Traveling with children: 8 problems and solutions

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

An article for parents-travelers who are faced with the problems of preparing and spending holidays with children.

I am a freelance journalist and a one-time mother, I lead. In a couple of weeks, our family returns to Russia after a 6-month winter in Asia. And I have a lot to share with parents who are going to travel with their child for the first time.

At first glance, the birth of a child puts an end to everything that was interesting in your life, first of all - on travel. But several months (or even a year) pass, the parents recover from the shock, get used to the constant lack of sleep and lack of personal time and begin to timidly dream of at least a dull trip to the sea.

The main thing that new travel parents need to come to terms with is that a vacation with a small child is not much like a real human vacation. It is much more complex in terms of organization and emotional impact. You will have many real and perceived problems associated with travel and preparation for it. Which ones and how to deal with them? I will tell you about it.

Problem # 1 Acclimatization

For most young children, acclimatization is imperceptible. However, you need to know and apply in practice:

• Beware not acclimatization, but re-acclimatization upon return from vacation. Not every child's body will like the sudden change of the sunny beach for the harsh winter. So, in the first week after returning from vacation, it is better to keep walking to a minimum, beware of crowded places and hypothermia. Under no circumstances should you be vaccinated 2 weeks before the trip and 2 weeks after it.
• Leaving summer for summer is more preferable than from -30 to +30.
• In the first days, do not surrender to the long-awaited sun completely, the child does not need heatstroke at all. Spend the hottest time of the day (between 12 and 16 hours) indoors, but do not get carried away by the air conditioner.
• Don't forget about baby sunscreen and a panama hat.
• Drink more clean water to stay hydrated.
• Sometimes children experience food acclimatization, which results in short-term stomach upset. It can be the result of habituation to water or local food and does not require treatment.

Problem # 2 Changing time zones

The 2 hour difference is not critical. For her sake, it is hardly necessary to translate the child's internal clock. Sharper time zone changes may require mode adjustments.

The older the child, the easier and faster he will get used to getting up and falling asleep at a new time. It is better to prepare children under one year old for the change of regime in advance and a couple of weeks before the trip to shift the time of getting up and falling asleep towards the necessary.

Problem # 3 The child is sick

A child who gets sick on the eve of a trip can frustrate everything that you have been striving for for several months. Therefore, a week before departure, it is better to avoid crowded places, walk in cold weather, dress for the weather, and do not drink chilled drinks.

If the disease catches the child on vacation:

• You will have a first aid kit with you (list below), but it is mainly needed for the peace of mind of parents and for providing first aid. In a serious case, you should have:
• Medical insurance.
• Check in advance the list of clinics that work with your insurance company. Try to get to a large multidisciplinary hospital and get an appointment with a pediatric doctor. General practitioners who meet in a 2-room clinic rarely provide good pediatric care for a child.
• Have the internet handy. Self-diagnosis on the Internet is a dubious habit, but it will help you not to panic ahead of time and find out for yourself that nothing serious has happened to your child. In addition, the Internet will help you make sure that the medicines prescribed by the foreign doctor are really suitable for the child in terms of age and indications.
• Take the phone number of your local pediatrician and agree that you can call him on any question of your concern.

Problem # 4 How to feed your baby

• Convenient if the baby is fully breastfed. Then everything you need is always with you.
• For formula-fed babies, you will have to take the formula with you. The number of packs is not limited, at customs no one picks on a suitcase with white powder.
• There are no problems with the transportation of instant cereals and baby puree either. You can take several jars for the first time, and then try to buy something on the spot. But Google the range of baby food in the resort's supermarkets ahead of time. Get ready for the fact that baby food can cost 2-3 times more than in Russia.
• You can rent an apartment with a kitchen or take a multicooker and a blender with you. (If you want to spend your rest time cooking, of course.) In this case, do not forget about cereals: buckwheat, millet, semolina and barley groats outside Russia are difficult to find.
• Do not rely on the phrase "the hotel has a children's table". Typically, this includes fries, nuggets, pizza, and chips.

Problem # 5 Airplane whims and other flight difficulties

Only dead sleeping children behave ideally in transport. You just need to come to terms with this. Remember: 6 hours of shame - and you are at the resort.

All over the world, crying babies are treated with understanding. But if you are faced with negative comments in your address, then invite the unhappy passenger to change seats. Remember that his displeasure is not your problem. Before becoming a mother, I was also very mad at the sight of screaming children. Now I am just glad that it is not my child who is screaming.

The task of the parent is to be able to organize the flight time of his child, to entertain him, not to let him get too tired of the flight. Children are different, someone will only be helped by a tablet, someone will be helped by food, another by drawing, another by a new toy. And it is better to have all the neutralizing weapons at hand and use them in turn.

Some airplane life hacks:

• Food is great fun. Passengers with children are not prohibited from carrying liquids in the aircraft cabin. You can take mixture, water, puree, cookies, juice, dried fruits, fruits in unlimited quantities.
• Sometimes there is an incomplete load of passengers on the plane. During registration, you can clarify this and ask to leave you a free seat nearby.
• Putting a child's ears on is a concern for all parents. As a rule, children under one year old do not experience any such problems during takeoff and landing. Older children can be given a drink or Chupa-Chups. The use of ear drops or vasoconstrictor drugs is highly discouraged.
• Prepare little surprises for the child on the plane, but don't get them all at once. It can be a new book, not a very noisy toy, a set for drawing, stickers.
• If you are flying alone, do not hesitate to ask the passengers for help. Older women are usually ready to help out in difficult situations.
• Please be aware that your flight may be delayed or rescheduled. In this case, you should have baby food or the ability to get it. In addition, usually at airports there are children's rooms with cots, where you can comfortably put your child to bed.

Problem # 6 Huge baggage

It used to be that you could travel with one medium suitcase for two. Now you take with you a baby, a stroller, a bag with baby food, in one bag you carry a large package of diapers, in the other - toys.

Sometimes it is possible to rent a stroller and buy diapers and meals on site. This significantly reduces the amount of luggage, but is fraught with a tedious search quest.

Problem # 7 Resting will be exhausting

You need to understand that with a child you will not be able to sleep off all working weeks, you will not be able to relax in a restaurant with a glass of wine, shopping without borders and kayaking will also have to be canceled. This is not even a problem, but simply a reality given to parents with which you need to come to terms.

• Do not plan to visit everything at once, be in time everywhere and see everything. With or without a child, you will not be able to grasp the immensity. Make a list of must-see attractions in advance and scatter them throughout your vacation, do not leave everything for the last days.
• Parents can take turns on excursions. Or take turns sleeping late in the morning. And definitely take turns eating at a restaurant while one of you entertains a child.
• Take advantage of babysitting services.
• Take your grandmother with you on your trip. It is as if you left your child with her and went on vacation yourself, only it doesn't hurt anyone.
• Parents should adjust to the child's sleep and wake schedule, and not vice versa.

Problem # 8 Vacation will cost more

Traveling with a child under 2 years old has a significant plus - an infant does not need to buy a separate plane ticket and pay for hotel accommodation, which significantly reduces travel costs.

On the other hand, overpayments for comfort await you. You probably won't want to fly with 4 transfers to save several hundred dollars. And you probably prefer to spend the night with your child in a more or less pleasant hotel, rather than at the airport.

These are the most common problems faced by parents traveling with children. In my opinion, none of them is hopeless. For the trip to take place, only 3 conditions are needed: desire, financial ability and time. And the child is definitely not an obstacle to that.

What to take to the sea for a child

First aid kit

Means for treating small wounds:

• Miramistin or Chlorhexidine
• Brilliant green
• Bepanten
• ointment Lifeguard
• Consumables: cotton wool, bandage, plasters, cotton swabs

Remedies for stomach problems:

• Smecta
• Activated carbon
• Espumisan

Allergy remedy:

• Suprastin
• Fenistil-gel (for itching from insect bites)

Antipyretic and pain reliever:

syrup Nurofen

Motion sickness remedy:

Dramina

Into the nose:

• Aquamaris
• Nazivin

When teething:

• Viburcol
• Calgel

Other:

• Digital Thermometer
• Aspirator
• Calming herbs

Children's cosmetics and hygiene products:

• Shampoo
• Baby soap
• Wet wipes
• Dry wipes
• Moisturizing baby cream
• Diaper cream
• Diapers
• Nail scissors
• Sunscreen
• Toothpaste and brush

Feeding supplies:

• Bib bibs
• Set of children's dishes
• Bottle
• Bottle brush
• Detergent for washing baby dishes
• Container for storing mixture, dry porridge
• Thermos
• Drinking cup
• Nibler

Other important things:

• Sling, ergo backpack or hipseat
• Towel
• Swimming circle
• Thermometer for water
• Favorite toys
• Diaper
• Means for the safety of space: plugs in sockets, soft corner pads, blockers for cabinets and nightstands
• Baby monitor
• Collapsible pot + bags for it

clothing

If you have no desire to do laundry on vacation, then take as much clothes as possible.

• Underwear
• T-shirts
• Shorts
• Pajamas
• Socks
• Sweatshirt or jacket
• Pants or jeans
• Beach shoes
• Outdoor shoes
• Headdress
• Swimwear (swimsuit, swimming trunks)
• Lightweight Long Sleeve Beachwear

Children's first aid kit by the sea

At sea with a child