It’s the season of long car journeys; air travel and non-stop “are we there yet?”

We all need a holiday but sometimes a long journey with young children can all too easily wipe out the relaxation. We have lots of ideas for making it all bearable; it’s like anything in life, a bit of pre planning can make all the difference. So, don’t hibernate and give up on the world just because you have young children – get out there, explore and have fun.

Travelling with kids – by car

Every family is different but there are a few simple ways to make a long journey comfortable and less stressfull for all of you.

• Plan your route – its pretty obvious but if you know where you are going it really helps avoid in car arguments. Print off a route finder from one of the many on line sites but do look at the map as well as occasionally these routes are not the most sensible


• Plan what time you will leave and hopefully arrive. If you can fit the journey around the time that your baby will be asleep, you will have a more peaceful time. If you are heading to a cottage or hotel with a check in time, then bear this in mind; after a long trip you don’t want to have to lurk outside for a couple of hours.


• Have all essentials to hand in the car – opening up the boot on the hard shoulder is something to be avoided! Make your own check list of necessities – you could even keep it filed ready for the next journey. Your list could include drinks, non-messy, non-sticky snacks, wipes, tissues, a plastic bag for rubbish, music, paper and pens, small games, a change of clothes and a loo roll.


• Ensure that everyone has enough room as is possible and that passengers in the middle of the back seat have some head support.


• Ensure that you have some window shade – especially for babies.


• Consider car seat covers if you will all be eating in the car; these can be removed and washed easily without having to take the seat out.


• Make it clear how long you will be in the car – sometimes children just have to accept that they have to sit in the car for along time in order to get to somewhere lovely. Give them some time-scales to which they can relate “it’s the same time as when you are at nursery school” “we will leave at lunchtime and we won’t be there until bedtime”.
  
• Have some car games ready – some of the best are word games and encourage children to look out of the window in order to avoid nausea. Check out some car game ideas at the end of the article.


• Consider an alternative; if long car journeys do not suit your family, consider travelling by train. Children find train travel much more exciting, no-one has to map read, you have room to move about and it will force you to pack less!

Travelling with kids – by aeroplane

None of us regard plane travel as we once did. We are all hopping on and off planes all the time but plane travel with children hasn’t become any easier! There are so many airlines which all have their own rules and regulations that you really do have to check details with the airline itself to be sure of what to expect.

Questions to ask would be.

• Can they guarantee seats together? Can they guarantee the bulk head seats (much more leg room)


• Will there be a baby bassinet or cot?


• Are there changing facilities in the loos?


• Will the staff heat up bottles and baby food?


• Will children be offered special meals and will these be served before adults? Are all children offered meals? (including those under 2)


• What entertainment is available; rear seat TV screens are ideal for young children as they can play games or watch movies. Children can rarely see the large movie screen.

Medical advice states that you should not travel with a baby under one week old (pretty unlikely anyway) their hearts and respiratory systems are not sufficiently developed to cope with the reduced levels of oxygen. Try and exhaust your children before you board a flight; make them walk everywhere including during the time you are in the departure lounge.

Don’t rely on sedatives to help your children sleep whilst on board unless you have tried them out beforehand; the last thing you need is for your child to react either by becoming hyper active or by being sick!

On a long haul flight it really is worth keeping to some sort of routine. After supper, go to the loos and wash and brush teeth and put little children into pyjamas. Read some bedtime stories and find the special bedtime teddy. In the “morning” (ok, it may be after just 3 or 4 hours…) wash and dress – apart from anything, this all takes time which you have plenty of!

If there are 2 parents travelling you may decide to divide up the time so that you can at least try to get some sleep. If you do this, an eye mask and ear plugs may make it easier for you to switch off. Consider both having a small bag of essentials so that you don’t have to keep passing things between you.

Packing

Always pack toiletries in a zip-up waterproof bag; the pressure on aircraft can pop lids on lotions and potions. Roll clothes instead of folding, it creates less creases. As a lost luggage precaution, pack some of each family member’s clothes in each suitcase. Finish packing the day before your trip to save rushing. To prevent people who may handle your baggage passing information on to burglars always use an address on your luggage labels other than your own if your house is going to be empty whilst you are away. Your work address may be a better alternative to Grandma's!

Check list

• Always carry spare clothes for young children.
  
• Carry as few bags as possible onto the plane.
  
• Have some sucking sweets for take off and landing.
  
• Pack small in-flight games. For a long haul flight consider a “surprise bag” Every hour, your child can take out a new surprise from the special bag – this could be a small game, a pack of raisins etc. This idea kept my 3 children going during a 13 hour flight!
  
• Pack a small wash bag – face wipes are much easier than flannels and will help freshen adult’s parts as well as children’s’.
  
• Pack a pair of extra socks for everyone – you don’t want to keep you shoes on but you don’t want to walk about the plane in bare feet or in your clean socks (especially in the loos)

What to take?

If you are heading to a hot country with young children then consider the following list:

• Sun shades for pushchairs and hire cars


• Pale coloured and washable pushchair liners to keep the pushchair cooler


• Mosquito repellent.


• Long sleeved and long legged sleepwear to help prevent bug bites.


• Buy all the sun cream and medicines you need before you travel – don’t rely on airport shops or local stores when you are away.


• Drinks flasks


• A small cool bag for picnics. A cool pack if you will have access to a fridge or freezer.

Useful information web sites

www.travellingwithchildren.co.uk
www.family-travel.co.uk

Travel Games

A to Z GAME

Fun for all children who know their alphabet.
This is a game of speed and observation. Everyone looks around them and has to find the letters of the alphabet from A-Z in order. Only one person can have any one letter (if there is a P on a signpost only one person can have it) so there is a lot of shouting to stake the claim! Letters can be found on number plates, billboards, road signs, place names etc etc. although the letter Q is very tricky (bus stops often have QUEUE THIS SIDE for those with eagle eyes!) The winner is the first to Z.

COLOURED LORRIES

Recommended from about 2 years
Each person chooses a colour and this is then written on a piece of paper next to each person’s name. Mark 1 point next to a name each time that person spots a car of the chosen colour. The winner is the first to reach 25.
Coloured Lorries helps small children with their colours and attention levels.

THE SILENT GAME

Great for any age
See who can stay quiet for the longest...the winner (the last person to make a noise) gets a treat. A brilliant game for when things are getting too hectic; if you're lucky they might even fall asleep!!

Have a great trip!