The Ultimate Guide For Traveling With Kids

April 23, 2019

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You might need to be better prepared while traveling with children. Missing out even the simplest thing while traveling with a baby can make the travel turn a nightmare for a parent. No matter if it is your first trip with the child or the tenth, traveling with children always will be intimidating.

Avoid the last minute hustle bustle and have a checklist prepared for a peaceful travel with your kids. Here are some essential tips to avoid the tantrums.

1.Book ahead: Whether you are camping or staying in the hotel, pre-booking just makes it easy and simple. Instead of being a spontaneous traveler with the kids, try having a planned itinerary. It will not only make you lesser worried but also to be assured and retain your cool along with your kid. You should plan to take proper breaks to sleep and rejuvenate instead of getting the kid fussy and cranky without enough rest.

2.Be ahead of time: Always have enough time while traveling with a kid especially if you are to catch a flight. Try to reach early; you can always explore the airport with your kid. However, imagine being late and having to run to the booking counter to drop off the luggage and then to the gate along with the kid! Also take into account the toilet stops for the kid and tantrums which cannot be avoided.

3.Travel early in the day: If possible, try your best to avoid any delays in the landing and takeoffs. The early morning flights are usually less crowded and everyone including the kid wants to sleep off.

4.Give kid a camera: The best way to have a toddler enjoy the travel is to give them a camera on their own (a robust and a child friendly camera). They love clicking pictures and the best part would be to see the knee-high view pictures that they might have leisurely clicked. This keeps the child traveling busy and focused on what keeps their interest and mainly encourages them to observe their surroundings. This is a smart tip for traveling with toddlers..

5.Keep extra set of clothes: While traveling with small children, the most important thing in the checklist should include an extra set of clothes for them. Your baby might have mishaps of wetting while flying in the plain or traveling in a car. It is advisable to keep an extra clothing set handy.

6.Travel light: Always remember to travel light when with your kids. If you travel with big bags and walk around with the toddler, you tend to feel cumbersome and tired in no time. And to add to it, the baggage security along with the kid, makes it worse. Try to put away as much as possible via cargo. Keep only the essentials.

7.Beat the boredom: Try to keep your child engaged by teaching them about the surroundings and asking them to observe. You can ask simple questions about the flight or the advert hoardings etc. Play word association games to keep their attention.

8.Encourage the tot to walk: Your baby is okay if he has to walk half a mile extra for a day. Encourage them to walk besides or ahead of you so that you keep an eye on them. Also for security at the airport, let them be independent and learn. Guide them at every step so that they are not scared. Give clear instructions to wait when you have to gather your belongings from the other side of security.

9. Book wisely: If you have a plan to book a hotel to stay, take your time to know about it and the facilities that they offer. If there are a lot of steps in your resort, or if the room is on a steep hill you will end up with the worst start to your vacation pushing the stroller and the baby.

10.Emergency contact: Understand that your toddler might not have a mobile phone with them, but it will be sensible to have a paper with your contact in their pockets. Let them know if they are lost, to call you back via someone. Also you can invest a GPS tracking device and attach it to their wrist or bag and track it via an app on your phone.

11.Baby carriage vs strollers: Baby carriers are cumbersome, specially such places where there aren’t pavements to walk or roads full of potholes. A light stroller will be the best and safest way to carry as they are light enough to fold and hold whole not needed.

12.Dress up according to the weather: It is important to keep a check on the weather forecast and be prepared with the necessities for your baby. If it is predicted to rain, have an umbrella along with raincoat and also a pair of extra socks for the baby in case they wet their feet. A pull over and a scarf/ muffler will do good in such windy weather.

13.Car seat: Parents usually have a notion that it is just for sometime that the baby needs a car seat and might avoid using it. But, it is the safes thing for your child in the car. It is absolutely worth investing in a car seat for your kid so that you can travel carefree.

14.Ask for assistance: It is absolutely okay to check with airlines to provide assistance to you while traveling when need be. We are sure you can do it all by yourself, however, the services are just an extra hand to help you.

15.Tune out tears: There may come a point when no activity will ease out your kid’s crankiness. But how to deal with it? Know if your kid is hungry or wet, if not then let yourself be assured that the kid is just fine and safe, and will fall asleep eventually.

16.Beware of germs: Maintaining hygiene when in any public place is a must. Carry the wipes and keep your kids off the dirty places. Use sanitizer when required to clean their hands and toys.

17.Seat kids away from the aisle: It could be dangerous for the kid to sit at the aisle as there are people always walking along with the flight attendant carrying the good and beverage cart which could hurt the kid if it reaches for it.

18.Tablet/ Phone: Have some interesting videos or kid’s favorite cartoon loaded in the phone/ tablet for your toddler to keep them busy

19.Water and food supplies: They love to nibble something in every few intervals, keep a snack handy for them along with water.

20.Prepare for air pressure: Traveling can be stressful for the kids in their initial years. Get them prepared by telling what happens when you take off and land. Cover the kid’s ears with cotton balls or ear plugs to secure from the pressure.

21.Skip laces: Avoid lacy shoes and opt for a slip-on. This makes your task easier in the airport an also while in the flight or screening in the security area.

22.Public transport: When traveling with toddlers, travel via public transport where possible (train, bus instead of private cabs). Teach them the travel related things and enjoy the trip. If your baby is too cranky and very young, prefer private cabs as that helps the kid to be off the crowded zone which could cause discomfort to them.

23. First aid/ Medicines: Whether they are in or out of routine, jet-lagged or just tired, kids always seem to get ill on a holiday. Keep some basic medicines handy like (antiseptic, plasters, thermometer, fever tabs, anti vomit tabs etc. )

24.Keep calm: At the end, keep calm and relax. Things will fall in place and seek for help when required.