025: Ultimate Guide to Traveling with Kids: Top Mindset Hacks and Travel Essentials

Speaker: 00:00:03

Here we go.

2

: 00:00:04

Welcome to the transform with travel

podcast, where we share stories of

3

: 00:00:07

personal transformation and life

lessons through our experiences of

4

: 00:00:11

traveling and exploring the world.

5

: 00:00:13

Travel is the ultimate accelerator

for personal growth, and it can be

6

: 00:00:16

the root catalyst for the pivots and

plot twists we make in our lives.

7

: 00:00:20

I'm your host, Kelly Tolede, and

it's my mission to inspire you to

8

: 00:00:23

live life to its fullest, travel with

an open mind and heart, and let the

9

: 00:00:28

world show you a new perspective.

10

: 00:00:30

I'm so grateful you're here with

us today, so let's dive right in.

11

: 00:00:33

Happy exploring!

12

: 00:00:37

Kelly: Hello, everyone.

13

: 00:00:38

Thanks for tuning in.

14

: 00:00:39

My name is Kelly Talladay, and I'm your

host of the Transform with Travel podcast.

15

: 00:00:44

Earlier this year at the very first

episode of the year, I mentioned that

16

: 00:00:48

we are going to be changing the format

a little bit of this podcast where

17

: 00:00:51

instead of weekly guest interview

episodes, we are moving to bi weekly.

18

: 00:00:55

And in between the guest interviews, I'm

going to be sharing shorter episodes.

19

: 00:00:59

more bite sized episodes where I share

travel stories, where I share travel

20

: 00:01:03

hacks, travel tips, just ways to be

able to bring my experience as a self

21

: 00:01:09

proclaimed veteran traveler at this

stage, having traveled to 40 plus

22

: 00:01:12

countries and living all over the world.

23

: 00:01:15

I really want to be able to share a

lot of the experience that I have,

24

: 00:01:17

a lot of the knowledge as well as

the funny stories, the mishaps,

25

: 00:01:21

just, there's so much to share.

26

: 00:01:22

So I want to be able to offer.

27

: 00:01:24

Not only the long form conversations

that are anywhere between 45 minutes

28

: 00:01:28

to 60 minutes, but also be able to

offer these 5 to 10 minute episodes

29

: 00:01:31

where you're really able to get a lot

of value in a short amount of time.

30

: 00:01:35

Because I know we are all short on time.

31

: 00:01:37

So in today's episode,

I'm going to be sharing.

32

: 00:01:40

Some of my top tips for family travel.

33

: 00:01:43

I think that's one of the biggest

questions that I get on Instagram

34

: 00:01:46

from friends from people all over

the world is how can I travel with

35

: 00:01:50

a little more ease with my family?

36

: 00:01:51

I'm really anxious to

go on this road trip.

37

: 00:01:53

I'm really anxious to go on our first

flight with our toddler or our baby

38

: 00:01:57

How do you manage jet lag like all

of those things I get asked all the

39

: 00:02:01

time as well as my top products So

people come to me all the time when

40

: 00:02:05

they're building their baby registry

and they're like Kelly I need to know

41

: 00:02:08

what do I need to put on this registry?

42

: 00:02:10

That's travel related That's gonna help

me travel more with my baby or with

43

: 00:02:14

my toddler so that is something that

I'm gonna be sharing with you today

44

: 00:02:18

and Some of it is gonna be more like

emotional mental Strategies like mindset

45

: 00:02:24

strategies and others are gonna be very

practical Things as well as products

46

: 00:02:28

that you might want to look out for.

47

: 00:02:29

I will link all of the

products in the show notes.,.

48

: 00:02:31

So it's very easy for you to click and

go to Amazon or whatever store it is.

49

: 00:02:35

And yeah, my biggest goal is to get

more families out there on the road.

50

: 00:02:39

I am definitely still learning.

51

: 00:02:40

I have a three year

old and a one year old.

52

: 00:02:43

The three year old has been to

seven or eight countries at this.

53

: 00:02:45

stage, my one year old has been to

Greece and at the airing of this

54

: 00:02:49

episode she will have traveled her

way through the southeast Asia.

55

: 00:02:52

So lord knows how that's gonna go as

I'm, as I'm saying this out loud, it has

56

: 00:02:57

not happened yet but it's something that

I'm definitely still learning as I go

57

: 00:03:02

but I have a lot of experience so far.

58

: 00:03:03

So.

59

: 00:03:04

/The number one tip, the number one piece

of advice that I can give to families who

60

: 00:03:09

want to start traveling but are nervous or

anxious or overwhelmed is that it, at the

61

: 00:03:14

end of the day, the vibe, the energy, the

mood of the family, it starts with you.

62

: 00:03:20

You are the leader of your family and

not just from what you do on a day to day

63

: 00:03:25

basis but also the mood that you set as

the leader of your family trickles down

64

: 00:03:30

all the way through to your kids, right?

65

: 00:03:33

So while yes, there are tips

that you can do to help.

66

: 00:03:36

Manage meltdowns and, you know, get

energy out and whatever it is, at

67

: 00:03:42

the end of the day, they are going

to have a meltdown at some stage.

68

: 00:03:45

And the same way that you feel

stressed and anxious sometimes

69

: 00:03:48

traveling, your kids feel that too.

70

: 00:03:50

They're out of their routine.

71

: 00:03:52

They're out of nap time.

72

: 00:03:54

It's a new environment.

73

: 00:03:55

They're feeling all the

anxiety at the airport as well.

74

: 00:03:58

And so just the same way that

they're having that meltdown,

75

: 00:04:00

you're feeling that too.

76

: 00:04:02

And so we have to come

from a place of calm.

77

: 00:04:05

Right?

78

: 00:04:05

So, chaos breeds more chaos.

79

: 00:04:08

So if you're meeting your kid's chaos,

or your kid's meltdown, or tantrum, or

80

: 00:04:13

just, you know, emotional uproar, with

more chaos and yelling at them to just sit

81

: 00:04:17

down and be quiet and shhh, what are you

doing, get off the floor, like, yelling

82

: 00:04:21

at them, which I, trust me, I've been

there, so I know exactly what that's like.

83

: 00:04:24

You just want to get from one gate to

the next gate without somebody ripping

84

: 00:04:28

their pants off and running around.

85

: 00:04:31

And hopefully that's your three

year old and not your husband.

86

: 00:04:32

So, so The thing that we have to

remember is it starts with us.

87

: 00:04:39

When you see the meltdown starting

to happen, because we all know the

88

: 00:04:42

signs and symptoms of that, we have

to start our emotional regulation

89

: 00:04:46

practices well before that.

90

: 00:04:48

Whatever that looks like for you, maybe

that's deep breathing, maybe that's going

91

: 00:04:52

for a walk just for two minutes on your

own, maybe that's having a little space

92

: 00:04:57

to stretch in the airport, maybe it's a

meditation like music that you're just

93

: 00:05:02

playing softly in the background and

your headphones, you find what works for

94

: 00:05:06

you, but yeah, yeah, It starts with you.

95

: 00:05:09

We need to be emotionally regulated,

calm, to be able to meet the meltdown

96

: 00:05:13

in a way that's going to tell our child

that they are safe, to be able to have

97

: 00:05:18

those feelings, but then be able to

return back to neutral a lot faster,

98

: 00:05:22

because like I said, chaos breeds chaos,

and Your perception of what's happening

99

: 00:05:26

around you is only going to feel more

heightened and more stressed if we're

100

: 00:05:29

coming at it from Fight or flight if

we're coming at it from this, you know,

101

: 00:05:33

it's got to stop right now You know

put put a lid on it type of thing.

102

: 00:05:36

It's only gonna feel feel worse for you

And something that I always remind myself

103

: 00:05:42

is that, yeah, maybe people are annoyed

on the plane because my baby's crying.

104

: 00:05:45

Maybe someone is pissed that they're

sitting next to a three year old,

105

: 00:05:48

but I don't know this person.

106

: 00:05:50

It's not going to matter in three

hours from now and four hours from now.

107

: 00:05:53

They're going to carry on with

their day and not even remember it.

108

: 00:05:56

And so it's just one of those things

that We have to be coming at it from

109

: 00:06:00

a place of calm and from a place

of regulation so that our kids can

110

: 00:06:04

be, can model that behavior, right?

111

: 00:06:07

And so something that Emily

Calvo, who is a licensed mental

112

: 00:06:10

health counselor, she was on the

podcast back in December of: 2023

113

: 00:06:15

She talks about not trying

to hide these anxieties away.

114

: 00:06:20

Oftentimes you'll hear people say, you

know, it's just expect the meltdown.

115

: 00:06:24

It's gonna happen.

116

: 00:06:25

Lower your barometer of, you know, what

you're expecting out of this situation.

117

: 00:06:29

And while yes, even that's

That's something that I say too.

118

: 00:06:32

It's not necessarily helpful for

somebody who has anxiety about

119

: 00:06:35

traveling with their family, it's

not going to go away just because

120

: 00:06:38

you're quote unquote lowering the bar.

121

: 00:06:40

In the moment, in your mind,

you can say, yeah, of course

122

: 00:06:43

I'm going to lower the bar.

123

: 00:06:44

But then in the moment of being in that

heightened state of stress and this little

124

: 00:06:47

like microcosm of chaos that is an airport

and an airplane with a baby and a toddler.

125

: 00:06:53

It doesn't help, right?

126

: 00:06:54

And so Emily says pre trip, the same

way that we'll make a packing list

127

: 00:07:00

of your toothbrush, your toothpaste,

your shoes, your socks, your this,

128

: 00:07:03

your that, all the things also write

out a list of what your triggers are.

129

: 00:07:08

So if you're triggered at home around

your child being a picky eater, if

130

: 00:07:12

you're triggered around your child

not sleeping through the night, if

131

: 00:07:15

you're triggered around loud sounds

and screaming and your child having

132

: 00:07:20

a physical tantrum on the floor and

in the middle of a store at home.

133

: 00:07:24

Those are also going to be triggers that

are going to happen when you're traveling.

134

: 00:07:27

So write them out, put a name to it.

135

: 00:07:29

Don't try to push it or hide it under the

rug and then create strategies for them.

136

: 00:07:34

Okay.

137

: 00:07:34

If I get to a restaurant where there is

only escargot on the menu, but my child

138

: 00:07:40

will literally only eat chicken nuggets.

139

: 00:07:42

What is my strategy?

140

: 00:07:43

Am I going to have snacks on me?

141

: 00:07:45

Should I bring fruit with me?

142

: 00:07:46

What are we going to do?

143

: 00:07:47

If my trigger is my baby not sleeping

through the night, what is my strategy

144

: 00:07:52

when my baby is jet lagged, or I, she just

wakes up and she's not sleeping very well.

145

: 00:07:59

What's my strategy for that?

146

: 00:08:00

If my trigger is, you know, loud sounds

and chaos and being trapped in a seat and

147

: 00:08:05

not being able to let my baby move around,

what is my strategy going to be for that?

148

: 00:08:09

And that is something where if you

actually don't know how to name

149

: 00:08:12

your triggers, it's something that

I highly recommend actually working

150

: 00:08:14

with a therapist or a licensed

mental health counselor to be able

151

: 00:08:18

to note those triggers out for you.

152

: 00:08:20

So that's something that's been

really helpful for us as a family.

153

: 00:08:23

So Number one, it starts with you.

154

: 00:08:24

Emotional regulation.

155

: 00:08:25

Find what works for you to be

able to calm yourself before

156

: 00:08:28

you try to calm your child.

157

: 00:08:29

Number two, know what your triggers are

in terms of being out of your comfort

158

: 00:08:33

zone and write your strategies out for

them so that you, in that moment, you

159

: 00:08:37

can say, yes, I'm feeling triggered and

I have a strategy for that instead of

160

: 00:08:41

trying to just like shush your child

into submission basically because it's,

161

: 00:08:45

we all know that's not going to work.

162

: 00:08:47

Number three is.

163

: 00:08:48

Getting energy out and sensory input

for your child input and output, right?

164

: 00:08:53

So some children are just happy go

lucky just like sit in the stroller

165

: 00:08:57

for hours and fine other children

like my children They got a run.

166

: 00:09:01

They got to get that energy out.

167

: 00:09:02

They got a jump They got to go upside

down and the same of course is gonna be

168

: 00:09:06

when they're traveling So what we always

try to do is my husband, one of his

169

: 00:09:10

triggers is being late to the airport

or like running late to the flight.

170

: 00:09:15

So we're always at the airport

like three hours beforehand.

171

: 00:09:18

And what that means is we have a lot

of time, which is great because then

172

: 00:09:23

we let them run around the airport.

173

: 00:09:25

We find an empty gate in the

airport and we let them run around.

174

: 00:09:28

Or perhaps if you're on a road trip,

just find a little like a rest stop on

175

: 00:09:33

the road and let them run around in the

little green area that they usually have.

176

: 00:09:37

We let them run around empty gates.

177

: 00:09:38

Usually sometimes there's

play spaces in each terminal.

178

: 00:09:41

I have yet to find a terminal that hasn't

had even the most basic play space.

179

: 00:09:45

So that's, even though it's probably

like the most germy place on earth,

180

: 00:09:47

whatever, let them just run around.

181

: 00:09:50

If you're trapped in a seat, let's say on

an airplane and your child starts getting

182

: 00:09:53

that just restlessness, literally, if

they're, if they're small enough, I would

183

: 00:09:57

say like three and under maybe, just

play a game with them or you just flip

184

: 00:10:00

them upside down in their seat, like hold

them up and flip them upside down a couple

185

: 00:10:03

times so they get that sensory input.

186

: 00:10:05

Some kids need more sensory input and

some kids need more sensory output.

187

: 00:10:09

And just knowing what, what works

for your kid and Emily Calvo,

188

: 00:10:12

also who I just mentioned in the

December podcast, she talks about

189

: 00:10:16

bringing Play Doh on the plane.

190

: 00:10:18

which is messy, but that molding

and really using something with your

191

: 00:10:22

hands that helps them get that sensory

input as well, which is awesome.

192

: 00:10:27

So getting that energy out and then

when you land or when you arrive at

193

: 00:10:31

your new country or your, your new

town, do some research ahead of time

194

: 00:10:34

and find the coolest parks to go to.

195

: 00:10:36

I have literally have a list.

196

: 00:10:37

of places in my phone of the coolest

parks around the world that we've been

197

: 00:10:40

to because your kid's not going to want

to go to a museum every day, right?

198

: 00:10:44

You got to think about what your child,

what's going to work for your child

199

: 00:10:47

and also what's going to work for you.

200

: 00:10:49

And so do some research, find some really

cool indoor or outdoor play spaces that

201

: 00:10:53

they can get that energy out as well.

202

: 00:10:55

It's just going to help

regulate them even more.

203

: 00:10:57

So, number four is

taking turns as partners.

204

: 00:11:03

If you're traveling with a partner, if

you're traveling with perhaps a family

205

: 00:11:06

member, just if you have a duo with you,

this is where this works, and then I

206

: 00:11:10

have a suggestion if you're by yourself.

207

: 00:11:13

Your child is probably gonna have to nap

or at least have some downtime during the

208

: 00:11:17

day, most likely, depending on the age.

209

: 00:11:19

Of course, I'm coming at this from

toddler and baby perspective, but

210

: 00:11:22

even I've talking to fr, I've talked

to friends who have seven-year-olds,

211

: 00:11:25

eight year olds, nine year olds,

and everyone needs a little bit of

212

: 00:11:28

downtime take turns as partners.

213

: 00:11:30

If your partner is someone who really

likes to have quiet time and home time

214

: 00:11:33

and they like to rest at the hotel,

they like to enjoy the amenities of the

215

: 00:11:37

hotel, maybe while your child's resting

or taking a nap, they can stay and

216

: 00:11:42

watch TV and watch a movie and have that

downtime, and then you can go to the

217

: 00:11:45

spa, you can go do that yoga class, you

can do that tour you wanted to do but

218

: 00:11:49

you know it's not suitable for children.

219

: 00:11:52

And vice versa, then swap the next day.

220

: 00:11:54

You're the one that stays back at

the hotel and hangs with the kids.

221

: 00:11:58

And then your partner gets to go

do something that they want to do.

222

: 00:12:00

My partner, my husband, he

loves to just hang at the hotel.

223

: 00:12:04

Like he likes to have a

couple hours of just resting.

224

: 00:12:06

Whereas I like to fill my

day up with everything.

225

: 00:12:10

So he's always like, yeah,

I'll stay back with the kids.

226

: 00:12:12

We'll watch a movie and you

go do the things that I don't.

227

: 00:12:15

Want to do so it works really well for us.

228

: 00:12:17

So taking turns with your partners

of having kind of off times and solo

229

: 00:12:21

times, that solo time is so important

for you to just kind of like recuperate,

230

: 00:12:24

bring your energy back to yourself

and then be able to give that back

231

: 00:12:28

to your family as you're traveling.

232

: 00:12:30

So.

233

: 00:12:31

If you're by yourself traveling or

if you and your partner want to go do

234

: 00:12:33

something on your own without the kids

and you're on, let's say, a longer

235

: 00:12:37

trip, I have been a big proponent of

talking to the hotels or the villas or

236

: 00:12:42

the Airbnbs that I work with for vetted

and recommended nannies or babysitters.

237

: 00:12:48

Of course, this is totally up to

your personal preference, and this

238

: 00:12:51

is something that you really have to

get a feel for the person when they

239

: 00:12:55

come in, but we have worked with some

incredible babysitters and nannies around

240

: 00:12:58

the world that have been recommended

by the villas that we've stayed at

241

: 00:13:02

or the hotels that we've stayed at.

242

: 00:13:03

There's also some great nanny

services online, like in Ireland,

243

: 00:13:07

there's one called littlesitters.

244

: 00:13:09

ie, and they're all police vetted.

245

: 00:13:11

And they all have their background checks

done, and we had amazing sitters through

246

: 00:13:15

Dublin, through Killarney, through Galway.

247

: 00:13:18

I would, I have their numbers, and

I would happily, like, reach out

248

: 00:13:20

to them if we went back to Ireland.

249

: 00:13:22

And it was just a way for me and

my husband to get out and have some

250

: 00:13:25

dinner by ourselves and feel like

this trip is also for us as well.

251

: 00:13:29

So those are some of my top

tips for traveling with kids.

252

: 00:13:33

One, it starts with you.

253

: 00:13:35

Emotional regulation, meet

the chaos with calm first.

254

: 00:13:39

You have to become calm before you

start to try to regulate your children.

255

: 00:13:44

And it also just helps you see the

world with a little bit more of an

256

: 00:13:47

objective, neutral view rather than

coming at it through the survival, fight

257

: 00:13:51

or flight, just absolute shit show.

258

: 00:13:54

Number two.

259

: 00:13:55

Number Write your triggers out as if

you're doing your packing list, like write

260

: 00:13:58

your triggers out, what triggers you at

home, what gives you anxiety at home when

261

: 00:14:01

you go to a restaurant and something goes

off, like what was that that made you feel

262

: 00:14:05

really anxious or angry or frustrated,

write all of those out and then create

263

: 00:14:10

strategies for them so that you can Bye.

264

: 00:14:12

Bye.

265

: 00:14:12

In the moment, know, have a tool

in your toolkit to pull out and be

266

: 00:14:16

like, okay, I know what to do in this

situation because it works at home.

267

: 00:14:20

Number three is that energy output,

that sensory input, so let them run

268

: 00:14:24

around empty gates at the airport.

269

: 00:14:27

Find play spaces inside

the airport terminals.

270

: 00:14:30

If there's rest stops on your road

trip, let them run around in the grass.

271

: 00:14:34

If you're stuck in your seat on

an airplane, just flip them, flip

272

: 00:14:37

them upside down a couple times

or bring some Play Doh with you.

273

: 00:14:41

And just find ways for sensory seeking

children to get that in and or out so that

274

: 00:14:46

they feel a little more regulated as well.

275

: 00:14:48

Number four was taking turns as partners.

276

: 00:14:51

So if one partner stays back and wants to

have a little rest with the kids and you

277

: 00:14:56

get to go out and go take a walk, take

a run, go get a massage, whatever that

278

: 00:15:00

looks like, and then vice versa flipping.

279

: 00:15:03

And then also if you're by yourself

traveling with kids and or you

280

: 00:15:05

and your partner want to go have

a night out, being able to trust.

281

: 00:15:10

The recommendations of villas and Airbnbs.

282

: 00:15:13

Of course, this is totally

personal preference.

283

: 00:15:14

I have some people who would have

some friends who literally would

284

: 00:15:17

do not feel comfortable with that.

285

: 00:15:19

And I 100 percent respect that.

286

: 00:15:21

But reaching out to people in the local

area that you're going to be staying at

287

: 00:15:25

and having a nanny or a babysitter giving

you some some very well deserved time off.

288

: 00:15:30

Now, the very, very last one

I wanted to touch on before

289

: 00:15:33

I go into products is sleep.

290

: 00:15:36

So I mentioned that one of

my triggers is around sleep.

291

: 00:15:38

I get the thing that makes me the most

frustrated, the most angry, the most

292

: 00:15:42

zero to a hundred like that is sleep.

293

: 00:15:45

And so we're, we go to a lot of

countries where the jet lag is real.

294

: 00:15:48

It's a 12 hour time difference.

295

: 00:15:50

It's a five hour time difference.

296

: 00:15:51

And even just like a one or

a two hour time difference

297

: 00:15:53

can really throw a baby off.

298

: 00:15:55

So.

299

: 00:15:56

What I have had to learn is Letting

go of those really tight sleep

300

: 00:16:02

schedules that I keep with my family.

301

: 00:16:04

I'm pretty strict at home and Just, again,

telling someone who has like anxiety

302

: 00:16:09

around sleep just to let the sleep plan

go isn't always necessarily helpful, but

303

: 00:16:13

I have had now three years experience

of traveling all over the world with

304

: 00:16:17

our little ones and that is the number

one thing that I've had to practice.

305

: 00:16:22

So even if it doesn't feel possible

for you to let your kids skip a nap or,

306

: 00:16:26

you know, go two hours past bedtime,

I recommend just trying baby steps, so

307

: 00:16:31

maybe just seeing, okay, maybe we're

still going to have that hard stop at 7 p.

308

: 00:16:35

m.

309

: 00:16:35

for bedtime, but maybe let's see if we can

push during the day a little bit, or maybe

310

: 00:16:39

we can plan our long road trip from one

town to the next town around the midday

311

: 00:16:45

nap so that they can get that nap in.

312

: 00:16:47

And just kind of testing your boundaries

around how comfortable you are about

313

: 00:16:51

letting some of those sleep schedules go.

314

: 00:16:53

Because the more that I've been

able to kind of relax into letting

315

: 00:16:57

some of those sleep schedules go,

the more that we as a family, as a

316

: 00:17:00

whole, are able to enjoy the trip.

317

: 00:17:03

And yeah, sometimes that means

sleep is an absolute mess, you know?

318

: 00:17:07

And sometimes that means I didn't

sleep very well that whole trip, but

319

: 00:17:11

during the day we were able to actually

enjoy ourselves as a family instead of

320

: 00:17:15

revolving the entire day around nap times.

321

: 00:17:17

So that's the very last one that I have.

322

: 00:17:20

So I wanted to move like from sleep into

products because that's the number one

323

: 00:17:23

thing that I get asked is what are some

things that you take with you on your trip

324

: 00:17:27

so that it is easy to be able to replicate

this little perfect cocoon that we create

325

: 00:17:33

at home if you're like me with your

sleep, with your baby's sleep at least.

326

: 00:17:38

So my number one products that

don't take up a lot of space

327

: 00:17:41

in your bags is a slumber pod.

328

: 00:17:46

It's an amazing product.

329

: 00:17:47

It goes over the pack and play

or over the mini cot that you

330

: 00:17:51

might bring for your baby.

331

: 00:17:53

And it's like a blackout tent.

332

: 00:17:55

And the new versions of the slumber

pod are great because they have

333

: 00:17:58

mesh lining so that there's actually

some breathability going through it.

334

: 00:18:02

And they have a little pocket for

a fan that you can plug in and they

335

: 00:18:06

have a pocket for a sleep monitor.

336

: 00:18:08

So it's, it's like a little tent.

337

: 00:18:10

It doesn't take up that

much room in your bag.

338

: 00:18:12

And it allows you to maybe have

one hotel room and you put your

339

: 00:18:16

babies caught in the hotel room.

340

: 00:18:18

The slumber pod.

341

: 00:18:19

Over the baby's cot and then it's a

blackout room for them, but you can still

342

: 00:18:23

have the lights on or watch TV and it's

able to, it's a great way in case there's

343

: 00:18:27

not a lot of space where you're staying to

be able to keep the whole family together.

344

: 00:18:31

There's no connecting

rooms, that kind of thing.

345

: 00:18:34

The next one for sleep is

a Yogi ROM sound machine.

346

: 00:18:37

It's a tiny circular sound machine

that plays a couple different

347

: 00:18:41

sounds at varying levels.

348

: 00:18:42

It can be super loud if you want it

to be, but it's super small, which is

349

: 00:18:46

great because you can throw it in the

stroller if you're out and about and you

350

: 00:18:48

want your baby to sleep in the stroller.

351

: 00:18:50

We've used it on the plane.

352

: 00:18:51

We've used it, you know,

obviously for nighttime at sleep.

353

: 00:18:55

So that's a really super

small portable sound machine.

354

: 00:18:59

Another thing that you can get is,

is portable blackout curtains if you

355

: 00:19:02

weren't going to use a slumber pod.

356

: 00:19:04

There are like reusable blackout curtains

that you can stick using like these

357

: 00:19:08

rubber stickers on windows in hotels.

358

: 00:19:11

So that's another great way

to have a blackout room.

359

: 00:19:14

But usually that's more so for Airbnbs

if you're not sure what the curtain

360

: 00:19:17

situation is going to be like.

361

: 00:19:19

Most hotels have great blackout curtains.

362

: 00:19:21

That one's not so much necessary but

it is nice to have something that

363

: 00:19:24

can be portable so you're not using.

364

: 00:19:26

A cheaper version of that might

just be using like garbage bags

365

: 00:19:29

and painters tape on the wall.

366

: 00:19:31

We've used everything.

367

: 00:19:32

If you can tell I'm obsessed about sleep,

so I think that's it for sleep, but

368

: 00:19:35

the next one, a couple other products

that are really, really great for the.

369

: 00:19:41

plane or a road trip, a busy board.

370

: 00:19:44

So a Montessori busy board,

it's like 10 to 20 on Amazon.

371

: 00:19:48

There's all these different

buckles that they push in and out.

372

: 00:19:51

There's things that they can, you

know, rip off and stick back on.

373

: 00:19:54

It's just a really great way to keep your

child busy without having to use an iPad.

374

: 00:19:58

Or if you've used the iPad for four

hours, like we have, and you're like,

375

: 00:20:01

all right, this kid needs a break.

376

: 00:20:02

Here's the busy board.

377

: 00:20:03

We love that Montessori busy boards.

378

: 00:20:06

Magnetic drawing boards are great

because while yes, coloring, Crayons

379

: 00:20:10

and pen and paper are awesome that

you could just find the crayons all

380

: 00:20:14

over the floor and you're constantly

bending down and picking up the crayons.

381

: 00:20:18

So a magnetic drawing board is great

because they can just swipe it and it's

382

: 00:20:21

clean again, you don't have to have a

new paper and typically the magnetic

383

: 00:20:25

drawing utensil is like attached to the

board so they can't ever freaking lose

384

: 00:20:29

it because their kids are really good

at throwing things all over the plane.

385

: 00:20:33

So magnetic drawing board is awesome.

386

: 00:20:36

And then, like I mentioned, an iPad, a

Kindle, a Fire, if you are not above using

387

: 00:20:41

some sort of tablet, I, it's a really

great tool to use it when you need it.

388

: 00:20:46

It helps them kind of just zone in on

their, on their show for a little bit.

389

: 00:20:50

There's also other

things that you can use.

390

: 00:20:51

They have, you know,

drawing games on the iPad.

391

: 00:20:54

There's lots of educational

games that you can use.

392

: 00:20:56

And while we personally don't

use tablets at home, my oldest

393

: 00:21:00

will definitely watch TV at home.

394

: 00:21:01

But.

395

: 00:21:02

the tablet itself she doesn't use at home.

396

: 00:21:04

That's just a personal preference but we

keep the iPad specifically for flights.

397

: 00:21:08

And she knows, like, we're going to

Thailand and she's like, I get my iPad.

398

: 00:21:11

I get my snacks.

399

: 00:21:12

I'm like, cool.

400

: 00:21:13

Yeah, girl, you got it.

401

: 00:21:15

And then the last thing for

the flight is painter's tape.

402

: 00:21:17

So if you can get like a roll of

painter's tape, you can stick it.

403

: 00:21:20

This is more for maybe like 18 months and

younger, but you can stick painter's tape

404

: 00:21:24

on the back of the seat or on the window.

405

: 00:21:26

And then they just like, Try to take

it off and put it back on, take it

406

: 00:21:30

off and put it back on, and that's a

really cheap toy to be able to use.

407

: 00:21:33

Oh, and then Emily Calvo

mentioned the Play Doh.

408

: 00:21:35

That's also a great, a great option too.

409

: 00:21:38

So I mentioned a couple things to bring

on the plane, and that's really just it.

410

: 00:21:42

I've seen moms on Instagram just

have an entire fishing tackle box.

411

: 00:21:47

Like three levels worth of drawers

of all these different toys

412

: 00:21:52

and snacks and this and that.

413

: 00:21:53

And yeah, maybe that's a thing.

414

: 00:21:54

Effective, but man that literally

gives me stress just looking at that.

415

: 00:21:59

I, my biggest motto is less is

more, less is more, less is more.

416

: 00:22:03

Three to four staple toys,

an iPad, a handful of snacks.

417

: 00:22:07

You can always get snacks, although

overpriced, but you can always get snacks

418

: 00:22:10

at the airport, like less is more in your

bag that also helps breed a more calm.

419

: 00:22:16

environment for you.

420

: 00:22:18

So you're not just literally rummaging

through a bag to find the tiniest little

421

: 00:22:23

toy in the bottom of the bag, or you're

just picking up shit all over the floor on

422

: 00:22:26

the airplane or the terminal or your car.

423

: 00:22:29

It's just less is more.

424

: 00:22:31

Minimalist as much as possible.

425

: 00:22:33

I know it doesn't seem possible

with kids, but it actually is.

426

: 00:22:36

The more that we've implemented this as

a family, The more it, it is just easier.

427

: 00:22:40

It's just she asks for a toy,

Nope, sorry, I don't have it.

428

: 00:22:42

What do we have?

429

: 00:22:43

This is what we have.

430

: 00:22:44

And she just makes due with what we have

431

: 00:22:47

So definitely less is more.

432

: 00:22:49

And that even goes to things like diapers.

433

: 00:22:51

So if you have a child in diapers, we

bring enough diapers for maybe like

434

: 00:22:55

two or three days worth in ca in case

there's a delay in case we have to

435

: 00:22:58

stay over in a country that we weren't

necessarily planning on staying over with.

436

: 00:23:02

We bring enough diapers and wipes for

like two or three days and then as

437

: 00:23:05

soon as we get to where we're going,

we go to the store and we pick up.

438

: 00:23:08

whatever diaper brand,

whatever wipes they have.

439

: 00:23:11

So it just helps us minimize the

amount of stuff that we have.

440

: 00:23:15

So, the last few products that I

highly, highly recommend to make

441

: 00:23:19

your life easier is if you have a

baby with bottles, formula, or pumped

442

: 00:23:24

breast milk, the Baby Brew Portable

Electric Bottle Warmer is incredible.

443

: 00:23:29

Again, it's tiny, it's small,

it charges electrically.

444

: 00:23:33

And it's a really easy way to be able

to warm up your baby bottles on the go

445

: 00:23:37

without needing to add, you know, super

hot water to the canister and warming up.

446

: 00:23:41

It takes like 10 minutes.

447

: 00:23:42

This thing can warm up a bottle

in like four or five minutes.

448

: 00:23:45

It's super small and super effective.

449

: 00:23:47

So I highly recommend the baby brew.

450

: 00:23:49

And then the last thing that

I'll say is the stroller.

451

: 00:23:54

Stroller recommendations are, are

literally the one of the biggest.

452

: 00:23:59

questions that I get asked on

the podcast or on Instagram.

453

: 00:24:03

Do I bring my up a baby?

454

: 00:24:04

Do I bring my big one?

455

: 00:24:05

Do I bring the double?

456

: 00:24:06

Do I, what about the travel stroller?

457

: 00:24:08

And so for us we have never traveled

with our at home stroller, like

458

: 00:24:12

our big up a baby double stroller.

459

: 00:24:14

We use a GB pocket.

460

: 00:24:18

I think it is again.

461

: 00:24:19

I'm not sponsored by

any of these products.

462

: 00:24:21

These are just things that I've genuinely

loved and used over three years.

463

: 00:24:25

The GB pocket is great because it folds up

super small and you can actually fit it in

464

: 00:24:30

the overhead compartment on an airplane.

465

: 00:24:32

So they can't force you.

466

: 00:24:33

Well, I guess they can, cause they

can do whatever they want, but

467

: 00:24:36

they typically don't force us.

468

: 00:24:37

to gate check our stroller and we really

try to avoid gate checking our stroller

469

: 00:24:42

because the strollers are typically

the last thing to come off the plane.

470

: 00:24:45

It takes forever.

471

: 00:24:46

You're waiting there at, you know,

literally on the tarmac, just

472

: 00:24:49

waiting for your stroller to come

off and the babies, you know,

473

: 00:24:52

it's just, it's all these things.

474

: 00:24:53

We just want to be able to get off

the plane, get where we're going.

475

: 00:24:55

Efficiency as much as possible.

476

: 00:24:58

So we use the GB Pocket because it's super

small, super compact, super lightweight.

477

: 00:25:03

Now the only thing is that there's

not a lot of under storage space.

478

: 00:25:07

The umbrella isn't super deep, so there's

not a lot of sunshade for your child.

479

: 00:25:10

But we just make do with what we have.

480

: 00:25:14

We'll put Layla in the, in the stroller.

481

: 00:25:17

I'll strap Indy onto my chest

with the Ergo Ergo baby carrier.

482

: 00:25:20

That's another great product is having

a baby carrier if your child is,

483

: 00:25:24

likes it or small enough for that.

484

: 00:25:26

Baby carriers are great to be

able to have multiple children

485

: 00:25:30

at multiple touch points.

486

: 00:25:31

But yeah, really trying to, again, like

minimize the amount of stuff that you're

487

: 00:25:34

bringing, that you're checking on the

airplane and just the less space that you

488

: 00:25:40

have to store stuff, the better because

it means you don't bring as much stuff.

489

: 00:25:43

And so I think overall, I think

you can see the theme is just

490

: 00:25:46

don't bring that much shit.

491

: 00:25:48

Try to minimize as much as you can so that

you're have not as much physical clutter.

492

: 00:25:55

And then that helps free up

space through all the mental

493

: 00:25:57

clutter that's going on as well.

494

: 00:25:58

Just bringing yourself more space, more

ease, more flow as much as possible.

495

: 00:26:03

So this episode was a lot

longer than I intended it to be.

496

: 00:26:06

This was only going to be 10 minutes,

but I guess probably we'll end up

497

: 00:26:09

doing a part two, especially after we

go to Southeast Asia for five weeks.

498

: 00:26:12

As I'm speaking this out, you will be

hearing this while I'm in Southeast Asia.

499

: 00:26:17

So I will definitely be doing a part

two of, you know, all the things that

500

: 00:26:20

I've learned through maybe longer

term trips, but this is what I got.

501

: 00:26:25

I also get a lot of questions around.

502

: 00:26:27

Do I bring a car seat on the plane?

503

: 00:26:29

How do I check the car seat?

504

: 00:26:30

What do I do?

505

: 00:26:31

And that's like a whole

other conversation.

506

: 00:26:33

So maybe that'll be within part two,

because we've done that as well.

507

: 00:26:36

And I have thoughts about it.

508

: 00:26:38

But if you have any questions, personal

specific questions about what you want

509

: 00:26:42

to do with your kid, I am so open.

510

: 00:26:44

Please find me on Instagram at kelly.

511

: 00:26:46

toladay.

512

: 00:26:47

yoga and just DM me and I will.

513

: 00:26:50

Send you a voice note with an

answer with my best tips and tricks.

514

: 00:26:54

And yeah, I, I'm hope you enjoy this

episode for those who have kids.

515

: 00:26:57

I hope this helps you with any sort of,

you know, mindset hacking to get over

516

: 00:27:02

the anxiety of traveling with your kids

I hope it brings you practical tips so

517

: 00:27:06

that you're able to have confidence with

the products that you're purchasing.

518

: 00:27:10

I'll link again everything in the

show notes so that it's easy access

519

: 00:27:13

for you to be able to find them.

520

: 00:27:15

And I'm looking forward

to the next episode.

521

: 00:27:18

Thanks so much for tuning in.

522

: 00:27:20

Please rate and review

the podcast if you can.

523

: 00:27:23

It brings me so much joy when I see it.

524

: 00:27:26

So you can see a review come in.

525

: 00:27:27

It literally, I do a little happy dance.

526

: 00:27:29

It does not go unnoticed.

527

: 00:27:30

So thank you to everyone who has reviewed.

528

: 00:27:32

If you're listening now, the best

way you can support a business is

529

: 00:27:35

by sending a great review for them.

530

: 00:27:37

So I would love that so much.

531

: 00:27:39

I hope you have a beautiful,

beautiful rest of your January and

532

: 00:27:43

we will see you on the other side.

533

: 00:27:45

Thanks for tuning in to another episode

of the transform with travel podcast.

534

: 00:27:50

Don't forget to hit subscribe so you

never miss an episode of inspiration,

535

: 00:27:54

adventure, and exploration.

536

: 00:27:57

If you felt inspired by this episode,

please rate and review and whatever

537

: 00:28:01

streaming app you're listening from.

538

: 00:28:03

This allows us to Spread the word

even more and continue to serve

539

: 00:28:07

up weekly doses of adventure.

540

: 00:28:09

As always, we'd love if you could

share the episode with someone

541

: 00:28:12

in your life who you think will

benefit from this conversation.

542

: 00:28:16

Thanks so much for listening.

543

: 00:28:17

This is your reminder to get

out there and keep on exploring.