Taking Little Ones On Your Journey:
How to Be Travel-Ready
Do you remember making that long road trip to see family?
Do you remember those 10 hour car trips and how difficult they could be with children?
Your most precious cargo, your little ones, can often be thrown off by a holiday since any break in a child's routine can be difficult and overwhelming. This doesn't swearing off vacations until they graduate, however; it just means a little extra planning.
Here are some tips to ensure that your trip ends with a happy story, rather than fighting in the back-seat!
The Long Drive Ahead
For many parents, driving in the car with bored kids can lead to an unhappy group and a bad start to you vacation. If you have a long drive ahead, many parents suggest not driving in the middle of the day. In fact, many parents suggest starting your journey at a very early hour. If you start you journey at 4:00 am, for example, the kids will be too tired to fight or complain! And, by the time they wake up, it will be time for breakfast and the journey will already seem half over.
When travelling at night, some parents have suggested glow-in-the-dark sticks to amuse your child - while other parents believe that the only way to ensure a child's happiness in the car is to have plenty of sing-along tapes!
Flying With Little Ones - Ways to Avoid the Stress
Sitting for long periods can be stressful and can create difficulties for the child so make sure your child has had plenty of exercise before they enter the airplane. In addition to excess energy, illness is another major difficulty that travelling parents often face. Try to prevent such an occurrence by:
- Pre-ordering kid friendly meals through the airline or travel agent. This will ensure that your child will not only enjoy their meal, but also that it will not pose allergy risks.
- Checking with a paediatrician about airsickness medications - children are often susceptible to motion sickness, especially in an airplane.
- Bringing a change of clothes in your hand luggage. Should illness or accident occur, having a change of clothes on hand will at lease ensure that your child will not be stuck in soiled clothing.
En-route Entertainment
When you finally hit the road, or take to the air, remember to give children activities at reasonable intervals of time rather than all at once. By spreading the entertainment out you will be able to occupy your child's interest for longer, and sustain a pleasant travel experience.
It is also important for you to remember that this is your trip too! So don't forget to plan for your own entertainment with some music or magazines.
Medical Concerns
Travelling to a foreign country can pose a variety of risks to any traveller, regardless of age. However, taking a holiday with children requires special considerations, such as:
- Make sure that all of your child's vaccinations are up to date prior to leaving.
- Plan Vaccinations Carefully. Children often do not respond favourably to special travel vaccinations whether they're in the form of pills or needles. Plan well in advance so that you have time to deal with an uncooperative patient or adverse side effects.
- Ensure that the vaccinations are suitable for children. Many adult medications are not advisable for infants and children. For example, travellers should avoid taking young children to malarias areas while they are very young, as most malaria medicine is not suitable for little ones.
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