Freedom to Roam: A Child-Wearing Mom's Guide to Traveling with Little Ones

Rocking my Ergobaby 360 at the Acropolis when my children were 10 months and 3 years old, respectively.

Forget everything you've heard about rigid schedules and complicated travel routines. What if I told you that the secret to successful family travel isn't more planning—it's more flexibility? As a mom who's crossed continents with babies strapped to my chest and toddlers who nap wherever we land, I'm here to share a different approach to family adventures.

When my first baby was six weeks old, well-meaning relatives warned me that my traveling days were over. "You'll need to wait until they're older," they said. "Babies need their routine." But something in my mama heart rebelled against the idea of being house-bound for years. So I strapped my little one to my chest, packed light, and hit the road—and I've never looked back.

Two kids and countless adventures later, I've learned that traveling with babies and toddlers doesn't have to mean sacrificing spontaneity or comfort. It just means embracing a different kind of freedom—one that works with your child's natural rhythms instead of against them.

The Baby-Wearing Revolution: Your Ticket to Hands-Free Adventures

Copious stairs? Hoards of tourists? No match for this mama-and-baby duo.

Let me paint you a picture: You're navigating a bustling European market, your baby content against your chest, both of you taking in the sights and sounds together. Your hands are completely free—one reaches for a sample of local cheese while the other snaps a photo of the colorful stalls around you.

You follow an interesting path down a narrow cobblestone alley, your feet navigating the uneven stones with ease. When you spot a stairway leading to what looks like a scenic overlook, you don't hesitate—you simply adjust your carrier and climb, your baby secure against you as you both discover the view waiting at the top.

This is the freedom of baby-wearing: spontaneous exploration without wondering "can we actually get there?" Your child experiences the journey alongside you from the safest, most comfortable spot they know.

Baby-wearing isn't the only way to travel with little ones, but it opens up possibilities that other methods simply can't match. When your little one is snuggled close, they feel secure in new environments. They can see what you see, hear what you hear, and experience the world from the safety of your heartbeat. This isn't just attachment parenting philosophy; it's practical travel magic.

Don't get me wrong—strollers absolutely have their place. They're fantastic for long airport corridors, smooth city sidewalks, and when you need to carry lots of gear. But when you're facing ancient stone steps in Greece, navigating narrow alleys in Morocco, or climbing to Machu Picchu, a carrier becomes invaluable.

Why baby-wearing often works better than strollers for travel:

• Navigate stairs, crowds, cobblestones, and uneven surfaces effortlessly

• Access narrow alleyways and hiking trails where strollers can't go

• Keep your child calm in stimulating environments

• Maintain physical closeness during overwhelming experiences

• Have your hands free for luggage, tickets, and spontaneous moments

• Skip the gate-check hassle at airports (though umbrella strollers can be handy for long terminal walks)

I've worn my babies through airport security, on ancient paths in Peru, through temples in Japan, and across every imaginable terrain. Each carrier becomes your child's portable safe space, making them braver explorers and you a more confident parent—regardless of age.

Choosing the right carrier for travel:

• Structured carriers with good weight distribution for long days (and older children)

• Ring slings for quick ups and downs with lighter children

• Wraps for ultimate versatility and comfort

• Consider climate—mesh panels for hot destinations

• For older children: toddler-rated carriers or hiking backpack carriers that accommodate larger bodies

Carrying Beyond Babyhood: Why Age Limits Are Arbitrary

Sporting our toddler and baby Tula carriers at Machu Picchu, children aged 2 and 5.

Let me address something that often raises eyebrows: carrying older children. Society has some strange ideas about when children should be "independent," but travel reveals how arbitrary these expectations really are. My six-year-old exploring the souks of Marrakech for eight hours straight? That's not realistic for any child, regardless of their typical stamina.

More importantly, for families with children who have disabilities—whether visible or invisible—the assumption that all ambulatory children can walk long distances is not just unrealistic, it's ableist. A child with chronic fatigue, joint hypermobility, autism, or countless other conditions might look "typical" but have very real limitations that would severely restrict family travel without accommodations.

When carrying older children makes perfect sense:

• Long exploration days that exceed any child's natural endurance

• Children with disabilities that affect stamina or sensory processing

• Crowded or overwhelming environments where a child feels safer up high

• Rough terrain that's challenging even for adults

• Cultural sites with extensive walking or standing

The judgmental looks we sometimes get when carrying a preschooler or school-age child reveal more about societal ableism than about our parenting choices. Every family knows their child's needs best, and prioritizing access and inclusion over arbitrary age expectations means more families can travel confidently together.

Practical considerations for carrying older children:

• Invest in carriers designed for higher weight limits

• Hiking backpack carriers work well for longer adventures

• Take turns with partners to distribute the weight

• Plan rest stops and breaks for the carrying adult too

• Remember: tired children have more meltdowns, carried children can push through longer

Ditch the Schedule, Embrace the Flow

Because sailing on a private catamaran is SO much more fun than waiting around in a dark hotel room.

Here's where I'm going to challenge conventional wisdom: strict nap schedules aren't your friend when you're exploring the world. I know, I know—every parenting expert talks about the importance of routine. But what if that routine is actually holding you back from amazing experiences?

My approach? Follow your child's natural sleep cues instead of the clock. Babies and toddlers are remarkably adaptable when we trust their instincts. That afternoon museum visit doesn't have to be ruined because it's "nap time"—it might be the perfect opportunity for a peaceful carrier nap while you explore Renaissance art.

The beauty of flexible sleep:

• See attractions during their quietest hours

• Take advantage of shoulder seasons and off-peak times

• Join local rhythms instead of fighting them

• Reduce stress from racing back for scheduled naps

• Discover that tired children often sleep better in new places

I've watched my children fall asleep while cruising down the Amazon river, nap on my back while we climbed the Eiffel Tower, and sleep soundly through the deafening clang of the Duomo's bells while we were literally inside the belltower. When we stop forcing sleep and start facilitating it naturally, travel becomes infinitely more enjoyable.

Practical Tips for the Freedom-First Approach

Packing Light, Packing Smart

When you're not weighed down by strollers and strict schedules, your packing becomes beautifully simple:

• One good carrier per child

• Versatile clothing that works in multiple climates

• Minimal toys (new places provide endless entertainment)

• Essential comfort items (one small lovey, not an entire bedroom)

• Basic first aid and any necessary medications

Feeding Freedom

Without rigid meal schedules, eating becomes part of the adventure:

• Nurse or bottle-feed on demand without schedule stress

• Let toddlers graze on local foods and familiar snacks

• Use meal times as cultural exploration opportunities

• Don't panic about nutritional balance during short trips

Transportation That Works

• Choose flights during your child's naturally sleepy times

• Book aisle seats for easy movement and feeding privacy

• Consider renting a car for the flexibility it provides (no timetables, just get in the car and go)

Addressing the Concerns

"But what about overtired meltdowns?" Flexible schedules actually prevent more meltdowns than they cause. When you're following natural rhythms instead of arbitrary times, children are often more rested and content.

"Won't this create bad habits at home?" Children are remarkably good at understanding that travel is different from home. Most return to regular routines easily, often with improved adaptability.

"How do you handle night flights?" Night flights become opportunities for extended sleep instead of battles against natural rhythms. A comfortable carrier and your familiar presence often work better than trying to force sleep in an airplane seat.

The Bigger Picture: Raising Confident Travelers

This approach to family travel isn't just about logistics—it's about raising children who see the world as their playground. When kids learn that they can sleep anywhere, eat new foods, and adapt to different situations, they develop confidence that serves them throughout life.

My children, now older, are remarkable travelers. They pack efficiently, adapt quickly to new situations, and approach unfamiliar experiences with excitement rather than anxiety. This didn't happen despite our flexible approach—it happened because of it.

Making Your Own Rules

Every family is different, and what works for one might not work for another. The key is questioning whether conventional travel advice serves your family or limits it. Maybe you don't want to babywear but you're curious about flexible sleep. Take what serves you and leave the rest.

Questions to ask yourself:

• Are our current travel approaches creating stress or joy?

• What would change if we trusted our children's natural rhythms?

• How might simplifying our gear and expectations improve our experience?

• What matters most: following rules or creating memories?

Your Adventure Awaits

The world is full of families who are told they can't travel until their children are older, more scheduled, more predictable. But here's what I've learned: some of the most magical travel experiences happen when we're flexible enough to embrace the unexpected.

Your baby won't remember that time they napped through the Louvre, but they'll carry the confidence of being welcomed everywhere. Your toddler might not recall sleeping between you and your partner in that tiny Roman hotel, but they'll remember feeling safe and loved in far-off places.

Family travel doesn't have to mean compromise—it can mean expansion. When we work with our children's nature instead of against it, when we choose connection over separation, when we embrace flexibility over rigidity, we don't just take better trips. We model a way of being in the world that serves our children long after the vacation photos are tucked away.

Pack light, wear your babies, trust the process, and prepare for adventures that transform not just your Instagram feed, but your entire family's relationship with the world.

The plane tickets are waiting. The carriers are ready. Your child's next nap might just happen while you're watching the sunrise over the Aegean Sea or exploring ancient Incan ruins. Are you ready to rewrite the rules of family travel?