Does planning long outings with your toddler cause a lot of stress and anxiety? When you know your toddler will be out of their normal environment, possibly missing naps, staying up way too late, and melting down, it can be hard to look forward to big events that are supposed to be fun. With the summer coming up full of cookouts, family reunions, long weekends, vacations, busy day activities and more, Heather is sharing her 11 best tips for handling these long outings that will help you minimize stress so you can enjoy making family memories.

**Listen to the full podcast episode here or read on for the tips!

Tip #1: Prepare Your Toddler Ahead of Time

Whatever the long outing is, whether it’s a family reunion, a day out at the zoo, a holiday party, a firework show, or a concert, you can talk about it ahead of time with your toddler. You can read books about it, give visuals, and walk them through the events of the day to help them know what to expect.

EXAMPLES

• If you are going to see fireworks, you can read books about them or watch videos of them to help your toddler know what to expect. Talk about the sound, how loud they can be, the bright flashes and colors, and how the fireworks can seem scary but that they are safe and don’t need to be worried.  

• If it’s a concert or family reunion, talk to your toddler about large crowds and lots of people. Coach them through waving “hi” to family, or how to ask for space if they need a break. If there is loud music you can tell them that they can cover their ears if they need to.

Tip #2: Consider Nap and Bedtime Schedules

If the event happens around nap time, you can consider offering an earlier nap before the event, plan for a short car nap on the way there or back, or bring a stroller or carrier to offer a nap while walking around.

If the event is late, you can offer an extra nap or a later nap so your toddler will be able to stay up later for the event.

If you are coming home late from an outing, I’ve found it helpful to bring jammies and get everyone ready for bed before getting in the car so that if they fall asleep on the drive it’s a much easier transfer right into bed.

Tip #3: Pack Snacks and Water Just for Your Toddler

If your toddlers are anything like mine, they will only drink well out of their own water bottles and cups and want water that stays cold. Bring the water bottles or cups your toddler is used to and you can use cold packs and an insulated lunchbox to keep them cold, especially if you are outside.

With toddlers around, you can never pack too many snacks. Food at gatherings and events isn’t always toddler safe or what your toddler will eat, so having some go to snacks that they are used to really helps keep them from being overly hungry. If you bring a favorite toddler safe fruit, you can squeeze lemon juice on it to keep it fresh longer.

Tip #4: Scout Out Shady Spots for Breaks

When it’s very sunny and you are out at a park, the zoo, or a family gathering outside, it doesn’t take long for our little ones to get hot, sunburned, and worn out. Make sure to either find or bring your own shade for when you and your toddler need a break. A stroller or wagon with a canopy can help, as well as hats, and of course toddler safe sunscreen.

Tip #5: Protect Your Toddler’s Ears

If you are at a concert or other event with loud music or sounds (like fireworks), make sure to protect your toddler’s ears either by being far enough away from speakers and loud noises or by bringing noise canceling headphones for your toddler to wear.

• Note: Over 120 decibels is too loud for toddler’s ears. There are apps on your phone and on a smart watch that can measure the decibel level if you are concerned and want to check the levels where you are.

Tip #6: Pack Spares and Extras

Depending on the type of outing, you might want to pack extra changes of clothes, extra layers to put on if the weather changes, extra diapers, towels, blankets, chairs, or other gear you don’t want go without in a pinch (like an extra pacifier if your toddler still needs one for naps).

Tip #7: Know the Area

If you are at a big event with lots to do, make sure you know what things are offered that are age appropriate for toddlers. You can also scout out new things to see and do if your toddler gets bored or needs a change of scene.

Tip #8: Prepare for Strangers

Sometimes our toddlers can have “stranger danger” reactions to family members and friends that they don’t know see very often. This is very normal. You can talk about these friends and family members ahead of time and create social stories to prepare your toddler to see them.

If you know there will be big crowds, you can tell your toddler about that too. If your toddler is overstimulated by lots of people you can always give them some space by taking a break away from the crowds for a few minutes. Breaks are not only good for them but also for us in social situations when we can get overwhelmed with all the social pressures as well.

Tip #9: Bring Favorite Toys or Fun New Ones

Some toddlers have favorite toys or stuffed animals that they love carrying around wherever they go. If it is small enough to transport easily and you know they would be happier with their favorite item, it might be a good idea to bring it. Familiar or favorite objects can help our toddlers feel safe when things around them are new and strange.

Toddlers also love new toys and experiences, so you can lean into the novelty of the outing and get some extra special things to add to the experience. Maybe have glow sticks for when it gets dark out, bubbles to blow, or fun new sticker books.

Tip #10: Offer Lots of Opportunities to Get Energy Out

We might want our toddlers to sit still in the stroller, at a table, or on a picnic blanket with us and be a part of whatever we are doing, but we need to make sure that they are getting lots of opportunities to run around and get their wiggles out too. If we can let them run around, dance, and play with other kids, chances are they will be tired out and calm enough to want to sit with us after.

Tip #11: Have an Exit Plan

Leaving big events can be hard for parents and toddlers alike. When we need to leave, whether it’s late or the event is still going on, our toddler is tired and melting down or doesn’t want to leave, we need to have an exit plan.

Things to consider:

• What things do you need to gather?
• Who do you need to say goodbye to?
• How far are you from the car? How long is the walk back?
• Will your toddler go in the stroller or wagon? Will they walk or be carried?
• How long is the drive home?
• With big events like a concert you might have to sit in traffic for a while to get out so you might want to leave just a little early to try to avoid a backup in the parking lot.

Long outings with toddlers might not ever be as simple and stress-free as we would like, but hopefully these tips will help make planning your next big outing a little bit easier.

And, as always, if you find yourself needing more parenting tools and support, sign up for the free Transform Aggressive Toddler Behavior and Tantrums Guide and Workshop here!

Hi! I’m Dabney, mom to three boys in three years! I found Heather through her podcast while searching for tools to help my own toddler’s aggressive outbursts and button pushing behaviors. Few voices in the parenting world address how to manage the intensity of these toddler behaviors when you have not just one but two or more children with you.

Enter Heather, an educator for ten years turned twin mom of two boys with stories and strategies that highlighted how to manage these hard moments while also being outnumbered. I participated in her Transform Aggressive Toddler Behavior and Tantrums Workshop and Cohort and found her strategies simple and effective. Not only is my parenting better for it, but I am growing in my confidence along this journey collecting tools along the way.