Pack ‘em Up!

Traveling with children is always a fun challenge, whether the journey is short or long. As demanding as such travel may be, it is still possible to do most things you did before having children in tow. It will take more time at nearly every step of the way, but that is easy to manage as long as you plan accordingly and leave extra time. With the right gear, a good plan, a lot of patience and some cash, a family can go just about anywhere.

The best piece of gear we own is our backpack child carrier. It has survived three kids and hundreds of journeys. It is a key piece of equipment that goes everywhere we go. It stores a good amount of other gear, so we always have the essentials with us. It frees up my hands and gives the rider a nice place to nap (pack an inflatable neck pillow to give a little support). The magic of the backpack carrier is that our babies were always happy to ride in it. Kids will get fussy in a stroller, in your arms, in a shopping cart, on their own two feet, but they very rarely get fussy when they are checking out the world from their parents’ perspective.

The backpack carrier is great for mobility, but if you rely on a stroller, that is fine, too. Although strollers can be bulky, they can actually help you out in some cases. Let’s say you are somewhere with turnstiles and a long queue. Since a stroller cannot pass through a turnstile, you get to skip the queue and go straight through the gate used for wheelchairs and delivery loads.

When traveling with kids, a good travel plan should address three basic needs: food, toilets, and time. Snacks are easy to pack and absolutely essential. Toilet planning is crucial but simple: everyone goes before leaving home and anytime a clean toilet is spotted. Obviously, a change of clothes is a good idea, too. The food and toilet essentials will keep your children comfortable. But it is coming to terms with the time element that is key to keeping you, as parents, comfortable.

You will be slow! Count on this, and have patience when snags occur. They are inevitable, and no degree of planning can eliminate delays that are out of your control. It will take longer to walk between connections, and honestly, everything you do along the way will take longer than you think. I would say the most challenging part of any excursion is getting out the door. With three children, all kinds of unnecessary setbacks occur while we are trying to leave the house. Sometimes it is a last-minute diaper explosion; other times it’s our middle daughter who slips back into a princess dress while we are suiting up the baby. Plan for the extra time, and be patient when all the silly delays happen.

If you are like me, you will forget something. For this problem, we have cash. Nobody is perfect, so just plan as well as you can and remember to bring cash.

By Brian Wilson

Brian is the father of three children. He teaches golf and coordinates a Zurich Dads’ group in his spare time.

Illustration by Susana Gutierrez

Susana is the mother of two little girls and an freelance illustrator. She also coordinates the Little Ladybirds English Playgroup near Triemli. She can be reached at s.escapa@gmail.com.