How To Travel With Children?

How to travel with children? Almost no one is surprised that today’s children travel to many different parts of the world. During and immediately after travel parents often notice developmental jumps in their children. This is due to the need to adjust to new conditions, climate, language or cultural characteristics of a particular country. Just consider that traveling with a young child requires careful preparation. It helps to avoid troubles that may happen on the road with a young tourist. In our article we will help you find answers to questions related to the organization of a family trip.

Planning

When choosing a place for a vacation with a child, you need to consider several factors: seasonality, popularity of the hotel, sanitary and epidemiological requirements for visitors, accessibility of transportation and entertainment for children. Do you prefer to swim in the sea or rest in the mountains? Do you intend to stay in a well-developed city, or in a hotel far from the city? How would you like to get to your holiday destination? Do you prefer a “lazy” vacation (if that can be called a vacation with children) or do you want to actively explore the area?

Transport

The choice of mode of transportation is the first thing to consider when planning a trip with a child. It is better to give preference to transportation in which the child can sleep, rest and eat in peace. Trains, sea liners and airplanes are preferred in this regard.

1. Travel by car
   If you plan to travel in a family car, it should be equipped with a reliable car seat, climate control and a spacious interior. You should choose routes on quiet highways that have rest areas, gas stations, and restrooms along them. This way, both parents and children have a chance to get out of the car, stretch their legs, and relax after a bumpy ride.

Traveling by car or water transport is not the best option for children with seasickness, who constantly get seasick on the road. Otherwise, the child will either sleep the whole way, or will be constantly under the influence of antiemetics. Such a trip is unlikely to be enjoyable.

2. Air travel
   It is better to travel between distant countries by plane. Firstly, it takes much less time to travel. Secondly, in the cabin you can distract your child with sleep, watching a cartoon or playing games on a tablet. Parents who are afraid to fly on an airplane, it is better not to show anxiety, as children react more strongly to their fear.
3. Train travel
   Trains are best for traveling with infants and toddlers. Although a child over the age of 3 will also find it much more interesting to travel to the pounding of the train wheels. During the trip, he will be able to comfortably sleep, rest, draw or get to know other passengers.
4. Cruise
   Sailing in itself is already an adventure. And if it is also combined with land routes, it will be a very rich with impressions vacation. Choose voyages that provide entertainment for the child, such as water parks, rides, children’s pools, and children’s clubs that are suitable for your child’s age.

Lodging

Tourists mainly have two options to choose from – all-inclusive hotel or apartments. It is also possible to rent an apartment or house with services of varying degrees. If you are not planning to eat exclusively in restaurants, then it looks more favorable to choose an all-inclusive hotel. In addition, if you rent an apartment on your own, you should be prepared for the fact that it is not serviced by several people. And in the case of disagreements with the owner of the housing the burden of finding a new location falls on your shoulders.

Nutrition

At the hotel with three meals a day, there is one undeniable advantage – you do not need to plan in advance what food, where and at what price you will buy. You’ve already paid for it before you start your trip. If breakfast or other meals are not included, try to find out in advance where you can buy food or eat. Optimally, if a children’s menu is provided with food that the child is used to.

What do we take with us?

When going on a trip, you should first gather a package of documents (birth certificate, passport, medical policy), water, milk formula for infants or a snack for an older child. In addition, you may need:

• A breast pump, sterilizer and bottle bag;
• Breastmilk containers;
• Car seat;
• Seat covers;
• Handkerchiefs, diapers, and wet wipes;
• Travel potty;
• Insect repellent;
• Sunscreen cosmetics;
• A spare set of clothes;
• Sealed bags for dirty laundry;
• Umbrella;
• Toys, gadgets, books, coloring books.

Pack a first aid kit for the trip

When traveling with children, you should always have a first-aid kit with a standard set of medicines – antipyretics, antihistamines, drugs against bites and burns. Try to consult your pediatrician or family doctor, and find out in advance whether these medications need to provide a prescription or a certificate when entering another country.

How to occupy a child on the road

Scientists have found that a change of scenery releases oxytocin and dopamine, the hormones of happiness and well-being, in a young child’s brain. In addition, new reactions are produced, the speed of building neural connections and learning new knowledge increases.

All of these results can only be achieved if the child is engaged in active all-round recreation during the trip. But it is not necessary to actively take your child to museums, exhibitions and art galleries upon arrival in a new country or city. Useful hint: intellectual rest should be alternated with visiting entertainment centers, parks, amusement rides and beaches.

With the right approach, the child will only brighten up the family trip and diversify it with new emotions, which will be pleasant to remember for many years.