Let’s first bust the myth that motherhood sounds the death knell for your travelling days. Yes, there’s no denying that life irrevocably changes, and you’ve got to take it all in your stride. You can’t just drop everything on a whim and sail off on a beach vacation. There are school schedules to consider. as well as concerns that it might be tougher on you to look after your child away from home without familiar support systems. That being said, you can also look at things from a different perspective; travelling with kids can offer a bonding experience, creating memories that are for a lifetime. All it takes is some precision, planning… and a little bit of enthusiasm!
Saakshi Gulati, Co-Founder of ‘Travel with Kids’, a travel company committed to making the lives of mothers who want to travel easier, has a few pointers:
• Pack smart and light. But in the bargain, don’t forget the essentials - especially medicines. These are crucial when travelling with kids. I usually carry a light jacket for weather fluctuations as well as flights and trains, plus my child’s favourite snack and activities for long travel. Always keep an empty box handy, you never know when you’ll need to pack snacks on the go!
• Be patient and set realistic expectations. Try to stay in the moment and prioritise experiences rather than just ticking boxes.
• Involve the kids in planning the trip, starting right from the packing stage.
• Embrace the chaos. Sometimes things don’t go as planned, so be prepared to tweak the itinerary. Better still, keep a plan B handy.
• Try to stick to the child’s routine, especially with smaller kids who need naptime. Overstimulated kids can lead to a meltdown.
• If you’re on a long road trip, take frequent breaks so that there is some movement involved.
• Planning an itinerary can be a little intimidating, so seek help. Go with like-minded friends or join groups that specifically cater to moms and kids like ours!
Karuna Maitreyi, a freelance designer by day and an avid traveller, has two children, aged 8 and 4 respectively. She started travelling when her firstborn was just six months old, and hasn’t stopped since – taking both of them in tow now! She shares her experiences and tips for smoother travel with young ones.
• ‘Travel requires a fair amount of walking, so if you have a very small child, you’re probably going to require a stroller. Just because your current full-size one is too bulky to take along, it doesn’t mean you’ve got to carry your child in your arms everywhere! Bring a compact, travel-sized stroller along. You can borrow it from a friend, or invest in a budget-friendly one if you’re a frequent traveller.
• The temptation is always to pack our children’s best clothes so we have great pictures. This is absolutely fine, as long as you bring along a few old clothes, so that they can have fun and get messy.
• I love day travel, especially watching the rural countryside roll by on a train ride. After my kids though, I’ve always tried to book overnight train or flight travel whenever possible. This way you save an extra day for your destination, plus your kids are asleep and you don’t have to think of ways to keep them engaged! Direct flights are also ideal, as much as you may miss the buzz of exploring a new airport.
• When planning your itinerary, keep their ages in mind. Both my children enjoy vastly different experiences; the key is to pack in a little bit of both their preferences. Also, ask your kids what they’d like to do. Would you take a high heels girl out on a mountain hike? Then why do you assume each child enjoys the experiences?
• If you can, keep a spare change of clothes in your hand luggage. Someone may get sick, or decide to tip over an entire carton of orange juice onto themselves – or you (I’m speaking from personal experience!).
• Although everyone may not be able to afford this, hotels or resorts with pools are a lifesaver whenever you can book one. The kids are entertained, get in some exercise, and sleep better as well!
• Slow down a bit and don’t aim to pack in as much as you did pre-kids. Everything will take twice as long. They’ll want unexpected bathroom breaks, or may take forever to complete lunch. Learn to pace yourself.
• Don’t sweat the small stuff. If your child has stuffed themselves with a sugar doughnut for lunch and doesn’t have much room for anything else, it doesn’t matter. Don’t worry about what the world thinks and don’t take advice from anyone else.’
When you travel with your kids, it’s important to enjoy the experience more than anything else. Remember, they’re more resilient than you think – and so are you!