Travelling with children

Half the fun of any holiday is getting there, right? Probably not if you have infants... There are the all-too-familiar cries of "are we nearly there yet?" as well as the logistical nightmare of juggling cases, buggies and grumpy children. And if you are travelling by public transport, things can get a whole lot worse.

But here at Reading Rooms we realise that parents deserve a break too and sometimes travelling with a small child is unavoidable. Here are a few suggestions for travelling with a little one:

Before the journey:

Pick a family-friendly destination. Never underestimate the attraction of a beach for a young child, but make sure the little ones are aware of the dangers of water. 

At Reading Rooms travel we have 20 years experience planning holidays for families and can advise you to the perfect accommodation whether it be a hotel or a private apartment.  Many managed apartments and hotels offer babysitting services, creches, kids' clubs and facilities for children. 

Don't forget that your child needs a passport. Since October 1998, separate passports are now required for all children under 16.

Be flexible and keep your itinerary simple. Booking direct flights and travelling at night so children can sleep through journeys will help.

During the journey:

Bring snacks and a water bottle. Children can get dehydrated during a flight and toddlers will not always wait for mealtimes. Pack bananas, raisins, ricecakes, breadsticks, juice, dried fruit and small boxes of dry cereal. Bring along baby wipes for little spillages and a bib to keep clothes clean.

If you are driving, break up your journey so your child has regular chances to stretch and run around. Make sure you bring along toys, blankets, and other familiar items from home to make your baby feel as secure as possible. Put some resealable plastic bags in your car boot or carrying bag. They are great for holding messy items like bibs, nappies, wet bathing suits, sea shells and half-eaten, sand-encrusted lollipops.

On holiday:

Plan just one major activity a day.

Bring along a basic child-proofing kit to use at your destination. If you are travelling by car, make sure your baby's car seat is properly installed. Use removable window shades to keep the sun off your child.  Bring hats and sunscreen for your toddler, and blankets and pillows for napping. Don't forget medicated cream for little cuts and scratches, sticking plasters, some after-sun cream for mild sun burn and Calpol for little sniffles.

Take along a goody bag with plenty of toys, snacks and drinks. Include favourite toys, games, books and some surprises. For toddlers, try puzzles, dolls, action figures, puppets, brightly coloured paper for drawing, non-toxic crayons, stickers for the car windows, story tapes and books. For babies, possibilities include shiny new objects, baby-proof mirrors, rattles, musical toys, soft animals, pop-up toys, plastic keys or teething rings. Start building your toy stash a few weeks before the trip.