Early morning travel with children can be both exciting and daunting. Whether you’re catching a train or boarding a plane, ensuring a smooth journey requires careful planning and consideration.
In this guide, we’ll explore essential tips to streamline and troubleshoot early morning travel with children, making the journey enjoyable for both parents and little ones alike.
Train Travel
If you’re travelling by rail, you’ll want to book your seats in advance. This is the only way to guarantee that you’ll all be seated together during the journey. It also allows you to choose the seats that are right for you, whether that’s forward-facing, with a table or near to the luggage racks or toilet!
If your little ones haven’t travelled by train before, they’ll be excited, but the reality may not live up to their expectations! Watching videos together beforehand and explaining what will happen and how long the journey will take can help. If you’re worried about making it to the station on time, buying anytime tickets means that you have a backup if things don’t go to plan and you end up missing your train.
Plane Travel
Air travel with kids can be fraught, but with proper planning and preparation, it doesn’t have to be! Allow yourself ample time for check-in, security, and boarding so that you don’t feel rushed. Children pick up on their parents’ mood, so if you’re feeling stressed, chances are, they will be too. Arriving early will reduce everyone’s stress levels and give you extra time to navigate airport terminals. You should also take advantage of airport services designed for families, such as priority boarding and family-friendly security lanes.
General Travel Tips
During your travels, it’s a good idea to maintain familiar routines as much as possible. Of course, there will be times when your usual schedule is disrupted. Particularly if you’ve got to be up early to catch a train or a flight. However, wherever possible, sticking to your usual meal times and having the same bedtime rituals will make the trip smoother and more enjoyable for everyone.
An early night before your early start is a must for everyone, but if your child is too excited to sleep the night before your journey, don’t sweat it. It may mean that they sleep during the journey instead. Dress them in comfortable layers that can be easily added or removed and take a small blanket and travel pillow in your hand luggage so they can nap if needed.
A Family Travel Kit
Having a family travel kit can make your travels smoother. This doesn’t have to be anything fancy or complicated. A decent-sized bag with a drink, snacks and a few activities is a great start. Think travel-sized board games, paper and pencil crayons or books for entertainment and don’t forget to pack everyday essentials like nappies, wipes, and a change of clothes for younger travellers.
Knowing that you’ve got all that you need to hand in case of delays or a sudden attack of boredom will make the journey more enjoyable for you as well as for your little ones.
