Travelling with toddlers

You've booked your hotel, figured out that it has a cot and planned to do most of the driving at times your toddler will be asleep. Now it's time to plan what to do when you arrive at your holiday destination, to make sure that taking your toddler out of her comfort zone doesn't spoil your time away.

Holiday food
Start by thinking about food, because nothing spoils a holiday like a hungry toddler whose empty stomach induces a tantrum. As soon as you arrive, lay in some basic supplies like milk, because the tea and coffee making facilities in modern hotels are often reduced to tiny sachets of milk that cannot wet even a single Weet-Bix. A proper carton of milk, some juice and packets of fruit in your minibar can mean the difference between a 5:30 meltdown and a contented toddler until the breakfast buffet opens. A packet of fruit buns from a local bakery can also go a long way. Bring your own cutlery to make sure you have the basics for in-room snacks.

Toddler entertainment
If you think you have a chance of sleeping in on your holiday, forget the TV as a toddler-tamer and instead reach for your iPod. There's plenty of Dr. Suess, Bob the Builder and Thomas the Tank Engine stories to buy at Apple's iTunes Music store and there's every chance they'll add up to half an hour of pre-dawn entertainment without a flickering TV screen lighting up a hotel room and killing off any chance of a gentle start to the day.

Precious sleep
Don't forget your kids' sleep, too. Portable cots often have very firm mattresses, so if your child is used to a softer sleeping surface think about making the portacot more comfortable. There are padded cot sheets available which are a safer alternative to padding under the mattress with extra blankets from the hotel room.

You'll also want to make sure your child has their favourite teddy or other comforter with them. To prevent that special toy from getting lost, why not buy your child their very own suitcase? This may sound indulgent, but older toddlers and pre-schoolers are more than capable of dragging a small wheeled suitcase and there are plenty on sale - complete with toddler-friendly TV character graphics - at affordable prices. Use your toddler's case as dedicated storage for toys and other entertainments you take on holidays and you'll make your packing just a little bit simpler, too. Buy a small one and it can do double duty as a trove of toys when riding in the car. If it still seems like an indulgence, think ahead a year or two to other forms of travel, like sleepovers at grandparents' houses. Pre-schoolers delight in having their own bag for special occasions!

Toddler transport
Once you head out, another piece of kit you'll be glad you brought along is a travel pram. Umbrella-style prams can be had at discount department stores for around $50, but are not always smiled upon by budget airlines and take up a lot of space in the boot. Newer portable prams which fold into tiny packages that meet international requirements for carry-on luggage cost around $100. The small wheels on portable prams won't do well off-road or on cobblestones, situations in which a baby carrying backpack comes into its own. Toddlers love riding in these backpacks, which offer an elevated perch from which it is possible to see the world … and thump Mum or Dad on the head! Remember to stretch before you put your toddler into a backpack, before their weight kinks your back as well as your holiday!

If you have any tips or questions for travelling as a family, share them with EB members in our Travel forum.