How We’ve Traveled 30+ Countries with Kids (Yes, Even Toddlers!)

Tips, Tricks, and Real Talk from a Family Who’s Done It

Traveling with toddlers isn’t for the faint of heart—but it is possible, and it can even be magical. As a family who’s taken our kids to over 35 countries, from Romania to New Zealand (and even to Antarctica!), we’ve learned what works, what doesn’t, and how to make travel less chaotic—and a whole lot more fun.

Just a heads up! Some of the links in this post are Amazon affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you) if you make a purchase. Thanks for supporting Wander With Stephanie!

Here’s how we make it work:

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1. Set Your Expectations (And Then Lower Them a Little More)

Toddlers are unpredictable. Delays, skipped naps, and epic meltdowns in the middle of ancient ruins are all part of the adventure. The key is flexibility. We don’t overpack our itineraries and always build in downtime.

Pro Tip: Always include a playground stop in your day. Kids get antsy doing all the things adults love—long meals, museums, and miles of walking. Whether it’s a soft play zone in a Bosnian mall or a dinosaur-themed playground at the southernmost point in Chile, having a moment just for them makes the whole day smoother.

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2. Pack Light—but Smart

We learned this the hard way: lugging a massive suitcase and a squirmy toddler through cobblestone streets in Bucharest is… not ideal.

Our must-haves for toddler and kid-friendly travel:

• Lightweight stroller that reclines for naps on the go
• Travel potty or folding toilet seat (like this one)
• Tablet with downloaded shows + kid-safe headphones. After dealing with the big bulky ones breaking half way through the trip, these are our new go to headphones
• A “busy bag” with fidgets, books, and mess-free coloring
• Snacks. So many snacks.
• Favorite blanket or stuffy (they will ask for it mid-flight)

Less is more when it comes to gear, but the right items can save your sanity. I have so many tips to share with you all about packing so stay tuned for MANY more posts on the subject.

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3. Sleep (Sort of) Like You’re at Home

If your toddler has a sleep routine, try to maintain it as best you can. We always pack a toddler travel bed (like the KidCo PeaPod) along with a familiar blanket or stuffed animal. If there is one item that I recommend to parents traveling with a toddler, its the tent. This thing has saved us more than once! A white noise machine or app can also work wonders in echoey hotel rooms or noisy cities.

Real Talk: During a 7-hour layover in the Bolivian airport, we turned a quiet corner into a mini campsite using the PeaPod. Our 3-year-old son, Parker, was cozy, secure, and able to sleep through the chaos. While other kids were melting down in hard plastic chairs, he had his own little tented retreat—and we had one less meltdown to manage.

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4. Embrace the Culture—at Toddler Speed

Just because you’re traveling with young kids doesn’t mean you have to miss out on incredible destinations—but you do need to adjust your pace. We still explore museums, historical sites, and far-flung places… we just do it with plenty of snack breaks and stroller naps.

On our most recent trip, we spent time in Argentina before boarding a cruise to Antarctica. Yes—Antarctica, with a toddler and a second grader. While we were blown away by the landscapes, the kids were just as excited about spotting penguins and sliding around in snow gear. In Buenos Aires, we traded long, fancy dinners for early empanada stops and found wide-open plazas perfect for running around between sights.

We’ve learned that cultural experiences don’t have to be all-or-nothing—they just need to be bite-sized, interactive, and kid-friendly when possible.

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5. Be Prepared, Not Perfect

There will be meltdowns. There will be mid-air diaper explosions and airport sprints with a screaming toddler. But there will also be magic—moments that make it all worth it.

Traveling with little ones means accepting that things won’t go according to plan. But some of our favorite parenting memories happened because we were willing to roll with the unpredictability of travel. Skyler took her very first steps in a park in New Zealand. Years later, Parker followed in her tiny footsteps—literally—by taking his first steps on a cobblestone street in Portugal. These milestones happened not in a perfectly prepped playroom, but out in the world, where our kids were surrounded by new sights, smells, and experiences.

We don’t travel to escape parenting—we travel to enrich it. The world has been their playground, their classroom, and the backdrop for some of our most meaningful family moments.

So no, it’s not always easy. But it’s always worth it.

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Final Thoughts: You Can Do This

Traveling with toddlers isn’t always smooth, but it is so, so rewarding. Your kids may not remember every moment—but you will. And the way they experience the world now? It shapes who they become later.

From one traveling family to another—wander on.

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Wander With Stephanie
Family-tested, real-world travel tips for curious little explorers (and their parents).

This is just the beginning! Stay tuned for more posts on flying with toddlers, packing hacks, jet lag survival tips, and how to keep your little ones happy (and mostly meltdown-free) on the go. You’ve got this—and I’m here to help you every step of the journey.