For most parents, the decision as to when would be the right time to take their child abroad for the first time is an extremely daunting one. However, international travel is not something that should immediately be discounted just because you have a little one to consider – as many families that have taken the plunge and had a great time would be able to testify.
How old does my child need to be to be able to travel?
ABTA, the UK’s leading travel association, has suggested that as long as the child has had all their immunizations, they should be fine to travel overseas. If you are still unsure about this, you can always speak to the airline before you go ahead and book your tickets.
Even if your little boy or girl has reached the toddler stage, there are still many things for you to think about before you begin to plan your holiday.
The age of your infant will have an impact on the overall flight cost; if they are under two and do not require a seat of their own, you may only be expected to pay a small charge. Cots will need to be pre-booked so this is something that will have to be arranged in advance.
Be Well Prepared
There is quite a lot you’ll need to do before you go, so it helps to do your homework. For a start, you may wish to contemplate more family-specific vacations at a destination that has excellent facilities for kids. Researching this beforehand to find somewhere that suits your taste and choosing the right time of year to go can save a lot of hassle further down the line.
Depending on where you are planning on flying to, you will need to check if any particular immunizations are required for that particular place. This should be done a couple of months before you are due to fly. It is still worth taking basic medicine supplies with you, but if you are traveling within the European Union, a separate EuropeanHealth Insurance Card (EHIC) will be necessary for each of your children. This is important if you wish to be covered for free medical care while you are
over there.
While we’re on the subject of things that should be applied for in advance, your little one will need their own passport, so don’t leave it too late – especially with the well-documented application delays causing concern for holiday makers at this moment in time- and don’t forget travel insurance either. Children under two are usually covered on a family policy, but you will need to read through the small print very carefully in order to be a hundred percent sure.
It is also a good idea to plan your itinerary well in advance. When traveling with a small child you are limited in terms of flexibility, so great planning is essential. Your child will still need to have their nap time, be fed at certain times of the day, but this doesn’t mean you can’t still go sightseeing with a little preparation. It simply means booking in child-friendly tours and activities, and securing your Alhambra tickets for example ahead of time. This means the whole family will get to see these amazing places and you can plan your days to make sure your little one gets their nap time.
As you begin to do your packing for the trip, consider what you really need to take with you and what you won’t actually need. There may be times, such as at the airport, when traveling light is a godsend – especially as kids do tend to run off from time to time and so would be in a better position to react should this happen.
Navigating the Airport Scenario
As waiting around at the airport can be tough on small children in any instance, it pays to be aware of anything that could potentially hold up a smooth passage through to the departure gate. Printing your boarding passes at home is one thing you can do to make things easier on you all. It is also useful to find out if there are any special measures in force at the airport that are applicable to your flight. For instance, on some flights from the UK, electrical devices will need to be charged before you can pass through security. Be sure to explain to your little one what they can expect as they follow the screening process.
Tips for the Flight Itself
The experience of flying is something that can strike fear in adults, never mind children, so it is advisable to prepare them for the flight as much as possible. You could explain that it is quite normal to feel the sensation of pressure building up in the ears and by giving them sweets to suck on, this can help to put their mind at ease. Anything that can help to pacify your child and keep them
happy, especially on long-haul flights, would be a huge help to reducing your own stress levels as well as the other passengers on the flight. Be sure to remember to take a good selection of their favorite toysto keep them occupied for the duration of the journey.
Don’t forget to pack food for the flight in your carry-on luggage, just in case your little one won’t eat what the airline offers. You can also take some baby wipes and extra diapers too.
The advice from those who have been there before can prove invaluable, so it is worth perusing parenting forums to see how other people have handled this kind of situation in the past. You can find out everything, from the types of toys and activities to take for the plane to what would be useful to have once you finally get to your destination. Learning about the best ways to cope with these kinds of stressful situations can give you peace of mind, so you can actually look forward to the trip as an exciting new adventure for your young family and not something to dread.
