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Tips for parents on how to take a vacation with a child
An experienced mom gives advice on how to relax with your baby and at the same time not earn a nervous breakdown, twitching eyes and insomnia.
I have always believed that my child is perfect. Not scandalous, not moaning, not capricious. You can negotiate with him. This was exactly until the moment when we flew to Vietnam. A lot of impressions and emotions literally overwhelmed the two-year-old daughter, after which she set the heat on everyone around.
Why did I decide to tell you about the flight by plane? It’s simple. If you are traveling by private car, then, in fact, do not bother anyone. If you took a bus ticket, you can also ask to stop. But if you soared with a child to a height of 10 thousand meters, where in addition to you there are at least another 200 people, you will have to make great efforts to ensure the safety of the child and the peace of mind of other passengers. So. Children can cry on the plane. No. They can cry! There are a lot of reasons. Someone has stuffy ears, someone is numb, someone is tired, and someone is banally afraid to go to the toilet. Get ready for anything right away. Stock up on sucking candy and motion sickness medications. If the baby is breastfed, breastfeed during takeoff and landing. So that the child is not afraid of airplanes, tell him in advance what and how you will fly. If the child is already an adult, it will not be superfluous to discuss the rules of behavior (for example, that you do not need to kick the back of the chair in front of him or jump along the aisle, depicting an Indian). Take water (including thermal water) on the plane to splash on your baby, relieving dry skin.
Don’t forget the pot in your carry-on luggage. Yes Yes. This is especially true for two-year-olds. As a rule, they no longer want to wear diapers, but they do not go to an adult toilet either. One friend of mine recalled how her little granddaughter, just a few minutes before takeoff, solemnly announced that she wanted to poop. No persuasion – to wait or to do it in a diaper, did not work. As a result, I had to take out the pot, put it on my knees and plant the child. Well at least the little girl complied with the request “to do everything as quickly as possible” without further ado. And literally a minute before the start of takeoff, the pot was safely poured into the toilet. Phew … As they say, it carried (and in every sense).
I will not write about how important it is that the baby has time to acclimatize in a new place (that is, it is advisable to travel to warm countries with him for at least two weeks, or better – for a month). I’ll tell you about something else. When choosing a route, pay attention to the peculiarities of the mentality and lifestyle of the local population. For example, when I flew to Southeast Asia, I was shocked by the attitude of the residents towards my blonde and white daughter. One had only to turn away, and someone instantly grabbed the child in his arms, kissed him, tried to feed him something (not to mention endless photos). It got to the point that Adeline began to shy away from other people’s uncles and aunts. And I knew perfectly well what to do about it – I had no idea.
Breathe deeply, you are calm!
Whether to take a child with you on vacation is a difficult question. Someone is sure that before the age of 7-8 (when the child will be able to occupy himself and will be more or less independent), children at the resorts have nothing to do. Some, on the contrary, are sure that the sooner you start traveling with your daughter or son, the more open they will grow to the world. I’ll tell you from myself. On this vacation, spent for the first time with a child, I tried everything for the first time, but I had no time at all, for example, just to lie down on a sun lounger. Well, figs with him, with a deck chair. But for the two-year-old daughter, the trip became a real impetus for development. She began to speak in sentences (of which “My feet are in the sand,” and “The sea is blue today,” prevailed), to sleep more calmly and, in general, to be more mature, or something. True, this was later, after a lot of emotions finally subsided and the daughter got used to the new place. At first it was hard. But this is only at the beginning!
For 10 helpful tips on how not to turn your vacation into a nightmare, see page 3.
10 helpful tips for those traveling with a child
1. On any trip, try to follow the daily routine that your baby is used to.… A nap is a must!
2. Be careful about new foods in your child’s diet. Sometimes even a harmless mango can become a powerful allergen. For safety net, take with you the usual food for the baby (instant cereals, mashed potatoes, milk in tetrapacks).
3. Be sure to pack a first aid kit. It should contain antihistamines, antipyretic, pain relievers, stomach drugs, brilliant green, plaster, cotton wool, bandage. Don’t forget to put in a thermometer and sunscreen. It will not be superfluous to pack depanthenol and the Rescuer cream in a suitcase. They are great for sunburn.
4. Be calm, but keep your eyes open! Small children on vacation are unguided rockets that fly in all directions at once. Try not to jerk the child over trifles, but watch carefully so that he does not get injured, does not eat too much or, God forbid, was not bitten by some dangerous insect or animal.
5. Water. Special attention here. A child can drown even in a puddle, while, according to rescuers, it can be difficult from the outside to understand that the child is about to go under the water. At the same time, babies may not scream and even not particularly hit the water with their hands. But at the same time they will sink!
6. Sun… Another dangerous friend who can become an enemy in a matter of minutes. Sunbathe (especially if you are in hot countries) before 11 am and only after 16 pm. Try not to be outdoors without a hat, and be sure to lubricate open areas with sunscreen. Many stores sell special shirts in which the child can even bathe. This is very convenient, since being in the water, we burn much faster.
7. Acquaintance with flora and fauna… Funny monkeys at the zoo, a beautiful butterfly on a flower, or the flower itself exuding a heady scent are all potential sources of danger. They can attack, bite painfully, or generally be poisonous. Therefore, make sure that the child does not touch them if possible. If the bite could not be avoided, treat the wound, give the baby an antihistamine and, if possible, show it to the doctor (you may have to give a tetanus shot).
8. Do not delay going to the doctor if you really need it… Any illness in a child can develop so rapidly that you will not even have time to gasp. And if the kid speaks poorly and cannot explain exactly what worries him, he will definitely not be able to do without specialists.
9. Forget about how you used to rest… Sleep until lunchtime, partying until the morning and relaxation on the beach … All this will have to be forgotten for a while. Rather, change to the construction of houses on the beach, running around the park, riding bicycles and joyful shouts: “Monkey!”
10. Have a rest! From problems, from work, from gadgets. Remember what you personally wanted most as a child? So that dad can teach you how to swim, and mom read a fairy tale? Organize this for your child, because our time is the most precious thing we can give to another.