Two Years Fly by and Suddenly You Realize Toddler Travel Just Got Better (kind of)

When is this plane taking off!?

Last time we flew, it was the summer of 2019 for a trip to Cape Cod. Levi was 2, so we packed EVERYTHING; we planned both legs of the flight around his sleep schedule (or whatever was closest to it); and we tried to prepare for that inevitable moment when airport boredom struck. The mental strain associated with all of that preparation made me question the supposed benefits of showing your kids the world at an early age. Our preparation went something like this:

• Pack the Elmos. Whatever we do…PACK…THE…ELMOS!
• For a longer flight, book a departure for noon, or, between 7:30pm and 9pm
• Bring the travel car seat and a cover so we can check it at the gate
• Pack HELLA clothes for those mid-day wardrobe changes that never actually happen
• Put the books in the backpack for the plane
• Put some toys in the backpack AND in the suitcase
• Find an Airbnb with toys, a high chair, pack ‘n play, and other kid-friendly stuff
• This spot in Seattle was awesome for us back in 2019
• Depending on where we go, stay close to a park if possible
• Bring enough milk in case we get delayed on the plane or Levi doesn’t fall asleep right away
• And have enough for when he wakes up
• MAKE SURE ELMO IS PACKED!
• The list goes on and on…

2021 is here and Levi is now 4. As the world opened up, we booked a trip to San Diego…far enough, and yet still close enough, to feel like we went somewhere. Our preparation went as follows:

• 
  
  • Book any flight
  • Make sure the rental car (Turo) comes with a car seat
  • Get an Airbnb with two bedrooms and a washing machine
  • Pack 3 days of outfits for a 5 day trip
  • The washing machine is your friend
  • Let Levi pick 3 books and 3 stuffed animals
  • Nothing is “missing” when he picks his own travel gear
  • Preemptive strike on a possible meltdown
  • Pack some snacks…the “usuals” in case new/vacation snacks fail
  • Make it clear we aren’t going to the zoo, aquarium, and pool on the first day
  • a 4 y/o = plans and logic mean nothing
  • Get a bottle of wine (or two) at the end of the first day
  • Set the tone for the rest of the week
  • We earned it

The difference between 2 and 4 is huge! A lot has to do with Levi being older, but sizable chunk was us realizing we need to make this easier on ourselves. It’s less to do with the length of the trip and more to do with us being in control and knowing how to handle things when it gets rough. Don’t get me wrong…it’s definitely not easy and the meltdowns can and will happen, but we shouldn’t make it harder than it needs to be. In the end, it’s about having fun as a family, creating memories, and looking forward to the next adventure.