Important Tips if You Plan to Travel with Kids
Once your children are born, you get this sense like it’s the completion of the vacation time in your life. Or that the vacation is going on for a longer time because caring for a little kid is not a stress-free task. I know the feeling. On the other hand though, you can totally relax and plan a trip with your little, because traveling with a kiddo is not as problematic as you might imagine. It’s just something that can easily be built up in your head. All you need to do is make the accurate preparations and plan in advance to make sure an entertaining and stress-free trip with your child(ren) and other family members.
As a mama who travels quite a bit by herself with her girls, I can speak first hand to how important some of these things are in ensuring the trip goes smoothly.
Important Tips if You Plan to Travel with Kids
Here are some useful tips for traveling to help you plan for smart travel with your kids and have a carefree vacation. Whether you’re flying across the country or going on one of your yearly road trips to a national park, these tips will come in handy for all types of family travel. From infants to older children.
1) ALWAYS MAKE YOUR PLANS AND RESERVATIONS WELL AHEAD OF
TIME
It is necessary to plan well in advance and have your travel and hotel room or other accommodation reservation confirmed before embarking on your trip when traveling with an infant. This will, of course, allow you to reduce your stress and feel reassured when you start your journey. Especially with your little baby. Plan your route considering your baby’s schedule, such as their nap, playtime, etc. If you’re traveling on a plane, remember that you can totally bring your child’s car seat which makes for easier travel. Don’t forget you can check strollers as well. More on being a responsible traveler, here.
2) CHOOSE THE IDEAL DESTINATIONS FOR KIDS
When planning to travel with a kid, look for places like a beach retreat, family-friendly and scenic resorts, or other similar kid-friendly places. Avoid crowded and noisy tourist destinations, as these present a challenge when you have a little kid lying around. A calm and peaceful environment helps soothe babies. If you want to do something with your kiddos that may not be as acceptable for them, maybe take them to the place after they have had a nap or when their moods or ages are appropriate for the surroundings.
3) TAKE CARE TO FEED YOUR LITTLE CHILD AT THE TIME OF LANDING
AND TAKE-OFF
If you are planning to travel with your kids, here is an important tip you require to follow to keep your little one’s jaws functioning and their ears to modify altitude during the flight. It will also help keep him calm and comfortable moderately than irritable, short-tempered, and distressed at the time of take-off and landing. Always packs snacks, but if you forget, you can ask the flight attendant for a list of children’s snacks.
4) BE ADAPTABLE IN YOUR SCHEDULES
While planning well is imperative, you are still not aware of how your kid will adjust to their different surroundings on your trip. Even older kids. You may therefore need to modify your schedules to take into account your kid’s new schedule. Your child might be bored sitting for longer periods. So keep your route simple. Make your plans adaptable, so it’s much simpler to make last-minute alterations if your kid is tired. This goes right along with tip #2 in that if you want to go somewhere on your agenda, be flexible that maybe your time will be cut short. Or you may have to switch days in attending.
5) SWITCH TO YOUR CHILD’S ROUTINE
Kids get bad-tempered when open to their new surroundings. So be sure to respect your little one’s routine. Assume your child is used to taking a bath, being rocked by a soft cradle song, and cuddling in a bottle. Never diverge from this routine. This will assist her/him in calm down and feel more comfortable. Be mindful if you are switching time zones when traveling and if you will be experiencing jet lag. Adults tend to be able to handle their emotions and tempers when tired better than kids. And time zones play a big part in this around times of sleep. If you are traveling to a place which is 3 hours different than your home time, make reservations earlier or later in the day to accommodate the schedule of your child, not only your own.
6) BRING SOME OF THEIR FAVORITE TOYS AND ALSO BRING SOME NEW ONES
Small kids may feel that they are far from their familiar surroundings. And become quite irritable to new atmospheres while traveling. Carrying a few of their desired toys is a great support to help them adjust to their new surroundings. And certainly has a soothing effect on them. It would also be an excellent indication to go shopping for some new and innovative toys that your child has not played with until now.
Storing them up for your trip is a great idea. As a different toy will automatically grab your child’s attention and keep them occupied for a while until the novelty wears off. One of my favorite places to grab new items for travel is the Target dollar section. It’s super easy to stock up on new items they can use when traveling. And I don’t mind if we lose an item or two. So when you’re making your packing lists, especially when traveling with children, make snacks and toys a priority. As well as a first aid kit for emergencies. More travel must-haves, here.
7) LET YOUR CHILDREN KNOW THE IMPORTANCE OF SAFETY DURING TRAVEL
This tip is more for older children than infants, but still important to note. During travel, your children should know the importance of safety during travel. So, its a good idea to have a talk with your children and lay down some travel ground rules. These might include checking in often, staying close to family, avoiding wandering off, letting you know when they need to use the bathroom, when they’re hungry, and so on. This is not something meant to scare your children, but more to educate them on the danger of large crowds and new places, and the importance of keeping everyone safe, sound, and stress-free.
8) KEEP AN EYE ON YOUR KIDDOS
As a parent, I don’t have to tell you how important it is to keep an eye on your kiddos throughout your vacation. No matter how good of a parent you are, children can easily get lost in busy airports, crowded amusement parks, and hustling and bustling tourist destinations. So, here are a few tips to help you keeps your kids close.
First, dress your child in easily identifiable clothing. In a color you can remember. This will help you quickly find your child in a crowd. If both parents are present, designate times in which that parent is responsible. This way the other parent can take breaks here and there. Never leave your child unattended. Always make sure they are with a family member, especially if you step away for the restroom. If no one else is around, take your child to the restroom with you. Designate check-in times with older children throughout the day. And also, take a photo of your child(ren) each morning. This way, just in case your child does wander off, you can easily show authorities what your child looks like, and what they were wearing.
9) LISTEN TO YOUR CHILDREN
Throughout your vacation, remember to check-in with your children on an emotional level. Being away from home and possibly out of normal routine can be stressful on children. Even if you are having a wonderful family vacation, it could be taking a toll on your children.
Check-in, make sure all their needs are met, and ensure your children are doing ok. Take some time to reflect on the activities you are doing and ensure your child is getting plenty of fun and excitement out of the vacation. Even if you feel like they won’t remember the vacation because they are too young, its still important to ensure they are having a good, stress-free time. When your children get what they need during vacation, they will be much more likely to enjoy travel and exploring new cultures in the future. They are also much more likely have a more positive outlook on life.
Share your travel tips below!
Do you have any tips to share about traveling with children? As a couple? Or even as a solo traveler? Drop them below! For more on all things travel and living your best life, check out the blog.
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