Travel
Surviving the journey
Sure, it's easy to say it's all worthwhile once you get there. It just may not seem that way when you're a mere forty minutes into the trip with an inconsolable 4 year-old and just one wet wipe and a half pack of cheese and onion crisps left between you. Well take heart, there are plenty of ways to mitigate disaster when you travel with children. The trick to organising stress-free, comfortable and enjoyable travel is to plan well ahead of your family's needs and have plenty of ideas up your sleeve to satisfy them.
Universally, a few golden rules apply:
If you are driving, get a map and study it before you go. Write out explicit directions from Point A-B (glancing at these directions can be a lot easier than looking at a map, especially when your attention is so easily drawn elsewhere). Plan to use motorways wherever you can. They are faster, less likely to cause travel sickness and the constant movement will keep them drowsy. What is more, most motorway service stations have a range of kid-friendly facilities including baby rooms and a play area.
If you're flying, remember both the airline and the timing of your flight can have a significant bearing on your stress levels. From the time you book until the time you land, the trick to flying with kids is to keep clear in your mind exactly what you want, firmly request it and keep on asking until you get it. The sort of kid-friendly services airlines offer can include designated flight attendants to care for families, play-packs, organic babyfoods, special pre-cut toddler meals, children's in-flight entertainment channels and pre-allocated seats. Charter flights may be generally cheaper and for some destinations may even be more convenient. The problem is that the later in the day you fly, the more likely you are to be delayed. Scheduled flights are more expensive for a reason. They always retain their precedence in the takeoff order.
Babies
Make your baby's car-seat more comfortable by placing a folded blanket under his knees so that they are slightly bent.
If your baby is in a rear-facing seat, tape brightly coloured posters or photographs to the seat for visual stimulation. Minimise moments of chaos by tying favourite toys onto the car-seat itself (just make sure the string is short enough to avoid him wrapping it around his neck.)
If your baby starts crying once you are on the road and you are unable to stop, a gentle chest rub and softly spoken nursery rhyme can work wonders.
A bottle and food warmer that plugs into a cigarette lighter is ideal for meals on the move.
If you're flying bear in mind that even with just one piece of hand luggage most of your things will need to be stored in an overhead locker that's hard to get at. Keep the paraphernalia you know that you are going to need in one small accessible bag that fits just under your seat.
Small babies are much more sensitive to air-pressure as the plane climbs and descends. Crying helps clear their ears, though you may prefer to give them a drink, as swallowing has the same calming effect.
It is worth knowing that pushchairs are carried free on airlines and can often be taken right up to the point of boarding. Officially, though, carrycots are not supposed to be brought aboard (though airlines will often concede so long as they are collapsible) Availability permitting, you're best off pre-booking a sky cot or bassinet. If you can't be certain of one (charter planes rarely have bassinets) arrive early for check-in and ensure you ask for bulkhead seats. This provides enough room to park your sleeping baby between your feet and the bulkhead, allows room for changing, plus a mini play-area out of the aisle.
Toddlers
First off, don't mess with an established nap schedule. You may think that keeping your little one up through the morning nap means he'll take a longer afternoon nap on the plane but you'd be wrong! You'll just wind up with an overtired, crab-faced monster.
Leave for road trips before dawn. Put sleeping toddlers in the car still in their PJs and wrapped in their duvets and you'll be a good three hours down the road before they even start to stir.
Little ones soon tire of endless hours strapped into a seat. Bear in mind they can't bend over to retrieve dropped items, they can't twist and look around as much as they would like and, what is more, they are boiling over with energy. Try to change the tempo as often as possible. Alternate between sing-along tapes, telling stories, offering snacks and favourite toys and books. Binoculars are a useful diversion.
Surprise and reward toddlers for their patience. Ready-wrapped (use plenty of paper) gifts go a long way towards keeping them smiley.
If you are considering sedatives for a long flight, do be prepared for the fact that these can have the opposite effect, creating more of a grizzle than a snooze. Be sure to try out the right dosage before you fly.
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