There are certain parenting moments that imprint themselves on your soul.
Your baby’s first steps.
Your toddler saying “love you.”
And then…
Your child being violently sick all over you, your partner, the seat, the floor, and everything you’ve ever owned on a coach climbing a windy mountain in Italy.
“Coach transfers with kids aren’t easy — but with the right kit, you go from surviving to actually enjoying the journey.”
Ah yes.
The other core memories. 
Our Italy ski trip the year before taught us one thing:
mountain coach transfers plus baby = chaos potential off the chart.
If you know, you know.
If you don’t know yet — this blog may just save you.
The Italy Incident (AKA: Four Outfit Changes and a Lifetime of Trauma)
Picture this:
A long transfer.
A windy mountain road.
A toddler whose tummy was having none of it.
And two parents desperately trying to contain a situation that had gone from “uh oh” to DEFCON 1 in seconds.
There was sick.
Then more sick.
Then even more sick — the kind that makes you whisper “oh no no no no no” under your breath while smiling politely at strangers who are now avoiding eye contact.
By the end:
- We’d used four outfit changes
- Every wipe we owned
- Three muslins
- A pack of tissues
- A selection of nappy bags
- And somehow still needed more
Also:
There is no smell quite like motion-sick toddler smell on a coach.
No candle can beat it. None.
We arrived at the hotel looking like we’d survived an apocalypse.
Which, in fairness, we had.
We learned. We adapted. We evolved.
Fast forward to our next ski trip — this time to beautiful Zell am See — and we were READY.
Not just ready.
Prepared.
Like mums who have seen things.
Here’s what now travels with us on every coach:
1. Puppy Training Pads
The secret weapon.
Stick one under your toddler… stick one on the seat… stick one on yourself if needed.
They:
- absorb everything
- save clothes
- save dignity
- save the day
Every parent deserves to know this trick.
2. A Retractable Seaside Bucket
Yes — the little silicone ones that squash down flat.
This bucket has:
- saved seats
- saved laps
- acted as an emergency sick container
- doubled as entertainment once everyone was stable again
If there was a Mum Hack Oscars, this would win.
3. A Bib or Waterproof Overall
Because toddlers don’t do “aim.”
They do “everywhere.”
Pop on a long-sleeved bib or a waterproof overall for the journey
4. A ‘Sick Kit’ Within Arm’s Reach
Don’t put it in the suitcase.
Don’t store it overhead.
Don’t bury it under snacks.
It goes RIGHT in the seat pocket or under your feet.
Inside ours:
- Wipes
- Tissues
- Muslins
- Nappy bags
- Spare clothes
- Spare top for me
Because once that coach sets off?
You have approximately 7 seconds to spring into action.
5. Hydration + Bland Snacks
Avoid:
- milk
- heavy meals
- sugar
- fruit pouches right before the coach ← learnt this the hard way
Offer instead:
- water
- crackers
- toast pieces
- plain biscuits
Simple is safe.
Simple is calm.
Simple is blesséd.
6. Window + Fresh Air Strategy
Always choose:
- seats next to each other or if not infront or behind (a child might need their own seat on the couch, babies are usually in arms but with toddlers the drivers will likely want to seat and belt them up, so you might be spread out a little.)
- windows that open a crack
- sitting nearer the front (less motion)
And tell the rep on arrival:
“Motion sick toddler, please”
They’ve seen it all. They get it.
7. Accept It Might Still Happen (And That’s Okay)
Even with the best planning in the world, toddlers are… toddlers.
Motion sickness happens.
Meltdowns happen.
Accidents happen.
Chaos happens.
What matters is:
- you’re prepared
- you’re calm(ish)
- you can clean it
- you can laugh about it later (much later)
And honestly…
there’s something bonding about surviving a coach transfer as a family.
You earn a badge that no one talks about, but every parent quietly knows.
In Zell am See — We Cracked It
This time?
Prepared.
Organised.
Armed with our bucket and puppy pads.
And guess what?
No drama.
No four outfit changes.
No emotional damage.
Just a smooth transfer, a happy toddler, and two parents who felt like absolute pros.
This is growth.
This is maturity.
This is parenting.
