Traveling with the entire family can be fun. It’s even better when infants grow up enough that they can travel with you. However, sometimes, it can get stressful. If this is the first family trip with a toddler, you (as a parent or guardian) need to be highly cautious about many things. If you plan everything right, the journey can be enriching and successful.
With airline tickets being lower than before (thanks to extra competitive fares), the pandemic has assured that people stay at home and maintain social distance. With airlines being better prepared for international travelers, toddlers can also travel comfortably and with ease.
When traveling internationally, it is best to have all travel documents and papers ready. Tourist visas, travel documents, reservations, and passports can be tough to manage at the last minute. While planning a trip abroad, you should get in touch with the best Immigration lawyers from Croydon and get all the paperwork finalized before you travel. Doing this will help you make the best of your trip with your kids, minus the hassles.
Let us look at how you can prepare your toddler for a trip.
Get The Toddler Excited:
You should start getting the toddler excited about the trip. Ask them to show you which clothes they would like to carry, and which toys they want. If you make the idea of the trip fun, your toddler will look forward to the holiday. Doing this is also an excellent way to educate your toddler about what they will see and do and watch out for.
Many parents ensure that they visit a place where a few places are child-friendly, like zoos, safari, or other educational trips. If your toddler understands animals, bird sounds, or other stimuli-generating aspects, now is a good time to explain that they will see, hear, or experience it first-hand. Some parents even prefer buying something special for their kids for the journey– like kid-friendly binoculars, a new sun cap, a new t-shirt, shoes, and so on that they have to use or wear only during the trip.
Enlist Help:
Whether you are traveling solo with your toddler or as a family unit, it is best to involve others during the planning stage. Many experienced parents are aware of the challenges of planning a trip with infants and toddlers. While speaking to trusted close ones, you should also consider asking for help with the packing.
Many times, adults need fewer things than infants and small kids. Things like additional toys, rattlers, and others that keep the child engaged should be carried. Many times, new parents also travel with other families with kids. If this is the case, let the other families know that you need extra assistance during boarding times or when securing the toddler to the car seat. While most people do help out at once, it is best to ask for help sot they are prepared too.
Think of The Flight:
Toddlers can get cranky on flights. The air pressure in the cabin may cause discomfort, and your toddler may need additional blankets and soothers. Many young parents and guardians also reach out to the airline and inform them that they will need special considerations for the toddler. A seat with leg space, extra blankets, and a food warmer will make a huge difference in keeping your child calm.
Toddlers may also get bored in the confined seating of the plane. It is best to arrive early, find your seats, and immediately engage your child with a game or two till take-off. Allow for unplanned emergencies and an extra first aid kit. Toddlers need constant attention, and you may not have enough time to do everything at once.
Stock Up on Treats and Snacks:
Whether you’re travelling by train, flight, or car, it is best to have plenty of treats and snacks handy. Pre-packing abundant food and drinks will help make the trip easier. We advise parents and guardians of toddlers and children to stock up on healthy foods and juices. Sometimes, it is perfectly fine to hand your child a juice box till they calm down.
Foods that are easy to prep and carry are boiled carrots, dry cereal, juice boxes, cooked apples, bananas, pretzels, and string cheeses.
Kids enjoy munching and looking out the window or at a movie (animated/ cartoon in-flight entertainment). You can also carry reusable garbage bags to dispose of all the treats and snacks properly. A refillable bottle or your toddlers’ favorite sippy cup will also ease some of the tension and stress.