Travelling with young children

Christmas is always a stressful time of year, made even more problematic by having to travel to family with your kids in tow. That said, any holiday where public transport is involved comes with it’s own set of issues, particularly if you’re the only adult being responsible for your young children.

This post should provide you with tips and must-haves for any journey with young children, particularly where a lot of distance is travelled on foot, such as around airports or train stations.

Both my parents and my in-laws are a flight away from our house in London, so I end up travelling on planes more than my fair share… often on my own with the kids whilst my husband stays behind to work.

After 7 years of this, adapting to travelling with one, then two and now three children to manage on these journeys, I’ve managed to get it down to a fine art, helped by certain key bits of kit I couldn’t do without.

So here is my best advice, but obviously do take into account your own circumstances and preferences!

I’ve put each section in it’s own post so you can jump to what you’re most interested in (summary at the end of this page).

Preparation, logistics and public transport when travelling with a young family

Suitcases and travel bags; recommendations for families

Packing for the kids; How much to pack, how many changes of clothes? (Upcoming)

Baby and child essentials to pack on holiday / vacation

Long car journeys with kids – road trip strategies

Surviving a family holiday sickness bug

Disclaimer: Please note that I have not accepted any payment or freebies for this article. This is simply me telling you what I find to be the best kit for a journey with young children, after a bit of trial and error over the years with my own money.

Summary

To summarise the above sections:

Prep and logistics

Plan your route and note down a few family-friendly spots at your end location. Print them or download them to your phone in case of no network.

How much are you packing? You can probably reduce it by 30%. If you can, take only hand luggage. It saves time and hassle.

Keep a daypack with travel essentials handy (tickets, ID, child entertainment e.g. book/colouring/toy, spare top, tissues, snacks, water…)

If parking is a long way from the terminus, pay for meet and greet parking to reduce hassle and waiting times.

Public transport: Research your route and changes. Are there stairs? Is there a step-free option? Is there a better step-free option?

Try and keep journeys as simple as possible and minimise changes. If it adds another 10-15 minutes, it’s still the better option if it saves you walking up and down the station with bags and kids.

Always allow extra time. It will take longer than usual with kids and bags. Allow extra, extra time if travelling at rush hour (and expect dark looks on crowded commuter trains).

---

Suitcases and travel bags

The biggest tip by far, in my view, is the Zinc flyte midi ‘scootcase’. Suitable for any scooter-age toddler up to tween/teen. It’s been a game-changer for us.

Next, get yourself a double rucksack (that just about fits the carry-on dimensions with a squish). Use the main rucksack for your holiday packing, and the daypack for travel essentials (by travel essentials I mean tickets, passports, child entertainment/snack supplies, nappies, wipes and spare tops).

If you have a baby or toddler, then the Babyzen yoyo+ buggy is fab as you can take it anywhere, even on a plane. I recommend a blackout shade as well.

If you have to check in a suitcase, get one massive one with four wheels and a hard shell, preferably not too heavy. It’s simply easier to push one thing on four swivel wheels than to juggle two or three smaller shoulder/pull/push suitcases.

---

Travel essentials for kids

Food related:

• Fabric chair harness (travel highchair)
• Water bottles (roll up ones are very travel-friendly)
• Healthy snacks
• Baby-specific and allergen-free food (if needed)

Sleep related:

• Tin foil (to use as window blackout)
• Baby monitor (unless everyone is in the same room)
• Familiar bedding (for smell)
• Favourite teddy

Entertainment:

• 1-2 small toys each (like a car, doll or pony)
• Colouring / busy books
• 1 Story book each (bedtime)
• Card game (e.g. Dobble, Uno)

Wash bag:

• First aid (Calpol, plasters, thermometer. Saline nasal spray for babies)
• Travel wash
• Obvious toothbrush & toothpaste, etc.

Luggage (see related post for more):

• Scootcase
• Rucksack for adult (with detatchable daypack)
• Pushchair/sling/hiking carrier (dependent on preference and type of holiday. If you take a buggy, I recommend bringing a blackout shade.

Hand luggage:

• Usual travel essentials (passport, tickets, ID)
• Snacks and water (see above for ideas)
• Entertainment (see above)
• Spare top for each child (spills WILL happen)
• Wipes & tissues

---