Family holidays are exciting, but getting everyone from A to B can sometimes feel like the hardest part.
Travelling with babies and young children means a little more planning, a lot more luggage and usually several things you hadn't expected. Whether you're heading off on a road trip around Ireland, catching a ferry, travelling by train or taking your first flight as a family, being prepared can make the journey much easier.
Here are some simple tips to help take some of the stress out of travelling with children.
Allow Plenty of Extra Time
If there's one thing you can rely on when travelling with children, it's that everything will take longer than expected.
Last-minute nappy changes, toilet stops, forgotten cuddly toys and sudden requests for snacks can quickly eat into your carefully planned schedule.
Give yourself more time than you think you'll need, particularly if you're catching a flight, ferry or train. It's much easier to entertain children while you have some time to spare than to rush everyone through an airport or ferry terminal.
Keep Your Journey Essentials Separate
Avoid packing everything your child might need into your main suitcase. Instead, have a smaller bag containing the things you'll want easy access to while travelling.
Depending on the age of your child, you might want to include:
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Nappies, wipes and changing essentials
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One or two changes of clothes
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Drinks and snacks
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Muslins or bibs
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A favourite cuddly toy or comforter
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Small toys or books
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Headphones for older children
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Any medication you may need
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Tissues and hand sanitiser
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A bag for wet or dirty clothes
And don't forget a spare top for yourself. Travelling with a baby has a habit of making that one surprisingly useful!
Pack More Snacks Than You Think You'll Need
A hungry toddler rarely makes a relaxing travel companion.
Pack plenty of familiar snacks that are easy to eat on the move, particularly if you're facing a long car journey, ferry crossing or time at the airport.
Having your own snacks also means you're not relying on finding something suitable at a service station or on board.
Keep water close to hand too, especially during warmer weather.
Save Some Entertainment for Later
The temptation is to hand over every book, toy and activity as soon as the journey begins. Try holding a few things back.
Sticker books, colouring, magnetic drawing boards, small toys and favourite books are all easy to pack without taking up too much room.
For older children, downloaded films, games or audiobooks can be particularly useful on longer journeys.
A new activity or one they haven't seen for a while can be worth saving for the point when everyone starts asking, "Are we nearly there yet?"
Make Long Car Journeys More Manageable
Driving gives you plenty of flexibility when travelling as a family, but sitting in the car for a long time can be difficult for young children.
Allow time for regular stops rather than trying to complete the journey as quickly as possible. A break gives everyone the opportunity to use the toilet, have something to eat and get out of the car for a while.
If you're travelling around Ireland, it can be worth looking at your route before you leave and identifying a couple of good places to stop rather than waiting until everyone desperately needs a break.
Keep your most-used items inside the car rather than buried beneath the luggage in the boot.
Prepare for the Airport
Airports can be fascinating places for children, but they're also busy, noisy and involve quite a lot of waiting.
For toddlers and older children, explaining what is going to happen can help. Tell them that you'll check in, go through security, wait for the aeroplane and then find your seats.
Before travelling, check your airline's rules for pushchairs, car seats, baby milk and hand luggage. Different airlines can have different allowances, so it's worth checking rather than assuming.
During take-off and landing, swallowing can help with changes in cabin pressure. Feeding a baby or offering an age-appropriate drink can encourage them to swallow naturally.
Don't Forget the Ferry
For families travelling between Ireland, the UK and continental Europe, taking the ferry can be a useful alternative to flying.
One advantage is that you're generally able to take much more of your own equipment with you if you're travelling by car. You'll also have more freedom to get up and move around during the journey.
Before boarding, pack anything you'll need during the crossing into a separate bag. Depending on the ferry, you may not be able to return to your car once the journey has started.
For a longer crossing, familiar toys, books, pyjamas and other bedtime essentials can be useful, particularly if you're travelling overnight.
Make Train Journeys Easier
Train travel gives children more opportunity to move around than travelling by car and can be a fun part of the adventure.
Reserve seats in advance where possible, particularly when travelling during busy periods. A table can be useful for colouring, games and snacks.
Keep your travel bag somewhere accessible and try not to bring more onto the train than you can comfortably manage alongside your children.
For longer journeys, splitting the trip into little stages can also help. A snack after one stop, a book later and a game towards the end can make the journey feel much shorter.
Bring Something Familiar from Home
New places, different beds and unfamiliar routines can be a lot for babies and toddlers to take in.
Packing a few familiar things can make being away from home feel less strange. A favourite cuddly toy, comforter, book or familiar sleepwear can all provide some consistency.
If your child normally sleeps in a baby sleeping bag or sleeping bag with feet, taking it with you can also help keep part of their usual bedtime routine familiar once you arrive.
Be Ready for Travel Sickness
If your child is prone to travel sickness, preparation can save a lot of stress.
Keep spare clothes, wipes and a suitable bag somewhere you can reach quickly rather than in the boot or checked luggage.
In the car, some children find it helpful to look out of the window rather than down at books or screens. Regular breaks and fresh air may also help.
If travel sickness happens regularly or you're considering medication, ask your pharmacist or healthcare professional what's suitable for your child's age.
Don't Try to Make the Journey Perfect
Even the best-planned family journey can go off course.
Flights get delayed. Traffic appears from nowhere. Toddlers decide they need the toilet five minutes after you've left the service station.
Give yourself permission to change the plan when you need to. Take another break, bring out the emergency snack or abandon the activity nobody is enjoying.
The aim isn't a perfectly organised journey. It's simply getting everyone there as comfortably as possible.
Enjoy the Adventure
Travelling with children becomes easier the more you do it. You'll soon learn what really deserves a place in the travel bag, which snacks work best and which toys actually keep your child entertained.
Allow plenty of time, keep the important things within reach and remember that the journey is part of the holiday too.
Before long, you'll have arrived – and all those "Are we nearly there yet?" questions will have been worth it.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I pack when travelling with children?
Keep a separate journey bag containing the things you're likely to need while travelling, such as nappies and wipes, spare clothes, drinks, snacks, comfort items, a few toys or books and any necessary medication.
How can I make a long journey easier for a toddler?
Break the journey into smaller sections with different snacks and activities, allow time for regular breaks and keep a few toys or activities in reserve for later in the journey.
How do you entertain children while travelling?
Books, stickers, colouring, small toys, audiobooks and age-appropriate films or games can all help. Introduce activities gradually rather than giving children everything at the beginning of the journey.
What should I take on a ferry with children?
Pack a separate bag with everything you'll need during the crossing, including snacks, drinks, spare clothes, nappies if required, entertainment and comfort items. If you're travelling overnight, include familiar sleepwear and bedtime essentials too.
How can I make travelling with children less stressful?
Give yourself plenty of extra time, keep important items easy to reach and don't try to plan every minute of the journey. Being prepared for delays, extra stops and changes of plan can make family travel much more relaxed.
