Travelling with kids can be equal parts magical and mayhem ✈️👶🍼 You dream of sandy toes, family memories and a cute holiday snap for the fridge… then reality hits with airport meltdowns, forgotten wipes and snack demands on repeat 🍪😭
Here are the top mistakes parents make when travelling with a baby or toddler and how you can skip them for a smoother trip.
1. Overpacking (and forgetting the real essentials) 🎒
Many parents make the mistake of cramming everything in sight into their baby bag. By the time you’re at the airport, you’re weighed down with toys, yet you’ve forgotten the basics.
✅ Keep it simple: Pack only what you’ll actually use and choose a bag with compartments to keep nappies, wipes, bottles and snacks organised. An easy-access wipes dispenserpocket is a total lifesaver when accidents happen mid-boarding.
2. Relying on airline food 🍎🍪
Toddlers are unpredictable eaters and babies need frequent feeds. Depending on airline catering is one of the biggest travel mistakes.
✅ Bring your own, known favourites. Fruit pouches, crackers, or little treats stored in your Lunch Buddy a cooler bag, mean you’ll always have food handy. A stocked baby travel bag keeps everyone calm and avoids hangry meltdowns. Little, fiddly snacks can also serve as a form of entertainment - things that take a long time to eat (corn cobs, trail mix) can keep little hands busy, and you know what they say about idle hands 😅
3. Hoping they’ll just sleep 😴
“I’ll keep them awake so they sleep on the plane” rarely works. Over-tired kids often end up wired instead. If your flight time means you’re tempted to stretch out nap time (or you experience a flight delay), a rest at the airport might be a better option than ending up with an overtired and overstimulated little one on board.
✅ Stick to some normal sleep cues. A blanket, dummy, comfort toy or portable sound machine helps little ones wind down for those airport or on-board sleeps.. Short naps are fine but avoid marathon sleeps in the middle of the day.
✅ Want to increase your chances of some shut-eye? Our friends at Kooshy Kids offer some elite solutions for mile high naps, from inflatable cushions designed for your lap-riders or cushions that turn economy into first class for little ones with their own seat, these guys are ready to up your family travel game ✈️
4. Thinking the iPad is enough 📱🧸
Screens buy you time, but hours of travel need more than Bluey on repeat.
✅ Pack a mix of activities. Small toys, sticker books, colouring, or high-contrast books for babies. Keep them organised and within easy reach in your Anywhere Backpack, so you can rotate them without digging through everything. We like to start with the screen-free choices, and save the screen for when we really need it.
✅ Keep special ‘travel toys’ seperate and out of reach in the weeks leading up to travel, so they feel fresh and exciting. We like to wrap up something new and small to unwrap on board.
5. Forgetting the airport wait ⏰✈️
Security, customs and waiting to boarding can feel endless with kids. Not planning for the wait makes everyone stressed. Don’t exhaust all your snacks or entertainment options before you even board your flight! Use your time at the airport to move as much as possible and get all the wiggles out before expecting your little one to sit still for a long period on a flight. Make use of airport food options instead of eating into your on-board supplies.
✅ Choose a functional baby bag: Look for one with a secure parent pocket so passports, tickets and travel docs are right where you need them (no last-minute rummaging). Keep snacks and wipes on hand too - instant meltdown management while you wait in line. This is where a well-designed baby travel bag really shows its value. Having access to what you need, when you need it is a game changer for family travel.
6. Forgetting yourself 🧑🍼💆♀️
Parents often pack everything for bub but forget their own needs. The result? Hungry, frazzled parents before the trip has even started.
✅ Don’t forget you. A water bottle, change of clothes (in case of emergency)spare top, headphones and even a block of chocolate. A calm, prepared parent really does make for calmer kids.
How the Huddo Co Anywhere Backpack Helps Parents Travel Smarter 💼
Designed by an Aussie mum, the Huddo Co Anywhere Backpack is more than a baby bag. It’s a stylish baby travel bag built for airports, road trips and everyday adventures. With clever compartments, pram straps, insulated bottle holders and an easy-access wipes dispensercase, it takes the stress out of travel.
Upgrade to the Huddo Co Travel Bundle (Anywhere Backpack + Lunch Buddy cooler bag + Nappy Buddy belt bag) for the ultimate kit.
The wrap up 💚
Family travel will never be perfect. There will be mess, tears and “why did I do this?” moments. But with the right gear and a bit of planning, it’s always worth it.
The Huddo Co Anywhere BackpackAnywhere Backpack is the baby travel bag you’ll actually love using. Functional, stylish and designed to make travelling with a baby easier.
Happy travels,
Love Huddo Co x
