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.

Packing

How to plan a trip with a child

It's best to plan a trip with a small child around their routine rather than a list of sights. Below you'll find the order of preparation, common mistakes, fallback options and a short checklist before you set off.

First your child's pace and sleep, then the journey and accommodation, and only then the list of places.

— From the editors

Before you start

  • Your child's age and usual routine: when they sleep, eat and go out
  • How many days you have and how many will go on travelling
  • How your little one copes with the car, the train or long waits
  • The first-aid kit and vaccinations have been discussed with your paediatrician
  • Which adults are coming and how you will share the duties on the way

  1. Decide on the goal and pace

    Decide what the family wants from the trip: the sea, nature, visiting relatives or simply a change of scene. With a toddler, one main activity a day is plenty.

    Hypothetical example: the goal is a week by the water with no moving around, so you choose one place and don't plan an outing for every day.

  2. Choose a destination

    Compare the options by travel time, climate, distance to a doctor and how convenient the accommodation is. For a first trip, somewhere closer to home works well.

    Hypothetical example: between a sea two days away and a lake a few hours' drive away, the lake is the more sensible choice for a one-year-old.

  3. Think through the journey

    Choose transport that suits your child's rhythm and time your departure around their sleep. Check the rules for carrying children with your carrier; for the car, check the child restraint.

    Hypothetical example: if your little one sleeps well in the car during the day, set off right after lunch so most of the journey falls during the nap.

  4. Find accommodation

    Look for a separate sleeping area, a kitchen or at least a fridge, safe stairs and a quiet yard. Ask the hosts whether they can provide a cot and a high chair.

    Hypothetical example: a flat with a kitchen a little further from the centre is often more convenient than a room in a noisy area by the main square.

  5. Sketch out a typical day

    Plan the day around your child's routine: a morning walk, lunch, a nap, an evening outing. Choose places so the walk between them is short.

    Hypothetical example: morning in the park near your accommodation, the waterfront after the nap, dinner close to where you are staying in the evening.

  6. Pack using lists

    Split your things into a travel bag and the main luggage. The travel bag holds everything you'll need on the way: water, snacks, a change of clothes, a favourite toy, wipes.

    Hypothetical example: your child has their own little backpack with a book and a toy, which they carry themselves and are proud of.

  7. Prepare a backup plan

    Think about what to do if your child falls ill, the weather turns or the journey drags on. Write down the address of the nearest hospital and keep a free slot in every day.

    Hypothetical example: for a rainy day, find an indoor children's centre or a museum with a playroom in advance.

Common mistakes

  • Planning as many places as on a trip without children
  • Setting off before dawn and waking your child for an extra hour at the destination
  • Putting food, water and a change of clothes in the main luggage instead of a bag within reach
  • Changing accommodation every day: moving tires a toddler more than walks do
  • Not checking the carrier's rules for carrying children and pushchairs
  • Forgetting that parents need a rest too

Other options

  • If your child doesn't travel well, choose a place closer to home or split the journey over two days
  • If a first trip feels daunting, start with a weekend out of town
  • If there are several adults, take turns resting rather than doing everything together
  • If the weather lets you down, swap the days around: indoor places when it's wet, outdoors when it's sunny

Check before you leave

  • All the adults are clear on the goal and pace of the trip
  • The rules for carrying children have been checked with the carrier
  • The child restraint matches your child's weight and height
  • The first-aid kit and vaccinations have been discussed with your paediatrician
  • A travel bag with water, snacks and a change of clothes is packed separately
  • Favourite sleep things are in the hand luggage
  • You know the address of the nearest hospital at your destination
  • Every day has some free time left
  • Transport

    Car, train, plane and bus with a child, child car seats under the traffic rules and what to take for the journey.

  • Destinations

    Nature close to home, a quiet town, the seaside out of season, a country cottage, and how to choose a place for a trip with a toddler.

  • On the spot

    Routine, breaks, food, a plan in case your child gets lost and rest for parents in a new place.

Sources

  • Russian Road Traffic Regulations, section 22.9
  • Carriers' rules (in general terms)
  • 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.