MANY families now travel during the holidays. These are precious days when the whole family can be together, enjoying new sceneries, without the distractions of work.
If you have kids, there is the decision on whether to bring your nanny or not. Strong arguments can be made for either side.
On the one hand, parents who bring their nanny will say that since it’s a vacation for the family, this allows them to also enjoy the trip. On the other side of the argument are parents who prefer to take care of the kids on their own during a trip. They feel that since their kids spend a lot of time with the nanny on regular days, it would be good to spend some alone time with their kids and let their kids feel their care even just for a few days. Either way, the important thing is for each family to achieve their objective for the trip.
Since my in-laws are from out of town, my kids have been traveling by air and land since they were babies. On our own, the first time my husband and I traveled with Meagan was when she was 3 and I was 6 months pregnant with Marcus. The farthest we’ve gone was to Europe when Meagan turned 7. So, yes, it’s been a roller-coaster ride for us since we never bring a nanny for overseas trips.
Below are some tips that I have learned through the years:
GENERAL TIPS
- Try to limit to two pieces of big luggage and one hand carry trolley. You can pack along a foldable duffle or sports bag if you need more room for shopping. This is especially true if your destination involves riding a train or when you travel to more than one place. I learned this the hard way. We brought a total of five pieces of luggage for a tour some years ago. We had to ride a train and just getting in and out, with two kids, increased the chances of us leaving a luggage behind. Also, it was very tiring for my husband because he had to do all the lifting since I had to stay with the kids.
- Backpacks vs kid trolleys or even none. There’s a big tendency for kids to leave their things behind. Also, you end up carrying their bag for them midway because they get tired easily. Although they look cute with their own bags, my husband and I now just put all their things in one trolley. Then I bring a big bag to put the basics, like wipes, snacks and extra shirt.
- No loose toys like stuffed toys. My daughter brought her pillow toy and left it on a chair in the airport. She learned her lesson. Today, if ever she wants to bring a blanket or pillow, it goes directly in the trolley and doesn’t get taken out until we are in the plane.
- Check the weather and double the warm supply for cold climates. It’s better to be over-prepared for snowy or rainy weather for kids, especially if it’s their first time. I prefer water-repellant jackets with hoods to sweaters. I always bring a turtleneck and scarf, to protect their neck from the draft. I also bring at least two big folding umbrellas if there is forecast of rain.
- Always have an antibacterial food-grade wipes on hand. This is helpful for cleaning the surfaces of plates, utensils or even fruits and toys.
TRAVELING WITH SMALL CHILDREN
- Pack double the expected feeding. Especially now with the traffic and flight delays, nourishment is most important for your baby.
- You have many options for sterilizing. You can opt to bring an actual sterilizer, or you can also use high-quality liquid cleansers when you are traveling. When my kids were babies, I would bring four bottles, one bottle brush, and one 200-ml liquid cleanser.
- Have their favorite songs or videos on your tablet or phone. This helps a lot during sleeping time.
- For teethers and pacifiers, if your child uses these often, have one or two batches ready in separate ziplock bags.
TRAVELING WITH BIG CHILDREN
- Clarify with the kids the rules and responsibilities before your trip. Tell them what you expect them to do on their own. Give basic ground rules, like always keeping near. I tell my kids that when we’re shopping and my hands are full, they need to put their hand in my pocket so I’m sure they are near.
- Pack books to read and paper to do art. This prevents too much screen time during trips.
- Expose them to new experiences. I’ve found that, although my kids started out quite averse to trying new things, each trip of guiding them through new things really opened their spirits. Today, they are the first to volunteer.
Last but not the least, I always end our trip with a talk of gratitude. I tell them that everyone worked hard to be able to bring them to this new place. They must show gratitude to God and everyone who made the trip possible.
Happy holiday travels to everyone!