Leaving little footprints: Mums can travel sustainably too

Traveling with kids feels like packing up your entire home and hoping for the best. There’s the careful selection of outfits, the inevitable “just in case” extras, and the mental gymnastics of predicting every possible scenario — from sudden hunger strikes to lost favourite toys. Throw sustainability into the mix, and the questions multiply. Will I find fresh, local food, or will convenience win with a hastily grabbed plastic-wrapped snack at the airport?

The truth is, it’s not about perfection — it’s about intention. A well-chosen refillable water bottle, a thoughtfully packed carry-on, a preference for boutique stays over high-rise hotels. Small, mindful choices, made with ease rather than stress, create a journey that’s lighter on the planet and richer in experience. And, in the end, isn’t that what sustainable travel is all about?

Here’s how to make eco-friendly travel with kids effortless:

1. Packing light, packing right

Every extra item in a suitcase feels necessary — until it’s lugged through a crowded train station with a sleepy child in tow. A capsule wardrobe in breathable, natural fabrics keeps packing to a minimal while ensuring comfort. Neutral colours and layering pieces mean fewer clothes that work for more situations.

Swapping disposables for reusables — a water bottle, snack containers, and cloth napkins — helps cut down on waste. Solid shampoo bars and refillable skincare keep toiletries light and plastic-free, while a few thoughtfully chosen toys (a notebook, beeswax crayons, or a soft scarf that doubles as a peekaboo cloth) prevent last-minute plastic purchases.

2. Choosing greener ways to get there

Not all modes of transport are created equal. While flights are often unavoidable for long distances, choosing direct routes instead of multiple layovers helps reduce emissions. Trains and buses, where possible, provide a lower-carbon alternative while offering a slower, more immersive way to experience a new place. There’s something special about watching the scenery change outside a train window or letting children stretch their legs between stops — experiences that planes rarely offer.

3. Staying somewhere that cares

Where you stay can be as important as how you get there. Choosing accommodations that prioritise sustainability, whether a boutique eco-lodge or a family-run homestay, ensures that your presence supports local communities rather than mass tourism. Many independent stays integrate eco-friendly practices naturally — offering filtered water instead of plastic bottles, using locally sourced ingredients, and reducing unnecessary waste.

Even in larger hotels, small choices matter. Opting out of daily housekeeping conserves water and energy, while bringing your own toiletries eliminates the need for single-use plastic bottles.

4. Eating well, eating local

Few things tell the story of a place better than its food. Choosing family-run restaurants, fresh markets, and locally sourced meals makes travel feel richer while cutting down on processed, imported ingredients. A simple meal of fresh bread, local cheese, and seasonal fruit from a market can be far more memorable than a fast-food stop.

For kids, having a few reliable snack options — fruit, roasted nuts, homemade oat bars — helps avoid the need for ultra-processed, individually wrapped treats. Packing a small, reusable container allows for leftovers to be saved instead of wasted.

5. Leaving only footprints, taking only memories

Travel teaches a child what no book can. The warmth of a new language, the patience of slow discovery, the art of being a guest. Sustainable travel is, at its heart, about respect —  for the land, for the people who call it home, and for the generations that will follow.

Sometimes, the best souvenirs are not objects but stories. A pressed flower tucked into a journal, a handwritten postcard, the sound of unfamiliar birds at dawn. A child, given these experiences, learns that happiness does not come from things but from moments.

And in the end, that may be the greatest lesson of all.