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TODDLER-FRIENDLY FAMILY TRAVEL

toddler-friendly destinations, flight and airport tips, and trip reviews on the blog

St. Martin/ St. Maarten with a Toddler Travel Guide

Gorgeous Mullet Bay Beach! Affectionately known as “the friendly island”, the 34 sq mile paradise of St. Martin/ St. Maarten is a toddler...

Kendall Posey

Feb 228 min read

Ultimate Travel Guide: Florence with a Toddler

Our fearless girl looking down from the Brunelleschi Dome Table of Contents How to get to Florence Stroller Rental- Our favorite rental...

Kendall Posey

Aug 24, 202411 min read

Travel Guide: Rome with a Toddler

Little feet in the giant Colosseum! Table of Contents Arrival in Rome- Guide from airport to Rome Center Stroller Rental- Our favorite...

Kendall Posey

Jul 8, 202411 min read

Hi!

We're the McFarlins

We are so glad that you're here!

Family travel should be full of fun, not stress! We hope our page can inspire you and give you the confidence to book that flight and make some family memories!

Excuse me while I sob 😭

But really, if you’re on the fence about traveling with your little one, dive in! The sweetest memories await! ❤️

What’s your favorite toddler travel memory?

I’ll go first ⬇️

When Maddie was 1.5 yrs we were in Florence seeing Michelangelo’s David.

Maddie, in full toddler awe upon seeing the massive statue shouted “BIG maaaannn!” at top volume! 📣

I thought I might cry seeing the David, but I never expected that it would be from laughter 😂

What is YOUR pre-flight plan? ✈️

The #1 thing on our list is to:
get 👏 those 👏 wiggles 👏 out👏

We give our toddler lots of chances to run, climb, and jump to her heart’s content before we board. This usually results in a good 2-3 hour nap. 😴

On an 8 hr+ international daytime flight, those few hours of respite can make a huge difference! 🤩

As a mom with a degree in child development, I know how DEEPLY my little one needs to move! Those plane rides can be excruciatingly stationary! 🙃

What does your family do before boarding to have a smoother flight? Let me know below! ⬇️

#toddlertraveltips #travelmom #internationaltravel #travelingwithtoddlers #travelingwithkids #travel #internationaltravel #familytravels #toddlermom #travel

If we had a dollar for every time we were told not to travel until she can remember it… we’d be taking another Disney trip night now 😝

We took our toddler to Walt Disney World for her 2nd birthday and we LOVED it! Disney with a toddler can be pure ✨magic✨ if you know how to do it right!

Top 5 toddler Disney tips from seasoned WDW veterans:

1. Bring a quality travel stroller! We love ours from Amazon- linked on the website!
2. Snacks, snacks, and more snacks!
3. Research what attractions are for “any height” on the Disney World app and make a loose plan for the day. There’s nothing worse than wandering aimlessly with a wiggly little!
4. Get PhotoPass! We’ve always had amazing experiences with the PhotoPass photographers. They really made our little feel special and we got some quality family photos!
5. Don’t feel obligated to buy them an individual meal at every restaurant! Portion size is generous and more than enough to share with a little one! Our girl enjoys the adult fare more than chicken nuggets and usually prefers to grub off of our plates anyways!

Taking a pause from Italy content because we’re in the post-Disney blues over here… Who’s with us? 🙋‍♀️

#disneyworld #waltdisneyworld #toddlertraveltips #travelmom #travelingwithkids #travelingwithtoddlers #familytravel #disneywithtoddlers #disneywithdrawals

This is the DREAMIEST place we’ve ever taken our one year old!

👉 Head to the blog for the full Florence with a toddler travel guide
📍save this post for later and ➡️ send to a fellow family travel lover!

🎨 Florence is so full of culture and art- we attribute Maddie’s development jump to this city! Her vocab more than DOUBLED while all the new experiences grew those little neuron connections!

😍 We fell in love with the family-friendly Airbnb we stayed at! Close to everything and has the coolest story!

🙌 Our family agrees that this restaurant has the best pizza we’ve eaten in our LIVES! The view from this restaurant and the food alone are worth the trip.

✈️ Planning the perfect Florence trip with your little? Read the blog for alllll the details!

👋 We’re the McFarlins, a family who loves to travel with our toddler and has a passion for helping you do the same! Follow along for toddler travel tips and our favorite destinations!

#internationaltravel #toddlertraveltips #travelmom #travelingwithkids #travelingwithtoddlers #Italytravel #Italy #italywithkids #italywithtoddlers #familytravel #familyfriendlydestinations

Looking for free things to do in Rome with your toddler? Here’s our list 👇

1. You can get a great view of a lot of the major sights from the outside! Walk into St. Peter’s Square to admire Vatican City, stroll the sidewalks around the Roman Forum for great views of ruins, and see the grandeur of the Colosseum or the Pantheon from right outside!

2. Several of the major sights like the Trevi Fountain, the Spanish Steps, and Piazza Navona are outside and free to view/ experience! We spent a lot of time sitting by the Trevi, soaking up the ambiance!

3. Many churches are open to the public and are full of incredible art and history! Looking at churches along our way was one of our favorite pastimes!

4. Strolling the Roman streets is an experience in itself! Spend some time walking in different neighborhoods to get a feel for the cultures. We really enjoyed getting off the beaten path a little bit!

🤔 WHY should you seek out the free things when visiting Rome with your toddler? (besides saving money?)

✨ Free activities have no specific time you need to be there, which gives so much flexibility for your schedule- you know this is a must if you’re a toddler parent!

🔎 Our family loved exploring at a pace that fit our one year old, really letting her focus on things that excited her in each place!

❌ Or, if she wasn’t having it, there was no pressure to stay because we spent $0!

❓What’s your favorite free activity in Rome?

👋 We’re the McFarlins! We’re doing an Italy with toddlers series right now! Follow along for more toddler travel tips :)

#internationaltravel #toddlertraveltips #travelingwithkids #travelmom #italy #italywithtoddlers #traveltips #travelingwithtoddlers #familytravel

❌ Don’t visit the major sights in Rome without this!!!

📌 SAVE this post for later!!!

👀 We really wish someone had told us these things before visiting! Some of it we just had to figure out in the moment!

1. Eat before or bring snacks!
2. Rent a sturdy stroller (link to the BEST rental service in Europe on the blog!)
3. Don’t forget the free sights!

🇮🇹 Rome with our toddler was a DREAM and we want that dream for you too! We’re in our “Italy with a toddler” series right now! Follow along to keep the tips coming and check out our latest blog post!

⬇️ Comment “DREAM” and we’ll send you the link for all the stroller rental details!!!

👋 For those who don’t know us, we’re the McFarlins! We’re a family passionate about traveling with our little one and helping you do the same! Follow along as we explore new destinations and share our best family travel tips!

#travelingwithkids #travelingwithbaby #travelingwithtoddlers #travel #internationaltravel #toddlertraveltips #travelmom #rome #italywithtoddlers #italywithbaby #toddlermom #traveltips #parenting

🙌 Quiet neighborhood + amazing view + toddler friendly = traveling parent heaven!!!

🥇We always try to research our accommodations well before picking and we feel like we struck gold with this one!

🇮🇹 This is such an amazing Airbnb for Rome with a toddler! The hosts are great too- we had tons of questions and they were always available to help!

👀 Head to the blog for all the details (and the link!) + alllll the Rome recommendations you NEED!

For those who don’t know us, we’re the McFarlins! We’re a family passionate about traveling with our little one and helping you do the same! Follow along as we explore new destinations and share our best family travel tips!

#travelingwithkids #travelingwithbaby #travelingwithtoddlers #travel #internationaltravel #toddlertraveltips #travelmom #toddlermom #traveltips #italywithtoddlers #italytravel

👀 We’ve NEVER seen her eat so much!

📌 Save this post and head to the blog for the best restaurant recommendations for Rome with a toddler!

🤩 We thought that Maddie did well eating at home, and then we saw her eat in Italy… never knew that little tummy could hold so much!

🇮🇹 Rome, and Italy in general, has so much incredible food to discover and we can confidently say that our toddler loved it all!

⬇️ Where in the world has your toddler fallen in love with the food? We’d love some recommendations!

👋 For those who don’t know us, we’re the McFarlins! We’re a family passionate about traveling with our little one and helping you do the same! Follow along as we explore new destinations and share our best family travel tips!

#travelingwithkids #travelingwithbaby #travelingwithtoddlers #travel #internationaltravel #toddlertraveltips #travelmom #travelhacks #lapchild #toddlermom #traveltips #parenting #italy #italytravel #italywithtoddlers #italywithkids

🥲 Definitely not saying it’s always easy, but we wouldn’t change these moments for anything!

➡️ send this to a travel-loving toddler parent!

✈️ Parenting a toddler can be challenging from anywhere in the world- and it can also be SO full of JOY!

🤩 This year, we decided to prioritize family travel and I can’t begin to explain how our experiences this year have permanently changed our family for the better. It can be hard, but it’s the “hard” that we choose!

👀 We’ve just started a series on Italy with a toddler and shared all our best Rome tips on the blog! Go check it out!

👋 For those who don’t know us, we’re the McFarlins! We’re a family passionate about traveling with our little one and helping you do the same! Follow along as we explore new destinations and share our best family travel tips!

#travelingwithkids #travelingwithbaby #travelingwithtoddlers #travel #internationaltravel #toddlertraveltips #travelmom #travelhacks #lapchild #toddlermom #traveltips #parenting

❤️ Any other parents experienced the same thing during family travel?

➡️ send this to a fellow toddler parent to give them all the feels!

✨The things that Maddie noticed, beyond the big sights, brough a whole new wonder to our time in Rome.

🌼 The tiniest flower, finding her own shadow for the first time, discovering the joy of “gatelo” (never correcting this!)

🥲 Out of it all, her favorite was the huge window in our AirBNB!

🥰 Traveling with littles brings unique challenges, but I will NEVER forget the little moments like these!

⬇️ comment the tiny details that your toddler has noticed in your family travels!

‼️ Read our blog post for all the details on how to visit Rome with a toddler!!!

👋 For those who don’t know us, we’re the McFarlins! We’re a family passionate about traveling with our little one and helping you do the same! Follow along as we explore new destinations and share our best family travel tips!

#travelingwithkids #travelingwithbaby #travelingwithtoddlers #travel #internationaltravel #toddlertraveltips #travelmom #travelhacks #lapchild #toddlermom #traveltips #parenting #rome #italywithkids #italywithtoddlers

⬇️ Here’s everything you need to know about the Roman Forum with a toddler!!!

📌SAVE this post for later reference!

🎢 Tip #1: Rent a stroller with big wheels!!! Head to the latest blog post to see how we got our AMAZING rental that could handle the huge, bumpy cobblestone in the Forum!

🍝 Tip #2: Eat before and bring snacks! We were not prepared for how HUGE the Forum is! In the future, we’ll be bringing snacks and eating a fueling meal before entering! Fellow toddler parents also know how crucial a well timed snack can be!

✋ Tip #3: Take the time to read the plaques! There’s so much incredible history in the Roman Forum and you can’t fully appreciate what you’re seeing without knowing the story behind it. We read the important plaques out loud and then gave our toddler a short, age appropriate explanation of what she was seeing!

🗺️ Tip #4: Take (or download) a map and have a planned route beforehand! Again, the Forum is HUGE and no one wants to be wandering around aimlessly with a wiggly toddler!

❌ Tip #5: Plan well where you let your toddler out of the stroller to explore. There are many sections in the Forum that are chained off, but the chain was *just* high enough for our one year old to walk under. I’ll post a map of where it’s safe for your little to roam on the blog soon!!!

‼️ Tip #6: Read the latest blog post to get tips on the other big sights + recommendations for accommodations and food in Rome!

📩 send this to a fellow family travel enthusiast!

👋 For those who don’t know us, we’re the McFarlins! We’re a family passionate about traveling with our little one and helping you do the same! Follow along as we explore new destinations and share our best family travel tips!

#travelingwithkids #travelingwithbaby #travelingwithtoddlers #travel #internationaltravel #toddlertraveltips #travelmom #travelhacks #lapchild #toddlermom #traveltips #parenting #italywithkids #italywithatoddler #romanforum

🇮🇹 If you’re planning to visit Italy with your toddler, you NEED to save this series!!!

👀 We’ll share everything that made our trip to Italy with our one year old perfect!

🔎 We did hours of research before this trip- following along will save you so much time!

💎 Hidden gems, how to navigate the famous sights, and the best gelato await!

🍝 Expect more Italy content very soon and follow along for more toddler travel tips!

👋 For those who don’t know us, we’re the McFarlins! We’re a family passionate about traveling with our little one and helping you do the same! Follow along as we explore new destinations and share our best family travel tips!

#travelingwithkids #travelingwithbaby #travelingwithtoddlers #travel #internationaltravel #toddlertraveltips #travelmom #travelhacks #lapchild #toddlermom #traveltips #parenting #italy #italywithkids #italywithtoddlers

😴Having a toddler with a chaotic sleep schedule does not disqualify you from travel!!!

‼️ save this post and share with a friend for a confidence boost on your next trip with your toddler!

🌴Today when Mads decided to skip her nap, I was so grateful to be able to take a walk down to beautiful Mullet Bay in Saint Martin to play in the sand! It was seriously the best afternoon together!

😳 I used to be so nervous to travel with her in fear of throwing the routine, but I’ve learned that more frequent travel is actually teaching her (and me!!) to be more flexible!

😎 Instead of stressing about the missed nap, we enjoyed an exciting day in a new place together, making some core memories! Parenting can happen anywhere, so you might as well do it somewhere pretty!

💪 Don’t let fear of the unknowns of traveling with a toddler steal the beautiful family memories that are waiting for you!!!

👋 For those who don’t know us, we’re the McFarlins! We’re a family passionate about traveling with our little one and helping you do the same! Follow along as we explore new destinations and share our best family travel tips!

#travelingwithkids #travelingwithbaby #travelingwithtoddlers #travel #internationaltravel #toddlertraveltips #travelmom #travelhacks #lapchild #toddlermom #traveltips #parenting

👏How I turned my 10% fare international lap-child ticket into a WHOLE ROW to ourselves!!! And it’s so simple!

⭐️ save this to remember for your next flight with your toddler or baby!

👉 We approached the gate staff to check her car seat, but before we handed it over, I told them that she was a lap-child and asked if the flight was full!

✈️ The attendant checked on the computer, took my ID and boarding passes, and handed us a new seat assignment with an ENTIRE ROW to ourselves!!!

🫢 I was shocked!!! The seat map on our Delta app said that it was a full flight, but you never know when there will be no-shows!

👍 Gate staff get this question a lot and are normally happy to help! It’s always worth a try and can have some AMAZING results!

👋 For those who don’t know us, we’re the McFarlins! We’re a family passionate about traveling with our little one and helping you do the same! Follow along as we explore new destinations and share our best family travel tips!

#travelingwithkids #travelingwithbaby #travelingwithtoddlers #travel #internationaltravel #toddlertraveltips #travelmom #travelhacks #lapchild #toddlermom #traveltips #parenting

✈️Here’s how we got our toddler to LOVE travel!!!

⬇️Our one year old is a champ with airplanes and airports, and is totally in her element when exploring somewhere new. Here’s why!!!

🧠As a mom with a degree in child development, let me tell you about the amazing world of mirror neurons!

🪞The mirror neuron is a brain cell that reacts both when performing an action and when observing an action. In other words, your child can react based on what they’re observing from you!

👀Let’s take that mirror concept a step further: if your child is having a difficult time traveling- reactive, moody, agitated- maybe take a look in the mirror! How are you personally handling the stress of a travel day?

💪You have the power to change the dynamic of your family travel by focusing on managing your reactions to the stress of it! Remember, what you’re putting out, your children are likely picking up.

🤩 By displaying radical excitement for our travels and not letting the stress of the day overtake us, we’re mirroring to Maddie that travel is an exciting and good thing!

👋 For those who don’t know us, we’re the McFarlins! We’re a family passionate about traveling with our little one and helping you do the same! Follow along as we explore new destinations and share our best family travel tips!

#travelingwithkids #travelingwithbaby #travelingwithtoddlers #travel #internationaltravel #toddlertraveltips #travelmom #braindevelopment #toddlermom #traveltips #parenting

A travel girly just like her mama 😜🧳

Anyone else’s toddler their mini-me travel buddy? 🤩

✈️ We’re the McFarlins, and this year we made a commitment to travel more as a family! This year has been incredible so far, and we have a huge passion for helping other toddler parents gain the confidence to travel with their toddler!

🧳 We share everything from our favorite destinations to the best travel gear that has stood the test of toddler travel!

➡️ Follow along for more family travel inspiration and tips!

#travel #familytravel #toddler #toddlertravel #toddlertraveltips #toddlertravelhacks #booktheflight #travelmom #braindevelopment #familytravels #familytravelblog #familytravelblogger #internationaltravel #flyingwithkids #flyingwithtoddlers #flyingwithbaby #familyhumor

💃 Don’t let intimidation of traveling with a toddler steal moments like THIS from you!!!

✈️ We’re the McFarlins, and this year we made a commitment to travel more as a family! This year has been incredible so far, and we have a huge passion for helping other toddler parents gain the confidence to travel with their toddler!

🧳 We share everything from our favorite destinations to the best travel gear that has stood the test of toddler travel!

➡️ Send this to your dance partner and follow along for more family travel inspiration and tips!

#travel #familytravel #toddler #toddlertravel #toddlertraveltips #toddlertravelhacks #booktheflight #travelmom #braindevelopment #familytravels #familytravelblog #familytravelblogger #internationaltravel #flyingwithkids #flyingwithtoddlers #flyingwithbaby

✅ Save this for your bucket list Florence trip with your toddler!

🔔 If you arrive for your climb at Giotto’s Bell Tower a little before 11:30 AM, 12:00 PM, or sunset, you can hear the bells ring while IN the Bell Tower!

💪 Coming in at an impressive 414 steps, you’ll need to wear your walking shoes and be prepared to carry your little one up some steep and narrow staircases. But I PROMISE you, it’s worth it!

⚡️There are 3 large landings to rest and enjoy the view from different vantage points, with histoic bells to see (and touch!!!) on each level. Once at the top, the view of the Duomo, the city, and the surrounding Tuscan hills are INCREDIBLE!

➡️ Send this to your favorite family travel buddy!

For those who don’t know us, we’re the McFarlins! We’re a family passionate about traveling with our little one and helping you do the same! Follow along as we explore new destinations and share our best family travel tips!

#travel #familytravel #toddler #toddlertravel #toddlertraveltips #toddlertravelhacks #booktheflight #travelmom #familytravels #familytravelblog #familytravelblogger #internationaltravel #flyingwithkids #flyingwithtoddlers #flyingwithbaby #florenceitaly #italytravel #italywithkids #italywithtoddlers

As a travel-loving mom with a degree in child development, here’s what I mean:

🧠 When your child experiences new things, it creates new neuron connections. New connections = brain growth!

👂Exposure to new languages, people, and places promotes adaptability, empathy, and diversity - values that we’d all love for our kiddos to possess!

⚡️Many parents have reported noticing a jump in their child’s development during or after travel. We experienced this very thing with our one year old in Italy. By our second week, her vocabulary had more than doubled!

So go ahead, book that flight!!! It’s for the kids 😝😉

#travel #familytravel #toddler #toddlertravel #toddlertraveltips #toddlertravelhacks #booktheflight #travelmom #braindevelopment #familytravels #familytravelblog #familytravelblogger #internationaltravel #flyingwithkids #flyingwithtoddlers #flyingwithbaby

👋Hi, we’re the McFarlins and we’re so glad you’re here!!! We’re your new family travel besties!

👨‍👩‍👧At the beginning of this year, we made a commitment to travel more as a family, globally and locally.

🌏We believe that life doesn’t end after having kids, it only gets more fun! The joy that we’ve experienced seeing our one year old see the world is unreal!

📍If you’re wanting to travel with your toddler, this is your place! We’ll share all that we’re learning about traveling with a toddler, as well as our favorite destinations! We have a passion to see families adventure together and we’d be so happy to serve as a source of encouragement and give you our best tips and tricks for family travel!

✈️ Book the flight, bring the littles!!!

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TODDLER-FRIENDLY FAMILY TRAVEL

toddler-friendly destinations, flight and airport tips, and trip reviews on the blog

St. Martin/ St. Maarten with a Toddler Travel Guide

Ultimate Travel Guide: Florence with a Toddler

Travel Guide: Rome with a Toddler

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