Travel broadens the mind, yet it does come with costs, which are not entirely financial and when taking young kids abroad, you can face some serious challenges. If the annual holiday is fast approaching and you plan to take the whole family, here are a few tips to ensure all goes well.
- Choose a family-friendly venue – When choosing a hotel/resort, make sure the venue is family-friendly, then your kids will never get bored and they will make friends with the other children. What is a family-friendly resort? A resort with babysitting services, a vast array of child entertainment and a place that is designed with young families in mind. You can enjoy Skai high tea at a family-friendly restaurant where they are fully equipped for child diners.
- Try to stick to sleep routines – This can be hard to do if you are flying to the other side of the world, but it does make a difference if children’s sleep routines are not impacted by the travel. We are all creatures of habit, of that there is no doubt and as far as young children are concerned, the closer you stick to sleep and meal routines, the smoother the transition will be.
- Have an outdoor bag – An outdoor bag would contain everything you need when going out on a family trip; items such as a first aid kit, spare clothes, wet wipes, sunscreen and a few plastic bags for travel sickness (hope you never have to use them). Spare diapers and clean underwear, plus at least one small towel. Click here for off-season travel destination for theme park enthusiasts.
- Invest in baby carriers – Toddlers can be transported in baby carriers and you can find great products online; practice makes perfect so before you depart, make sure you get some carrying practice in before you head off to the airport. Most young kids sleep once cocooned in a comfortable harness, so you won’t have to disturb them until you arrive at your destination.
- Plan a few travel activities – Once the bus/boat/plane sets off, we adults understand what we need to do, yet young children tend to get excited, especially when flying; you know your children better than anyone and pack a few small toys that will keep busy young minds busy. You could find a good cartoon on your iPad and that will keep the kids engaged while flying and that is likely to lead to sleep.
- Travel sickness – The last thing you need is for one of your kids to suffer motion sickness, we advise taking medication suitable for children about 30 minutes before travelling. Always carry a few disposable sick bags and some wipes in your travel bag.
We recommend that you take out suitable travel insurance that covers you for most things; search the web for the best travel insurance deals and a secure online payment activates the policy. Always check the entry requirements when travelling abroad and if you require visas, this can be done online.
