I remember a trip we made to Lisbon when Lucas was younger. It was unforgettable because the whole family enjoyed: Dad, mom and son. And I mention it because many times we forget that children on trips also need activities that they like. That time my son had his daily ration to chase pigeons in the city squares, contemplate their fountains and of course play in the park, which served to also visit the Monasteries and Cathedrals without doing the "performance" of those who only Children know how to do when they are bored and exhausted.
When we travel with children we cannot do those marathons to see everything as much as possible in one day. We must adapt to the schedules and rhythms of our children and this must be thought when planning the trip. In relation to this I found in Mothercare The Decalogue of the Traveling Child and I found it very useful for the coming dates. I transcribe it below: 1. Make sure that, wherever you go, the child always has the right temperature: without air conditioners or gas heating. To avoid inconvenient colds, always dress properly without much or little clothing. 2. On the beach or in the snow do not have much time exposed to the sun. The best, in the shade and covered with a cotton sabanita if it is a baby. From 6 months, you can wear a beanie to avoid sunstroke. And, of course, a good sunscreen cream (which does not fall below factor 20 and with water resistance). 3. If your baby is under 6 weeks, avoid long journeys. Pediatricians recommend not exceeding six hours. 4. The best means of transport is the car. When the journey is long, you will have to stop every two hours to change position and stretch a little. If you feel uncomfortable, stop and see what happens. Never take him out of his seat or cuckoo while the car is moving. 5. The child must be accommodated in the mandatory safety seat with tight anchors so that they do not come off in case of sudden braking. This chair will have to be adapted to its weight, size and age. Likewise, it must bear a label that indicates that it follows the ECE R44 / 03 standard (only security guarantee). 6. Try to have mono objects of much use such as a bottle of water, your usual milk (except if you breastfeed), spare diapers, some clothes and bibs in case you vomit and stain, plastic bags to put the waste, wet wipes, your pacifier and some toys. 7. Keep everything well located in a bag you have on hand. If they go loose by the car they would become projectiles in case of braking. 8. As a general rule, try to carry small objects and, whenever you can, use and throw away. They will save you work, space and inconvenience. 9. Do not offer toys at once. Take them out little by little so you don't get tired of them. In that sense, children under one year of age love rattles of different colors and sounds, cloth and plastic books, soft dolls, music boxes and objects of different textures. Do not forget a good tape with children's songs or classical music. 10. A first aid kit will get you out of many problems. It should not be missing a fever analgesic or if the gums bother you by teething, an ointment for the culete (keep in mind that being more sitting will be red), a thermometer, anise water for gases, physiological serum and ear sticks. And enjoy the trip!
