At our #HolidaySafeKids Twitter party, parents traded tips on how to make travelling with children easier, safer and more fun.
One way to do that is to use HolidaySafe travel insurance, which sponsored the party and which has policies that specifically cater to families, whether it’s protecting the pushchair against the cost of breaks or insuring older children not normally covered on parents’ policies. The award-winning company has multi-trip policies, a family policy, even a service that enables a family member to fly out if your or your partner are injured or seriously taken ill. Find out more and get a competitive quote on Holiday Safe.
Having fun during the journey
We keep discarded party bag toys and bits from Kinder Surprise Eggs and create a lucky dip! @goriami
We leave for UK holidays around 5am to miss traffic and kids travel in new ‘holiday pyjamas’ which they love @Edspire
My 4-year-old loves his Children’s Atlas so he can see where we are going @kiddieholidays
I get my child to choose a few of his favourite things: toys, books and pack his own little backpack @vaichin
Scrapbooking little things they collect works well too! Pack a glue stick or two and some tape @leannejytsang
My daughter loves to sing (As long as its not annoying other passengers) @BeckyW213
Car Bingo – instead of numbers you have colours of cars, style of car such as Mini, lorry @Sweetnene28
Good ideas
Think carefully about flight times and traffic. Factor in sleeps and eating @mumsgoneto
Give yourself extra time to travel for toilet breaks and rests so it helps you all to stay happy/stretch your legs @LuckySammyStarr
Have distinctive luggage- mine love looking for theirs at the arrivals lounge. Makes end of journey fun @missielizzieb
Bring extra bag for shopping if going stateside or post it over to yourself! @MMConneely
I draw packing lists. They lay it all out on beds for me! #HolidaySafeKids http://t.co/sy1mN6RKxc @domesticgoddessq
We keep our children in same colour T-shirts in theme parks so easily spotted @East_Devon_Mum
Insurance matters
We keep three copies of our insurance details just to be safe @Sweetnene28
Take medicines with you and make sure you have good holiday insurance cover and emergency numbers written down @TopGearLuke
Make sure you have year-round insurance to save costs if going abroad more than once @needaphone
We learned the hard way to put sun cream on faces while they’re wearing swim goggles! @Mummy_Central
Health checklist
Look in advance where nearest hospitals and doctors are and have key phrases ready just in case @claireishoop
Pack Calpol and any medications your child needs as it is much cheaper and safer to buy what we know than abroad @TheRealSupermum
If you travel somewhere exotic, make sure you have all the jabs for you and your little ones! @Kahanka
I found travelling toilet paper (a small roll) years ago and have always taken that and hand sanitiser EVERYWHERE! @porridgecake
Water shoes – which they can wear in the sea – are a great investment to avoid burned/cut feet at the beach @Mummy_Central
Remember to watch them at edge of sea too. Rogue waves! @goriami
Ways to prevent lost kids
It may sound daft but write your mobile no. on their hand in case they get lost so whoever finds them can call you @lizd31
You can get custom temporary tattoos and wristbands, but we use a Biro to write our mobile number on child’s arm in case they get lost @missielizzieb
A handy note of hotel/phone numbers/child’s name and so on can be slipped into a shoe/backpack/pocket to reunite you @stressedofdevon
Take photo of kids at the start of a trip. That way you have a handy description if they get lost @stressedofdevon
Top tips from parents
I keep a standard packing checklist that I reuse so I don’t forget essentials @jhowze
We used our daily photo of the kids to help us also relocate the hire car at theme parks! @stressedofdevon
Our kids are older BUT randomly travel sick, so we still have muslins in the car! @KiddyCharts
Make sure you note in advance toilet stops and places to eat on the way when doing a car journey @claireishoop
Always pack straws too! Safer than spills on days out @goriami
Pack a container and plastic bag in case of sickness, baby wipes and change of clothes too @TheRealSupermum
Check out our top tips for long car rides! http://t.co/y0KmvQdW9X @ParentPractice
Top 5 tips for surviving a long haul flight with children http://t.co/pKYE6ssJr0 @suburb4mum
The last word
Try not to stress as kids pick up on this. Keep the destination in mind and know it’ll all be worth it @JaneDavies9
Get more travel tips from fellow parents in our Travel section.
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