When to travel with your kids?

My first born had been to 9 countries before she was out of my belly. As a 2-month-old she was on a cruise ship to another country. She’d barely hit 4 months when she was flying for the first time to see family and friends in the UK. She was learning to walk and took her first steps in Iceland whilst I was 7 months pregnant with our second child.

“You’re mad!”

"They won't remember it! What's the point?" “It’s not safe to travel with young children” “Enjoy the baby bubble at home”

These were just a few of the absolutely unnecessary comments that followed, and to this day, people are still offering up this unsolicited advice even though I'm now a veteran at traveling with children, and my children are *shock horror* still alive and happy.

Look, the best parental advice I can give you is that you should be YOU. Show your children your passions. What makes you happy. What gives you joy. In my case it’s traveling around the world, flying, learning new cultures and languages. The more I was ‘molding’ my children at home, the more depressed I got. Being angry, depressed, bored, frustrated etc. is not great parenting. Your children absorb so much and do you want them to absorb from you that negativity or learn to live a life bored is okay? So travel it is, for us at least.

But really, when is the best time to travel with kids? And what to think about when traveling with kids? How should you prepare? And what kind of travel can you do? There’s not one right answer but I’ve definitely learnt a few tips here and there.

The biggest question I get asked is when can I start traveling with my babies and kids? Here’s some points to think through before you leap into your first travel with the kiddies:

1. HEALTH FIRST. I was extremely lucky to have healthy children although my second child had reflux that ruined our World Cup plans to Russia. If my kids had been sick and had important doctor’s appointments to attend, I would have put travel on the backburner. Remember to think ahead, and bring medications with you on your travels. Have a little kids first aid kit. You never know when your children might come down with a fever suddenly, get burned (sun or from touching something hot) and keep up to date on vaccinations and carry a copy of the vaccinations they currently have with you.

2. PASSPORT The next good place to start with your travel plans is sorting out a passport for your little ones. I pretty much had the appointment waiting when my kids were born. Passports can take a while in some countries and when your kids have double nationalities, its double the process, double the paperwork. More red tape, more waiting time, more problems. But on the plus side, more passports equals more languages, more culture and more travel between families. I guess we have to pick our battles.

3. FINANCIAL SITUATION I would always advise to buy travel insurance when traveling with kids. So many of our travels have ended up in a hospital or having to change flights due to someone vomiting or having fever etc.. Also to remember: when you’re on the road, you’re away from your own doctor. Hospital costs can be costly in different countries and I advise to have a small emergency back up fund. Safety first.

And the rest is up to you! Yes, YOU! Only you!

If you want to travel with a 1-month-old, then book the tickets! I was planning to be in a football stadium watching a World Cup match with a 2-month-old in a country that speaks a language I hardly speak a word of. Your imagination is the limit.

There are people traveling around with vans, buses, trains, boats with kids of all ages. It is not easy, trust me. Very often you get to see the city playground more than touristic destinations but who cares? If that’s what makes you smile, you’re going to see your child smiling back at you. They do mirror us in the end of the day.

Still not sure? You rather feel like listening to the old lady next door? Don’t worry! I promise to keep on writing you posts about tips for traveling with kids. I promise to share my passion with you and build your confidence to be a traveling parent. At the very least, I can show you that it's possible and provide a counter narrative to some of that unsolicited advice.

By Pajunkisu

Instagram: @pajunkisu