We continue with our Special Traveling with children in Babies and more, this time with some more tips to choose the right destination, based on The duration of the trip. Because many times the choice is not between beach or mountain, countryside or city, but between short trips or long trips.
We will never know how a baby or child takes a trip until we do it. However, it is not advisable to start, for example, with a trip to an exotic destination. With small babies, it is better to start with short trips, in which the displacements do not involve too much time nor the stay in the destination either.
Anyway, we all know cases of long trips with babies who have not suffered in any way. While we are attentive to your needs Sleep, feeding or attention, the baby does not have to be bad travel.
Of course, the change in routine (today I don't eat, I don't sleep at home) can alter your needs. If the journey is short, the baby will be more comfortable on arrival at the destination.
Short trips, nearby destinations
We decided on a nearby destination, which we will make by plane or cruise, by car or by train. The advantages are fundamentally those we have seen in the introduction: the routine change for the baby will be less obvious.
Also for parents, how not. Because it is not the same to make a trip of two hours than of five, do not change, pack up for less time, arrive at a place with a climate similar to the origin ...
Everything makes nearby destinations more comfortable and simple. This type of travel is ideal for first-time travelers: that's how we "train" and we'll take the leap later.
Long trips
Long trips (on the way and / or destination) involve better planning, and many resources so that the kids are well cared for and also entertained. Entertainment in the long hours of travel is essential, and we have already given you many tips about it. From the traditional “I see I see” to the new technologies at the service of entertainment, everything goes to have a good time and the trip does not become a “torture”.
Choosing the night hours to make the trip (or part of it) can mean a better rest and a minor alteration: the journey will (we) pass faster. That, if they sleep, of course; otherwise we will have an important "jet-lag" upon arrival at the destination.
Precisely the jet-lag is one of the consequences that we have to take into account if it is a long plane trip, or issues such as tourist class syndrome. If it is possible to take breaks and stretch the legs, they should be done every so often, about two hours. On the plane, by train or by boat, it is also important to move around.
The differences in climate of the destinations must also be taken into account. Do not forget to check the weather forecasts and load the appropriate clothes in the suitcase, especially for the smallest, so sensitive to temperature changes.
Exotic destinations
Exotic destinations are more delicate to travel, either we, our babies or children. Few parents venture to make this type of trip with young children, because it involves a very different environment from ours, in which we must take different precautions, depending on the destination, with food, water, vaccines ...
We must always take care of our health, be attentive to the travel kit, sun creams and mosquito repellents ... We must consult the vaccination needs according to our travel destination. We will talk about all this in future topics.
In any case, if it is your first trip with babies or children, I do not recommend these types of destinations, unless you have already experienced on the ground before and know what you are facing.
When there is no choice ...
Sometimes you can not choose and it is necessary to make a long trip or to an exotic destination. If there is no choice but to spend many hours traveling With a baby or a child, such as in a transatlantic flight, or disembarking in exotic places, we will have to take into account all the advice we have given in the previous sections.
You can survive a long trip. Although they have no experience, parents' peace of mind is also a grade. If we remain calm in any situation, in the unforeseen, in delays, at stops ... and especially if we make them feel accompanied, we will transmit a sense of security to the children, which will make them enjoy the trip more.
No one said traveling with children was easy. But we have to know how to choose the most appropriate trip for them and for the whole family, and the trip will become an enriching experience, whether short, long, or the mountain, the beach, the city, the countryside ... We will talk about it soon.
Photos | livingonimpulse and ToddMorris on Flickr-CC
In Babies and more | Traveling with children by plane and cruise, Traveling with children by car and train, Recommendations and good practices for traveling with babies and children, Recommendations for traveling with children: adapt to your needs
