
How to Plan a Trip With Small Kids (Without Losing Your Mind)
I won’t ever forget our first trip with our then 2-month-old and 20-month-old. We just booked a “quick flight” from Detroit to NYC, thinking we’d be good to figure out the details upon arrival. Boy, were we wrong.

Yes, You Can Travel With a Baby
Despite that first trip being so, so challenging, it absolutely caused me to fall in love with showing my boys the world. We got back and instantly began looking for our next trip. In planning and talking with new mom friends, I realized there is a general perception that travel is “over” once you have kids. While it does change, it is totally doable with the right prep and tools.
A recent trip to Florida with my boys.A recent trip to Florida with my boys.
Most of the moms I’ve met are super nervous about a few things: flying, packing, and finding places to stay that will actually work for them. While I can’t solve all of those problems for every trip for you today, I can give you some tried-and-true tips from my own experiences with my littles and from talking to hundreds of parents. Spoiler alert: you’re not crazy for wanting to take your kid on a trip!
Mindset First: Lower the Bar (Just a Little)
Perhaps the most important piece of advice I give to parents traveling with a baby for the first time is to lower your mental bar just a bit. When I traveled with my little ones, I quickly realized that expecting a perfect trip only led to frustration. Things rarely went as planned: naps got missed, diaper blowouts happened at the worst times, and schedules went out the window. But once I accepted that some moments would be messy and unpredictable, I was able to relax and enjoy the adventure more. Helen Keller said, “Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all,” and for me, traveling with a baby has been just that… a daring adventure full of surprises and unforgettable memories.
Booking a Hotel: What Actually Matters With a Baby
One of the most important aspects of a trip with babies is where you’ll stay. This is largely because you’ll spend SO much time there. My kids sleep 12 hours a night and take a 2-hour nap during the day… so location matters. Do some soul-searching as to what matters to you with regards to a hotel. Is it having childcare? Is it ensuring you can cook some meals? Is it that a playground is closeby? A pool that’ll suit your toddler’s antics? Narrowing down your must-haves is a great first step.
Kidgo’s Stays page with our 19 filters!At Kidgo Travel, we’ve done a lot of this work for you. We actually filter by 19 data points that matter to families that can’t be found elsewhere. Want to know what size cribs are offered at the hotel so you know if your Slumberpod will fit? Want to ensure there’s additional space to store your breastmilk? Absolutely need a bathtub because your kid is scared of the shower? Our Stays allow you to quickly and easily search by this. Plus, you can quickly read what other parents have thought about the stay – because intangibles matter, too. No one wants to feel like they weren’t safe at a place or that their kids weren’t welcome. We offer all of this for parents, for free!
Choosing Baby-Friendly Activities
When it comes to picking activities with a baby, less is definitely more. I try to plan just one main thing each day so we don’t get overwhelmed. Look for spots that are stroller-friendly, low-key, and flexible with timing. Parks, splash pads, aquariums, or quiet museums are usually winners. Outdoor spaces where your little one can crawl or toddle safely are a big plus. Avoid tightly scheduled tours or places that require a lot of waiting; those can turn stressful fast. The goal is to have fun, not to tick off a long list. The long lists will have to wait for when they’re a bit older or if you pull a sans-kids getaway. Additionally, it’s important to choose activities that keep little ones comfortable—short, stroller-friendly stops with shade and easy breaks. Organic clothing is a good choice for children because it’s gentle and breathable. A couple of pairs of organic cotton underwear for kids make an easy-care base that rinses and dries quickly.
We’ll be looking to add activities very soon on Kidgo. Can’t wait for you to see them!
Don’t DIY Every Detail — Let Kidgo Help
Trying to find the right hotels and activities for traveling with a baby can quickly become overwhelming. That’s where we at Kidgo come in. It’s a discovery tool built by parents, for parents, with filters that help you find exactly what you need: whether that’s a crib-ready hotel room, stroller-friendly attractions, or places that get the chaos of traveling with little ones. Instead of spending hours searching, Kidgo makes it easier to find trusted, authentic recommendations so you can focus on enjoying your trip.
Family travel is never perfect; there’s always a diaper blowout or a missed nap somewhere along the way. But with realistic expectations and helpful tools like Kidgo’s baby-friendly discovery filters, families can find trips that are less stressful and more joyful. Kidzovo’s commitment to supporting parents with authentic, useful content makes it a perfect place to start your journey. After all, traveling with a baby can be an adventure worth having, and you don’t have to do it alone.




