Travelling with small children can be challenging, to say the least, whether you’re negotiating the crowds at airports or packing up the car for a UK Staycation, you want to make the experience as pleasant, and stress-free as possible, for everyone.
Check out our Top 10 travel tips below. As a parent myself, these are tried-and tested strategies and I hope you find them useful.
Do your research
Plan ahead for the best value breaks and do thorough research. You want to make sure there are facilities for everyone, after all this is your holiday too! If you’re planning to book a hotel or resort, check ahead that they have adequate activities for young children. Kids clubs can offer kids an exciting outlet and a chance to interact with new friends, whilst providing mum and dad with some much needed downtime!
Do also check that the accommodation is safe and not up flights up stairs! The pool should be fenced off and preferably lifeguarded. Check out whether there is a baby pool. You might also want to search out local places such as a doctor, shops, local restaurants etc to ensure they’re not miles away from we’re you’re staying.
TripAdvisor offers impartial reviews of accommodation, so you might want to check this out before booking. You can also use travel search engines to pre book your seats, if flying, to ensure that you’ll be sat next to your children.
Avoiding those “HOW ON EARTH DID WE FORGET THAT?” moments
When it comes to packing luggage, it pays to think ahead. You’re not going to want to worry about washing clothes while you’re away (other than rinsing out swimwear or essential undies) so, realistically, you’re going to need two or three changes of clothes for your kids. You should also include a sun hat and sun cream (very important!) to cover sensitive areas such as shoulders and head.
Another sanity-saving tip is to take emergency snacks and drinks, by way of unopened packets that can be stowed away in a handbag and produced at quickly to soothe any irritable hunger tantrums!
Spare nappies and baby wipes in your hand luggage is also a must!
THE ULTIMATE FAMILY HOLIDAY PACKING CHECKLIST has some great tips https://www.parentfriendlystays.co.uk/ultimate-family-holiday-packing-checklist/
Be prepared
As much as it’s tempting to want to pack “everything but the kitchen sink” when travelling with children, it’s important not to be over-prepared. If you know there are items you can easily buy from a local supermarket, for instance, when you’ve arrived then there’s no need to take huge volumes of toiletries or nappies etc.
When it comes to hand luggage, keep your essentials to hand such as baby wipes, books, iPad, lightweight toys, snacks etc and once you’ve arrived at your destination you can stock up on more.
Stress-free accommodation
Everyone has their own idea of the “perfect getaway” and there is no right or wrong way to holiday with young children, other than making sure they are safe, that there are plenty of opportunities for them to explore and interact with other kids, and for mum and dad to enjoy themselves too.
Camping or self-catering accommodation works well if you like to do your own thing. You can pack up the car, travel under your own timescale and there are no hotel timetables or restrictions to adhere to.
On the other hand, half board or all-inclusive resorts can often be the easiest and least stressful option with kids as most have child-friendly activities laid on, as well as kid-friendly restaurants, baby and toddler pools etc.
Medication
Ensure you have ordered from your GP sufficient medication you, or your children, will need when away from home. If you are travelling abroad, these will need to be packed in your main suitcase. It’s always best to check any restrictions or rules of your airline before boarding. Remember to keep an emergency supply in your hand luggage too, this will need to be measured out and placed in secure packaging.
Take care in the sun
Whether abroad or in the UK, try to stay out of the sun during peak hours (which is generally from midday to 3pm). Ensure your toddler’s head is covered at all times and keep re-applying sun cream throughout the day to ensure they are protected as this can wash off in water. A sun cream with at least a 50SPF is essential for children, particularly those with fair skin!
Photo credit: Why it's important to protect your baby in the sun
Stay safe
Be vigilant at all times and keep an eye on your children as natural curiosity, and being unfamiliar with their new surroundings, could mean they could wander off in seconds!
If you’re using baby or childcare facilities, check they are safe and secure and if you have any doubts, don’t be afraid to ask questions. Remember – foreign countries may have different regulations than those you are used to. You need to be satisfied that your children are in the best possible hands otherwise you’ll end up being stressed too!
Days out
Parenting on holiday is very similar to parenting at home (just with more sun, if you’re lucky!) Keeping your children safe and happy is a full time job and being on holiday is no exception. To help keep things as calm and stress-free as possible, for everyone, don’t be too ambitious with day trips or excursions. Try to keep activities local and as stress-free as possible. There might be a lovely beach you can walk to or new playground on your doorstep – everything feels special when you’re visiting for the first time.
Holidays are meant to be more relaxing for everyone. Loosing your regular schedule, with slightly later bedtimes and wake up calls means everyone enjoys a more chilled way of life while you’re away from home.
Make friends
Making friends with other families, with similar aged children, is a must! It encourages good social interaction skills with children and makes the holiday more fun for all 😊
Take the grandparents
You’ll often see families taking grandparents on holiday with them. This is a purely personal thing, and really depends on how well you get on with your family! But if grandparents are up for holiday with the grandkids, this can be a wonderful opportunity for everyone to make some great memories and share different experiences. Most grandparents will be more than happy to babysit or take the children out for the day to give mum and dad some respite!
Photo credit: Travel insurance guide for grandparents
We hope these simple tips will help when planning your next trip away from home.
Travelling with children can be beneficial at all stages of their development and it doesn’t have to be a trip abroad to reap the benefits. Family bonding, making memories, boosting confidence, teaching responsibility, overcoming challenges and creative thinking are all positive benefits of co-existing together in a new environment… and remember – any trip away from home, even to visit relatives elsewhere in the UK, can be exciting and rewarding. As they say – “a change is as good as a rest!”
We hope you all enjoy a fantastic, stress-free- summer wherever you are ☀️😎