Three Days Away With Our One Year Old

When our daughter turned one, we took a three-hour high-speed train to a county town, stayed for two nights, and held her first birthday celebration there. Apart from the birthday lunch, we kept our plans light.

Looking back, the details that needed the most thought were where she would sleep, what she could eat, when she could nap, and how to manage the journey all the way home after getting off the train.

If you are planning a 3-day trip with a 1-year-old, these are the parts of our experience I would pass on. I have also turned my original packing memo into a one-page printable checklist, linked at the end.

Booking a Hotel With a One Year Old

At that age, our daughter needed a lot of reassurance from me at night. Sleeping on her own in a crib often meant waking suddenly and crying hard, so we contacted the hotel in advance about a room with one large bed and bed rails.

Call before booking and ask the hotel to reserve the specific facilities your baby needs. Even when an item is available, the hotel may only have a few. Asking on arrival can mean finding that everything has already been lent out. Check the room type, whether the equipment is suitable for your child's age, whether it can be reserved, and when it will be ready.

There is an important age limit to mention here. Health Canada advises against placing children under two on beds fitted with portable bed rails because of entrapment risks. For a one-year-old, prioritize an age-appropriate crib or other sleep equipment that meets the applicable safety standards when discussing arrangements with a hotel.

I would also ask about the bathtub. We bathed our daughter in the hotel tub during this trip. If that is part of your plan, check that your particular room has one and ask about cleaning and slip prevention.

Have the washcloth, toiletries and towel within reach before starting, and test the water first. Stay close enough to reach your child throughout the bath. My original memo included a disposable tub liner as an optional item; cleaning, slip prevention and constant supervision are still essential.

Day One Starts With Breakfast at Home

We had breakfast at home before heading to the station. During the three-hour train ride, our daughter slept for about an hour and a half and spent the remaining hour and a half awake and playing.

For train travel with a one-year-old, it helps to think about what you will need when your child wakes up. Keep a familiar toy, diapers, wipes and feeding supplies where you can reach them without unpacking a large suitcase. Every child sleeps differently while traveling, though, so I would not count on half the journey becoming nap time every time.

After arriving, we took a taxi to the hotel and had lunch locally. Then we went back to the room for her afternoon nap. We only went out for a simple stroll in the evening.

Meals and naps deserve their own space on arrival day. Getting to the station, riding the train and settling into an unfamiliar place already take time. I would leave room to rest and decide how much to do in the evening based on how the baby is feeling.

Feeding a One Year Old While Traveling

We looked for restaurants serving some lightly seasoned dishes. When sharing chicken or shrimp with our daughter, I rinsed her portion in clean water, then shredded the chicken or broke the shrimp down into smaller pieces.

Rinsing restaurant food does not guarantee that it is low in sodium. Start by choosing dishes with less salt and sauce. If the kitchen can set aside an unseasoned portion before finishing the dish, that is a helpful option.

Texture and preparation matter too. Chicken should be fully cooked, tender and free of bones or cartilage. Remove shrimp shells and tails, and cut the cooked flesh into small, soft pieces suited to your child's chewing and swallowing abilities. Avoid whole shrimp or large, rubbery pieces. If you are sharing restaurant food, choose ingredients your child has already eaten and tolerated.

When eating out, I avoid fish that needs careful checking for small bones, along with large, hard or difficult-to-manage foods. The concern is bones and unsuitable texture; thoroughly cooked fish with every bone removed and an appropriate texture can also be an option. Have your child sit upright and stay with them while they eat, rather than letting them crawl around with food.

Day Two Leaves Time to Rest Before the Birthday Lunch

The birthday celebration at lunchtime was the main event of our trip. That made leaving time for sleep in the morning especially important.

Breakfast came from the hotel's buffet: sweet potato, purple sweet potato and pumpkin. These can be useful things to look for, but check how they have been prepared. Choose soft, thoroughly cooked portions that are easy to mash, and adapt them to your child's usual eating skills. Avoid large or dry, dense mouthfuls.

After the birthday lunch, we returned to the room for more sleep and play. We had brought toys, so our daughter could sit on the bed and play or crawl around the room.

If you plan to let your baby explore a hotel room, check the areas they can reach first, including small objects, cords, outlets and furniture edges. Stay close while they play on a bed and keep them away from its edges. Clear toys out of their sleep space before naps or bedtime.

The celebration had already filled part of the day. An afternoon back in the room, with time to nap and play, was plenty. On a short trip, there is room for an unhurried afternoon at the hotel.

Day Three Includes the Ride Home After the Train

The return train ride was another three hours. Our daughter slept for roughly half of it. When she woke, I used the insulated temperature-controlled flask we had brought to prepare her milk.

That feed also helped us manage the ride from the station to our home. Feeding her after she woke on the train made it less likely that she would become upset from hunger during that last stretch.

When planning feeding supplies, count the whole journey: leaving the hotel, waiting at the station, taking the train and traveling home after arrival. Pack for the feeds you expect, with some allowance for waiting or traffic.

The flask is simply a way to carry water. Use safe water and clean bottles, and follow the product instructions and local health guidance for preparation. Do not assume that the flask's holding temperature is the correct mixing temperature. Use prepared milk promptly, and discard leftovers after a feed rather than saving them for the next part of the journey.

Packing for a Family Microcation

My original memo grouped things into feeding supplies, everyday care and toiletries, and clothing. It included small items such as a formula dispenser and bottle brush as well as diapers, a changing pad and spare outfits. For two nights away, think about washing bottles and changing clothes at the hotel as well as what you will use on the train.

A family microcation, or short getaway, still involves the familiar routines of feeding, washing and getting ready for sleep. The printable baby packing list for a two-night trip follows those routines, with blank quantity spaces so you can use your own child's daily needs. Medicines and supplements are optional personal items to pack according to an existing care plan or medical advice.

What I would keep from this trip is the practical rhythm: tell the hotel what your baby needs before you arrive, allow time to prepare food, and protect time for sleep. Our three days held a first birthday celebration, train naps, afternoon rests and playtime in the room. That was our pace with a one-year-old.

Download the one-page printable packing checklist for a two-night trip with a one-year-old