Ask the community: What are your favorite long travel hacks for babies and toddlers?

Here's what the community said...

The most popular toy is stickers. Everyone said to bring stickers. Quiet and endlessly entertaining 😎

• Snack recommendations: Fruit like grapes & apples, crunchy chips, and puffed spelt. The more pieces there are, the longer it'll take your baby or toddler to eat the snack. Make sure to pack WAY more snacks than you think you'll need!
• Bring all the books: Regular books, mini books, interactive books, busy books
• Engage the motor skills: Magnets, suction spinners, opening/closing snaps and bottles, tiny cars
• Get creative: Playdough, washi tape, duct tape, pipe cleaners, coloring book (crayon or water-brush based)
• Don't worry about screen time: Ms. Rachel, Peppa Pig, Nijntje, and Bluey all came up as (low-stimulation) screen-time favorites. Most airplane entertainment systems also have a nature documentary to watch!

How to pass the time

Never fear; there's more to do than endlessly walking the aisles. Though you'll probably do a lot of that, too ☺️

• Do not board early! Early boarding has its conveniences, but it just means you spend more time on the plane than necessary. Let your baby or toddler crawl or run wild at the gate to get their energy out right up until you have to board. Better than being stuck on the plane for even longer!
• Build a seat fort on the plane or train. You can use a jacket or plane blanket; tuck your cover of choice into the headrest in back and tray table in front to create a cozy cave for your little one. Especially great if you have a window seat!
• Make each toy you bring — new or old — a special gift! Wrap toys as presents. Give each present one by one. Your toddler will have to unwrap each toy individually to play, which prolongs the activity. Plus, they're excited for each new present coming out of the bag.

👆🏻 This was from our train trip from Paris via Eurostar! She loved the makeshift fort, created from tucking my jacket into her seat and the tray table in front of her.

Everyone said that travel has "no rules." It's survival mode out there. Be kind to yourself and your kid, and don't worry about the extra (unhealthy) snacks, screentime, and attention. You'll all get through it ❤️

We'll update this article periodically with more tips as they come in! Want to share your tip? Email newsletter@amsterdamparentproject.nl and we'll add yours in!