The following is a mini travel journal of our trip to Italy with two little ones. If you'd like to cut to the chase and read about specific travel tips, equipment to take for the kids and ideas for flying with children, scroll to the bottom of this post.Traveling Overseas With Kids
Of course we were nervous as heckto travel to Italy with a nearly 2 year old and 3 month old. Traveling with kids is always a major undertaking. To pack, it took nearly two weeks with everything from a travel booster seat to bottles, graham crackers and a beach blanket. I was pretty sure I had all the bases covered. Check out my family vacation packing list here. Finally, we were off.
On an 8 hour flight to Naples with a connection in Rome, we did OK. No major meltdowns, just a lot of "Down peez," entertaining the toddler and a few Wiggles DVD's. With a massive headache for a few hours (not sure where it came from) on my part, dad took over a bit. Flying Alitalia, we were worried since I haven't read great reviews and they were difficult to work with making arrangements, the flight was just fine even though we couldn't sit together because they were both considered infants so you need an empty seat? Whatever. But it worked out OK and we made it there without any major issues.
Enter Positano. Really? Kids live there? We took the double stroller not wanting to have two strollers even if one was the travel seat. Good call, but it was heavy to CARRY down the stairs, up the stairs, etc. This is a town you can't get dropped off right at your hotel door so there was a lot of walking and a lot of hills. Somehow, we managed. The family was extremely helpful so that was a lifesaver. And aside from having to pay 100 euro for 2 pack & plays (not a typo) Positano was a dream. I fell in love with it and want to go back tomorrow! The kids were on Italy time with jet-lag which worked out beautifully...rather than an 8 p.m. bedtime they stayed up with us for late dinners and we got to do more than we first imagined we could.
My little flower girl looked beautiful for my cousin's wedding which was like a movie...an absolute pleasure to attend. I was nervous with the reception site with water on three sides and nothing to stop the girl from plunging into the sea, but with an extended dinner (strapped into the booster) and lots of vigilance, we managed to have a great evening even keeping her up past midnight.
From Positano we took the ferry to Capri, my new favorite place in the world. Our daughter loves swimming in the pool, and here we used the carriers a bit more to get around since there was a lot of walking and, surprise surprise, hills. Capri was unbelievably beautiful and that Italy was playing in the Euro Cup was a bonus , though they lost the second night we were there.
From Capri we spent a long day traveling to Sicily...first a ferry to Naples...then taxi to the airport...plane to Palermo...bus to Taoromina. Whew! Turns out we were in another of my favorite places; it is beautiful!! We were thrilled to get into the room with the kids after such a long travel day and let them "spread out." Here Baby Bear stayed with us in bed while Baby Moo slept in his crib. And it was here that he first rolled over from back to front! Though it should be noted the crib mattress was slightly tilted so he kind of cheated, though once back home within a few weeks he was rolling over for real. One night major panic when we lost our travel booster seat having left it on a wall outside the hotel. Recovered the next day (thank goodness) we once again had a place to put Baby Bear while eating.
From Taormina we traveled to Velledolmo (I wish I could remember how to spell this) in central Sicily as we made our way to Caltabelotta. Here the kids visited their first winery, Regaleali, (actually Baby Bear went with us to the Fingerlakes Winery when she was 5 months old...another story, no sitter, trip was booked...nice time though). This was a little crazy because someone, the toddler, saw it as a big open place to run, run, run. And usually you don't want your child to run through a winery for obvious reasons. On the other hand, I can't imagine having missed the wonderful lunch and wine tasting (now my favorite white wine) that I would recommend to anyone who is passing through this area of Sicily. We stayed in a farmhouse and the kids enjoyed running around and this was an extremely pleasant stop on our trip.
The last day in Italy was our reason for being in Sicily: Caltabellota. Over 100 years ago our great-great-grandfather Santo came from this place and started his family in the states. So you can imagine how amazing it was to go back to this town, see the house where they grew up, the church they were married in, etc. This was a challenging day with the kids, though, because the stroller was impossible to take so we carried them. Not a problem for the baby, but the toddler did not want to be held long. So it was chase time for much of the day and that gets old quick. By the time we ate dinner at an agurtissimo where she was able to run around until her heart was content, it was a welcome relief (minus the stairs she kept going up) and a wonderful dinner.
The flight home went as well as possible with a 2 year old on an 8.5 flight. A few hairy moment, but a hug bag of M&M's and a few naps got us by. The big meltdown came waiting for luggage, though, when Baby Bear did not want to stay in the stroller but letting her loose in the airport was just not an option. Full on screaming and crying for a 1/2 hour or so with everyone looking on...not fun. But really, with the exception of 2-3 instances throughout the trip, they were both awesome!
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Traveling Tips
Flight:
Ask questions ahead of time! When can I make seat arrangements? Will I have the bulkhead spot for extra room and/or bassinet? Can we all sit together? (Some airlines regulate against having 2 adults and 2 children in the same row b/c of oxygen masks...long story.)
Bring the stroller right up to the gate and check it in there. Make sure you have tags on every single piece so it finds you when you reach your destination.
Take more gimmicks (with toddler) than you think you'll need: small new toys, DVD player, M&M's (worked like a charm...ate 1 at a time and took nearly 1/2 hour), or anything else you think will work as a distraction. Some like lollipops for this but they were a bit messy for us... maybe better for older kids.
Change diapers on the seat. Don't even attempt to use the bathroom do do this!
Remember to try to get kids to suck on something and landing (pacifier, bottle, breastfeed, sippy sup, etc.) to avoid ear problems.
We read it's good to let them run around and expend energy waiting for the flight rather than having them in he stroller. This worked the opposite for us. Once out and running around, it was a nightmare then to contain her for the flight.
Equipment: We would not travel without the following:
On-the Go Booster Seat by First Years -Light, small, worked perfectly! #1 must have
Sit-n-Stroll Stroller/Car Seat - We didn't use on this trip with 2 kids but would with 1.
Bebe Au Lait Nursing Cover - Used constantly, to nurse, to cover from sun, etc.
Stroller Rain Cover - Though Italy was dry, it's small size is worth bringing just in case.
Baby Carrier - We have Bijorn & Ergo Baby, but I would definitely have something.
Bottles - Even though I breastfeed, it was nice to have some for traveling at times.
Leave home: Breast pump, pack & play, big/noisy toys
More Tips:
- Bring more formula, snacks (graham crackers etc.) and baby wipes than you think you'll need.
- If you don't want to worry about finding/buying diapers (we didn't), we estimated 5 diapers a day for toddler and 6 for baby with a few extra in the car for the ride home and had just enough left over.
- We brought 2 bottles and 2 sippy cups and some detergent to wash them both.
Stroller...regular versus lightweight. This is a tough call, especially or this trip in Positano etc. where a lightweight stroller would have been nice. For us, though, we made the right call bringing the regular stroller because he was still in an infant seat, so for us it worked. - Use this vacation packing list or a combination of ones you like.
Whether you're traveling with baby, toddler or big kids, there is a lot of planning but lots of rewards too as you make memories with the little ones. With lots of patience, any size trip is doable; in general, people are very understanding, even on the plane, and have either been there themselves or can empathize with you if things aren't going 100% according to plan.
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