Two weeks at the beach… bliss, right? Although if you have children in tow, the prospect of going away can seem more overwhelming than relaxing. Every aspect is riddled with potential pitfalls, from mid-flight meltdowns to how many diapers to pack. But with the right preparation and expectations, you can have a (relatively) stress-free family vacation, and enjoy it too! So, whether you’re taking to the skies or hitting the road, just follow our top tips on how to travel with kids.
Add Extra Time
When traveling with a young family, everything will take longer than you expect, so factor in extra time at every stage. Unexpected tantrums, bathroom trips, and general dawdling will add precious minutes and stress you out if you’re running late! So rather than miss a flight, allow plenty of time to get to the airport and between connections. If you have lots of time to spare, head to the play area and the kids can use up any extra energy on the ground rather than 30,000 feet up.
Pack Light
It’s tempting to pack everything your kids use at home, just in case! But carrying around mountains of heavy luggage will add extra hassle, and isn’t always necessary. Wherever you’re going, though you may not be able to find the same brands, you’ll find department stores that sell children’s items. It’s also worth checking if you can rent bulky children’s items, like high chairs or car seats, from your hotel or a local rental place rather than bringing your own.
Plan Your Carry On
That said, you shouldn’t scrimp on the carry-on bag. If you’re traveling with a baby or toddler who isn’t potty-trained yet, always bring more diapers, pull-ups, and wipes than you ever think you’ll need, even for short journeys. If you have too many, it’s no big deal, but running out en route could be disastrous. Also, pack extra baby clothing (and even spares for you!), plus zipped plastic bags for dirty items, in case of any messy moments.
Consider Accommodation
Before you book, think about what type of accommodation will suit you. A hotel can have perks such as babysitting services or children’s entertainment. Whereas, a rental often offers more space and the option to prepare your own meals, which is easier if your kids are picky or have allergies. Often it depends on the age of your offspring – resorts with kids’ clubs let older children socialize, but will be wasted on babies or toddlers.
Strategize Flight Times
Your budget may dictate what time you fly, but if the prices are similar, try to pick the times that fit best with nap and bedtime schedules. For longer flights, it may work well to take an overnight flight that aligns with bedtime. But if your children are bad sleepers, a daytime flight may suit you better. If you can’t find times that fit, give the kids plenty of rest before or after your trip, or try to adjust their schedules, by an hour or two, for a week or so in advance.
Talk Through It
For first-time travelers, a new journey and destination can be overwhelming, but also exciting! Try to talk through what is going to happen, and why, with your child long before you set off, so they can understand and look forward to it. You could explain more about where you are going, the airport X-ray machine, or seatbelts on the plane. You can even use props, such as maps, toy transport, and storybooks to help you show the more unfamiliar aspects of travel.
Sort Any Paperwork
As soon as you start planning a long haul vacation, research what visas, vaccinations, and other documents you need for traveling there with children. For most destinations, a simple passport will do, but for others, you may need to present original birth certificates or other paperwork. Researching this is especially important if you’re going without the other parent or children who are not your own. Keep everything safe in passport covers and waterproof folders.
Keep Them Entertained
When you’re traveling with kids, keeping them entertained is crucial! So pack plenty of toys and activities like jigsaw puzzles, stories, coloring books, and games. If you can, take a couple of new things for novelty value, along with much-loved items for comfort and guaranteed smiles. Even if you restrict screen time at home, you may want to bend the rules a bit on a big trip, so make sure any apps, shows, and movies are downloaded and the iPad battery is charged!
Pack Snacks!
Even adults can be picky about airline food, so don’t be surprised if your children are less than impressed by what’s on offer. On vacation, you also never know when the time between meals will get extended. It could be a delayed flight, unexpected traffic, or your go-to restaurant. being booked out. Whatever happens, you don’t want ‘hangry’ kids, so pack snacks for any journey or outing. Keep it healthy, but a few treats can be used as bribes, too!
Label Them
Even the most vigilant parent can lose track of children. So just in case one wanders off, make sure they have your contact information. Write your details on a note and pop it in their pocket, stick an iron-on label to their jacket, or even scribble on their arm in a Sharpie. For older children, help them memorize your number and vacation address and add it into their phone. It’s also a good idea to pick a meeting place where you can find each other.
Get Them Involved
If your kids are old enough, why not get them to pack their own backpacks or mini suitcases. Giving them some responsibility will be fun and make them feel more independent. Just make sure to check what they put inside, in case it’s an entire dinosaur collection! Other ideas include giving them their own camera, or a travel journal to record their adventures. To keep older children engaged, ask them for their own ideas, rather than just dragging them to what you want to do!
Accept It, Things Will Go Wrong
However organized you are, on a vacation with kids, something will go wrong, and there’s nothing you can do about it. Maybe your little one is sick and you miss the bus, the best restaurant has closed down, or they lose their favorite toy. You might find it useful to write down potential situations beforehand, and plan how you would cope. Or if you would rather deal with it when it happens, just take a deep breath and know it’s going to be okay!
The biggest tip we can give for traveling with kids is to stop putting it off and get out there and travel. The memories of the good times, rather than the minor dramas, are the ones that you will all remember forever. Happy vacationing!
Matilda is Marketing Manager in the International Team, bringing Zazzle to customers everywhere from Sydney to Stockholm.
