Vacation with Kids: The First Four Years Are Perfect

Vacation with kids, in my opinion, is the best way to educate them and bond with them. My husband and I are very fond of travelling and before Little Miss A we would go for a small break every few months. I remember when I was pregnant, a lot of my friends told us, and this is the end of the enthusiasm to travel. Some said it is tedious to travel with a baby and some said there is no point wasting money as they do not remember anything. We disagreed on both and were sure we would continue to travel as much as we can especially till she starts formal school.

(You may like to read our post, How to Travel During Pregnancy)

Vacation with kids is for the experience and to be able to spend quality time without the stress of office and house work and other commitments. In the first four years of my parenting journey, we have travelled extensively with Little Miss A. From international destinations to wildlife parks, hills, road trips and beach holidays, we have done it all. Each stage needs planning and preparation of a different kind, and thus, I will discuss each in brief.

Vacation with a Baby in the First Year

The first vacation we took with Little Miss A was to Mussoorie, Uttarakhand when she was four months old. It was a no agenda trip and we had to pack all her essentials. The pram was a boon as we could take a walk on the mall road and she would sometimes nap and sometimes look around people. Except for a few hours of being cranky as she was colicky, she did not give any trouble. You can read our post, Tips for Travelling with a Baby to know what all to pack and how to plan the trip.

Often mothers do not travel in the first year because they are breastfeeding the baby. It is not a big concern and even on flights, it is not a very difficult task with some basic panning. You can head to our post, Tips for Travelling while Breastfeeding if you need help with this.

Vacation with Kids between 1 and 3 years

After Miss A turned one and till she did not start preschool at 2.7 years we went for many trips. Post that also we travelled as and when we could as we thought it was the right time to give her exposure and her playschool was very supportive as well. We took an 8 day road trip with her when she was 1. 5 years old. Many people had said we will come back in 2 days, but trust me, it was a fantastic trip and she had just started walking so she had a blast exploring places. If you think a road trip is not doable, you can find some simple things in our post, Road Trip with a Baby.

We also travelled to 5 international places including a cruise during this time. All needed a few adjustments and jetlag when we came back, but I do not regret any of those. My friend, Noor Anand Chawla’s post on 15 Tips to Enjoy Europe with a Toddler is a very helpful one to plan a fuss-free trip with your baby at that age.

Vacation with Kids After They Turn 3

After Miss A turned 3, the choice of destination and the plan of the trip had to be changed slightly keeping in mind her likes and dislikes. I will list down some basic tips which we keep in mind to travel holidays now.

Take it Easy

We do not plan a trip to a place where there is a lot to do. We have tried and planned vacations where we do not have more than one thing to do in a day or maybe no agenda and just relax. Places like Goa where there is not much to see, it is less stressful. We also have travelled to places like Udaipur and Jaipur where we both have been many times and there is nothing to see. We do things at her pace and plan activities she will enjoy. Little Miss A loves each of these reasons for her reasons. Goa so that she can swim a lot and play in the sand, Jaipur because she can see peacocks and Udaipur because the hotel had big bath tubs and Ranthambore because she can meet her friend, the tiger. Even if you do an easy holiday with them, you will be amazed to see how much they absorb and learn.

Hotel Tips

We have a small checklist that we use when choosing a hotel. Keeping the budget in mind some of the following tips can help:

• Should be centrally located if we intend to move out of the hotel
• If a relaxed trip with no sightseeing, we try and do resorts which have activities planned for kids like a puppet show or painting etc. in the evenings
• As much as possible we stay for 3 nights so we get 2 clear days to enjoy
• If summers, a pool is a must and if not, a kid’s play area is a preferred choice. On a recent trip to Hua Hin Thailand, the hotel, Anantara had an amazing play area where they had activities planned for the kids which took care of a large part of the mornings.
• Another thing we try is to get a room with a bathtub. Trust me they can spend a lot of time playing in the water and it is like a vacation in a vacation for them.
• If we are travelling with friends with kids, our first choice is to rent a villa or an apartment as they get a lot of common space to play and adults can relax.

Each Child is Different

Little Miss A has been an easy child on holidays so we have been fine, touchwood. Her biggest problem with the lockdown is she cannot go for a holiday. (Today she said as soon as the lockdown opens I will go to the South Pole to see penguins). But sometimes kids can get upset with a new place or a change in routine. Thus, I would recommend that before you plan a long vacation, do a few shorter ones to see how the child reacts. Though most kids are adaptable, but it is good to check.

Be Flexible

On a vacation with kids do not get paranoid about rules. They do not need to sleep at a fixed time or watch half an hour of TV. It is a holiday for them and for you too. Carry some space-saving games and workbooks or some colours. If possible carry a ball as that can keep them busy for long including their pool time. Playing cards and memory games for kids by Shumee are a great option.

Conclusion

Vacation with kids is a learning experience for them. You see them grow every time you take a holiday. I know everyone has budget and time constraints, but it is not very difficult to travel with kids. I love to travel with my family and it is therapeutic for me. One tip common to all stages is to pack carefully and have all their essentials. Pack extra clothes and their toiletries. I travel with the travel kit from Mamaearth as that is easy to carry. Travel is a great gift for your child; even if they do not remember when they grow up there is something they will carry for sure and of course, the memories are priceless. As Pamela T Chandler said,

“When you travel with children you are giving them something that can never be taken away.. Experience, exposure and a way of life”

How did you like our post with V for Blogchatter A to Z. Tell us which the best holiday you took with your baby? Enjoy your Sunday and I will see you Monday with W. Take care and enjoy your weekend.