Whether you’re going out on a day trip or spending a long stretch far from home, it can be useful to spend a bit of time planning your travels if little ones are joining the adventure!
Sharing your travels with the whole family can be a great joy and provides an opportunity to make some wonderful memories. It isn’t difficult to travel with small children when you engage in a little preparation.
Hopefully, these tips will make your next family outing or holiday run that little bit smoother!
Leave Plenty of Time
As many parents will know, things can turn into chaos at the drop of a hat. This is why it’s important to leave plenty of time between your departure from the house and your expected arrival time. This could apply to whether you’re just taking a trip down the road or if you’re taking a flight.
For very young children, you’ll want to load up the pram with everything they’ll need, and this can often take more time than you think! You don’t want to be rushing around looking for bottles at the last minute.
Being organised and managing your time well will help ensure that you set a tone of relaxation and comfort for the rest of the trip. You don’t want to kick off your holidays with stress and worry!
Don’t Forget the Snacks
An enjoyable day out can quickly turn on its head when little stomachs start to grumble! To avoid cranky little ones, make sure to bring plenty of snacks for the journey and scope out the food options available at your destination.
To satisfy children of the weaning age, bring plenty of weaning finger foods that they can easily munch on throughout the day or journey.
You could make some pre-prepared homemade snacks for an extra sense of fun and occasion or opt for ready-to-go packets for convenience; just be sure to bring along something that everyone likes!
Don’t forget to bring some food for yourself; crankiness from hunger doesn’t just affect little ones!
Entertainment for the Journey
To make sure the car or plane journey isn’t miserable for all, pack a range of entertainment to keep everyone happy.
For very young children, this might be their favourite stuffed animal or new toy, but if you’re lucky they’ll sleep for the majority of the journey!
For slightly older children, entertainment might include devices like tablets or phones. Make sure these are fully charged and loaded with films or games before you set out.
Safety Measures
During your travels with small children, unexpected health issues can occur. That’s why having a medical alert necklace can be beneficial. It’s a wearable device that allows immediate access to necessary medical information, which could be crucial during health emergencies. With this alert system, you can feel more at ease when traveling, knowing that safety measures are in place.
Pre-Book
If you are planning a day of activities, it can be really helpful to pre-book where possible. This will make checking-in much easier as you won’t be waiting around to collect tickets. Children are not exactly known for their patience, so the more boring admin stuff you do ahead of time, the better!
Pre-booking also applies to accommodation; you might be able to get away with turning up at your lodgings on the day if you were travelling alone, but travelling with a family is a different story. Booking ahead will mean you are more likely to have access to the room size and amenities you’ll need when children are accompanying you.
Look Out for Child Discounts
Many attractions and restaurants will offer discounts for children which can be really handy when you’re trying to pack in the activities. Even when there is no mention of a child discount, ask just in case as you’ll be surprised by how many pennies you could save.
Expect Some Mishaps
Children and babies can be unpredictable, and sometimes you won’t be able to foresee what will prompt a tantrum! Expect for things to go slightly wrong and try to adopt a lenient attitude for yourself and the kids.
If you take care to plan and pack the necessary items, you will be prepared for any unexpected things that might come up!
*This post is in collaboration with Babese. Babease are here to support parents through the weaning journey with their veg-led organic baby pouches and expert nutritional advice.
