Travelling with a baby and children

[Bella1905]

Hi all, we are flying 3 hours with an 8 month old, 4 year old and 6 year old soon and I wondered if anyone has any advice for the flight and also for when we are away. Feeling slightly nervous about it and keeping them entertained, keeping the baby happy in the heat, food etc. Also we are all sleeping in one room whilst away which could be a nightmare as the baby still wakes for a feed a few times but we plan to put them to bed later in the hope it will help them sleep through and not disturb eachother. many thanks

For the flight, take more nappies, wipes and snacks than you think you’ll need, just in case of delays.
Take something to suck during take off and especially landing to relieve air pressure.
Try and tire them out before you get on the plane. There are usually soft play areas in most UK airports but they’re pretty small and only really suitable for toddlers.
The 6yo might enjoy the I Spy at the Airport book. We have quite a few in the series and my dc love them. Depending on attention span, may also enjoy Addict A Ball handheld marble maze - one of the best travel toys we’ve found. Also had success with scoobi strings and loom bands.
For the 4yo: sticker books, spot the difference, colouring.

Flight just make sure you have enough nappies, wipes spare clothes and snacks. Have books and colouring pencils, play dough, stickers and fidget toys.

re the room - is it too late to book a separate room for one parent and baby? It would make things a lot easier sleep wise.

The baby will be the easiest to manage. Make sure you have something to keep the older kids occupied.

Having three at different ages and traveling you know the hard bits which means you know about forward planning.
(3 hours is doable):

• Download tablet shows/apps now
• Pack snacks
• Bring a dummy/comfort item, or suck sweets the pressure changes mess with ears at any age
• Baby: feed on take off/landing (the sucking helps ears). Bring way more nappies than you think.
• Activity books (Usborne sticker books are gold)
• small toys wrapped individually
• Don't unleash everything at once
• Loose, breathable cotton during the heat
• Keep them in shade (hotel balcony, avoid pool/beach at peak sun times)
• Feed on demand (they regulate temp that way and a feed may just be a drink not a full meal)
• Muslin wraps double as sunshade

shared room:

• Baby wakes I would go to bathroom/corridor to feed
• White noise app helps mask each other's sounds my brother swears by this.
• Later bedtime might backfire if they're overtire extend the bedtime routine bringing them down to the quiet time from a full day at the pool my take longer.
• It's one trip. Sleep deprivation is temporary. You'll survive. Kids can surprise you plan for the worse and see if they adapt better or not, but you will know for future reference.

Food:

• Stick to foods they know, where you can even if they live on ice-cream and crisps, three kids = nightmare. It is not ideal but they wont starve, and ignore what you think others are thinking, trust me most parents has been in the same situation, if they have not they are the luck never to have gone throw it so they cant judge. You know your kids and what is best for them, trust that and try to relax a little and enjoy the time with the family. Time will fly and they grow up and not want family holidays.

You've got this. Nervous is normal.

For the flight, one of you sits with baby and one with the older two (assuming it’s a 3 seats in a row plane). Sticker books and activity books are usually good for those ages for traveling. Bring lots of snacks.

Unless you have 3 really good sleepers 5 of you in on hotel room could be a bit of a nightmare. Heat, different food, different routines could all affect sleeping, and if one wakes and cries in the night everyone will be up, or if one isn’t going to sleep. Could you upgrade to two rooms or one of the apartments where you have a sitting room too so there’s space to escape to with ine of them?