How on earth do people travel with a toddler?

[Idontthinklikethat]

Okay so we will have an almost 4 year old and a 23 month old when we need to travel abroad for a relatives wedding. Not sure what to do re two things : car seats ...hire them? (Have heard terrible things about the safety!) and sleeping arrangements for littlest - he’ll be too big for a travel cot and too small for a single bed...what do people do?? any help appreciated!! Thank you!!

Ive travelled a lot with small children - I find its always a bit rubbish in hotels unless you can get two interconnected rooms - thats perfect but expensive and hard to find sometimes and self catering is varied from brilliant to stressful depending how child safe you can make it.

I don't see why a 23 month old is two small for a single bed though - put another duvet rolled or folded under the non wall side of the mattress to stop him falling out (or a swim noodle if you happen to have one) Otherwise he sleeps with parents in their bed which is a bit rubbish if its not what you normally do, but a solution.

Take car seat with you normally - maybe just for the youngest depending which seat the older child is in and how many adults are travelling to carry things.

We always took car seat with us- airlines allow you to check it in for children then used pool noodles under sheet to create a barrier on single bed although I’m sure mine were ok in travel cot if necessary until a wee bit older

too not two small obviously!

We went on holiday with our boys when they were 1.5 and 2.5 years. It was very full on but brilliant. We just booked a room with two double beds and all bunked in

My DC were both in double beds at home straight from the cot and they both coped fine. So same applied abroad.

Also we always either hired a car seat, or once past age 3, took a trunki which we also used for clothes.

Expect it to be tiring and for your days to be filled with practicalities relating to finding food, naptimes, travel times, car seats, prams, early bedtimes etc - and then you won’t be disappointed.

Alternatively, just go with the flow, be creative, take more risks than you would at home, and have a sense of humour. Again, you won’t be disappointed.

We did the first option for years with our first. Second option ever since child 2 was born. All times, never disappointed! (Although do regret overthinking things with child 1)

Are they really too small for a travel cot - I mean, have you tried them in one? The car seat thing depends on which country you go to. When we took 23 month old DD to America, we just bought a new car seat over there and left it with the hire car at the end.

I agree with @Cosybelles re the travel cot. My 2.5 year old is massive (98th centile) but still sleeps happily in a travel cot when we're away.

I would use a travel cot too

Hire a car seat when you get there, and don’t get the smallest/cheapest car category

2yo can sleep in a normal bed - push it up against a wall on one side and either take a travel bed guard with you, or put pillows along that side as a barrier

Hire a babysitter or nanny locally
Even if you aren’t happy leaving them as sole charge, it makes a huge difference to have an extra pair of hands to look after, help, distract - they can play with toys while you get ready, they can be helpful during mealtimes etc

Take as many extra clothes as you need but find a laundrette near where you are staying and use it! It will save your sanity to not be mentally calculating how many changes of clothes you have until disaster time, plus it is so nice to not have to do stacks of laundry as soon as you get home

And most importantly- relax rules while you’re away. If they have to eat chips at every meal to avoid battles, it’s just a few days in the grand scheme of things

We have just bought a car seat for travelling with our 1 year old as the car hire one look unsafe and the charge a fortune per day. Will take travel cot

You can check car seats in, we did on one occasion buy one and use in for 2 weeks as it was cheaper than hiring one with the car.
You can get collapsible bed sides that are ideal for hotel beds, alternatively ask for a travel cot from the hotel.
Instead of blackout blinds we always took a roll of tin foil. Moisten the window pane snd smooth it into place, it stays inplace for days and the room is lovely and dark.
You just have to be a bit more adaptive and flexible to your normal routines and just carry a few snacks if you're busy at normal mealtimes.

Thank you all these comments are super helpful !!

We always take car seats. For the in between stage for cot and bed we just put the mattress on the floor but you could probably pack a travel guard rail - the baby fan one is quite small when folded. Have fun!

I've never bothered with travel cots. Just straight into a bed - get a family room with a pull out bed or an extra single.

Take a dirt cheap umbrella stroller so you don't mind if it's bashed about a bit and it can fold up very small.

We tend to go to places where we can order taxis or Uber with car seats.

Only other thing I'd take was nappies and a water bottle

DS is 2.5 and just slept in his travel cot at the weekend. He’ll continue to do so!

I always take car seats as the ones provided overseas are not always as good as standard as here. I booked and paid for a high back booster in Spain and was given a very small booster with no back. It was not safe or suitable for ds aged 4 at the time.

I normally pre arrange travel cots. I also am very careful about accommodation and tend to pre book apartments that are low level with no direct access to pools or high balconies. If your going to a warm country you can pack surprisingly little especially if you book somewhere with a washing machine. An easy foldable buggy is your friend too at the airport and for napping so ideally one that lies back and has good sunshade if going somewhere hot.I take uk standard sun creams too.

If you are flying direct from parking your car to your destination and it's convenient for someone to meet you at the airport I have just paid family to pick up a cheap reliable seat new or borrow from grandparent friends. Age one I checked the car seat and lightweight stroller, a lot of research on the rental car boot space and how luggage etc would fit! Age 2-4 I did look into child equipment rentals once - e.g. a bundle of car seat, umbrella stroller and travel cot (Americans call them pack and play) that was in a major Canadian city though but ended up doing the buy and borrow. Age 5-9 used the car rental backless booster as it was unlikely to be broken down. Lucky DD was tall & heavy enough at 10 to get out her car seat. Bon voyage!

At four we put DDs mattress on the floor in hotel rooms so she couldn't roll out.