Mdou41Orelon the road with a little one: a magazine about travelling with children

An independent magazine about travelling with young children. It is not the website of a kindergarten, educational institution or government body and is not connected with the former website on this domain. Check the rules for carrying children with your carrier.

On the spot

On the spot with a child

The first days in an unfamiliar place are a time of adjustment for the whole family. Here are the habits that help you keep to a routine, rest on time, avoid getting separated in a crowd and remember that parents need a holiday too.

A new place starts to feel like home once familiar rituals appear: the same bedtime story, the same mug, the same walk after breakfast.

— From the editors

How this section works: these tips work anywhere, by the sea, in a village or in an unfamiliar town. We do not name specific venues and do not give medical advice.

On the spot with a child

Four pillars that hold up a calm day on a trip.

Routine

Try to keep your usual times for waking, eating and sleeping, even if you're tempted to slip into holiday mode. A familiar order helps your child settle in faster and fall asleep more easily in a new place.

Breaks

Every hour or so of activity, take a pause: a drink, a snack, a cuddle. Tiredness shows before the tantrums: your little one rubs their eyes, loses interest in the game and asks to be picked up.

A lost-child plan

Before leaving the house, agree what to do if your child gets lost: stay where they are and ask a member of staff or a mum with children for help. For older children, put a note with the parents' phone number in their pocket.

Food

Bring familiar snacks and water, and introduce new dishes a little at a time. If you have a kitchen, cook simple, familiar food at least once a day: it's kind to both tummies and nerves.

Rest for parents

A holiday with a toddler is still a holiday if the adults don't forget about themselves.

Taking turns

Agree who looks after the child and when, so that each adult gets a little free time: to go for a walk, have a swim or read in peace.

Nap time

While your little one sleeps, don't start on the laundry or packing. These are the quietest hours of the day, so spend them on yourself.

An evening outside

If your child goes to bed early, choose accommodation with a balcony, a veranda or a yard where you can sit close by. That gives the adults a little holiday of their own.

Fewer plans

A modest, unhurried programme gives you more rest than a packed to-do list. Allow yourself to skip what you didn't get round to, and don't compare the trip with earlier ones.

Safety in crowds

  • Dress your child in bright clothes that are easy to spot from a distance
  • Take a photo of your little one in the morning so you remember what they are wearing
  • In busy places, hold your child's hand or keep them in a carrier or pushchair
  • Agree on a meeting point in case you lose sight of each other
  • Teach your child to say their own name and their mum's or dad's name
  • If your child gets lost, go straight to security, the venue's staff or the police
  • Places

    Parks, farms, waterfronts and museums with children's programmes: what your little one will enjoy and how to visit.

  • Routes

    Three hypothetical routes: a town with a pushchair, a weekend in nature and a week by the sea with a child.

  • Packing

    A step-by-step plan for a trip with a toddler: goal and pace, the journey, accommodation, daily routine, packing and a checklist.

Sources

  • Paediatricians' advice for travelling families (in general terms)

Information is correct as of the date of preparation. Carriers' rules and requirements for travelling with children may change, so check with your carrier and official sources before each trip.