Back from an 'international' vacation with my 3-year-old, I can say I gained experience. And what an experience! We spent 15 days traveling through Disney and New York, and it was the first time we went so far from home with Pedro since he was born. Amid ridiculous situations that catch a first-time (literally) mother off guard, I decided to write some tips here in the column on how to avoid fatigue on trips outside of Brazil and make the most of it with the family.
Here we go:
Plan everything well in advance.
When choosing the destination and hotel, think about the necessary structure for children.
Consult with the pediatrician before traveling to list the medicines that need to be taken and to clarify any doubts about nutrition and emergency procedures.
When packing for the little ones, avoid packing too many clothes, junk, and toys. It's important to bring varied clothing, from shorts to a raincoat, but few pieces of each. Most hotels have in-house or nearby laundry facilities. With some change, you can quickly wash and dry clothes and avoid carrying unnecessary weight. Except for the purchases that will be made there, depending on the destination, which will increase the volume on the way back home.
Let the children play a lot during the day of the trip so that they board the plane tired (essential).
In the carry-on bag, bring a change of clothes, a bottle, the usual powdered milk, stickers, colored pencils, paper, their favorite (preferably small) toy, and anything that is their reference at bedtime (pillow, pacifier, stuffed animal, etc.).
Nowadays, most airplanes have an individual screen in front of each seat, so put headphones on them and choose a good cartoon. With the plane's sway, they end up falling asleep very quickly.
Bring their stroller so that they can already disembark at the destination airport 'motorized.' This way, you can avoid having to carry them in your arms, in addition to all the suitcases.
Respect the children. They come first and are the most affected by jet lag, and the loss of the home reference. When they are sleepy, hungry, tired, or thirsty, stop the tour and meet their needs.
Have patience, a lot of patience to follow the entire international trip plan. If you can't do one thing or another, have patience, it's part of it.
Prioritize outings that have activities for both adults and children, especially outdoor activities.
Relax about schedules and meals. Vacations are vacations, including from rules!
Always carry a backpack for the day out, with water, biscuits, children's sunscreen, an umbrella, repellent, and ALWAYS a little sweater.
Study if it's really worth taking public transportation. Most of the time, the cheap ends up being expensive. Going up and down a baby stroller through the subway stairs can be quite stressful. A taxi may be a better idea.
Keep in mind that unforeseen events happen. So, when/if they happen, you'll already be psychologically prepared.
Don't go to the museum on Sundays. You might deeply regret it!
Try to find humor instead of crying if a 'dog day' appears ahead.
Enjoy every second of this family moment and know that your child is impressively absorbing all these new stimuli that a trip provides. They always come back more mature, you can bet!
Nice trip!!!!
This chronicle was published on the Pais&Filhos magazine website in November 2012.
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