MOM’S TIPS FOR BETTER TRAVELING WITH CHILDREN – part 3

“Travel with two kids is always necessities, but not always luxuries.“

I try to help my children on long journeys as much as I can. We gave up traveling by bus or car in favor of the train. The main reason – Dorothy, does not tolerate traveling by any other means of transport, only by train she is able to survive for several hours without vomiting.

Our last trip to visit grandparents from the Czech Republic to Poland went perfectly. First, our coupe was full of preschool children. Which meant that such a group of kids would definitely not stay calm for long. They played, sang, changed places, and there was general chaos in our carriage. I didn’t have to ask the children to calm down and not walk around the train or sing because they would be drowned out by the larger group nearby. Patrick even managed to sing and play cards with them, making the trip go smoothly and quickly.

This trip was very successful this time. Not all of them look so unstressful, especially for a mother traveling alone with two children. My kids aged 3-6 are bored after 1 hour of travel, and how can they survive another 4 hours of travel?
Here, unfortunately, I am not on the side of parents who fill their children’s boredom with iPods or phones. I’m also not commenting on what this trip would look like if my children had access to games and fairy tales.

In this post, I will focus on giving parents some tips that will make your trip easier, bring down stress, and help you reduce the overall hassle of traveling with small children. https://littlepuzzlesandme.com/moms-tips-for-better-traveling-with-children-part-2/

Essential equipment when traveling with children:

In the first and most important place, after years of traveling, will be:

1. FOOD AND DRINK

I don’t know if it’s the same for you, but my children are never hungry before leaving the house. But all I have to do is get on the train and hear:

Mom, do we have anything to eat?

Of course, we have.

I advise you not to start with sweets. Prepare yourself normally, like a school lunch box:

1. sandwich,
2. some fruits – banana or apple – less mess is the best,
3. vegetables – carrots are always good,
4. dry snacks – crisp or breadstick.
5. all-drinking yogurts, fruit puree, veggie puree, etc. work very well.

To drink for 4 hours of travel we had

1. Two small bottles of water
2. Two small cardboard juices, everything was gone.

In the end, when everything was eaten, they were given small

1. chocolate bars. The energy returned, but it was needed before the transfer and the next, only 40-minute journey.

2. SPARE CLOTHES

Never ever think that your children are old enough and there will be no accidents while eating, there will be no dirty clothes, no spills, and no accidents in the toilet.

1. changeable clothes for a kid. Minimum of three sets in the handbag. Which will speed up finding replacement clothes. Necessary when traveling by plane, where the main luggage goes in the trunk of the plane
2. change clothes for yourself. Yes, dear parents, I’m thinking of you too. Always have spare jeans and a T-shirt. https://littlepuzzlesandme.com/moms-tips-for-better-travel-with-children-part-1/
3. plenty of wet wipes and tissues are always next to you.

3. SOMETHING FOR THE CHILDREN TO PLAY

1. children’s books,
2. coloring books and markers – great for my daughter, 3 years old
3. small, sticky office notes – for a 6-year-old son who is starting to write and paint pictures on his own,
4. water painting book,
5. book with sticker – STICKER is a good idea for any trip. You just have to be careful not to let the children use stickers for windows and seats on the train, or plane. Of course, I know from my own experience that they can do it and have great joy when their Mom can’t peel them off.
6. sketch pad for small children’s painting. Ours was cheap and purchased 3 years ago, and I’m surprised that it’s still functional after all the paintings. https://www.amazon.in/Erasable-Learning-Graffiti-Magnetic-Painting
7. smaller and cheaper toys – the best and recommended by me is from Kinder Egg Surprise.

My kids often lose their toys on trains or planes, and when they lose little toys, they don’t even notice. There is no drama, and you do not lose more money.

4. BEHAVIOR OF PEOPLE TRAVELING WITH YOU

When traveling with children, a lot also depends on the attitude of other travelers. There were unpleasant situations when every time Patrick started singing, the man next to me rolled his eyes. There were situations when a young boy wanted to sleep but couldn’t, so he changed cabins.

Mostly I meet good people: the couple who took care of Patrick when Dora and I went to the toilet – several times, of course. The gentleman who helped with the luggage and held Dora hand’s in the corridor when we were ready to change the train. Other parents who share snacks with my children.

It all depends on people and their experiences. Sometimes a small gesture, especially when traveling alone with children, is worth millions. Sometimes a stranger’s help when a child drops a toy is the most valuable thing in the world, and a simple smile of understanding from other travelers compensates for all our stress.