As much as we would like to think otherwise, traveling will forever change once you become a parent. You can’t simply pack your bags on a whim and go to another continent for a few months. However, that doesn’t mean that it’s the end of your journey. It just means that you have to make a few adjustments based on your kids’ needs.
Hire a service abroad
Sometimes you want some alone time while on vacation. You can look for childcare services while you are traveling, especially when traveling to a country that speaks your language. This is best planned ahead of time because you may need to submit some registration forms before dropping them in. They would watch your children for just enough time for you to see a show or go to dinner.
There are also possible nanny services abroad that cater to expats and foreigners. You can find them by going through different social media platforms or by asking around. Some people even hire the nanny to go with them while exploring, so the caretaker goes with them to visit these sites to watch the kid.
While it is understandable that you want to have fun, you shouldn’t leave them in childcare for the trip’s entire duration. If that were the case, then you might as well have left them at home and hired a sitter there.
Manage your expectations
It rsquo;s no question that traveling alone as an adult is completely different than traveling with a child. No matter how behaved they are, there are just some places that you cannot bring them with you. Certain attractions have an age limit, and some fancy restaurants do not allow young kids inside. Some hotels and resorts even market themselves as kid-free for adults who want more quiet time.
When traveling with kids, it is important to be realistic with your expectations. Know ahead of time which places do and do not allow kids. Forcing your way will not end well, especially if you are in a foreign country. You should also consider what places they would enjoy going to. It would make it a lot more memorable if you visited a place they liked.
Managing expectations also means acknowledging your limits. If you are used to doing spontaneous hikes to challenging mountains, you may have to skip on that. You can still go to places like museums and art galleries, but don’t expect a kid to appreciate it fully. What you can do, however, is make it fun for them and use this chance to teach them something new.
Pack reasonably
Since you will be bringing an extra person who cannot carry their own luggage, you have to make sure you don’t overpack. It will be hard for you to move around from the airport to different places because you have to carry luggage for two people and hold your child.
A lot of Americans overpack when traveling because they often bring an excessive amount of clothes. In fact, 5 percent admit that they don’t always wear all the clothes that they brought. On top of that, their method of packing leaves a lot of space and is not efficient. If you are a parent, you would naturally prioritize your child’s needs, so you need to make a few adjustments to what you bring for yourself.
A good rule of thumb is to bring clothes for every day and a half. That means, for instance, you should bring two sets of clothes for every three days. This takes into account the fact that they get messy. If you can, consider just using the laundry or washing your own clothes at the hotel you are staying to save space.
Keep travel short
Unlike us adults, kids don’t always have the patience or tolerance to handle long journeys, especially in uncomfortable spaces such as overnight buses. For this reason, you should plan your travel to minimize the time spent on the road. Rest stops in long trips are usually few and far between. That would cause problems, especially for smaller children that regularly need changing.
Another thing that you need to worry about with kids is their patience. Some will get bored quite easily when traveling. You have to keep them entertained, or else they’d get restless. Many people have little tolerance for babies who cry for long hours, and it would be insensitive to disturb them if you are all traveling at night.
