Travelling with children – easier than you expect. Part 1
Travelling with children has never scared me and my partner Ant. We have made several short trips with the children (Hendrik 2.5 years, Isabel 6 years) to different cities in Estonia. On week and two-week trips, we have stayed in Cyprus, Italy twice and in October we are going to Turkey. We have also made shorter trips to Norway and Germany. At the moment we can’t imagine travelling without children. Travel brings our family together and gives us that nice feeling of excitement. Travelling with children is definitely tiring, but it’s also very exciting! I’ve put together a few suggestions that we’ve made and used while travelling and that I dare to recommend.
1. What kind of preparations do you make with your children before travelling?
A properly packed suitcase saves time on your journey. I recommend doing your groundwork at home and planning your outfits for each day. For the kids, I choose two sets of clothes for one day and one back-up set in a diaper bag, so I’m prepared for every situation.
2. What are you taking the kids with you?
We bring things we are confident we can use and are comfortable with. We’re bringing a stroller because our Uppababy Vista2 tandem stroller is too bulky and big. When people have asked me if a pushchair is an absolute necessity, I say absolutely! For example, in large airports to get from the lounge to the right gate. Children don’t tend to walk in a straight line, but wherever the path takes them. If the purpose of the journey is to walk around with the children, little feet tire quickly, and a trolley is a good helper here too. Leclercbaby A pushchair is very practical because it can be used in all kinds of conditions – narrow roads, stairs, public transport. It is also smooth when manoeuvring.
3. How do you spend your time on the plane?
Each child will be allowed on board with a nappy bag, which we will fill with snacks and exciting toys. Older children will spend their time playing games, watching cartoons or working with sticker and drawing books. It’s a good idea to pack a smaller bag in the diaper bag for essentials that are likely to be needed on the plane. That way, you can get things easily. In this bag we put light toys, nappies, wet wipes.
4. When and with whom do you prefer to travel?
I find it easiest to travel with a baby (about 6 months or less) or a child who is at least 2 years old. Between 6 months and 2 years is more difficult, as it is not possible to keep a child in place for long at that age.
5. Do you take a separate babysitter on your trips?
We’ve been on trips and summer holidays with family, including aunts, uncles and grandparents, but also with friends and on our own. We haven’t hired a babysitter to go with us because grandparents are more interested in spending time with children than any nice babysitter. My most vivid childhood memories are also of my grandmother and grandfather.
6. How do you choose your accommodation?
We generally look for suitable accommodation on Airbnb or Booking.com. The room must be large, with the possibility of adding a cot. Lately, we’ve started to like the guest apartments offered through Airbnb. With two kids, it’s easier to get up in the morning and not worry about whether the kids will be able to make it to the hotel/café for breakfast. It’s easier to prepare your own meals in the morning and have a relaxed time. Plus, we can discuss what to eat and go grocery shopping together. Besides, it’s so much fun to browse around the grocery shops abroad!
7. What do you do when travelling with children?
When you travel, you want to feel that sense of lightness – you don’t have to rush anywhere and you don’t have any direct commitments. So the best thing is to enjoy local life. We certainly like to see the countryside, drive in beautiful places and explore life in small towns. A good tip is to plan the bigger visits in the first half of the day – theme parks, water parks, visits to stately castles and zoos. In the second half of the day, you could do some lighter activities, such as a visit to a city park or a walk by the sea.
8. Is travelling with children scary?
Flying with young children is a challenge enough and probably raises many questions and fears for parents. Children will remain children on planes. There may be some crying because flying is a new and unfamiliar situation, frightening and painful to the ears. In order to get over the ringing in the ears, you might want to carry water for the toddler and a lozenge for the older ones. Feed the baby with a breast or bottle during take-off and landing. Remember that fellow passengers cannot expect babies to remain calm and quiet throughout the flight. On a positive note, everyone will be glad to have a holiday away from home.
9. What tips do you use to keep your child(ren) calm when travelling?
If your children are at the age where they have to have all the same things as the other, I recommend taking the same toys for both of them. Then maybe there won’t be those annoying “mine” bags. Also, the child should be dressed so that he or she is neither cold nor hot. If going out in sunny weather, make sure to shield your child from direct sunlight and put on sunglasses. It is a good idea for children to take new toys they have not had the chance to play with before. New things stimulate the child’s brain. And Hendrik is a big ice-cream lover – we won’t deny him that pleasure in the summer heat.
10. How do you spend your time at the airport if you have to wait for a long time?
There are usually play areas for children in passenger terminals. Young children don’t like to sit in one place for long periods, so it’s a good idea to stop off at a play area before a long flight. For example, Tallinn Airport has a Lotte play area where you can spend some quality time with the kids.
