When does something as simple as a picnic in the local park become an event that needs to be planned with military precision? When it involves small children! Every parent knows that sinking feeling when, despite having packed five bags of “essentials” for this short journey, something has still been left behind.
Now imagine packing for your holiday abroad – not just for yourselves but for a baby and a toddler, too. As daunting as it sounds, packing for this kind of much-needed break does not have to be traumatic. Here are some essential tips on how to make it as painless as possible.
Tip 1: Make lists
Start way before the big day to allow plenty of time for planning and thinking. The final list is excellent for keeping you on track and useful when packing to return home later, avoiding forgotten items and tears.
Tip 2: Break the lists down into categories
Map out the stages of your holiday journey, for example, from home to the airport, before and during the actual travelling, and arrival. Then add in headings such as paperwork, food, clothes, electrical, toiletries and amusement. Take time to visualise each part of the travel and regular days; this will help you remember more things you will need.
Tip 3: Choose accommodation carefully
Hotels have a lot of merits, but they are rarely a great option for families with youngsters and babies. Look instead at something like Kas villa rental. There are lots of agents, such as http://kas4villarentals.com/, offering clean, comfortable and convenient villas where the daily care young children and babies need is made much easier.
Tip 4: Don’t panic!
Packing for a holiday with a baby and toddler doesn’t involve that much more than you would need for a day out. A large number of things can be considered core items, so the extras – say more clothes than usual – are not necessarily overwhelming.
There are lots of handy packing lists available online, or you could just make your own and print out a few copies so everyone involved with the task has one. This may not be the most exciting job in the world, but preparation and an early start are the keys to success.
