The bad news is that children aged 1 to 3 can be a nightmare to travel with—they detest sitting still and can’t entertain themselves for long periods with books like older kids can. Gadgets like portable DVD players, hand-held gizmos and apps help with older toddlers, but we all know too much screen time is no good, and even electronics will only hold a young child’s interest for so long.
But this doesn’t mean you should put off taking a family holiday. A break from the daily routine is imperative and creates memories. For a trip that’s as stress-free as possible, here are our top tips for travelling with toddlers:
• Avoid long journeys and try to time car or train trips with nap times where feasible (many children nap up to about the age of 3).
• When they’re not asleep, classic games such as I-Spy and singing songs are brilliant at passing the time and keeping everyone jolly.
• Plan your route, seeking out places to stop so the kids can run off some excess energy.
• Invest in some mini-backpacks and kit them out with colouring and sticker/activity books and small toys—a mix of favourites and new treats. Cars, handheld figures and plasticine are all tried-and-tested bets.
• Try to avoid going away while your child is toilet training—it can make travelling very stressful for everyone.
• Even if you’re planning to spend a lot of time in your hotel and to take advantage of childcare, research your destination in advance for great family attractions and events on your doorstep.
• If in doubt, choose somewhere close to a beach—even in the UK out of season. Children of this age love the sand whatever the weather. If you find one that’s not crowded it’s easy to keep an eye on them as they dodge waves and dig . . . and dig and dig.
At Luxury Family Hotels, your family will feel completely at home so you can relax and still enjoy some grown-up time. You’ll find elegant yet comfortable interiors, locally-sourced food, spa treatments, lots of outside space to play in and superb childcare facilities.
Sponsored by: Luxury Family Hotels
Luxury Family Hotels has eight properties across the UK, your family will feel completely at home so you can relax and enjoy some grown-up time. Each property has elegant yet comfortable interiors, locally-sourced food, spa treatments, lots of outside space to play in and superb childcare facilities.
