The year 2018 recorded the highest foreign land vacations by UK residents. With 93.1 million visits made, it’s highly likely that children were very much involved in these journeys. However, travelling with children can be a whole different experience. If you have ever forgotten essential supplies when travelling with kids, then you are familiar with the nightmare it could turn into. Packing for your trip can be a confusing and daunting task, so here’s a list to help you out.
- Never forget to pack some entertainment
If you have ever spent an appreciable number of hours with young children, you may have observed that routine is not a loved activity. Despite that, kids love to be around familiar objects and surroundings. Therefore, when travelling with them, ensure to pack up their crayons, colouring books, favourite blanket, and toys. Technology simplifies entertainment for everyone so be sure to take a tablet or trusted device. Before your journey, you can download a host of child-friendly programs or cartoons for their enjoyment. Because children quickly get bored doing repetitive things, you should endeavour to have a variety of entertaining activities that are not extremely noisy – especially if you’re at the airport or on board a plane. In the midst of it all, you may want to add educational elements to their games to occupy them.
- Pack a lot of extra clothes
Regardless of how short your vacation would be, be sure to keep more than a few spare clothes for your kids. As children tend to create a mess, you will be fortunate to have more than just a few clothes to rely on when such accidents happen. The trick to picking the right set of clothes is to foresee changes in weather conditions. Besides, even onboard an aircraft, the chill from the air conditioning could get your children cold and uncomfortable. Pack thicker attires (cardigans, jackets, warm socks, etc.) to make sure you are ready for whatever surprises the weather might bring.
- Wipes and hand sanitisers
Be a germ-alert parent or guardian when travelling with kids. Children have a habit of sticking their fingers in their mouths; they are easily prone to infections than regular adults. Especially in the pandemic era, you would want to prevent any risk of your children contracting the COVID-19 disease. Make it a habit to squirt alcohol-based hand sanitiser in your palms and theirs before eating anything. Even on a flight table, your plane seats and armrests, be conscious about cleansing before touching or seating.
- A clean empty bottle and plastic tumbler
If your travel involves an airport, remember that those water fountains may be too high for a toddler. It would be better to have an empty bottle or plastic tumble that may come in handy for you and the family. Moreover, these objects are easy to carry through airport security without hassle. Also, if your child is a picky eater, filling a tumble they are familiar with may be useful in embarking on your journey without tantrums.
- A splitter device for screen sharing
This device is useful when embarking on road trips, long flights, or other occasions that require it. The splitter can connect to five different headphones, making it easier to share the same screen on separate devices, without disturbing others. It is a gadget that shows how considerate you are as a parent of other passengers’ quiet time.
- Small packs of washing powder and a travel clothesline
Some exotic destinations may require that you bring along detergents and even a clothesline for drying wet items. For example, if you have to rent in singapore room, you may want to have these essential items on hand for easy accessibility. The discomfort with travelling to foreign lands may be the difficulty in quickly finding laundromats where simple washing can be done for you and your family.
If you fail to plan for a trip with children, it could turn out to be a disastrous one. Interestingly, by their nature, children sometimes have a way of reminding adults about the importance of preparation prior to travel. To succeed at having a tantrum-free travel experience, it is always advisable to have a checklist before leaving home. Strike a tick mark against each listed item until you are sure nothing has been left unmarked or forgotten in the house. Perhaps, your children may recognise and grow to appreciate that you made their welfare your priority. Hopefully, this article will help keep some of these critical things in mind.
Therese has completed the ‘Advanced Child Car Seat Training Course’ at TRL (Transport Research Lab) and is a CPD accredited car seat expert. She blogs about in-car safety, car seats, tips, reviews, giveaways and advice. She’s a mum on a mission to change the law and raise awareness. She is also a breastfeeding advocate and gentle parenting promoter who loves cloth nappies, baby-wearing, BLW and co-sleeping/bed-sharing.