With the Easter Holidays fast approaching here are some travel tips.
Everyone loves a holiday – the chance to get away for a few days or even a few weeks, coming back and feeling fresh and raring to go.
However, when you have kids, the seemingly simple process of travelling to your holiday destination can seem like a chore, and it may prevent some from going on holiday at all.
To help, parenting experts The Edit from Silver Cross have put together some top tips on how to travel with kids, to ensure your holiday goes as smoothly as possible.
1. Give yourself plenty of time
When going for a ferry or a flight or even working to a check-in time at a staycation, give yourself more time to get there when travelling with children.
It’s best to expect the unexpected, and by giving yourself a generous time buffer you can handle your children’s needs and still get to your destination on time, without too much added stress.
2. Snacks and activities
There’s nothing worse than making headway on the motorway only for your little ones start complaining they are hungry.
Food keeps both hunger at bay as well as keeping your children entertained, so planning out a snack routine and packing plenty of food and drinks is key to a stress free and smooth journey away with your kids.
3. Talk to your kids about the trip
If your child is old enough, it’s always a good idea to chat to them about the trip ahead of time.
Younger children especially can get confused or stressed when they are out of their comfort zone, which can lead to tantrums and a more stressful journey for all involved.
Talking to your child, explaining where they are going and why, will help them to process the journey and will hopefully minimise confusion along the way.
4. Plan a list of things to pack
You’re leaving the comforts of home, and this can be daunting, and as a result you may be tempted to try and pack everything you use to look after your child on a day-to-day basis.
As well as weighing down your car or bag for the plane, this is a recipe for disaster from a mental perspective as well.
The trip is destined to be unpredictable and trying to keep strictly to the routine you’re used to at home is likely to fail, which will result in both you and baby being more stressed.
Pack light, with essentials such as favourite toys, snacks, and spare comfy clothes.
To a degree, having a stress-free trip relies on you embracing the unpredictability and going with the flow.
