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Traveling with your twin toddlers may not sound like the best idea you've ever had.
Whether you're planning to travel by air or to hit the road on your first big family trip together, the packing lists and logistics alone could be enough to make you want to change your mind.
Instead of getting overwhelmed at all the things there are to do before you leave, get excited about all the things there will be to do on this trip together.
If you're a planner and are wondering what essentials you'll need to pack for a successful and (hopefully) stress-free first big trip with your twin toddlers, you can find our in-depth packing list 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.
And if you're more of a skimmer and want quick and dirty tips for avoiding major roadblocks on your major roadtrip, we've got you covered.
Here are five tips to make trips easier when you've got toddlers in tow
1. Go over your game plan
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. Or, if you're headed on a road trip, go over the plan for being in the car. They'll probably still ask, "Are we there yet? How 'bout now?" many many MANY times, but it'll be fewer times or, hopefully, in a more relaxed way once you remind them of the game plan.
2. Pack disposable diaper pails, car seat protectors, and a portable potty seat for roadside potty stops
Can you use the hotel or rental's garbage for diapers or Pull-Ups? Sure. Do you want to smell that while you're on vacation? Doubtful. We brought a five-pack of disposable diaper pails by Munchkin with us. They weighed almost nothing, and they held up amazingly well for our travel purposes. They kept the stink where it was supposed to be, and five pails was just enough for our nine-day trip with our twins.
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Toss Disposable Diaper Pails by Munchkin, 5-Pack
The Best Pails for Traveling
This is a five-pack of Munchkin's Toss Disposable Diaper Pail. The pails are compact and portable, which make them an ideal candidate while traveling or on-the-go. Each pail has a resealable lid that keeps the bulk of the smells contained until you break the seal to dispose of the next diaper. The bin has a window to show how much space remains inside, which helps you plan when it's time to start the next pail. We had a five-pack and it lasted us for a nine-day trip, with a bit of room to spare.
If you're in potty training mode, you'll also want to have some car seat protectors for your stroller or car seats. This one from CoolBebe is a waterproof liner that will keep their seat dry in the event of an accident. They'll still need a dry pair of pants to change into, but at least you won't have to wash the car seat cover when you get where you're going.
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Car Seat Protector for Potty Training by CoolBebe
Keeps Car Seats Dry if Accidents Happen
This is CoolBebe's universal-fit car seat protector for potty training. It's made with double layers of absorbent and waterproof materials, so it can capture liquid from diaper leaks or accidents. Not only does this mean it keeps the car seat dry and comfortable for your little one, it means you don't have to take the car seat apart and deal with all the ickiness that would have otherwise seeped into its inner depths. This machine-washable seat protector is also compatible with strollers, safety chairs, and high chairs, so you can bring it with you wherever you need while you're in the potty training phase with your twins.
Have a portable potty seat in the car for emergencies. A foldable seat like this one by PandaEar is compact and makes it easy to bring practically anywhere (malls, friends' or families' houses, or even on airplanes), so your twins feel more secure when they're in a situation where they have to sit on the big potty and aren't worried they'll fall in.
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Folding Travel Toilet Seat Cover for Children & Potty Training by PandaEar
A Toilet Seat for Training On-the-Go
This is a foldable travel toilet seat cover that you can take with you when you're on-the-go. This portable seat fits most standard toilets and is made of non-slip silicone, so it's a secure spot to sit makes for quick and easy clean-ups. It's great for traveling, camping, or even a weekend away from your usual potty set-up. It's available in three color options: gray, green, and pink.
3. Bring instant cold packs for unexpected boo-boos
We bought a pack of these to keep some prescription medication refrigerated for our travel day, and they came in so handy during outings if anybody needed a quick cooldown in the heat or had to deal with, say, a scraped knee from gleefully chasing all of the birdies in the zoo.
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Instant Cold Packs, 35-Pack, by Affordtex
Instant Cold Packs for Traveling
This is a 35-pack of instant cold packs by Affordtex. They don't require prior freezing and can be easily activated in seconds when needed. At just 7.5 inches by 4.5 inches, they're great for traveling, hiking, or having on-hand at sporting events to reduce pain and swelling. If you don't need to keep anything cool during your travel day, throw these into your checked luggage. If they're in your carry-on bags, you'll need to declare them at security checkpoints because they have liquid in them.
4. Bring something to keep their hands busy on the plane
These items will come in very handy during layovers, or during longer stretches in the car. Things like a fidget pop-it toy, color-safe markers that won't color the plane or the interior of your car, or a busy backpack with buckles to keep them focused and entertained.
There's just something universally and methodically calming about busting the air out of a roll of bubble wrap. Our little ones get the same gratification out of popping the bubbles in pop fidget toys, which can provide endless entertainment for your toddlers.
Multi-Shape Set
This is a multi-shape set of pop fidget toys. This four-pack comes with a heart, a circle, a square, and a hexagon, all in bright rainbow colors.
To help pass the time, your kids may want to color. Give them supplies that won't give you a heart attack mid-trip. We went with Crayola Color Wonder Mess-Free coloring paper and markers. This way, they didn't accidentally color on any plane seats, tray tables, or car seats if we weren't paying close enough attention to their artwork session.
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Crayola Color Wonder Mess-Free Markers
All Art, No Mess
This 10-pack of Color Wonder Markers makes mess-free coloring a reality when used with Crayola's specially formulated Color Wonder coloring pages. The ink from the markers won't show up on skin, walls, furniture, nor clothing. When used on the right paper, the drawing your toddler has applied transforms from clear to whatever color of marker they used for their artwork.
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Crayola Color Wonder Mess-Free Coloring Pages
Mess-Free Fun
This 50-page pack of Color Wonder paper can be used as-is for creative drawing or it can be used to print coloring pages from Crayola.com, so your toddlers can practice coloring within the lines of the designs.
Bring two small backpacks for storing entertainment and snack items for your toddlers. Each twin will want their own bag to be responsible for or you may risk a meltdown. To avoid a tantrum, get two small ones and pack them light, so they can each carry one (or so they're less cumbersome if you end up carrying them). Plus, if you get busy backpacks like the one below, it can double as entertainment during the trip.
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Buckle Toys Buddy Activity Backpack
Holds Snacks & Attention During Travel
The Buddy Activity Backpack by Buckle Toys incorporates zipper and snap pockets, bright buckles, and various rainbow-colored clasps to encourage your toddlers to practice how to fasten and unfasten the clips through interactive play. The inner storage area of the bag allows your little ones to practice loading and unloading their books, toys, or other essentials, like airplane snacks, for when they're on-the-go. This bag saved us from boredom while we waited to deplane at our final destination.
5. Give yourself extra time
Arrive at the airport early (even earlier than you think) or build extra time into your roadtrip schedule to allow for additional stops or delays, so that unexpected lines or issues are minor annoyances instead of major calamities.
It's a lot of work, but it's worth it
Traveling with twin toddlers is an incredible undertaking.
You may question how wise it was leading up to—and during—your trip, but you'll also realize that it was totally worth it.
As you plan your trip, these tips can help pave the way for a memorable vacation you'll look back on fondly.
What is your biggest piece of advice for anyone who will be traveling with their toddlers for the first time? What was the best travel tidbit someone gave you? Let us know in the Comments section below or connect with us on Instagram to share your thoughts!
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