Taking a toddler abroad

[BlueBritish]

Hi all,
I’m due to go on holiday in April, to Spain (so short haul). My DD is 22mo and this will be our first family holiday. I was just wondering what are the usual things you would pack in your toddlers suitcase? What do you put them in during the day?
Our flight out is 6:30am so we will have to be up at about 3am (staying in airport hotel) what would you all do about breakfast/milk and also what should I put her In, I was thinking about maybe putting her in something to sleep in that I can also get her to the airport in?

With the flight being so early, what would you do about the day before, etc. tea time, nap times, bed times.

Any tips and advice would be very welcome. Very anxious mama here.
TIA

Entertainment wise, make it things they've not seen before and perhaps reserve something for the way back too. Maybe they'll sleep? Nothing too noisy probably. Would they watch some programmes on a phone? Could download some in advance. Enjoy your trip!

Day before treat as normal.
Put to bed in soft leggings and a teeshirt so you don't need to get dressed at 3am. Straight out of bed and into pushchair/transport. Breakfast after check-in at the airport.

H&M have some lovely footless rompers I use for holidays, can layer up beforehand and then help to cool off when you get there. Would pop her to bed in one of these. As for during the day have a look at UV suits, long sleeves to protect against the sun and waterproof for in a out the pool.

Is there any chance you'll be able to transfer her from bed to buggy without waking her? If so, I'd do that and let her sleep as close to normal wake-up time as possible.

Take her in her pyjamas, no-one is going to look twice at a baby in PJ's at an airport at 3am.

Take a travel breakfast. Pot of Cheerios (dry), fruit, yoghurt pouch, milk etc. Then she can eat as and when suits her.

Make sure you have lots of spare dummies or anything else she needs for comfort. If she has a special teddy make sure it's wearing a tag/label with your phone number on it and flight details just incase it goes missing.

The first thing is really don’t worry, if it’s one day of weird naps / odd meals / too much peppa pig that’s absolutely fine and she’ll likely fall back in to routine easily enough

I’d take a selection of sticker / activity books, iPad with LOADS of cartoons and lots of snacks on the plane. But really don’t worry about it, it’s one day out of loads and you’ll be fine

I’d take her to the airport in pyjamas and get her changed once you’re checked in. For the plane, take plenty of snacks, a sticker book or new toy, some cartoons on an iPad phone. Also a change of clothes just in case she decides to tip water over herself or something.

I’m not sure how warm Spain will be in April but I always use UV suits for my DD’s at that age when we’re around the pool and beach, less skin to suncream. A poncho style towel is useful when they get out of the water, and swim nappies for in the pool (if they’re only wet you can dry them out and reuse). Spare hats, dummies etc as they always seem to disappear or be left in the hotel room. Also, we swear by a snooze shade for the buggy-makes it dark for naps during the day and keeps the sun off them.

Honestly it’s not as stressful as it seems! Hope you have a lovely time.

Everyone is suggesting videos on a device, but we didn't find the headphones very successful at that age. Just remember it's sound off or headphones in. Blasting kids cartoons round the airport or plane isn't fair on everyone else.
DS2 was about 4yrs old before we got use of screens on planes.

We're flying at 6am on Saturday, both of mine (3.5 and 1) will be going in their PJ's, unless the eldest kicks off about it. I've seen grown women flying in pyjamas, no one's going to care about two small kids plus we're flying easyJet so no upgrades available!

Loads of snacks, loads of small not noisy toys, paper and crayons, stickers (backing paper peeled off first). DC1 used to nod off fairly quickly when we flew pre Covid so I'm hoping they'll go to sleep and I can enjoy my over priced latte in peace.

Firstly relax, go with the flow - trying to stick to routines will cause problems.

Put her to sleep in something suitable for flying in, have an empty cup in your bag and buy milk once you have gone through passport control and the liquids check. Have snacks in your bag for breakfast eg little packet of cereal and fruit and feed them on the plane. Have clothes in your bag to dress her on the plane if you want her to arrive not in pjs.

Once you are there my top tip is to let her nap in the pushchair when she wants rather than scheduling naps, in the evening just enjoy yourselves, toddlers sleep in the pushchair with a blanket well or let them stay up, you are on holiday. I've got great pictures of my 2 in a double buggy fast asleep in restaurants and bars.

We're going to Spain in a few weeks with our 9m old on a plane leaving at 6am so this thread has been super helpful even though he's a little younger. Dreading the 3am get up but hoping he'll sleep on the plane! Hope you have a nice holiday 😊

Just want to say a big thank you to all of you who have offered me tips and advice, I’m starting to feel a lot more relaxed and excited about the holiday now.