Former midwife and mother of four shares the do’s and don’ts of traveling with kids

With spring firmly on the horizon, the start of the holiday season is upon us, but traveling with children can be as stressful as it is fun.

But now, a baby and parenting expert and writer has revealed her tips and tricks for surviving a long journey with little ones in tow.

Rachel FitzD, a former midwife and author of Your Baby Skin To Skin, told FEMAIL that taking a flight can often feel downright miserable, and instead suggested other forms of transportation for the family.

She shared her expert tips for making traveling less traumatic and more enjoyable with kids, including allowing kids to pack their own suitcases and bags.

In the meantime, he also advised to carry an essential ‘In case of accidents’ bag.

1. TREAT THE TRIP LIKE A MILITARY OPERATION AND PLAN A LOT OF PEE STOPS

Rachel advised, ‘Take a page out of the military manual and think ahead.’

She explained that children have short attention spans and “little twists,” so she told parents to pack plenty of easy-to-carry, nutritious snacks.

Plus, it’s great to have light books, games, and puzzles on hand.

She suggested: ‘Separate them into a series of goodie bags, which can be pulled out when boredom strikes or when you want a break from the endless “Are we almost there?” questions.

In the meantime, she suggested packing a separate ‘in case of accidents’ bag with lots of clean pants, pants, wipes and diaper bags, it will serve you well.

Even if you think it’s not necessary, Rachel encourages parents to always carry one of these bags.

She said: “Keep it handy at all times and never underestimate how many pee stops it takes on a trip with kids.”

‘My friend and I used to place bets and the record was 12 pee stops in two and a half hours.

“Sometimes you just can’t go to the bathroom and that ICOA bag will save the day.”

2. GIVE A LOT OF CLEAR INSTRUCTIONS

Parents are often very good at letting their children know what they don’t want them to do.

For example, ‘stop jumping on seats’, ‘don’t keep nagging me for fries’, etc.

The former midwife continued: ‘We’re not that good at telling you exactly what we’d like.

“We’re lazy and flirtatious and our kids have to try every trick in their book to see what’s acceptable.”

However, it is possible to stop all this guesswork and say it directly; like ‘we are traveling by train today.

“It’s okay to talk, read and look out the window, but don’t keep your feet on the seats or run through the aisles.”

Rachel explained, “Kids want clarity and certainty from you, so give it to them.”

3. LET THE KIDS PACK

The parenting expert suggested letting kids pack and carry their own backpacks while on the go.

She said: “Kids love choosing their own clothes, stuffed animals and games for trips and if they have their own kid-sized backpack, they’ll learn to think about what they really need.”

However, this does not mean that you give them full control of their wardrobe, snacks and games.

Of course, you’ll still need to take on things that they just can’t handle.

However, Rachel insisted, “You’d be surprised how much a few children can carry with each other.”

4. MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR WHEELS

“It’s easier to carry babies in a snug sling or wrap, which leaves your hands free,” according to Rachel.

“But toddlers and toddlers can’t walk at our pace for very long, so beg, steal or borrow an easy-to-fold but sturdy stroller with a front and rear footrest so that when little feet can’t give One more step, everyone can jump in and take a ride.

“This is how I transported my four through many busy train stations and airports: the baby in a carrier, the toddler in the stroller, and the other two in a ‘carriage.

Popular celebrity personal trainer Joe Wicks recently shared photos of his three children at the airport on his Instagram.

The 37-year-old, known as The Body Coach, was seen pushing the Babyzen YoYo2 stroller with his six-month-old daughter strapped in, with enough room for his older daughter to sit next to him, while his son sat on the retractable backboard. in the back.

There are many stroller options these days and many of them are versatile and compact.

5. MAKE FRIENDS WITH TRAVEL COMPANIONS

The parenting expert said: “You can see the fear in their eyes as you head down the train car dragging a screaming baby and a wild toddler – they look away, stare out the window and spread out in the only remaining seats. ‘

Rachel advises not to panic or jump on the horse, and instead encourages parents to stand their ground.

She suggested saying, ‘Hello, I see there are some open seats here and we’d love to join you.’

The former midwife explained: “Disarm and spell rather than fight and spite, and you may find an ally to entertain your tribe for a while while you drift off to a quick dream about how easy this will all be…in other 10 years.’