Hello, friends!

Paradoxical as it may sound, but your trip with a small child (up to one year old) can turn out to be pleasant and moderately carefree.

Why?

The answer is simple: babies at this age tolerate easy flights or transfers well. As a rule, children sleep most of the time. Plus, young children don't suffer from.

Important: try to arrange a comfortable place for your child to sleep and, if possible, adhere to a normal daily routine.

If the child still has enough mother's milk, this is another plus in favor of the trip. A breastfed baby will always be full and calm. The only condition is that troublesome fees and all kinds of excitement do not lead to a decrease in the amount of milk in mom.

It's a little more difficult with a bottle-fed baby. It is necessary to take a thermos with boiling water and dry mixtures with you.

Do not forget: ready-made milk mixture can be stored for no more than 1 hour.

It is best to prepare several bottles of dry formula in advance, enough for one feeding. If necessary, the mixture can be diluted with warm water and lunch (dinner, breakfast) for the baby is ready.

If your little one is already receiving complementary foods, baby food in jars, juices, instant cereals will help you out. The main thing is that this food is already familiar to the child and he likes it. New food takes getting used to. And on the way, the child's appetite can already deteriorate.

Note:

• If you are on an airplane, baby food cans may explode due to pressure differences at altitude. Due to the reduced pressure, jars of curd and yogurt can swell, while the quality of the product will not be affected.
• If you don't have a bag — refrigerator, do not take perishable foodstuffs on the road that can cause poisoning in a small child.
• When choosing jars and boxes with baby food, check at what temperature they can be stored (in your case, this is from 0 to 25 degrees).

• If you plan to walk a lot on vacation, purchase it in advance. It can be a comfortable backpack (it is better if it is a model with a visor and a raincoat) or (by the way).
• On the road, you may need baby bottles, a sippy cup, disposable bibs, diapers, antibacterial wet wipes, a travel kit with medicines recommended by a pediatrician, and others.
• Think carefully about your baby's wardrobe. Clothing should be for all occasions, as the weather can change dramatically.
• Don't forget to pack a few of your little ones' favorite toys in your bag to keep your child calm and entertaining.

So be bolder! Embark on your first journey with a small child. With good preparation, the rest will turn out to be unforgettable and bright.

And in order not to forget anything and check if you have done everything before the trip, use the memo "The first trip with children: documents, acclimatization, rules on vacation."

I spoke with many people who would like to go on a trip with a small child, but they are afraid of difficulties. Even if it is dishonest in relation to children who are sent under the wing of their grandmothers, instead of taking them with them to poke around in the sand on the Cote d'Azur.

Traveling with children will add problems, but based on my own experience of traveling with my family: my husband and 4-year-old daughter, I can say that there are much more advantages from such trips than disadvantages.

In this article, we will take a closer look at how to travel with a child: tips, life hacks, useful products for mothers with children and my short reviews-stories.

In the modern world, it is not uncommon for mothers to travel alone. The child has long ceased to be a burden and has turned into a companion who does not complicate life, but simply puts you in other conditions and changes the rules of the game.

When we travel with children, we not only satisfy our need for a change of scenery, but also significantly expand the child's horizons. The broader the horizons, the more opportunities a person has in the future. And this is one of the most wonderful gifts for your child.

Travel planning

© muha / flickr.com / CC BY 2.0

Slow down the pace

If you are traveling with a child for the first time, then you need to plan your trip in advance at a more relaxed pace than if you were traveling alone.

The less things you take with you, the better.

You cannot do without games for children on the journey, but you can not drag the entire chest with toys, but limit yourself to just a few of the most beloved ones. I watched Lilia (my daughter) play with stones, sometimes she talked to them, and sometimes, along with the leaves, she turned them into currency and tried to buy ice cream from me.

For Lilia, I always take on the road a drawing board, a magnifying glass, because she loves to look at insects in it, and indeed everything, plus a set for creativity.

During our walks, we regularly collect various beautiful sticks, plants, shells and sponges, which we later use to create crafts using a creative kit.

Also, when traveling, children can be entertained with soap bubbles. Simply, inexpensively, takes up little space and as soon as you blow out the first bubbles, in just a second you get overgrown with laughing children who are trying to burst as many iridescent balls as possible. Shampoo with water will make this entertainment almost endless.

Prepare your children for the trip

First you need to decide where to go on vacation with children. I understand that many people want to go to the sea with a child in winter, but Asian countries are not the best choice due to low sanitary conditions and malaria. Let the little man gain a foothold in life. A beach holiday can be organized while traveling in Europe.

With older children, everything is easier and more interesting. On a trip for the New Year holidays, you can visit Veliky Ustyug or Finland. Children will be delighted with the meeting with the "real" Santa Claus or Santa for the New Year.

Another important question - when can you travel with your child? The answer is simple - at any time of the year. The main thing is not to take the child from winter to summer and vice versa. Temperature drops from -30 to +30 have not made anyone healthier. And if even adults get sick from acclimatization, what to expect from toddlers? Safety for children should always come first.

© ankor2 / flickr.com / CC BY 2.0

Have fun

Preparing for a trip can be turned into an exciting adventure. You can explore together the maps, history, geography, customs, animals and plants of the place you are going to.

If the cuisine of the chosen country is radically different from the usual one, then cook several dishes at home or try something similar to determine in advance the tastes of the child.

Accommodation

It is often more comfortable to rent a separate apartment or house with a child than to stay in a hotel. It's easy to do this with Airbnb. Prices there are comparable to the cost of rooms in average hotels, but you will be your own masters.

If you prefer to stay in hotels, then look for special offers for families. Many large chain hotels offer free breakfasts and cots for children.

A full breakfast is included in the price of hotels above 3 stars, but if your child does not eat much, it will be a waste of money. If breakfast is not included in the price, ask the hotel for a "compliment" for the baby. Or take food with you on the first day.

Many hotels above 4 stars have babysitting and kids clubs where you can leave your child under supervision. Be sure to ask how many children are in the group and how old they are, what they will be doing.

It is difficult to find comfortable accommodation with children immediately upon arrival. Therefore, I advise you to be more flexible and book a hotel for the first 2-3 days, and then orient yourself on the terrain.

If you prefer to travel on tour packages, look for them on the website. It is convenient, you can find a tour without leaving your home, as well as consult with the manager for free to suggest the best option.

© [email protected]/ flickr.com / CC BY 2.0

Doctor

If you are going to travel with a small child, then visit the doctor at least 2 months before the trip. Consult about vaccinations, do not go for the answer on the forums. Be sure to find out your child's blood type.

Of course, you are wondering at what age you can travel. Many doctors advise against traveling abroad with children under one and a half years old.

It is better to travel with a child under one year old in your own country so as not to change the climate. The difference in time zones up to 2 o'clock will not be noticeable.

On the other hand, traveling with a baby is easier and cheaper. Up to two years old, you do not need to pay extra for a plane ticket and a bed in a hotel room.

In any case, consult your doctor.

Medicines

To travel with a child, you will need a first aid kit. What medicines to put in it:

• Means for treating small cuts and wounds (Miramistin / Chlorhexidine or iodine / brilliant green, cotton wool, bandage, cotton swabs).
• Remedies for stomach problems (Smecta, Espumisan, Enterosgel).
• Allergy remedies (Femistil-gel for insect bites, supravtin).
• Antipyretic or pain reliever (Nurofen syrup).
• Remedy for motion sickness (Dramina).
• In the nose (Nazivin, Aquamaris).
• If teeth are cut (Viburkol, Kalgel).

clothing

If you are traveling to a hot country, take light clothing made from natural fabrics for your child. Sweat irritates the skin of children and can cause a lot of trouble.

Prepare to change diapers three times a day, even if they have not been used.

You will need 2 sets of baby clothes for each day. Be sure to buy good children's sunglasses, preferably with an elastic band, so they will not fall off. Take a panama hat to cover the baby's neck.

In hot countries, it is better not to drink tap water. Boil or buy bottled. Teeth also need to be cleaned with bottled water. Place a bottle of drinking water by the sink.

If you will be shopping for food in a country with poor sanitation conditions, such as India, choose places with a lot of visitors. Then you will definitely buy fresh food, because it is quickly sorted out.

In restaurants, wipe the cutlery with a napkin if it has water on it, this will reduce the potential risk of contracting some unknown disease. Make sure that the bottles and cans you bring are tightly closed and only then give them to the children by opening or giving the child a straw. Avoid ice and salads.

Children are more prone to dehydration than adults. If your baby is breastfed, you will need to drink plenty of water to keep your milk slightly diluted. If it's very hot and you don't have enough milk, give your baby water.

© shaza_aa / flickr.com / CC BY 2.0

Visa

If you need a visa for your trip, then don't be surprised that the visa requirements for a child will be about the same as for an adult. Even the consular fee.

Many countries require a person to come to collect their visa in person. Those. you will have to travel with your child to the nearest city where the consulate is located to collect your visa. Fortunately, documents can be submitted remotely.

Standard set of documents: child's birth certificate, marriage certificate, signed and certified letter from the second parent stating that you can travel with your child. If the second parent is dead, a death certificate is required.

If the child is adopted, then you will need the appropriate documents. If your last name and the child's last name are different, then you will be checked more thoroughly.

Insurance

The insurance for the child is bought in the same place as for the adults. I use services and Tripinsurance. The latter works with Mondial's assistance (a company that will work with you directly in the country), according to reviews it is the most reliable in Russia. But insurance is somewhat more expensive.

On Cherekhapa, you can choose any insurance agent by comparing offers from several popular companies. And the prices are slightly lower there.

I think you shouldn't have any more questions about where to insure your child. If you have never taken insurance or are poorly versed in the nuances, then read the article. It tells in detail and in understandable language which insurance is better to take, what to avoid when choosing and how not to make mistakes.

On my way

© krsaurabh / flickr.com / CC BY 2.0

If you feel discouraged at the sight of a huge mountain of bags and suitcases, you can send all this joy with a transport company, and then just pick it up on arrival.

How to carry a child

Perfect for very young children portable cradle... It can also serve as a crib. Many hotels provide baby cots, but they are not always of good quality - with sagging mattresses and the absence of partitions so that children do not fall out.

Most of these cradles close and provide shade for the head. Very good protection from the sun and bright lamps at the airport.

In addition, there are travel cots that can be disassembled and easily fit into a special bag. They are suitable for children who have grown out of a cradle.

Another convenient option is a sling. You will have both hands free and you can quickly notice when your baby wakes up, sneezes, or has a tummy ache. Slings are comfortable, practical and take up little space when folded. They are suitable for newborns over a week old, at least 53 cm in size and weighing over 3.5 kg. Some have comfortable wide straps that distribute the weight and also support the baby's back and neck.

In addition, there are special bags for traveling with a child, backpacks and strollers.

How to make life easier

With older children, a watch with a GPS sensor is very helpful. For parents, the child's movements are reflected on a phone or a special device the size of a TV remote control, for children, a special watch or bracelet.

When the distance between you and your baby increases, the tracker beeps. If the child has taken off the bracelet, it also squeaks. If you cannot find the child, press the button - the bracelet beeps, go to the squeak.

Sterilization

If you need to constantly sterilize things for your baby, a portable steam sterilizer will help you. You can sterilize small toys, pacifier, etc. literally on the go using special sterilizing tablets.

Baby food

If you feed your child with formula, then, most likely, you will have to carry all this stuff with you in bottles and boxes. Because there are completely different manufacturers in the destination country. I would not experiment with feeding a child while on vacation.

If the baby is breastfed. Then you need to find out in advance about how they treat breastfeeding in public places in a particular country. If in doubt, go to a women's store or an expensive hotel, there are usually good toilets with rooms for mothers and children.

© [email protected]/ flickr.com / CC BY 2.0

By plane

Please check your carrier's carry-on baggage restrictions prior to your flight. Usually, there are restrictions on liquids, gels and creams - bottles should be no more than 100 ml. Exceptions are made for people who need to transport medications for children under 2 years of age.

The best way is to put the cream in small containers and take only milk powder with you. You can ask for hot water on board to give your baby a formula.

With many airlines, you can check in your seats online one day before departure. And some of them allow you to check your baggage in advance, and the next day you can safely fly with your hands free.

From what age you can fly by plane - your choice. Children over 7 days old are allowed on board. Traveling with children under one year old can go smoothly; in infants, most often, their ears do not get blocked. It's more difficult with older children. Their ears may hurt in flight due to pressure differences. To prevent discomfort, simply massage your ears.

Humidity is very low aboard aircraft, which can cause dryness in the baby's nose. In some children, this causes snot to leak. This is where Aquamaris comes in, a seawater nasal spray.

Give your baby plenty of water and something to suck on (candy, chupa chups).

By train and bus

On a train with a child, it is best to travel in a separate compartment, if money allows. It is very tiring in a reserved seat.

If you are traveling with several children, then agree in advance who will enter the salon and in what order. This will help make sure you are not leaving anyone behind. Agree in advance how far the children can go on the train and make sure they come back to you when the train starts to slow down.

It's the same story with the bus. But the child can also be rocked (use Dramina).

By car

It is safest to travel by car with a baby. Therefore, if you are not at home, then I advise you to explore the surroundings by car.

Regardless of the traffic rules of the country where you are going, always take a child car seat with you. Choose universal so that it fits with any taxi if necessary.

Drivers with small children will benefit from an additional rear-view mirror, which will allow you to see children well without turning around.

If you are traveling as a family, and the child is very small, unscrew the front passenger seat. It will be much more comfortable for mom to sit in the back with the baby.

With a one-year-old and two-year-old baby, you will need to stock up on entertainment for the journey. With 2-year-olds and older, a cartoon tablet or something similar will help you. Bring headphones to avoid distracting the driver.

© ajay13 / flickr.com / CC BY 2.0

In place

Not all hotels are ready to accept children, so you will need to make sure yourself how hot the water is in the taps. Check the locks on doors and windows. The strength of the partitions on the balcony, if they stagger, then ask to replace the number. Do the heated towel rails hold up well and tell the staff that you will not be held responsible if they break when loosely fastened. Cover the outlets with duct tape or heavy furniture.

Most hotels provide mosquito nets. But it's better not to rely on them and take care of it yourself. In addition to mosquito nets, children can be protected from insect bites by tucking them into bed in a lightweight, long-sleeved cotton jumpsuit and spreading repellent on it (not the baby).

Prepare in advance a list of activities that the child can do and offer him a choice.

For memory

In addition to photographs, there are many ways to help your children remember their journey. You can buy pretty postcards or magnets in every city. You can start collecting some pebbles, feathers, model cars or animals.

Your children may ask new acquaintances to leave them an autograph or drawing as a souvenir. When you buy toys for your kids that are typical for the holiday country, you will notice that the local kids are friendlier towards your child. Everything familiar looks more secure.

be patient

You won't call a friend who hates dirt, go on a jungle trek together, or ask a vegan to share a burger with you. So it is with children. Sometimes the easiest way is to ask what they really want.

Of course, your friend, most likely, will clearly and unambiguously inform you about his wishes, and you, understanding each other, will disperse, some into the jungle, and some into the pool by the hotel. It is clear that it is much more difficult to share interests with children. And there is a greater chance that they will fall to the ground with screams and tears. When Lilia throws tantrums, she tries to convey something to me. She may be hungry or tired. It may also mean that she missed her grandparents or does not want to travel at all. I am working hard to understand her.

Children adapt more easily

Traveling with a child is not such a difficult undertaking. Children can cope with many things on their own and do not have to constantly monitor them. Children adapt faster to new conditions. Sometimes children are more patient, kind and responsible than we think of them. They, too, are sad to say goodbye to new friends, but they learn this on travel just like we do. There is nothing wrong with that, we all have to part someday. Traveling is very developing for young children.

While traveling, Lilia learned to enter a crowd of strangers and turn them into her friends, even if they communicate in different languages. Isn't this an invaluable skill?

Sometimes it's hard for me, because I really want to save her from pain, and no matter how sad it sounds, pain is an integral part of life. I try not to crush her with care and constantly remind myself that I do not always know how it will be better. I see her eyes shine when she can choose what she wants and play by her own rules.

Isn't that what we all look for when we travel?

As a person who loves to travel, and who has visited 40+ countries, as well as a large number of cities in Russia, I have developed my own arsenal of life hacks that help me survive traveling with children and not kill each other.

If you want not only to gain new impressions, but also to relax, here are some rules that personally help me to survive and feel good on vacation:

1. The trip should be planned as detailed as possible and taking into account the characteristics of your children.

That is, you need to clearly imagine whether your child will be able to drive 11 hours in the car, if so, what is needed for this, whether he will be able to stay alone in the children's room in the hotel, etc. The amount of your free time depends on it. This also determines the infrastructure of the hotel and the like. Determine which hotel you need, what you are or are not ready to do.

For example, are you ready to cook, or do you want to take a break from the “household chores” that can gobble up your vacation? If, for example, you know that cooking does not bring you joy, but rather adds negative emotions, then "apartment" hotels are not suitable for you.

The more detailed you can visualize your future ideal vacation, the better the result will be in the end. My experience is to remove as much as possible all the household components in order to leave as much time as possible for “doing nothing”.

2. Take your grandmother, girlfriend or someone else with you (in general, who will agree).

The main thing is that this person should be able to stay with the children for a couple of hours a day and give you the opportunity to swim, go shopping, go on an excursion, go on dates with your husband and similar delights.

If this someone will live in the next room or at least in another room of a two-room suite, it will be doubly pleasant and comfortable to spend evenings and nights. And sometimes you can even "throw" the child "to spend the night" and spend the evening at your pleasure)

3. If you have a long flight or journey, prepare your child.

Tell him how everything will happen in as much detail as possible. Play on a trip, for example, play a transfer at the airport, what will you do while you wait, where to go, etc.

4. Make stocks (different).

During any trip, even if this is an excursion, you should always have at hand: drink, chew, an extra set of clothes (even 7-year-old children sometimes pee or douche themselves), wet wipes, just napkins, diapers (if used).

About diapers, I generally approach this - I put them in the car on a child up to 6 years old. Of course, only for the crossing, but it really helped not to stop at every intersection.

5. On vacation, you can "ban" everyone.

Not only are you having a rest? Use this. Sweets, cartoons for 2 hours, a little coca-cola, play on the phone and even ice cream. This is my personal "forbidden". The child is happy, I am calm and relaxed.

6. Do not be afraid to break the regime, do everything to make it convenient for you.

If you need to see something on the other side of the city in the daytime nap of a child, you go. Otherwise, you will later regret about the aimlessly spent vacation. Here, without fanaticism and common sense, but believe me, children adapt and adjust well.

7. Everybody in the queue!

Another important point closely related to the previous one - when preparing an entertainment program, plan at least one children's entertainment per day, or alternate (I like the second more) children's and parental days, for example, we go on excursions one day, another day at a water park, etc. .d.

8. Real devices that help out when traveling are, of course:

- a stroller, on which, in addition to the child, you can load a bunch of bags and clothes,

- a scooter for older children, especially if you plan to go on walking tours,

- as well as a folding bed with a mattress + hipseat (more about this miracle a little later). The crib is indispensable if you are traveling by car. It can be used both for its intended purpose and as a riding arena. It is very convenient and allows the child to travel "with his usual environment", and you get rid of the problems of finding hotels with cribs, worries, who slept on it, etc.,

- hipseat - our personal "help" for trips to places where the stroller does not pass or where it is better not to let the child run, so that he does not bang anything, for example, in a museum. This is a seat-stand that is put on a belt and a child sits on it. Suitable from 8 months, when the child already sits down and grabs the hipseat up to 2 years old.

8. Tune in to the fact that your children will have broken knees, wet noses, the mood of "whining", "hooliganism" and the like.

It will not be smooth, not according to plan, and every 100 meters you will need a toilet for a walk. Just prepare for it and allow yourself to experience it, and sometimes not pay attention. It will be easier for both you and the children. This will save you from the effect of unjustified expectations. And they can ruin your vacation! Like, “we still need to go to this museum, and be in time there, but because of you we will not be able to go anywhere now ...”

9. If, nevertheless, there was a trouble, your children are sick, then you should always have a minimum set of medicines at hand.

I have it, of course: antipyretics, entrosgel and enterrefuril from rotavirus infection (just a must have), nasal drops, warming grinders, bepontene, plasters, iodine and a nozzle sucker.

10. If you want to cut down on "household stuff", take as many clothes as you need so as not to wash or wash to a minimum.

This will save you time and hassle. Of course, there is no need to take out the entire children's wardrobe. I usually take 1 kit with me for 2 days, + 2- 3 additional kits

11. Always take with you a supply of baby food for at least a couple of days.

Especially if the child needs special nutrition and you are traveling to another country. You may not be able to enter the store immediately upon arrival. Or you will have to look for a store with the products that suits you, and here everything is at hand. Then, in a calm atmosphere, buy everything you need.

12. Block early climbs.

If you do not want to get up early on vacation, and the child, as luck would have it, jumps up at dawn, I suggest you this option: after the child falls asleep, put a whole arsenal of his favorite toys next to the crib. Then in the morning the child will be able to reach them. Let him play, and you sleep. It really gives me an extra hour of sleep in the morning!

These are some simple tips, I hope, will help you on vacation with children. Remember: the more you travel, the easier it becomes for you, and the more children get used to travel and possible inconveniences, and you get used to cope with it, and not pay attention to many little things.

Traveling is great! Perhaps traveling with children will not allow you to sleep well and read a bunch of books, lie on the beach, but a change of scenery is also a rest :). Therefore, even if you do not have much rest, at least you will relax and be able to “reload the battery”. This is often even more important.

Summer is ahead, great travels and new pleasant discoveries! Write, which of the life hacks were useful to you, and share yours!

And how to transfer the flight with a child as painlessly as possible, read

Alexandra Ugoleva, mother of two daughters, creator of the SHKAM project for mothers who want to remain mothers and not forget about themselves and their career (www.mamschool.ru)

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We often come across the fact that people who like to travel stop doing it with the birth of a baby. Sometimes these are rational and completely logical reasons related to health, but more often it is only fear and uncertainty. We have combined their doubts into myths, and using the example of our own stories, we want to tell how it all happens in our country.

Myth 1: Traveling with a small child is always a wagon and a small cart of things.

Of course, there are more things on a trip with a child than without him. You cannot feed a very small child in the nearest coffee shop, although that would simplify a lot. You never know when a change of clothes will come in handy or an order will come in to give out another toy.

We flew with backpacks, large and small suitcases, strollers. After many failures and successes, we realized what was worth taking with us, what to buy on the spot, and what to do without.

On most trips, our luggage is a carry-on suitcase, a backpack for walking around town, and a stroller. Sometimes it seems that when going for a walk to the park at the other end of Kiev, we take more things than to Barcelona. Most of the space is occupied by clothes and shoes, then hygiene items and baby things. Somehow we carried one toy for half a suitcase, we try to avoid this oversight anymore.

Vitya and I can forget our toothbrushes, and have already returned home with new ones more than once, but we compile the list of things for Mia very carefully, and in order not to miss anything, we check everything that we took, one after another.

In our suitcase, everything is folded into special baskets that one of us once bought for $ 5 on Amazon. So everything looks compact and neat, well, at the airport you don't need to arrange a wardrobe demonstration trying to pull something out. In separate compartments of the suitcase, equipment - batteries, wires and chargers. In we took an umbrella, which took some place - but we never regretted it.

Life has taught us to quickly take off the belts at security control, hide change from our pockets in a suitcase, and carry liquids in a separate bag so that with one wave of our hand we can put it in a basket at security control. Control staff often see milk and water separately. A child has a privilege: the size of liquid bottles can be up to 200 ml, in adults - up to 100 ml.

In our backpack we have things that should be on hand: laptops, documents, baby food. There are also a couple of favorite toys and a first aid kit (for adults and children).

The stroller is pretty simple too. A few months ago, we replaced the massive Anex Sport (which we also traveled with, by the way) for the compact Babyzen Yoyo. Both in Ukraine and abroad, we are always on the move, therefore a comfortable stroller that folds up in 3 seconds to the size of carry-on luggage is a must-have. At airports, we drop off a stroller near the plane, but you can always give it at the check-in counter as free bulky baggage. On a recent trip to, for the first time, we took with us a car seat (for traveling by car), which we put in our luggage. The stroller was taken on board as hand luggage.

Myth 2: Traveling with a small child means giving all the money in the world.

Traveling with three is obviously more expensive than traveling together. But here, too, there are some nuances.

Up to two years old, a child flies in the infant category. On economy airlines, like or, the cost of such a ticket is sometimes two to three times less than the usual one, and in traditional ones, like, such small children travel practically free of charge.

As for housing, here we have always put comfort above money, even when we traveled alone with Vitya. We use Airbnb and Booking to find accommodation, find baby-friendly apartments in or near the center, ask for a separate crib for the baby, as well as a feeding chair. In most cases, there are cots, a chair - less often. Before booking an apartment, we always read reviews (especially negative ones), and we ask tenants so-called “parental questions” about the noise level, temperature in the apartment, the presence of a blender or heater, and so on.

1 /1

We are constantly changing the environment, even if we are just waiting for the flight. Each airport has children's rooms, escalators to ride back and forth, chairs to sit down and watch cartoons, and a few favorite toys in your backpack. On the plane, they always smile at their daughter, especially grandparents - that's why she's having fun there too.

We adjust Mia to ourselves, but we do not force our rhythm on her. If she wants to stop to touch the horses, we stop and touch. If a sandbox is spotted on the way to the attraction - well, we stop and dig holes.

The spacious apartment we mentioned above is important. It is better to forget about two-story apartments, otherwise you will spend the whole trip on the steps, going up and down dozens of times a day with the baby by the hand. While one of us is preparing breakfast or dinner, Mia usually crawls or runs, and we do not worry about sharp corners and unnecessary things that will certainly be interesting to her. In Barcelona, ​​we lived in the apartment of a woman who collects CDs with Julio Iglesias and keeps more than 50 travel guides around the country. Of course, Miya accepted this challenge to consider and rearrange everything. In Paris, they once lived with a bathtub right in the bedroom, which became the main attraction for the baby.

We understand that everything depends only on us, and we make the trip comfortable for everyone: we run together in parks, look at the streets and neighborhoods, send postcards to friends, try different food and try not to freak out if something goes wrong. We bring up in ourselves and our baby a taste for life, and not just for food, and it seems that we are good at it. We show that there are no boundaries, and all thoughts about difficulties are, in fact, the same boundaries, only in the head.

Three brave heroines, who travel with pleasure with children, talk about how not to stop trips, even if a restless toddler becomes your main travel companion. Throw diapers and bottles into your backpack - and go ahead, show the world to a new person!

Alesya and Sasha (2.5 years old)

Visited Poland, Germany, Denmark, Italy, Lithuania

The first family trip happened when Sana was about 10 months old. I really wanted to get out somewhere, and we decided to go to Berlin by car: Minsk - Gdansk - Berlin - Dresden - Leipzig - Minsk. True, after this trip, we realized that it is still better to fly with a child over such long distances.

We usually do not select a route specifically for a small one, we just try to make it comfortable for all of us. For example, if the departure is very early, but fly from Lithuania, we arrive in advance and spend the night at a hotel near the airport. We try to adapt to the biological rhythms of the child: we leave Minsk when our son needs to sleep. It helps a lot to avoid unnecessary stress and tears. Of course, there are unforeseen situations, such as a queue at the border - here and a tablet with cartoons can be used.

Now the flight time is very important for us - no longer than 3.5 hours. This is the time during which neither we nor the child have time to get tired. For entertainment on the plane, you need to prepare in advance. Be sure to take something new (as an option: make a temporary exchange of toys with a friend-mom). It will be very lucky if the same petty friend rides nearby - you can meet, play, shout, who is louder.

The main thing is to be relaxed in any situation. Even if you are sitting all in mashed potatoes or trying to explain to your child that the sticker on your hand will look better than on the forehead

The main thing is to be calm and relaxed in any situation. Even if you are sitting all in mashed potatoes or trying to explain to your child that the sticker on your hand will look better than on your forehead. If I am calm, then I can always agree with my son, no matter how much he would like to climb into the seat in front of the passenger.

We realized almost immediately that we shouldn't expect anything special from a trip with a child. After all, you cannot predict whether tomorrow there will be a nap, whether he will be in a good mood or will start to cut his teeth. Therefore, you should just enjoy the moment.

In terms of food, it is most convenient with a child in Italy. In any institution there is pasta or pizza, which the son will never refuse. In other countries it is more difficult. Most often, french fries are offered as a children's menu, it is good if there is vegetable soup.

When we arrived in Copenhagen, we were immediately struck by the number of dads with children and ideal playgrounds: whole cities of houses and ladders. Everything is provided for the comfort of children. In Denmark, as in Germany, you can come to any place with a stroller and you do not have to lift it on your hands.

In all European countries where we were, there were no problems with the children's room. Almost every cafe, shopping center, zoo has a changing table. Often there were also wet wipes, diapers, cream, toys.

You can easily cook food at home or take it out, and then eat quietly in the park, watching the child turn circles

Yes, the photos look beautiful, where the baby takes the first steps on the sand, and happy mothers and fathers throw up and kiss the baby. The way it is. But there is also enough trash: coffee poured onto a light dress, broken plates in a cafe, a pile of sand in his mouth and eyes. Sometimes one change of clothing that you took with you for a walk does not help, and you have to run to H&M for new pants. You probably won't be able to enjoy food in a restaurant either. But you can easily cook it at home or take it away, and then eat quietly in the park, watching the child turn circles. If such entertainment is not frightening - no doubt you need to plan your trip. Especially now Ryanair has such nice prices for Christmas in Norway and Denmark.

Tanya and Misha (9 years old), Styopa (4 years old), Vanya (1.5 years old)

Traveled with children to Ukraine, Egypt, Turkey, Montenegro, Estonia, Italy, Spain, Mauritius, USA, Lithuania, Latvia, Lithuania, Mexico, France, Monaco, Cyprus, Cayman Islands, Jamaica, Bahamas

My husband and I love to travel. He visited more than 60 countries, I - more than 40. We plan the trips ourselves: we are looking for convenient flights, accommodation, we read reviews. With the eldest child, they first decided to leave Belarus when he was 2 years old - before that they were afraid to go on their own. By the way, that's why we started with hotels. It was good for the child there, but it was uncomfortable for us, because this kind of rest does not leave emotions and impressions at all, does not bring new knowledge. Therefore, at the age of 3, Misha flew with us to Mauritius for a month and a half - to a house with a thatched roof right on the shores of the Indian Ocean. At that moment, we realized that there are no difficulties in resting with a child. Therefore, they began to travel with their second and third son much earlier. The third son was born in Lithuania, so he made his first trip on the third day of his life.

We are not afraid of long flights and journeys. And children often tolerate them much easier than adults. The main thing is to come up with something to do with them.

We are not afraid of long flights and journeys. And children often tolerate them much easier than adults. The main thing is to come up with an occupation for them. So, for example, for flights to the USA, we always had audiobooks, cartoons, toys, and our favorite food with us. And children, if there are three of them, may well entertain themselves.

As a student, I lived in the USA for a year, traveled around Florida and fell in love with America. Now my husband's sister lives there, and every year we fly to Miami in winter, rent an apartment there in a house by the ocean. Children in the States really like: Disneyland and Legoland in Florida, a huge zoo, a dolphinarium, children's science museums, parks. And, of course, beautiful beaches and the ocean.

With a stroller in the USA, you can everywhere and everywhere, children are allowed everything: screaming and running in a cafe is quite normal, no one will ever look askance or make a remark. Very child-friendly. But there are no children's rooms in restaurants, for example. It is not customary to leave children there somewhere alone.

With a stroller in the USA, you can everywhere and everywhere, children are allowed everything: screaming and running in a cafe is quite normal, no one will ever look askance or make a remark

Unfortunately, troubles also happen on trips. In Mauritius, Misha was bitten by jellyfish that live on the cables of fishing boats. There was a big burn on my stomach. All is well with medicine on the island, there are many private practitioners. So we found a pediatrician and drove off. The child was screaming and hysterical, we could not understand what exactly happened to him. But nothing happened. We were prescribed an ointment, with which everything went away quickly.

Traveling with children is, of course, different. We carefully choose the place of residence, beaches, climate, car with car seats, flights. The main thing is to make good insurance. We have a very small first-aid kit for trips, we also try not to take a lot of things, only what is necessary. Everything else can always be bought on the spot. Our children eat the same as we do. I don’t buy canned food and I don’t worry that the children will be hungry.

The child is good where mom is good

People often wonder why they should take a child with them who is not even six months old. We believe that the child is good where the mother is good. Now older children love to travel with us: they ask a bunch of questions, get to know different countries and cultures, look at people's lives, try to compare, understand the importance of learning foreign languages.
To take or not to take the child with you on a trip is a personal choice of every family. If all together it is easy and good, then why not? If there are doubts and fears, then you do not need to look at others, you must first of all listen to yourself and your child.

Karina and Robert (2.5 years old)

Visited Lithuania, Kazakhstan, Russia, Germany, Czech Republic, Israel, Turkey

My husband is a musician, he often travels, so our whole family is very easy-going. The first trip with Robert turned out to be a lesson for us for the future. He was only 3 months old, but we decided to cover the distance of 2000 kilometers by car to get to Germany and the Czech Republic. Before that, he hadn't been in a car seat for so long. As a result, Robert spent most of the journey in my arms, felt uncomfortable and cried. Now we remember this adventure with a smile, but then we clearly overestimated the situation.

Best of all, we went to Israel. We were lucky in everything: from the airline (Transaero, where we were offered a children's menu, coloring books, pencils, toys) and ending with the weather (we flew in early May, but there was no extreme heat, it even rained a couple of times). Israel is a very family country where everything is geared towards children. There are, of course, nuances that you need to be prepared for. For example, movement on Shabbat: transport stops running around 4:00 pm on Friday and starts running only on Saturday evening. Taxis are quite expensive, so be sure to take this into account when planning trips between cities.

The only thing that we did not manage was to travel on excursions. They are not allowed there with small children, and for children it is difficult and not very interesting. And one more note: in Jerusalem, there are cobbled streets everywhere and getting around with a stroller is not at all an option. In this regard, I was saved by a special carrier backpack for children.

Robert and I flew to Kazakhstan twice. We lived in Alma-Ata - there are a lot of all kinds of entertainment centers for children, many parks where you can walk. But the main attraction is the mountains. In winter we went skiing and snowboarding (there are also children's coaches there). In the summer we just walked a lot, rested by the mountain river. By the way, in May, when we arrived, the tick season was in full swing in Kazakhstan. Which I, of course, did not know about. Therefore, I had to worry: little Robert and I myself are in the fifth month of pregnancy. I had to treat myself and the child from head to toe with protective equipment.

Relaxing half a day on the beach with a child under two years old is unlikely to work. Hanging around museums and galleries all day is also not possible

Of course, when you plan your vacation with children, you need to tune in to the fact that it will not (no matter how much you want) look like a childfree vacation. Relaxing half a day on the beach with a child under two years old is unlikely to work. Wandering around museums and galleries all day is also not a problem. Rather, the plan should include items to entertain children, create a comfortable and, most importantly, safe environment for them.

Still, it is very important to take your children with you on your travels. This teaches them to get used to a change of environment, movement, new people. But this does not mean that you need to shoulder the burden and carry the child everywhere. Just focus on what is more comfortable for both you and your child. And remember that what works for others may not always work for you. Then unpleasant moments will be minimized.

Text - Yulia Mironova, photo - personal archive of heroines