that looked and smelt
like his own helped him settle.
Dr Brad Robinson from
Greenslopes Obstetrics and
Gynaecology
#21

23. Pre-pack a momento. Whether you are spotting
dolphins off the headland at Cooloongatta,
swimming with turtles at Lady Elliot Island or whale
watching in Hervey Bay, littles have BIG
expectations, so just in case you don't see what you
came for, pack the toy version instead. Works to
keep them happy and as a great souvenir to take
home too.
Narelle from @alittleatlarge (mum of Baylee
and Tiah)
#22

24. Before you go
Talk to your toddler about the upcoming holiday
and travel. Little ones benefit from understanding
what will happen next. If it's the first time flying
or travelling by boat, it's a great idea to use story
books to chat about the mode of transport.
Taking the time to explain what happens next
can set your little one up for success such as,
“After lunch we will take a bus to the airport,
then we will collect our tickets for the plane trip".
Letting your son or daughter know the sequence
of events can help him or her to feel safe in a
new space.
Kylie Camps from The Sleep Mama
@thesleepmama
#23

25. Pick flights that appear to be less
popular than others. That way you
have a better chance of getting that
extra seat (until you have to pay for
it). Popular flights almost always end
up being the worst – especially
when you haven’t flown with your
little one for some time and realise
that actually, a squirmy 22 month
old is actually too big to have on
your lap for 2.5 hours and all they
want to do is hang off the seat in
front and jump.
Chelsea from @daisywalkmee
(Mum of Frankie)
#24

26. Healthy on holidays
Don’t forget the medicine. Create a toddler travel first aid kit
that includes paracetamol, teething gel, thermometer, nasal
spray, travel sickness bags and any other usual medications.
Jess from Travel with Jess
(Mum of Ripley and Trillian)
#25
Hervey Bay

27. Toddler floaties for peace of mind
For us, the inexpensive back float was the absolute essential item for our 1 and 3 year old in the
water. It’s no surprise that a toddler can find the deepest end of the pool or chance across that
section of the beach where the ocean floor has dropped beneath them, in a blink of an eye.
With floaties strapped securely on our toddlers we were much more at ease and able to enjoy
our beach surroundings. Particularly handy when there are multiple young kids in the water. As
little swimmers grow more confident in the water, you can adjust the back float for buoyancy.
Rene Young from Together We Roam
#26
Fraser Island

28. Take a little bit of home with you
When traveling you can’t take everything with you, but it’s sometimes nice for toddlers
to have some home comforts. I pack a little bag (and I mean little) of her toys so she
can have downtime and have a play. If I have enough room, I’ll also take her pillow
because it means she sleeps better. Sometimes it’s worth the extra luggage.
Chantelle Ellem from FatMumSlim (Mum of Lulu and Lacey)
#27

29. Travel light and ditch the pram. You’ll
probably only need it a fraction of
the time and toddlers like to ride ‘up
top’ or all by themselves.
Chelsea from @daisywalkmee
(Mum of Frankie)
#28
Tropical North Queensland

30. Baby carrier
More packing tips
Pack a power board as hotels never have
enough power points for all the electrical
devices we have to recharge these days.
Jarrad from
@the_real_dads_of_Melbourne
(Dad to Reid)
#29

31. Baby carrier
Born Adventurers
Toddlers are super active. Back when
they were babies, they were happy to sit
in the pram but now they are keen to
walk themselves and explore. Choose
destinations with wide open and safe
spaces to walk like beaches, boardwalks,
parks and rainforests.
Julia (Alexander, Curtis and Thalia’s
Mum)
#30
Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary

32. Road trip rules
Food can be a great distraction in the car, on a plane or waiting in a queue. Little
packets of sultanas can be strung out for a long time if needed, handed diligently
out one at a time in a line or when we pass the next tree on a drive.
Diana (Mum of Hugo, Timothy and Joshua)
#31

33. Washing clothes on holidays is a good thing
Choose accommodation with a laundry. Whether you
have a laundry in your room, or a communal laundry,
it’s great to be able to wash clothes because kids will be
kids and that generally means mess.
Chantelle Ellem from FatMumSlim (Mum of Lulu
and Lacey)
#32

34. Invest in a toddler carrier
The Ergobaby carrier is great for younger kids.
However, when they are more independent, the
Piggy Back Rider is a fantastic alternative as
they can hop on and off as they please.
Jess from Travel with Jess
(Mum of Ripley and Trillian)
#33
Glasshouse Mountains

35. Research what items may be
available for hire in the location
you're visiting. There are a lot of
hire companies that work with
resorts, campgrounds and even
AirBnB places that save you from
having to lug your portable cot,
walkers, swings, prams and so on.
You can even hire toys and beach
toys!
Louise and Jenni from
Paging Fun Mums
#34
The Whitsundays

36. Use your holiday to try new things you
wouldn’t at home. Eat at a restaurant, try
your mini me on new foods, use the
surroundings to keep them entertained. You
may be pleasantly surprised. My little one is
terrible at restaurants but we took him to
the sushi train down the coast and now it is
a weekly date. I am obsessed with sushi,
Oxley is now a keen bean for sushi and
enjoys the experience of going there with us
each week. Win win!
Katie (Oxley’s Mum)
#35

37. Ask The Concierge
Don’t be afraid to ask a hotel or resort
concierge for extra help with your
toddler. Many major hotels and resorts
are well-equipped with high-chairs,
portacots even umbrella strollers for
you to borrow. Ring Room Service and
they’ll puree veggies for you! We stress
ourselves out trying to be self-sufficient
but these days many of the major
hotels are ready and willing to help you
with your little ones.
Dr Brad Robinson from
Greenslopes Obstetrics and
Gynaecology
#36

38. Bring a set of Crayola washable
crayons and wipeable and reusable
colouring books. They are easy to
carry and are a big help when we
are out and about, even at a coffee
shop. My little one even loves using
wet wipes to clean it too.
Peta (Mum of Ebony)
#37

39. Keep your toddler's attention by rolling out
the activities one-at-a-time. Flashcards, finger
puppets, stickers, multi-coloured post-it
notes... even a photo book of familiar faces
will all help to occupy your curious toddler.
Store activities in the one ‘bag of tricks’ and
keep this close to you. Always pack a fresh
set of activities for the trip home and plan a
new activity for every 60 minutes of travel.
Save electronic devices for when you have
exhausted all other entertainment options.
Paula Geinitz from Jet Setting Kids
Location: Caloundra, Sunshine Coast
#38

40. BYO Baby Sitter
Invite the grand parents or super
eager aunties and uncles along for
part of your holiday so you can enjoy
some time with your other half or just
to yourself.
Isaac (Hugo’s dad)
#39
Stradbroke Island

41. Dirty deeds
Have a spare set of clothes in the glovebox or
your bag. Toddlers are attracted to both mud
and water.
Jess from Travel with Jess
(mum of Ripley and Trillian)
#40
Bundaberg North Burnett

42. Check out the Queensland Blog for
more family-friendly holiday tips.