You can see the look of horror on passengers’ faces as you make your way up the aisle with a baby or kids in tow. But parents deserve a break too, and sometimes travel with children or babies is unavoidable. And hard work. So here are some parent-tested tips for travelling with kids:
Before you travel
Family-friendly destinations are normally winners, even if they may seem unadventurous. Never underestimate the appeal of the beach for children, but ensure they are aware of the dangers of water. Look for hotels that let children stay free of charge in their parents’ rooms and offer free meals for children or include buffet breakfasts in the room price. Enquire about babysitting services, crèches, kids’ clubs and other facilities for children.
Be flexible and keep your itinerary simple – be realistic about the amount and type of sightseeing you can do with children in tow. Book direct flights. Travel at night so children can sleep through the flight.
Try to get bulkhead seats on the plane.
During the flight
Many airlines will provide special kids meals (or bring them to you early) as well as kids packs with toys and activities to keep them entertained for some of the flight. Bring plenty of snacks and water for the flight as children can get dehydrated and toddlers will not always wait for mealtimes. Pack bananas, raisins, rice cakes, biscuits, juice and dried fruit. Lollies and dummies can help prevent ears popping during take off and landing. Bring along baby wipes for spillages, plenty of nappies and extra bibs and a change of clothes in case they get motion sickness.
If you are driving, allow a regular stops to give children the opportunity to stretch and run around. Make sure you bring toys, blankets, and other familiar items like their favourite teddy to make your child feel secure. Take some resealable plastic bags – they’re great for messy items like bibs, nappies, wet bathers or seashells.
Safe and happy family holidays
Don’t overdo your itinerary and limit yourself to one major activity a day. Take a basic childproofing kit to use at your destination and check out safety of the room or apartment on arrival. If you are renting a car, check on availability of child car seats and book ahead as they can be rare or non-existent in many countries. Take removable window shades for the back seat, hats, sunscreen and if you can fit them, blankets and pillows for napping. Don’t forget medicated cream for little cuts and scrapes, band-aids and after-sun cream for mild sunburn.
There will be times you’ll need to keep them entertained. Take along a goody bag with plenty of toys, snacks and drinks and remember to include a few comfort toys such as favourite teddy, games or book. If you can carry them, take a few puzzles, dolls, drawing paper, non-toxic crayons and audio books. Babies will also need a few distractions, as well as teething rings and dummies.
Don’t break the budget
Family holidays can become seriously expensive, so it’s important to make sure you get a good deal on everything from flights to accommodation. Check our hot travel deals – especially the holiday section – to find the best offers available from a range of travel agents and airlines, as selected by our travel experts.
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Featured image by tienvijftien
