When I saw that Mark Warner were looking for tops tips on travelling with babies my first thought was “Don’t”
I am joking, but travelling with the small people in our lives can be stressful, especially if you are not prepared.
Where do you start?
Firstly, research the destination you are visiting and choose a family friendly hotel. Children, especially babies, need all sorts of paraphernalia and you don’t want to be travelling with everything but the kitchen sink. Make sure the hotel has cots, high chairs, access to clean and hygienic water, baby food and that all important babysitting service so you get a well-earned break yourselves. If you have older children, do they have a kids club and somewhere they can head off to and play safely?
Once the holiday is booked and paid for it is time to start thinking about what to take. Depending on the age of the child a buggy is essential and we love our Britax B-Agile as it has tons of storage space and folds up nice and small but there are companies that offer pushchairs and car seats to hire that you can pick up when you arrive at your destination both in the UK and abroad.
Then there is the packing…………. what do you take?
Firstly, they don’t need the entire contents of their wardrobe. A few mix and match outfits are fine, but take some travel wash just in case and if they are potty training plenty of pants!!
My essentials are:
- First Aid Kit including: plasters, paracetamol, calpol / ibuprofen, anti-septic, anti-histamine, travel bands
- Sunscreen and After-Sun
- Travel Wash
- Hats
- Swimwear / UV Suits
- Beach Towels
- Travel Adapter Plugs (if travelling abroad)
- Camera
- Baby Carrier (if you have a baby – this could be a sling or a back carrier)
On the day of travel have a bag / Trunki with activities for them. Trunki’s are fantastic as they are classed as hand luggage size and you can either load them with games and toys or clothes and then the kids can ride them around the airport / station keeping them entertained. Beware, mine decided to stage a mutiny when they wanted to stay and play at Coombemill.
Paper, pens and / or technology are great for wiling away the hours. It is vital that any technology is loaded with games and films and all importantly fully charged before you set off AND take the charger! If they insist on taking their favourite cuddly toy when a wrist strap is essential so they don’t get lost.
Drinks and snacks are important too, but don’t fill them full of sugar as they will end up bouncing off the walls. Also ensure you keep some money back in case you get delayed at the airport. There is nothing worse than a child moaning they are hungry and you have spent every last penny of your holiday money and your plane has been delayed by 8 hours (yes this did happen).
Once you are there embrace the culture, join in the fun, relax and make memories. One thing I have learned is that kids don’t remember the things you buy them. What they do remember is the fun you have had, be it on a day trip or holiday.
Roaming beaches, exploring the great outdoors and even Mum winning at Crazy Golf – I don’t remind them of that often……..honest!
Daddy teaching them how to play pool and even brushing their teeth in an unfamiliar bathroom is all fun when you are small.
Holiday’s not only give you the time to relax, but to stop and witness just how close and important your family are!
The best tip I can give on travelling with kids is to have an adventure and make memories that will last a lifetime.
This is my entry to Blogger Challenge One in conjunction with Mark Warner Holidays and Kiddicare.
Some great tips! We took harrison to wales for a short holiday wwhen he was 7 weeks old, but haven’t yet attempted one with both kids!!
We’ve done a few holidays with the eldest but we’re about to do our first with both kids, my hint would be to always shove one of the calpol sachets in your purse!!
Lovely post, i was always dreading traveling with kids, due to us witnessing and hearing non-stop screaming kids on planes or airports on long haul flights
What a great selection of tips. Travelling with young children can feel like a military operation but you are absolutely right that they remember the experience and get so much from it so it is worth it in the end. I had never thought of a wrist strap for a favourite toy on holiday. That is such a brilliant idea as a treasured toy is important for a child in an unfamiliar place and if you were to lose it then it could affect the rest of the holiday for everyone!
Fantastic tips! Your photos are lovely too 🙂 We try to take our children away somewhere every year but we don’t travel too far with them being so young.
Lots of great tips! We cant quite face the idea of going abroad yet, so much easier at home when they are small, but the Mark Warner holidays do look brilliant!
great tips always best to be safe and prepared when traveling with lil ones x
There are some great tips there. I love travelling with my boys
Some brilliant suggestions – I’m definitely bookmarking this post 🙂
The furthest we have ventured with the twins is up to Northumberland. This year we’re going a little further and going up to Scotland. I miss going abroard and hope to again when they’re both a bit bigger but this is a great list and tips x
Great tips. I’ll be writing mine shortly after I’ve don’t it again next week…..roll on family holiday time.
Good luck
What fab tips – I wish I read this before our last family holiday – I am so unorganised! Good luck in the comp xxx
Great tips, We’ve travelled a few places now the F is a toddler but when he was younger it would have been a good idea to check for all of the above mentioned. We made the mistake of holidaying in the most un-child friendly hotel when F was six months old and it was not fun! x
Some great tips! We made the mistake of staying in a very un-child friendly hotel when F was six months old and it was not fun. x
Fab tips, thanks for sharing. We are going to Camp Bestival and I am so worried about going with Baby x
WE went with Sebastian last year and it was so relaxed that he slept through most of it
Great post Kara, so many ideas too. Just need that holiday. Good luck with the competition 🙂
Good luck with the competition. travelling with kids certainly runs more smoothly with preparation and a huge sense of humour doesn’t it. Lots of lovely tips here.
amazing tips. Good luck with your entry xxx
Great tips – especially with so many people going away in a few weeks for Easter.
Great tips I have to admit I wouldn’t know where to start with travelling with kids 🙂 X
Love your photo’s and some really great tips
Lots of good tips and by someone with lots of experience!! I’m a believer in less is more but the travel wash is a definite must. Toddlers especially get so mucky! Lovely photo’s. I want to join in with this challenge so need to get my skates on!!
We take a portable dvd player for the car journey if we’re planning a long trip. The kids love it and we don’t have to deal with, ‘are we there yet?’ every 2 seconds!
we have only just really started travelling with Wilf (he is two) my top tip would be always have snacks on hand! xx
This is a great selection of tips, thank you for sharing!