Tips to keep in mind when travelling with small children
Travelling with children, especially when they are young, can be a daunting task for even the most experienced of parents. If you are planning a family trip, here are 10 tips for you to heed when on your travels with small children.
DO:
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Choose a well-located hotel
Make sure you select a hotel located near the centre of the town or city where you are to stay, such as the Dorsett Hotel, Shepherds Bush. This will ensure that you are within walking distance of as many attractions as possible, and others will be easily accessible by public transport.
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Bring spare outfits
There is a good reason why bibs are used: kids (and adults for that matter) can be messy! For this reason, make sure you bring a few more tops than you think you might need for the children.
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Invest in children’s travel bags
It can be very fulfilling to both parent and child for the former to encourage and nurture the child’s independence. One simple way you can do this is by purchasing child-sized backpacks or suitcases so that your kids can carry their own stuff and feel like they are helping.
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Schedule downtime
Depending on the age of the children, keep in mind that they might adjust to time zones differently and will still need their daily naps. To make sure you don’t have cranky toddlers, schedule downtime for the family in the hotel.
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Enjoy yourself
What is the point of a holiday if not to relax and have fun! Throughout it all, don’t neglect your own feelings and make sure you enjoy yourself.
DO NOT:
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Have a rigid itinerary
Kids, especially young children, can be unpredictable. Because of this, it is important to not have a rigid itinerary for every day. Instead, consider noting down a handful of places you want to visit during your stay – and, if you have time for any more, that’s a bonus!
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Over-pack
This is a difficult balance to strike, especially when you do need to pack a few spares. Instead of over-packing, why not bring along a travel wash to use in the laundry room of the hotel or even in your bathroom sink. This way, you can bring fewer clothes and will have more hands free to keep tabs on your children.
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Rush
Take your time getting from place to place and leave enough time for travelling between each attraction.
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Panic
Travelling with children can be stressful but try not to panic. You could, however, run through the scenarios you are anxious about so that you know how to deal with them if the problem arises.
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Assume it will be perfect first try
Nothing is ever perfect on the first try, and this is no different. It takes mistakes for us to learn, so prepare for things to go wrong! No matter whether this is your first trip with the kids or your thirty-first, following these tips can reduce the stress of your family vacation.
