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Six tips we wish we had known before our first family holiday with the kids

Writer's picture: Jakob Gaard NielsenJakob Gaard Nielsen
Ah, the first big trip with your little one. You’ve been dreaming about it—relaxing on the beach, exploring a charming town, enjoying long dinners while your baby peacefully sleeps in the stroller.

And then reality hits. Packing feels like a military operation. You spend the flight bouncing a fussy toddler. It takes what feels like hours to get the stroller from odd luggage. And somehow, despite bringing a mountain of stuff, you still don’t have the one thing you actually need.


We’ve been there! As co-founders of Easygoing and parents ourselves, we’ve learned a lot about traveling with kids. If only we knew then what we know now! So, to help other parents avoid our mistakes, here are six tips we wish we had known before our first family holiday with our kids.


Anne’s three tips for the first family holiday


Kid on the beach with beach toys
A watering can is sometimes all it takes for hours of beach fun.
1. Less is more when it comes to toys

Before our first trip, I had visions of my daughter needing every toy she had at home. What if she got bored? What if we needed emergency entertainment at the restaurant, on the beach, at the hotel?

So I packed all her favorite stuffed animals, cars, coloring books, stacking toys… you name it. And guess what? She ignored 90% of it. Instead, she spent hours digging in the sand with a simple bucket and shovel, playing with seashells, and splashing around with an inflatable.

Lesson learned: Kids don’t need a suitcase full of toys. A few simple items - and their imagination - are more than enough!




Kid on the beach in a UV tent.
A UV tent is the ideal shade solution.

2. Shade is a lifesaver

A beach day sounds amazing… until you realize you’re stuck under the scorching sun with a baby who can’t handle the heat.

That’s what happened on our first trip. We didn’t bring any real shade solution, thinking we’d “figure it out.” Spoiler: We did not. We spent most of the day moving towels around to make DIY shade.

Now, I always make sure we have an UV tent, a beach umbrella, or access to proper shade. Happy, cool baby = happy, relaxed parents.






Kid and adult relaxing by the pool.
Take some time to relax by the pool.
3. Happy parents = happy kids

In those early travel days, I was so focused on making everything perfect for my child that I forgot about myself. I wanted to make sure she was entertained, hydrated, fed, sun-protected… but in the process, I forgot to actually enjoy the trip.

One day, I realized: if I’m stressed and exhausted, my child picks up on it. When I started allowing myself to relax - taking breaks, enjoying a coffee, letting go of perfection - the trip became easier for everyone.

So here’s my advice: Make sure YOU enjoy the holiday, too! Take turns watching the kids so you both get a break. Let go of the idea that everything needs to go exactly as planned. And don’t forget to breathe.



Jakob’s three travel lessons


4. Check if your accommodation has a good diaper-changing space

At home, you don’t think much about it - you have a proper changing table, at the right height, with everything within reach. But when traveling? It’s a different story.

On our first trip, we stayed in a lovely little Airbnb… with no proper place to change diapers. We ended up doing every diaper change on a low bed, hunched over at weird angles, five or six times a day. By day three, my back hated me.

Now, I always check in advance: Does the hotel or rental have a good surface for changing diapers? Trust me, your back will thank you. Especially if you, like me, is not in your mid 20s anymore.


5. Research if your destination has fragrance-free diapers

We thought, “diapers are diapers, right? We’ll just buy some when we arrive.”

Wrong.

Turns out, at many destinations, fragrance-free diapers aren’t easy to find. We spent hours hopping between supermarkets, reading labels, sniffing packs (yes, really), and trying to find something we were comfortable using.

Now, we do one of two things:

  • Check in advance whether fragrance-free diapers are available at our destination.

  • Pack enough to last the trip if we’re unsure.

Because no one wants to spend their vacation on an unnecessary diaper hunt.


Dad and kid hiking with kid in a carrier bag.
Jakob and his daughter on a hike. We even got a new friend.
6. A good baby carrier makes exploring easier

I love getting outdoors - on my vacations. I want to go for a hike, walk along the coast, or explore small towns. But when we first traveled with the little one, I quickly realized that strollers are not always practical.

Cobblestone streets? Nope. Beach boardwalks? Meh. Hiking trails? Forget it.

That’s when I discovered the magic of a comfortable child carrier. Not only did it let us explore more freely, but it also became a built-in nap solution. My daughter would doze off while I walked, which meant less nap stress and more adventure time. Win-win.






One final travel hack… rent, don’t pack!


Warning: Easygoing advertisement;-)


Here’s something else we wish we had known earlier: You don’t actually need to bring all your baby gear!

You don’t have to squeeze a stroller, high chair, travel crib, and beach tent into your luggage. Instead, travel somewhere where Easygoing is available, and rent everything you need!

That way, your suitcase stays light, you avoid airport chaos, and you don’t have to choose between bringing baby gear or your own clothes.



What’s one thing YOU wish you had known?


Every parent has that one thing they learned the hard way.

What’s yours? Drop a comment and let us know! 👇





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