If you’re a woman who’s ever been on a plane with children wailing at the top of their lungs, then you’ve had a second-hand experience of the stress parents deal with when travelling with children. Although travelling is supposed to be a fun, relaxing and adventurous time, children are often not in the mood to sit long hours cramped in a plane, a car or an unfamiliar hotel room.
So if you want to travel with kids, you need to factor in children’s needs when planning a trip in order to make the overall experience a better one. Here are seven ways you can keep your children happy, safe and comfortable while traveling.
Gone are the days of cramming toys, crayons and coloring books into your suitcase. Nowadays, there are plenty of ways to keep your baby happy. There are numerous toddler-friendly apps that will keep your kids occupied and content for at least a couple of hours. According to Parents, the apps Busy Shapes, Kidzongs, Wheels on the Bus and Bumblebee Touchbook are some of the best-rated apps to keep children busy. If you’re worried about draining your battery, invest in a portable charger in case there are no ports available.
Children love anything that makes them feel like a grown-up. If possible, have your kids pack and carry small backpacks. (Of course, make sure to double-check everything they packed to make sure it isn’t too heavy.) Giving children this kind of responsibility gets them excited and happy.
You never know when your kids are going to get sick. (And being sick is no picnic for anyone – big or small.) Changing temperatures, public transportation and sleepless nights can lower a child’s immune system. As a rule of thumb, always pack some sort of allergy medication and cough and cold medication when you travel. Remember to pack ahead because sometimes it can be hard to find medicine in other countries.
Although giving your kids their favorite candies as a distraction may sound tempting, being in another city with sugar-filled children is a recipe for disaster. Instead, pack healthier snacks. If your child has a sweet tooth, opt for nature’s candy: fruit. Apples, oranges and grapes are toddler-favorite fruits – they’re easy and relatively mess-free. In addition, try bringing crackers, cheese cubes or even some bread. Hawaiian bread, anyone?
Although this would be a worst-case scenario situation, it is possible that you will lose sight of your children in the chaos of traveling in an unfamiliar city, state or country. In order to err on the side of caution, purchase them travel ID bands. These bands have the child’s name and contact information in case he or she wanders a little too far in a store. There are also child ID temporary tattoos available if you’re afraid the wristband will fall off. These bands and tattoos can be found online on Amazon for as little as $6.95. And if you’re truly worried, you can put name tags on all the items your children are carrying such as their backpacks and jackets. If you’d like, you can even just write your phone number on your kid’s arm. Whatever works for you!
Baby wipes are useful for cleaning hands before a meal and wiping down dirty tables and chairs. As a bonus, you don’t have to worry about the liquid regulations in airports. If you’re on the road, baby wipes are lifesavers when you don’t have time to stop at every rest stop along the way. In addition, decreasing the amount of germs your children encounter also decreases the likelihood that they will get sick.
Although you probably have other plans, traveling with kids calls for more kid-friendly zones. When you’re going exploring, try to visit one or two of the locations your children would like. You don’t want to drag them on this trip and then exclude them from activities. You can even try something simple; go to a park with a playground or walk into a toy store. (Although this may force you to spend more money than you intended). Also, at some airports, there are play zones for children to unwind.
Overall, as a parent, you just want to lessen any discomfort or anxiety your children may be feeling while traveling. It can be terrifying and miserable when you’re away from home stuck in the air or in a car for hours at a time. But with the right amount of care and attention, children can be kept happy. And as you probably know, happy children equal happy parents.
