what age did you find travelling with children easy?

[surreyisik]

Just that really. We had an international flight with toddler yesterday and DH and I look and feel like we have been dragged through a hedge. I have a few trips of a lifetime in mind for when he is much older (e.g Japan, India, Vietnam) but it seems so far away and impossible. What age did you find travel got really easy and fun with kids?

I asked my parents - they said 18.

Once they can enjoy TV shows on an iPad, use the loo reliably and be placated by snacks - 3.5/4? I have toddler twins and won't willingly venture further than an hour at the mo unless there's a big incentive.

I think it depends on the children and their temperament really. Weve been travelling with dcs since the eldest was 3 months, first long haul flight at 11m. It's not easy but tbh with some forward planning and plenty of snacks and toys it was fine. Eldest became fairly easy once she was 3 and was able to be entertained by in-flight films and do activity books. Our 2nd dc is 16m now and very wriggly, we've done long international train trips with her and she likes to have a wander down the train which would be harder in a plane. But we'll do another US trip with her within the next year to see relatives. I think most families we know are from overseas (we're in London) and we all just get on with international travel, the alternative is not seeing relatives for years so not an option.

Depends on the child. Mine was horrific travelling as he doesn't sleep in cars, prams or planes. Not kidding. We once had a two plane journey that took us over 10 hours with a coach ride in between and he didn't once nap during it whatsoever. Only at the hotel and in bed did he finally sleep. That was pretty awful at 3 years old! I've heard around 6/7 it gets better but not sure. Hope so!

Older teen years were good. We did a lot of road trips to places they wanted to go, and they had stopped arguing with each other by then (two years age difference). Plus they could help with the driving.

Probably 7+, once they are less messy and whiney.
Teens were brilliant to travel with.

5+ when they can sit for long enough. To be honest a lot of it is parent dependant, so if you aren't embarrassed about them acting out it's easier than for a self conscious 1st time parent.

Also don't book a city break, an all inclusive beach resort is so much easier for kids

Currently on holiday with my 4 and 5 year olds. Getting easier but still constant bickering and "can I have X Y and Z" every time we pass a shop selling inflatables at the beach. At least they're not running at speed towards the pool like they were last year though.

DS is three and a half and likes travelling, he’s pretty easy and adaptable but it’s more the mental toll I find tough, the prep, remembering all the things he’s going to need. Thinking up entertainment options for if he gets bored/grumpy/ scared on the plane etc and I’m not sure when that load will go away as it’s part and parcel of parenthood!

I think the other thing is you don’t get to relax after the journey because you’re still very much “on” and having to think about a million things as usual, just in a different place that’s slightly less convenient!

I still go on holiday though.

Depends on the child… my eldest son was always super easy. Better even at 3+ when he was potty trained and could watch a whole movie. We often got compliments from people sitting next to us that he was so quiet…

But my youngest had this tantrums until he was about 5 , where he just could scream his lungs out for an hour. I really didn’t want to take him on a plane ! But he has outgrown the tantrums and we did our first long haul night flight this year and he had the best time from all of us.

I think flying with teenagers isn’t the problem as they will mostly be watching screens and listening music. The problem is what you do with them when you reached your destination😥

We lived overseas all through our children's childhoods so had no choice but to do frequent longhaul flights and took ours all over the world.
From experience I would say that the toddler stage is the most difficult as they want to move around. I always found that as long they were not crying then other passengers were pretty good with them and us. TBF my two were good travellers and I can't really remember any issues (or I've shut it out of my mind 😁).
On overnight flights I would put them in pyjamas so that they knew it was night time. Always made sure I had plenty of their favourite snacks., small toys, drawing etc. Obviously once they're older they can have iPads and phones which will keep them happy.
It was actually the husband who was always the PITA to travel with... and still is 😂

My dc are 3 years apart and I've traveled regularly (alone as had uninvolved ex initially then was single) since the eldest was newborn. They are now 10 and 13 and I've never found it hard. Perhaps it was the doing it fairly regularly that made it easier. A once off might have been a bit more of a shock but 2- 3 was certainly the less easy time. Before and after that is a bit more relaxing so you're nearly there

Fwiw I'm talking specifically about the flights/transit in my pp. at 10 and 13 the actual holidays are hardest now than they've ever been thanks to the constant bickering