Travel can be an eye-opening and enlightening experience for kids of all ages. It offers access to new sights, experiences, and foods while enjoying quality family time. However, traveling with kids can also be an overwhelming experience with long packing lists, unpredictable schedules, cranky children, etc. Still, you do not have to worry about such challenging experiences.
Besides, traveling has been made even easier for citizens of countries that qualify for Visa Waiver Programs like ESTA. So, instead of applying for a visa for your kids, all you will need is ESTA for children. This article provides a comprehensive guide on essential tips to help make traveling with children a breeze.
Communicate with Your Kids about What to Expect
Regardless of the situation, good communication makes things better and easier. Therefore, it is always important you communicate with your kids about what to expect before traveling. This way, they will be mentally prepared, thus helping reduce the likelihood of panic attacks.
Boosting Travel Safety
While ensuring comfort during travel, remember your child’s safety is paramount, especially if they have health conditions. Investing in a medical alert bracelet is wise. This wearable device can alert medical personnel to necessary information during unforeseen emergencies, ensuring immediate and correct treatment. This is an essential item to include in your travel plan.
Book an Early Morning Departure
An early morning departure is always best when traveling with young kids or toddlers. This is because early morning departure allows you to avoid landing or takeoff delays. Also, there are fewer crowds making it easier to maneuver through the airports.
Select an Airline Having Children-Friendly Perks
Family-friendly airlines are usually focused on ensuring that kids are happy and occupied throughout the flight. Different airlines will offer different kinds of kid’s perks, including an array of kids’ favorite TV shows. Also, they can offer kid-friendly movies with children-approved headphones and snacks.
Also, research whether your prospective airline offers boarding priority for persons with small kids.
Beware of Germs
Typically, small kids tend to sit a lot. However, you can try to avoid any travel-related diseases by keeping your kid’s hands as clean as possible. If you are traveling with toddlers, consider packing anti-bacterial wipes to sanitize their hands and everything around them, such as tray tables. Also, avoid sending your kids to the washroom without shoes. Also, monitor your kids closely to ensure they do not consume or engage in hazardous activities.
Plan Your Packing List
Planning your packing list guards you against over-packing while guaranteeing you pack all critical things. Therefore, you should consider noting down a packing list and ticking each item after packing it. Again, ensure you consult the checklist one more time before leaving the house. This ensures you do not forget the items that must be packed last minute, like phones and chargers.
Dress in Layers and Avoid Laced Shoes
Whether you are dealing with air conditioning, in-flight heat, or changing climates, you must always be prepared for drastically varying temperatures. Usually, toddlers tend to be highly sensitive to temperature changes, and some might make them uncomfortable. Therefore, it is best to dress them in layers to make changing easier. Also, consider dressing kids in clothes without buttons or zippers that could give them a hard time in the washrooms.
Consequently, avoid laced shoes but instead choose comfortable slip-ons. This guarantees comfort for your kids throughout the flight, thus, less disturbance.