Make Overnight Trips with a Toddler a Success with KidCo Peapod

Anything out of the ordinary is likely to cause a fit when it comes to toddlers and that includes traveling.

If your family loves to travel, and your toddler does not, check out these tips to make traveling with a toddler more successful especially when you travel with the KidCo PeaPod!

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We have traveled quite a bit with both girls. We usually just go on short, weekend trips but have done a few week long vacations in the last 3 years. Some parents worry about the actual travel – getting there part.

Whether you’re flying or driving, there definitely has to be a plan of how to entertain the toddlers so they’ll make it to your destination in one piece {and you too!}. But what about when you actually get there?

I have to say that we’ve been really lucky in that both girls travel really well. They can usually sleep pretty good when we’re away from home, but I’ve heard of plenty of parents that have the opposite problem.

And I really believe that some of the reason that the girls do so well away from home on overnight trips is because we incorporate these ideas each time we travel!

1.  Bring something beloved from home

Does your child have a favorite stuffed animal? Well, if they do, chances are it’s already made it in your suitcase.

But things like a favorite bed sheet or blanket, personal pillow, or even a bed time book that you read often will help too!

If you can show them that the new place is somewhat related to their normal surroundings, it will make it an easier transition for the night away from home.

 2.  Let them help you pack the suitcase

So much easier said than done, especially if you have a Type A personality like me. There’s a million things I can think of that I would like more than to have a toddler pulling out clothes and toys to fill my suitcase, BUT it will get them excited for the trip and feel some sort of ownership of the travel plans.

3.  Bring along a special bed for them – like the KidCo Peapod

Sure, they can sleep in the guest bed or a hotel bed, if either is available, but I guarantee that when you pull out a special bed like this one… your toddler is going to be super excited about it!

My girls are in love with their PeaPod Plus from KidCo. It’s roomy… both of the girls can fit inside comfortably and it’s comfortable because it comes with it’s own sleeping pad.

The KidCo PeaPod Plus is a spacious children’s travel bed that literally folds right out of a small circle, and fits perfectly into the carrier bag, which makes it super portable and perfect for travel.

It features a sleeping pad {which adds a bit of extra cushion} that is attached to the floor, 2 Zipper panels where the front unzips all the way for entry and also has a mesh screen, and the back has a zip up mesh screen as well, and a safety anchor so the PeaPod Plus won’t get turned over.

So far, the girls are loving the KidCo PeaPod Plus to pretend to sleep, but soon we’ll get to really test it out as we have overnight trips coming up for every month until January!  I think it’ll get broken in quite well and Sophia is already excited about the trips because she gets to “sleep in her blue tent bed!”

The girls are the perfect ages for the KidCo PeaPod as it is best suited for children ages 1-5.

4.  Keep Your Routine [as much as possible]

When you’re away from home, it’s sometimes hard to keep a routine, but doing so will keep both you and your toddler happier. Toddlers thrive on routine, even if they buck against it often, and when they know what to expect, they often are a little easier to deal with.

If you always take a nap after lunch, try to do it. Read the same book every night? Bring it along! Sticking to your routines will not only make your overnight trip more of a success, but it’ll make it easier when you return home as well!