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If the idea of traveling with your twin toddlers makes your stomach turn to ice, you're probably not alone.
The logistics that are involved are incredible, and the thought of tackling it all can be enough to deter you from moving beyond the, "You know what'd be nice?" stage, completely preventing you from ever getting to the planning stage, where you can actually get excited about what's to come.
If you're a planner and are wondering what all you'll need to pack for a successful first big trip with your toddlers, you can find our in-depth list of packing essentials right here.
If you're not a major planner but want to quell the fears that come with the idea of embarking on your first big trip as a family, here are 15 tips to make traveling with your twin toddlers a breeze.
15 tips to make traveling with your twin toddlers a breeze
- If you don't already have passports for your toddlers, make sure you apply for them early and have them in-hand well in advance of your trip. Once you have them, keep them in a Ziploc bag to ensure they don't get milk or anything else spilled on them.
- Consider flying at night, when your kids will normally be sleeping, so they can knock out once you get on board.
- If you can swing it, book premium seats that come with snacks and drinks included to limit what you need to carry in your personal bags.
- Before your trip, sit down and explain how security lines work, how planes go fast to take-off, and how you have to wait to deplane once you land.
- Arrive early (even earlier than you think), so that unexpected lines or issues are minor annoyances instead of major calamities.
- When planning traveling outfits for your toddlers, consider layers: a jacket or sweater they can wear on the plane but remove during a layover, so they don't overheat, cozy pants that will be comfy to snooze in on the plane, and something with a bright pattern on it for easy tracking, in case anybody decides to sprint through the concourse.
- Get two small backpacks because each twin will want their own bag to be responsible for. If you think you can get by with just one, go for it, but you don't want to risk a meltdown in the middle of the concourse. Pack them light, so they can each carry their own.
- Pack headphones (ideally cordless) and tablets that are stocked with downloaded content to keep your toddlers quietly entertained in the airport and on flights. Don't forget portable battery packs to keep everybody's phones, tablets, etc., topped up.
- Bring something to keep their hands busy on the plane or during layovers, like color-safe markers that won't color the plane or a busy backpack with buckles to keep them focused.
- Fruit snacks, suckers, or gummy worms for take-offs and landings to help alleviate the feeling of pressure in your toddlers' ears.
- Pack a potty seat for the hotel toilet, so your twins won't be worried about going to the bathroom in a new place. Also bring disposable diaper pails to keep smells at bay while you're on vacation and likely in closer-than-usual quarters.
- Bring an Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max, so you can enjoy your usual shows, channels, or movies; this is helpful if your toddlers are asking to watch the Paw Patrol movie for the umpteenth time.
- When planning for daily outings on your trip, ask yourself if you really need to bring a FULL pack of wipes (they're heavy if you're carrying them around all day). Instead, purposely bring mostly empty bags or wipes, or make your own lighter packs by grabbing 15 or 20 wipes and tossing them into a Ziploc bag to keep the load lighter during your outings.
- Bring instant cold packs for unexpected boo-boos…they come in handy while you're out and about if anybody needs a quick cooldown in the heat or has to deal with a scraped knee.
- When you're packing and thinking about your daily outings, keep things (your diaper bag and stuff for the strollers) to the bare-bones essentials. In a perfect world, you'd have absolutely everything for every scenario, but you can get by for the day without most of the stuff you'd normally pack with the added benefit of not being weighed down by all the stuff you're not taking.
Get ready to make some memories together
Will you remember, a few years down the road, how reluctant you felt about going on your first big trip with your toddlers? Maybe. If so, you'll feel even better about jumping all in and going ahead with it.
Keeping these tips in mind as you plan your trip together can help pave the way for a successful vacation you'll look back on for decades to come.
What was the best tip someone gave you while traveling with your toddlers? Let us know in the Comments section below or connect with us on Instagram to share your thoughts!
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