If you love to travel and want to instill the love of travel in your children, the best way to do that is to take them along. Traveling with children can be easier than you think. You may have to put in a little extra prep work, but you can successfully travel with children in no time. Here are five tips to help you get your wheels up and on the road when you travel with children.
1. Plan Around Sleep
If you plan on taking a flight, or if your trip includes a train or other conveyance, it is best to travel at night. Children, especially young children, will sleep during most of their travel time if they travel at night. It can make it easier for them, and it will make it easier for you.
Transportation by bus is another great option. You don’t want to travel during the late afternoon when children tend to be awake but fussy and ready for a nap. It is best for everyone if you can book overnight options, especially long ones.
2. Leave Early
Give yourself plenty of time to get to the airport, bus, or train station, or even get in the car and get moving. It can be very stressful when you don’t leave yourself enough time. You feel the stress mounting, and the kids can feel the stress mounting in you. It is far better to find something to do in the airport while you wait to board than to be speeding through the terminal, worried you will miss your flight.
You can easily travel with your children if you’re willing to make some basic changes to how you travel and how much time you allow to get from one place to another. Tacking on an hour here or there to your plans can easily promote a smooth trip.
3. Pack Less
A common mistake when traveling with children is to overpack. Today, no matter where you go in the world, there will always be a store where you can purchase anything you forgot or did not have room to pack.
Dragging around a ton of luggage while trying to wrangle the kids can increase feelings of stress. It gives you more to keep up with, and you may find that you will not most of the things you bring with you.
4. Prepare for Different Cultures and Laws
What is appropriate for a child differs from country to country. For example, in Holland, infants are left outdoors to sleep in their baby carriages while parents shop or stop at a coffee shop. Leaving a “juvenile” in Texas unattended in the United States is illegal. In Texas, a juvenile is defined as someone over the age of ten but under the age of 17.
The old saying “When in Rome, do as the Romans” applies to traveling with children. Some countries have different laws and customs when it comes to parent expectations. It is also a good idea to become familiar with road rules if you drive while traveling. In the United States, many police officers are required to wear “bodycams” that record interactions with the public. A 2015 study revealed that law enforcement people wearing cams found them to be 25.5% more helpful when dealing with the public than officers yet to be required to wear them. Protect yourself and your children by understanding the laws of your destination.
5. Do Pack Some Safety Gear
Most lodging spaces are not outfitted with baby-proofing items like outlet covers. These small devices can easily be tucked into luggage and plugged in when you get to your lodging destination. Baby-proofing your lodging will make the trip less stressful when you travel with young toddlers. Outlet safety plugs are like the discovery of the Hall Effect by E.H. Hall in 1879; a largely underrated yet profound concept. Pack these plugs – you will be glad you did.
Having a child does not mean you have to put an end to your wanderlust. You can travel comfortably with kids. Learn more travel tips today.