I know the thought of travelling with children can be stressful, and sometimes, quite frankly terrifying! So I have decided to do a travel series with all my top tips, advice and essentials, walking you through each step of the planning and preparation, the travel, the holiday, the return leg, as well as how to reset once back.
So if you’ve got the urge to travel with your kiddos, but are feeling overwhelmed, please read on. My travel series is a comprehensive guide that will give you the toolkit you need for staycations, short-haul, and long-haul travel.
Preparation for a staycation
Once you have kids, it is impossible to just jump in the car or onto a train with minimal planning and preparation. Trust me, a list or two is the way forward! Planning ahead of travel can make your experience so much calmer, so that you can be in the moment and enjoy your trip with your children.
Pro’s and cons of a staycation
Whether you choose to travel a short or long distance within the UK, it is still beneficial to plan the journey ahead of time. The main advantages of a staycation are that you will have no jet lag or flight journey to content with! This in itself can be a huge advantage.
However, if you’re a London resident like me, the weather may not always be on your side, so be sure to pack layers and a brolly for extra measure! I remember when my daughter was 12 months old, we had to attend a family wedding in Birmingham, and we live in London! As you can imagine, I was riddled with anxiety regarding the travel and how many things I would need to remember to take along with me! But of course, we didn’t regret the trip and everything did work out in the end. A year later, we drummed up the courage to travel up to Scotland. What a beautiful place! I felt a little more confident about this trip as i could dig out my travel list to help me plan for the trip.
Planning for the journey
Have a think about how you will reach your destination and your mode of transport. Once that’s set, you can begin to plan the journey. For example, if you’re travelling to the Midlands, or further to Manchester, Lancashire, Cheshire, Cumbria or Merseyside by car for example, figure out your route and time of travel.
If you plan to take the train and have older children, you can go ahead and plan this journey. Do consider whether you plan to travel earlier in the day or later in the day. This may be dependent on your working schedule and other factors on the day of travel. Once you know travel times, it can be easier to plan the day of travel as well as pack.
If you are travelling with a toddler or school-aged child by car, do consider toilet breaks. For this, you really need to know your route ahead of time. If your little one naps, it can be worthwhile timing the journey around their nap time. Do remember to take along a portable white noise machine if your bubba sleeps with white noise.
It is really important to also factor in regular car breaks for long journeys. This allows babies to stretch their legs and get a break from the car seat. It is important not to keep babies in car seats for extended periods of time. Where possible, an adult should sit next to the baby in the back seat during the journey. Experts advice not to use car seats routinely for baby sleep. Short bursts of sleep are okay, but babies should always be transferred out of the car seat and into their cot once you are home.
Packing for the journey
Depending on whether you have babies, toddlers, or school-aged children, you will need to think about what they may require during the travel. So it’s easier to pack a small rucksack with their essentials and keep this handy. Here is where making lists can truly help you get organised.
BABIES:
Print off my What to pack in your nappy bag - Essential checklist below
TODDLERS & SCHOOL-AGED CHILDREN:
Of course, some items may overlap with babies and so you may still want to print off my What to pack in your nappy bag - Essential checklist. Don’t forget to take:
· Snugglies
· Entertainment such as toys/iPad & headphones/music playlist/audio books/Yoto Mini Player
· Hair ties
Packing for the holiday
Write down a list of what your bubba will need for the holiday so that you can start getting things in order. The satisfaction of ticking of your lists will help you feel more organised and prepared for travel. Always remember to pack essentials at the very top so that they are easily accessible when you reach your destination. It may be likely that the first thing your baby needs on arrival is a little snooze, so keep bedding and sleepwear within easy reach.
BABIES:
· Preferred toy(s)
· Bath toys and a bath thermometer
· Favourite blanket or comforter
· Travel blackout blinds
· Portable white noise machine
· Baby monitor
· Familiar bedtime stories
· Sleeping bags, if used
· Bedding/sheets from home can help ease the transition
· Travel cot (get your little one to have a few sleeps in this beforehand to ease the transition)
· Pushchair plus shade such as the SnoozeShade
· Sunscreen/sunhats
· Dummy
· Medication
· Feeding supplies
· Nappy supplies
TODDLERS/SCHOOL-AGED CHILDREN ADDITIONALS:
· Night light
· Sleep Training clock
· Sunglasses
· Entertainment/toys/books
· Rucksack for them to carry with their favourite things
· Snacks
Print off my What to pack in your nappy bag - Essential checklist for feeding and nappy supplies below.
Planning to stick to routine or go with the flow whilst away?
This is such a personal decision and is yours to make. Of course, many sleep consultants advise sticking to your little one’s current routine whilst away, which can help them to sleep and adapt to the new environment.
However, I truly believe that the holiday is for you too, and so it is absolutely justified to go with the flow whilst away, and let routines and timings slide a little. I promise that you can get things back on track afterwards. So have a think about what sort of schedule will suit you and your family best.
What if your little one normally attends nursery on the day of travel?
If your little one attends nursery, you may want to spare a thought about the day of travel ahead of time. If you are travelling later in the day, you may or may not want your bubba to go to nursery on this day. It depends on so many factors, such as your schedule, to-do list on that day, and your child’s personality and temperament too. Having an active day at nursery may help your little one sleep during the journey if you’re travelling later in the day, or overstimulate them and make them overtired, which could potentially make the journey harder. Like I say, it truly depends on your child.
So there you go, I hope my tips for preparing for a staycation lessen the stress and help you plan ahead. Go ahead and get that travel booked. After all, there are so many beautiful places to visit in the U.K. such as Cornwall, Cotswolds, Devon, Lake District, Norfolk, Wales, Bath and many more! Stay tuned for preparations for short-haul and long-haul travel, coming soon!
