Babies, Toddlers, Kids AND travelling

[Nylah]

<span style="font-style: italic">inspired by the where do you want to travel to thread in GD and mo-fire's wanderlust.</span>



when do you thnk it is safe/easier/manageable (dont know what word to use) to travel with small children to far off places and not just around the corner to grandma's?

do you feel it is feasible to take your child somewhere exotic? Can you enjoy yourself as an adult as well as a parent with a child?

for those that have travelled far with children, are there things you now realize you have to consider that you didnt anticipate before?

do you worry about medical issues with your kids? If so, what have you done to help easy your concerns?


I think travel is the best things for children to learn about their environment. My parents flung me on a plane by myself whenever they could but that didnt start until I was around 9 yrs old. If we travelled before then it was to Jamaica or NYC where family resides. But not &quot;foreign&quot; places until I was older.

So, I'd like feedback for those who love to travel and have small kids. I'd love to know how you make it all work without you having to give up your travelling dreams as well. How do the children repsond to it. Which parts are a struggle and which part of travelling is easy with little kids.

[Gen]

Re: Babies, Toddlers, Kids AND travelling

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Nylah</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
<span style="font-style: italic">inspired by the where do you want to travel to thread in GD and mo-fire's wanderlust.</span>



when do you thnk it is safe/easier/manageable (dont know what word to use) to travel with small children to far off places and not just around the corner to grandma's? <span style="color: #FF0000">as soon as possible</span>


do you feel it is feasible to take your child somewhere exotic? Can you enjoy yourself as an adult as well as a parent with a child? <span style="color: #FF0000">yup</span>


for those that have travelled far with children, are there things you now realize you have to consider that you didnt anticipate before? <span style="color: #FF0000">nope</span>

do you worry about medical issues with your kids? If so, what have you done to help easy your concerns? <span style="color: #FF0000">nope-just mek sure your insurance company has international coverage and sign up with that company that does medivacs </span>


I think travel is the best things for children to learn about their environment. My parents flung me on a plane by myself whenever they could but that didnt start until I was around 9 yrs old. If we travelled before then it was to Jamaica or NYC where family resides. But not &quot;foreign&quot; places until I was older.

So, I'd like feedback for those who love to travel and have small kids. I'd love to know how you make it all work without you having to give up your travelling dreams as well. How do the children repsond to it. Which parts are a struggle and which part of travelling is easy with little kids. </div></div>

my fave subject was/is geography need i say more.

the only struggle is with a child who is a picky eater (mine was/is , you may have to seek out and/or carry specific stuff for the kid, but at the end of the day if yuh cant find dem special biscuit too bad, mek dem adapt to the farrin biscuit

plan the trip with them in mind, that is, visit places that would appeal to them as well like kiddy museums etc, at age 3 they may not be that impressed with van gogh

[Nylah]

Re: Babies, Toddlers, Kids AND travelling


<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">at age 3 they may not be that impressed with van gogh
</div></div> and the farrin biscuit comment cracked me up

thanks Gen Some ppl make it seem like a daunting, almost impossible task to do, so I wondered if others saw it differently.

[Bizzy]

Re: Babies, Toddlers, Kids AND travelling

I grew up being able to travel all over the world so with my children, dem gwaan deh right beside mi taking in the sights so long as mi can afford it


Ppl weh complain about traveling with their kids probably can't manage them at home or outa road. Best thing to do is know about the place where you're going and pack any meds, food, games an stuff for your child.

[Nylah]

Re: Babies, Toddlers, Kids AND travelling

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Ppl weh complain about traveling with their kids probably can't manage them at home or outa road. </div></div>


good point. Never thought of this before but now it makes sense.

[kia027]

Re: Babies, Toddlers, Kids AND travelling

Kid in the backpack around the world
Kid carrying backpack around the world
Kid with their own backpack around the world

dat is our philosophy

[kia027]

Re: Babies, Toddlers, Kids AND travelling

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">My parents flung me on a plane by myself whenever they could but that didnt start until I was around 9 yrs old.</div></div>


you did have to wear the <span style="font-size: 23pt"><span style="font-family: 'Arial Black'"><span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="color: #000000">&quot;Young Passenger Traveling Alone&quot; </span></span></span></span> tag too? At least we used to sit eena de back a de plane and get extra desserts as kids

[twiney]

Re: Babies, Toddlers, Kids AND travelling

As early as the parents feel comfortable ... my clutch purse is always by my side and there is a plan to do some traveling in a few years and mi not leaving them behind me. What works best is traveling light when they are younger especially if it is a long trip and make sure you have the special juice/buscuit or the milo for the first part of the trip they will adjust to the foreign things soon enough. If you can have both parents on the trip or at least an adult or teen travel companion with smaller children that also helps. And dont forget to bring a toy or something that they can be happy on the plane ride.

[Nylah]

Re: Babies, Toddlers, Kids AND travelling

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Kia</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">My parents flung me on a plane by myself whenever they could but that didnt start until I was around 9 yrs old.</div></div>


you did have to wear the <span style="font-size: 23pt"><span style="font-family: 'Arial Black'"><span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="color: #000000">&quot;Young Passenger Traveling Alone&quot; </span></span></span></span> tag too? At least we used to sit eena de back a de plane and get extra desserts as kids </div></div>

Yup But at least back then the stewardess that they assigned to you really did stick with you through the whole flight and thin casue that sign was a neon flash to all the pedophiles about the place when u think about it


I got colouring books, and little toys and you got to hang out with the pilot as well

[Nylah]

Re: Babies, Toddlers, Kids AND travelling


the plane ride part isnt the challenging part to me. It is when you are on the ground in a foreign place and have to move around with a child that I was curious about.

what those challenges, if any, were.

[kia027]

Re: Babies, Toddlers, Kids AND travelling

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Nylah</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
the plane ride part isnt the challenging part to me. It is when you are on the ground in a foreign place and have to move around with a child that I was curious about.

what those challenges, if any, were. </div></div>

Smaller bladders require knowing where the bathrooms are at all times. Smaller tummies require always having snacks ready. Smaller bodies mean you will move a little bit slower and have to factor in more down time than usual when touring.

[mo_fire]

Re: Babies, Toddlers, Kids AND travelling

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Nylah</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
<span style="font-style: italic">inspired by the where do you want to travel to thread in GD and mo-fire's wanderlust.</span>
<span style="color: #CC0000">I am glad that at the very least I can be inspiring to someone!! </span>


when do you thnk it is safe/easier/manageable (dont know what word to use) to travel with small children to far off places and not just around the corner to grandma's?
<span style="color: #CC0000">Although I was living in rural Jamaica with Likkle Mo as a small baby, I made her a promise when she was born that she would step foot on all continents by age 10 - this was mostly so I wouldn't make excuses NOT to continue to travel!! We are pretty close to that goal except the Arctic (except Canada may as well be that! ) and Antarctica and Australlia!! I think one can always travel with children if and only if as a parent you are comfortable and as long as you you can just go with the flow because with kids, things can change from minute to minute!!</span>

do you feel it is feasible to take your child somewhere exotic? Can you enjoy yourself as an adult as well as a parent with a child? <span style="color: #990000">Seeing the world through a child's un-jaded eyes and their mind that has not been expsed to media and news is the most refreshing and educational thing a parent could ever do!! Kid's who have never &quot;learned&quot; about the bad places and bad people via the news and media these days travel through each and every place with an open and pure heart. I have seen Clara in places like rural China (sichuan) during the earthquakes almost 2 years ago, not knowing the language, being in the middle of a very difficult and scary situation, and still, all she could do was find ways to communicate with new orphans in an orphanage and give them a few hours of forgetting about their own loss. It is times like those where I feel I have leaqrned the most by NOT leaving her at home, but having her at my side. I have learned to communicate not through words, but through body language by watching my small daughter!! What a lesson!!</span>

for those that have travelled far with children, are there things you now realize you have to consider that you didnt anticipate before?
<span style="color: #990000">For me, the biggest thing as a single parent traveller in crazy places like China &amp; Easter Island is the &quot;what if something happened to me?&quot; Could she handle herself and get help? Could she manage without being swindled or stolen until help could arrive. I mean we are talking 35 hours to get to Easter Island, and the better part of 24 hours to get to China... I have always taken precautions like having an emergency letter translated that Clara carries on her at all times which basically says who she is, who I am, our ages, our emergency contacts and their tel#s, and the Canadian Embassy contact tel#'s as well as a paragraph saying that she MUST stay at my side at all times, no matter if I am in hospital, and unable to communicate, etc. until help arrives, and that whoever helps will be compensated monetarily by our emergency contacts upon their arrival. For me, that is ALWAYS the hardest part - but we have our emergency plan down to a science now, and she knows exactly what to do. I also stash $100 USD on her person at all times in case of emergencies.</span>

do you worry about medical issues with your kids? If so, what have you done to help easy your concerns?
<span style="color: #990000">I have had to take Likke Mo for medical treatment mostly in Cuba - she has a really weird reaction to the mosquitos there..not in Jamaica, not in rural China - just Cuba!! I always make sure to have extra cash on hand for these things if they come up, and a really comprehensive travel insurance!! Plus we get whatever travel shots we need in advance of where we go!! Don't ever skimp on travel shots!!</span>


I think travel is the best things for children to learn about their environment. My parents flung me on a plane by myself whenever they could but that didnt start until I was around 9 yrs old. If we travelled before then it was to Jamaica or NYC where family resides. But not &quot;foreign&quot; places until I was older.

So, I'd like feedback for those who love to travel and have small kids. I'd love to know how you make it all work without you having to give up your travelling dreams as well. How do the children repsond to it. Which parts are a struggle and which part of travelling is easy with little kids. </div></div>


<span style="color: #990000">** I love your post Nylah... I also believe that travel can be very rewarding and educational. I also love how it has made my kid the likkle world ambassador at her school. Whatever new kid comes to school has a friend in Likkle Mo because she wants to learn where they are from, if she has been there, if she wants to go there, etc...

**LASTLY - I am a HUGE advocate for travelling independently with children (and not on &quot;tours&quot. It may seem like a lot of work and expensive, but truth be told, I am a single income, single parent, and i don't make a lot of money! When we travel, i investigate flights for MONTHS in advance to find the deals, and we stay in guesthouses, families or hostels - these place are often the ones where you really get immersed in the local culture and have things open up to you that otherwise wouldn't. We also coook for ourselves where possible, make our own snacks and take local transport (another way to soak up another place and meet people). I have also looked at &quot;tour&quot; options and every time, my budget is more than 50% less what a tour with airfare would cost... but again, everyone is entitled to personal preferences - many people feel more safe on a guided tour, and they is totally okay, as long as you take your kids with you when you travel, you will create memories for yourself and your children that will forever be imprinted in your hearts!!</span>

[Nylah]

Re: Babies, Toddlers, Kids AND travelling


absolutely wicked information mo-fire

The emergency letter is brillant! I wouldnt have thought of that.
Having a letter with pertinent info in the language of where you are going is really clever. I am parro about emergency situations even for myself so, this is a good plan for a worrier like me.

My parents taught me my address, phone number and their full names before the age of 5 in case I got lost or something happened to them I could at least communicate the basic info to someone. To this day, I still remember my first address in Canada... 5523 - 105 Street..... etc

I think we sometimes forget how adaptable kids are and think we need to over-control their enivronment. I see that with my friends and wonder how their kids would manage in new situations but kids take on the fears and worries of the parents. The parents make them afraid of their shadows. They are more likely to go with the flow than us adults

I truly envy likkle mo-fire I really love how you have exposed her to so much at an young age. My parents did their best as well, so I wont knock my experiences.

But travel seems so pricey comapred to when we were kids, so it is good to know with a little research like you said, you can find good deals and still make it all possible. Since I am thinking abotu kids and all, it is a relief to know that althoughlife does change with them in the picture you still can have your dreams and create wonderful ones fro them too.

Like Gen, geography was one of my favorite subjects and I would love to see all the corners of the world. Mr Nylah, can slap on the baby knapsack and off we all go
or the kids get shipped off to grandma's

Raises a next question, how do you emotionally handle being away from your child for periods of time when u travel on your own? I know I'd be a basket case to some extent This may be a difficult question to actually answer but I'll ask it anyways.

[mo_fire]

Re: Babies, Toddlers, Kids AND travelling

Good question... (about travelling without Likkle Mo) - I haven't done it.. I figure if she can't go with me, I may as well not go!! I don't think I could manage without her - she is a handy little map reader!!

I might have to get used to it though..my test will be this summer - she has asked to go to &quot;sleepaway camp&quot; for a week...great for her, but I am going to be lonlier than ever!! Good thing I have a dog...at least I can babble to her!!

[Nylah]

Re: Babies, Toddlers, Kids AND travelling


at babble at the dog

As much as one may want a break from their kids, I think I would be hard pressed to actually do it Now when I look back, it must have been hard on my parents to send me off on my own. I think I would have a hard time doing it too, or going away myself and leaving any kids behind.
maybe for a short jaunt but nothing too long.

plus, like u said, they can be handy