When the summer season rolls around every year, parents of young kids face a tricky question. Should you bring your toddler on vacation, or skip the stress and stay at home? It’s true that taking your little one across the world can cause various worries to arise, with many new parents feeling the pressure to get it right.
The thing is that nothing gives you heart-warming memories quite like a family getaway does. In fact, some studies even show how travelling is good for your health. So how can you keep stress low, and have an awesome time with your little one? Keep your eyes peeled and purses at the ready. Here’s how you can have an unforgettable vacay with your toddler.
Choose the right destination
There is a reason why some destinations aren’t suitable for young children. While many locations are perfectly safe for families, others have raised safety warnings over the last few years. This is why you should always research how safe a destination is before booking. Generally speaking, you should avoid large, busy cities when travelling with a little one, but this isn’t always the case.
Sometimes, taking a look at the safety index of each city online is a great way to keep worries at bay. If you don’t have the time to check, you can bet that beach destinations with family-friendly resorts are a safe option to go with- in more ways than one.
Book in advance
It is no secret that family holidays are expensive. The best thing about travelling with toddlers, though, is that you aren’t restricted by school holidays just yet. Make the most of term-time travel deals, and book in advance to get the best value getaway for your money.
The problem here is that you won’t have the time to search every day for the best deals. This is where all-inclusive deals become your knight in shining armour. Offering luxury and affordability in one, these packages even make travelling to places like The Caribbean easy. In fact, the best all-inclusive St. Lucia Resorts might just make your vacation entirely stress-free.
Keep them entertained
It doesn’t matter where you choose to go with your toddler: there’s bound to be some long journeys involved. This means that you won’t just need to keep them entertained while you’re away. Before you depart, make a list of some easy activities you can enjoy with your toddler when you’re on the road.
Many parents choose to download some child-friendly movies onto a tablet for them to watch, but you can also stick to classic games like Eye-Spy. It also helps if you have some nutritional snacks on hand, to stave off toddler hunger and the inevitable Are We There Yet?
Don’t overdo it
If toddlers teach you anything, it’s that they can have abundant energy one moment, and be fast asleep the next. It’s a great idea having lots of activities on hand, but you should also make sure not to overdo it.
No one wants to travel with an unhappy toddler, so keep them happy by sticking to some simple but fun activities during the day. For example, building some sandcastles together on the beach, or seeing some wildlife at the local zoo or aquarium. This will also ensure you have the relaxing getaway you’re hoping for.
Remember sun protection
Toddlers are known for their sensitive skin, meaning they’re more likely to get sunburn when you’re on holiday. It’s a given that you’ll be packing plenty of sun cream, but there are some simple rules you can follow to ensure maximum protection for your little one.
For starters, many brands do special sun cream for babies and toddlers, which is developed with sensitive skin in mind. Make sure to stock up on this before you depart. Aside from applying sun cream every couple of hours, remember to stay sheltered from the blazing, midday sun, and keep some flavoured water nearby to avoid heatstroke.
Take a personal first aid kit
If there’s one thing that should top your packing list, it’s a first aid kit. Every parent wants to avoid unwanted accidents on holiday, but tailoring this first aid kit to your little one makes this task even easier. When combined with top-notch travel insurance, this is one less issue to worry about.
Essential first aid kit items include bug-spray and personal medications, like eczema cream. If you’re travelling with more than one toddler (and more than one health problem), create small compartments to suit each of them. This keeps everything you need within reach if you ever encounter a problem.
Make some time for yourself
It’s true: family holidays are as much about you as they are about your little ones. You’ll have lots of time to form lifelong memories with your kids, so escaping for a few hours during the week is something you should never feel bad about.
Of course, this is a lot easier when you’re travelling with your partner or other family members, as you can trust your little one will be in safe hands. To make this time as relaxing as possible, book in to have a pampering session in a nearby spa, or take a relaxing stroll down the beach at sunset.
this is a collaborative post
