Tears and Tantrums: How to Holiday with a Toddler

Holidaying with a toddler can be a bit of a nightmare to say the least - tears, tantrums and the 'terrible twos' can all leave you feeling more worn out than you were back home.

Luckily there are some things that parents can do to make life easier when planning a holiday with a toddler in tow. Make your life less stressful and take a few tips from us.

Stay close to home

When you are two years old, even holidaying at the end of the garden is a grand adventure. There is no need to fly to another country for a holiday; in fact, going abroad can be stressful and exhausting when travelling with little ones, so you might want to book a staycation in the good old UK instead.

There are plenty of family-friendly options available, from activity holidays at Center Parcs to historical breaks in England and Wales and self-catering cottages by the coast. You will minimise stress and have more opportunity to relax and unwind ‒ when your toddlers are not running around burning off all that energy, that is.

Don't pack light

Go against what everyone usually suggests and pack heavy for your family break. If you are renting a car or driving your own vehicle, you can afford to take everything but the kitchen sink.

Turning up to your holiday cottage minus your little one's favourite teddy bear or that tablet you were relying on to play films on all weekend is not a recipe for a relaxing break. Make sure you have packed everything you need, including some options to keep them entertained on the journey, such as a DVD or music compilation.

Be flexible

When you are on holiday with the children, accept that not everything is going to go to plan all the time. A rigid sightseeing schedule may have worked when it was just the two of you, but these days things are different.

You can take out cheap family travel insurance to protect you in the event anything goes wrong on holiday, of course, but really it is just a case of packing your family travel insurance policy and going with the flow.

Take each day as it comes and see what your toddlers are in the mood to do ‏‒ a grouchy, rainy day might be best spent indoors relaxing, while sunny days could see you hit the beach or a play park so they can let off some steam.

Holidaying with a toddler does not have to be difficult - it is just about being prepared and making life a little easier for yourself along the way. Remember it is your holiday too.