3 Tips for Travelling with Toddlers Around the UK
The world is gradually reopening, with educational and leisure establishments beginning to allow face-to-face interactions in the UK — with the required health and safety precautions in place. An article on CNN also discusses how the UK's travel industry has begun loosening restrictions, recently removing 47 countries from their red list. This means that everyone outside of the revised red list will be allowed to travel within the UK freely as long as they’re fully vaccinated — though they’ll still need to be tested when they arrive.
For most families that means it is finally ok to travel again. However, if you’re travelling with a toddler, there are still some things you will need to consider if you’re venturing to the UK for the first time. Below, we have compiled a list of things to jog your memory, as we know it has to be a long journey to get back to this point:
Dress them for unpredictable weather
Weather in the UK can be very unpredictable, to say the least, so the clothes that you pack and dress your toddler in should be able to keep them comfortable no matter what. For instance, you can start off with a light onesie as the base and then you can layer from there such as with a long-sleeved shirt and a jacket. This makes it easier to adjust layers according to the temperature. However, make sure that the top layers are relatively loose compared to the layers below so the fit isn’t too tight and uncomfortable for your toddler. Add rain gear to the outfit as well to keep them dry and warm in case of any rain. Some days, you might experience every possible type of weather, from chilly rain to sunny skies so be prepared.
Be prepared for long walks
Going on a trip will likely mean a lot of walking to explore a whole host of destinations. Walking means possibly coming into contact with lots of other people. When going through crowded public spaces, make sure you and your family have face masks on, and still try to keep your distance from other people if possible. If your toddler is able to walk for short distances then great, but long walks will probably tire them out. So, it’s important to have a sturdy pushchair that they can use on standby. As the ultra-compact pushchairs from iCandy demonstrate, modern pushchairs are designed so that families can easily navigate narrow streets and public transport because they're sleek and easy to store when not in use. These strollers have padding to keep your toddler comfortable no matter how long your walks are. They also come with a rain cover, which can be used not only to protect them from the rain but also to protect your toddler from Covid.
Pack your toddler’s essentials
Toddlers need a number of things when travelling — especially younger toddlers who still aren’t potty-trained. Remember to pack extra nappies, snacks, and possibly milk, in case your toddler gets hungry before your next meal. Baby wipes are also important for cleaning sticky hands and their faces. The spacious nappy bags featured on Glamour can hold everything your toddler needs, and they have multiple compartments so you don’t need to rummage around to look for something. If your toddler is still in nappies, you should get a bag that has a baby-changing mat. There are also bags that come with clips so you can easily attach them to your pushchair.
Living in quarantine with toddlers may be a challenge, as a previous feature here on Bump, Baby & You relayed. So, there's nothing quite like an exciting trip to shake off that cabin fever, but make sure you're well-prepared and equipped for an enjoyable experience.
Exclusively written for bumpbabyandyou.co.uk By Ara Nelson
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