When we are going on vacation with a child, we willy-nilly have a million problems and fears before our eyes.. And now, we are already sitting and frantically going over in our minds relatives who are ready to look after our child while we have to enjoy the sunny beaches. However, do not be afraid of air travel and frightening acclimatization? How to feed a baby in distant countries? How to deal with bulky luggage and - most importantly - where to find time for your own relaxation? We want to relax, our vacation is so short! But it turns out that not everything is so scary, and now I will share with you the experience of my friends traveling with their offspring..

Opinion #1. With a child, you can and should go only to the sea.

Many equate a vacation with a child only to a trip to the sea. In fact, they advise you to go there only if you yourself dream of it.. This is due to a couple of simple reasons.. Arriving with children at sea for the first time, you often find that they are terribly afraid of depth, waves, uncertainty and in general can not stand swimming. All this is accompanied by wild screams and crying, which undoubtedly attracts attention to you, but makes you not the most popular at the resort.. In such cases, the children agree to voluntarily enter the sea only towards the end of the vacation.. If you feel good near the water - and fine, let the child dig in the sand. But if you sacrifice a long-awaited road trip in the Rhine Valley or a bike trip in Catalonia for the sake of your child being at sea, it will be a shame..

Another reason lies in the fact that for the little man the most important thing is his parents.. Therefore, he feels good wherever they play with him, they smile at him and show the world.. And the kid doesn’t care - they show him the ancient temples of the Carpathians, the natural beauties of Bavaria or the architectural delights of Barcelona. A tired and beach-hating parent will become a much less pleasant companion for a child than an inspired, albeit a little tired, constant running around to the places of his dreams..

Opinion #2. Only "

Of course it's not. The only question is your enthusiasm and desire to organize a trip exclusively for yourself and in accordance with your needs.. Often, a beach found on its own will be cleaner and more deserted than the one provided “in the package”, apartments with a kitchen are more comfortable than a hotel room, the cultural program is more extensive and more fun than the one invented by the tour operator.

Opinion #3. Traveling with a child requires a car.

Not all babies are perfect in a car seat.. Explore Europe by train (for example, along the Amalfi Coast - both gorgeous views and good shopping) or arrange a trip by bus. Plan for each transfer to last no more than three to four hours so that the child sleeps most of the way. And if you manage to swim on a boat, consider that the trip was a success. Most importantly, do not take a lot of luggage with you on such trips..

Opinion No. 4. Two parents need to go at once, one will not cope.

Think about how you spend your time at home. After all, there is an assistant nearby. Often the child spends the day with his mother or grandmother, and everyone copes. Life " If you feel insecure, go with the whole family, and after a week, having got used to it, let dad go to work.

You can travel with your children with pleasure, discovering in them some completely unusual sides and unexpected independence.. And in recent years, there are more and more of those who take their children for a couple of months, for example, to Spain from " What can we say, even to a sanatorium in Truskavets or on a trip to the reserves of the Ukrainian Black Sea region, a child may well go with you. Alas, husbands are not always so mobile.

Opinion No. 5. Luggage size will increase 10 times!

If you go, for example, to hot Asia, your luggage will grow quite a bit: diapers are voluminous, but not heavy, you can try to compress them. There is almost no need to take clothes with you, and food for the baby is easily bought and “made” right on the spot. Of course, for a trip to Europe in the winter, you will have to allocate more space in your suitcase for warm clothes and shoes.. But remember that absolutely everything can be bought on the spot, and there is no need to stock up for future use - from cosmetics to high-quality boots.

At the same time, it makes sense to reconsider your part of the luggage: maybe leave extra stilettos or a second coat at home? If you work well in this direction, the child’s things can easily fit into the place of your seized. And at the age of five, he will gladly hoist a backpack with most of his own luggage on his shoulders..

Opinion No. 6. The child will "

Of course, kids do not always behave perfectly at the airport and plane.. So be understanding about the behavior of your child on the plane, do not yell or scold the baby.

The most important thing is to try to anticipate the vagaries of the flight in advance.. Stock up on " Night flight solves the problem very well. And before the daytime - tire the child: wake him up early, keep busy while packing, do not let him fall asleep on the way to the plane. It sounds creepy, but on an airplane, your potential threat to the peace will simply pass out, having only time to glance out of the window during takeoff.

And the last problem is pressure drops.. Most children have a hard time taking off and landing is especially difficult - they lay their ears to the point of pain. Ordinary vasoconstrictor drops (for example, naphthyzinum) will help you out. Put them in your child's nose 10 minutes before takeoff and then 10 minutes before landing.

Opinion No. 7. Acclimatization will “cover” my child.

Acclimatization is a mysterious thing. Many people say it doesn't exist. And someone constantly suffers from the presence. No one knows your child better than you: does he quickly get used to something new, how does he react to weather changes, does he get sick easily. The main thing - do not forget to take out medical insurance before the holidays..

If you are planning a vacation for a week or two, go to a region with a similar climate. If the trip lasts from three weeks or more, you are free to choose: everyone will have enough time to get used to and have time to enjoy the rest. And do not be angry with the child if for the first days he refuses to walk ten kilometers and there are huge portions of unfamiliar food: he gets used to the new country, and your understanding will make this process softer.

Opinion No. 8. There will be no time for rest.

What is \? Of course, it will change somewhat, as your whole life has changed with the advent of a child.. I propose to plan such a vacation so that the child is passionate about what is happening, and does not go crazy trying to get your attention with all his might.. Moreover, almost everything is possible with a child, except that it is almost impossible to lie silently.

Try to get your child enthusiastic about almost everything: skiing and sledding, a trip to the “magic forest” with an ancient castle, horses, elephants and other types of animals. Let him become 100% your like-minded person. You can fully plan the day in accordance with your interests and “spice up” the program with two or three moments that the child will wait with bated breath. Children love when something happens and parents do something with them together.. But, of course, we must not forget that you are big and strong here, and the child is small and weak, needs support and understanding, even if he is already able to walk long distances on his own..

Opinion No. 9. Child poisoned by local food.

Start with familiar foods, order cooked foods (rather than sushi and green salad) at cafes, prioritize crowded places, and choose popular dishes (this way you can be sure that the ingredients are not stale).

For example, in the same " If you are going not for a week, but more, you can rent a house or apartment with a kitchen. In this case, it will be useful to bring a small supply of food from home, like a couple of bags of buckwheat.. By the way, in many Asian cafes you can bring your own ingredients (or explain which ones you need), and a simple soup with potatoes and fish without spices will be immediately prepared for the child..

Opinion No. 10. With a child, everything is much more expensive..

This statement is true when it comes to air travel with a child who is over two years old.. Then you have to pay extra for the ticket. The rest of the “price increase” is noticed only by those people who saved quite a lot before the birth of children (for example, they lived in hostels with a shower and toilet shared with neighbors).

In general, the appearance of a child has almost no effect on costs: he does not care about the number of stars at the hotel (it is even better if the glass for the toothbrush is plastic, not crystal), the origin of the carpet or the type of wood from which the bed is made. Children do not distinguish expensive from cheap at all.. Most of the " You don’t move to a new area because of a child: he goes to the site that is. Therefore, a five-star hotel is a completely conditional thing that is not so necessary for relaxing with a new family member..

Opinion No. 11. Have to forget about hiking / kayaking / cycling.

No matter how. Try putting your child in a bike seat a couple of times.. You will pull it out with hysteria: “Mom, I still want to ride! » And sleep in a “house” in the forest? A three-year-old kid will be happy to help you assemble the tent by inserting arcs and stretching the awning on pegs. Water trips are great fun too.. For safety, you need an inflatable vest or, at worst, sleeves.

Recently, cycling trips around Europe have become more and more popular:

there are fewer mosquitoes, and hotels are more comfortable, and there are bike paths everywhere. Those who want exotic travel to Armenia. If you go “on the water” to the Carpathians, you will surely meet families with children there. But you don't have to travel far to go kayaking.. You can organize it on the Dnieper. If hiking and kayaking are not for you, travel by car. Fortunately, our country is rich in interesting places, just do not forget to take tents with you.

parents. ua.