Mom & Travel Pro Austin Croteau Reveals Secrets to Fun Family Trips

Traveling with kids can feel like a wild adventure before you’ve even left the driveway. But what if the journey could be just as enjoyable as the destination? With a few easy travel tips from Austin Croteau of @thewingingitmom, turn potential chaos (it happens to all of us!) into a smooth and memorable experience for the whole family. Whether it's a summer road trip or jetting off to a new city, these simple, practical strategies can help you save time and make every moment count—with more time for soaking up the summer fun and precious family moments.

Meet Our Travel Expert: Austin Croteau

Hi, I'm Austin! We are a family of 5 (soon to be 6) that sold everything over two years ago and have been traveling full-time ever since. Most recently, we traveled four months through Southeast Asia, spent two months in a campervan in New Zealand, and spent three months on a Greek island. We are excited to welcome baby boy #4 into our family and don’t intend to slow down anytime soon!

Tips On Traveling With Kids

1.  Accidents Will Happen 

Having quick and easy clothing for our babies during diaper changes on-the-go has been essential while traveling. Let’s be honest, we want to spend the least amount of time bothering with clasps and buttons while trying to change a squirmy baby in a public bathroom. Magnetic Me pajamas make diaper changes a breeze, which leaves less time for messes and more time for traveling and fun.

2.  Add Buffer Time

Always give yourself more time than you think you need. With kids, everything always takes way longer than you think, and the last thing you need while traveling is to be late and miss your flight or an activity. Giving yourself enough time to get anywhere will cause less stress and more enjoyable moments. 

3.  Pack Light & Tight

Over the years, we have learned that you can buy almost anything anywhere. It’s better to pack lighter with less luggage than to overpack and have to schlep all of your things when moving from location to location. Kids don’t need much—try not to pack a lot of toys, kids will find things to play with and keep themselves busy.

4.  Lots O' Snacks

Keep hangry moments at bay with snacks for both kids and adults. Staying out of the “hangry zone” makes traveling more enjoyable for little ones, and having an assortment of snacks ready can stop those mid-trip meltdowns before they start. The best carry-on snacks are TSA-friendly, don't cause a lot of crumbs, and are easy to portion out. Think: meat sticks, dried fruit, nuts, protein or granola bars.