Roman (now 2!) is going back to Mallorca for the sixth time soon. He has been to that island more times than he’s been to my mum’s house, which either makes me an excellent travel mum or means my mum needs to step up her hosting game (both, probably, but she does live in France!).
But this trip is different – because this is the first time we’re going as a family of four, eeek!
Romans now in true wild child toddler mode – and Reggie’s two months old, which means he’s at the stage where he’s basically a very small, very portable potato who just needs feeding, winding, and somewhere shady to lie and stare at the world in mild confusion. They definitely lure you into a false sense of parenthood at this newborn stage don’t they?!
Anyway this isn’t a complete guide, because I’ve written that one already (you can read it here if you want it!). This is the stuff we actually go back to, every single time, the things which work with a toddler AND will with a newborn.
Palma Aquarium With a Toddler (and a Newborn)
We’ve been to Palma Aquarium twice now with Roman and yes, I’m sure we’ll be going a third time. Cloudy day fun usually.
Here’s why it works so well: it’s air-conditioned, it’s dark enough in places that Reggie will just sleep through it in the carrier, and it’s stimulating enough that Roman forgets he’s tired for a solid ninety minutes, which, if you’ve ever tried to keep a toddler upright and pleasant past nap time, you’ll know is basically a miracle.
Good to know: it’s fully pram-accessible, there’s a café inside if you need a feed-and-regroup moment, and it’s an easy one to build a whole rainy or scorching-hot morning around.
Puerto Portals with a Pram: BOAAATS
I’ll be honest, I used to roll my eyes a bit at Puerto Portals. All those yachts, all that “we have a boat and you don’t” energy. But having a toddler and a newborn at the same time… you stop caring about vibes and you start caring entirely about is the ground flat.
And the ground at Puerto Portals is flat. Beautifully flat. This is the first trip we’re taking the UPPAbaby Minu Duo, and I have never been more excited about a travel stroller in my life.
Side by side, both kids strapped in, actually manageable through a marina instead of me white-knuckling a single buggy while wearing a baby and dragging a toddler by the wrist. Roman might want to push, obviously, which mostly means steering us gently towards every ice cream sign – fine by me.
This is the bit of the holiday where I actually feel like I’m on holiday, if that makes sense. No kids vibes – just Roman shouting BOAAAT. BOOOAT. Let’s just hope he doesn’t end up IN the marina.
Curious about our stroller set-up? Here’s why we chose the UPPAbaby Minu Duo for travelling with a newborn and a toddler.
The Sóller Train with a Toddler
We’ve said it before and I’ll say it again — the train from Palma to Sóller genuinely is one of the best things we do in Mallorca with a toddler. Plus it’s great for both adults and little ones.
It’s old, it’s wooden, it clatters a bit, and it’s exactly the sort of gentle, scenic chaos that suits this stage of parenting: one kid who wants to see everything, one kid who just wants to be warm and fed and held.
Just the train, a wander round Sóller, probably an ice cream that costs more than it should because we’re on holiday, a sandy hour of water chaos at the beach plus multiple clothing changes.
Best Beaches Near Andratx for a Toddler
We’re not chasing new beaches this trip — the same handful work every time, and here’s exactly why:
- Camp de Mar — still the one for paddling. Shallow, calm, practically built for a toddler, with a small island you can wade out to at low tide. Reggie will just be along for the shade and the vibes, probably asleep in the carrier while Roman narrates every wave. There’s a proper promenade with restaurants right behind the sand, so no trekking back to the car for snacks.
- Sant Elm — a bit further along, quieter, with a good view of Sa Dragonera island and calm water most days. Good if Camp de Mar is busy and you want somewhere with less pram traffic.
- Puerto Andratx itself — not really a beach day, but a lovely flat harbourside wander if you’ve got a sleepy baby and want somewhere pretty to push the pram for half an hour before lunch.
Toddler beach tip that’s saved us every trip: a pop-up shade tent, non-negotiable, plus swim nappies (regular ones turn into a disaster the second they get wet).
And we’re not leaving without pizza from Annabel’s on the beach — sandy feet and Roman inhaling a margherita like he hasn’t eaten in days despite the lays twenty minutes ago. It’s not a proper Mallorca trip until we’ve done that at least twice.
Best Time to Visit Mallorca With a Baby and Toddler
Last time we went was May (eight months pregnant, with a toddler in tow!). This time we’ve gone for September, which I genuinely think is the best time for Mallorca with little ones:
- The sea’s still warm from a whole summer of sun
- The crowds have thinned out — no fighting for sunbeds or restaurant tables
- It’s not scorching heat that makes you dread walking anywhere with kids
Nobody’s melting. Nobody’s obsessing over suncream. It’s just… pleasant. A word I don’t get to use often when travelling with kids.
What We Pack for Mallorca With a Newborn and a Toddler
The essentials that come with us every single trip, toddler-and-newborn edition:
- Pop-up beach shade tent (see above — genuinely non-negotiable)
- Swim nappies!!!
- The UPPAbaby Minu Duo for anywhere with flat ground (marinas, promenades, the airport)
- A carrier for Reggie for anywhere the pram can’t go
- Snacks. So many snacks.
- A full change of clothes each, kept within arm’s reach at all times
Want the full list? Grab my free baby packing checklist here.
FAQ: Mallorca With a Baby and Toddler
Is Mallorca good for a holiday with a newborn and a toddler at the same time? Yes — this will be our sixth trip as a family. The short flight, the calm beaches, and having a routine we already know (same beach, same restaurants, same train) makes it genuinely manageable even with a two-month-old in tow.
What’s the best area of Mallorca for families who want somewhere less touristy? We always head to the Andratx side of the island — quieter, more Spanish, and away from the bigger resort strips, but still close enough to Puerto Portals and Palma for a day out when you want one.
Is September a good time to visit Mallorca with kids? It’s our favourite window. The sea’s still warm, the crowds have dropped off, and it’s not the kind of heat that makes every outing with kids a battle.
Do you need a car in Mallorca with a baby and toddler? For the Andratx area, yes — it gives you access to the quieter beaches and lets you move at nap-time pace instead of relying on taxis or buses.
Is Palma Aquarium worth it with a baby and a toddler? Completely — it’s air-conditioned, dim enough in places for a newborn to nap in the carrier, and engaging enough to buy you a good ninety minutes past your toddler’s usual nap-time meltdown window.
Is the Sóller train doable with a pram? It’s better with a carrier for the train itself, but a compact travel pram works fine for the wander around Sóller town and the beach afterwards.
Six trips in, and honestly? I now love how much we repeat ourselves here. Same beach, same pizza, same train, same ridiculous amount of stuff in the pram – because it works, and because watching Roman show his little brother the ropes on a beach he already knows better than his own back garden is kind of the whole point! We don’t come here to tick things off. We come here because it’s ours.
Got questions about flying with a baby and a toddler at the same time? Grab my parent travel guide here – built for exactly this stage.
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