1. Lower Your Expectations and Raise Your Curiosity
Before becoming parents, we traveled with a checklist of attractions we wanted to see, but traveling with children taught us to approach destinations a bit differently. While we still see a lot, we’re far more intentional about the types of experiences we include.
When we plan trips now, we try to build in a mix of different kinds of experiences rather than focusing on ticking off sights. A bit of culture, something in nature, a food experience, and space for play. This variety helps keep the days balanced for both children and adults, and it means everyone gets something to look forward to.
Some of our best travel memories have come from moments we never planned: watching boats in a harbor, feeding lizards in a park, or stopping to listen to street musicians.
Children have a way of slowing us down and helping us notice things we might otherwise miss. Rather than rushing from place to place, we focus on being curious and enjoying the experience together.
2. Build in Breathing Room
Planning ahead helps, but over-scheduling is the fastest route to a stressful trip. We create a loose itinerary with a mix of culture, nature, food, and play, and we always leave designated space for breaks, snacks, and the unexpected.
Practical tip: before every trip, we create a shared Google Map and save playgrounds, parks, family-friendly cafés, and other useful spots. When a toddler meltdown strikes, you'll be grateful to know exactly where the nearest patch of grass is.
3. Transportation and Accommodation Can Be Part of the Adventure
Many people focus only on the destination, but some of our favorite memories come from the journey and the places we stay.
A train ride through the countryside, a ferry crossing, or a unique place to sleep can become an adventure in itself.
When choosing accommodation, we look beyond location. We often search for places that add something special to the experience, whether that's a farm stay, a cottage surrounded by nature, or a cultural home completely different from what we’re used to.
For young children, where you stay and how you get there can be just as exciting as what you see.
4. You Don't Need to Pack Everything
One of the biggest concerns parents have before a trip is forgetting something important.
Over the years, we've found that good preparation makes packing much less stressful. Instead of leaving everything until the night before departure, we like to start packing a few days in advance. It seems once the suitcases are packed, the trip already feels underway, and there's time to throw in anything forgotten.
Packing cubes that separate each family member's clothes can also be very helpful. Having everything organized makes it much easier to find what's needed during a trip, especially when traveling with multiple children.
Before packing, we also check if our accommodation has a laundry machine. Traveling lighter often makes the journey easier for everyone. For larger items or additional baby gear, rental services such as Babonbo can be a helpful option for families.
5. Some Days Will Be Difficult
Flights get delayed. Naps get skipped. A toddler is suddenly in the “no” phase.
Every family experiences challenging moments while traveling. When they happen, we try to remember that one difficult afternoon does not define the entire trip.
Perfection is not the goal. Flexibility is.
6. The Memories Are Worth It, Even If They Don’t Remember
Young children may not remember every destination they visit, but travel offers so much more than sightseeing and lasting memories.
The early years are an important time for learning about the world. Through travel, children are exposed to different languages, foods, cultures, and ways of life. These experiences help build curiosity, confidence, adaptability, and an openness to new experiences.
They may not remember every trip, but those experiences still help shape how they see the world.
Final Thoughts
Traveling with young children isn’t always easy, but it doesn’t need to be perfect to be meaningful.
For families living in Belgium, the opportunity to explore new places is one of the great advantages of living in Europe. Start small, plan ahead, stay flexible, and remember that the goal is not to see everything.
The goal is to experience it together.
About the Author
Gabi, with her partner Javi, hosts the Traveling Families Club within the IHL community. They create easy-to-follow, kid-friendly travel itineraries and share cultural travel tips for families. They’re also the creators behind Little Chicken Studio, a playful family travel channel built around exploring the world with their three young children and supporting other families to do the same.