Going on holiday with children is not always easy, especially when it's the first time... However, thanks to a few tricks, the trip with your whole tribe can go very well. Here are 7 practical tips that should help.

Choose an early evening flight

If you travel by plane, to avoid being hated by the whole plane because your child cries non-stop, book a flight that takes off in the early evening. Your child will fall asleep more easily and won't bother anyone. This is a good way to ensure a quiet flight during which you can read books or watch several movies if you are on a long haul

Leave with a head start

To avoid too much stress, because with a child there are often unforeseen events, leave an hour earlier than usual. You will thus avoid untimely pee breaks (which inevitably fall badly and at the last moment). You'll also save your child (and his crying) from getting a sore throat if you run around when you get to the train station or the airport..

Don't overload yourself

It's important to be far-sighted when going on holiday with children, but don't go to the opposite extreme and take your whole house with you just because anything can happen... Limit everything that's superfluous, especially toys, even if your child has a tendency to be very fussy. Just take his indispensable comforter with you. On the clothing side, limit yourself to practical clothes that are easy to wash and dry. This will save you a lot of time on site!

Explain the trip to your children

Rather than having to answer the question "When do we get there?" 10 times in succession "As the children are naturally impatient, remember to give them a precise description of the stay before leaving. Even if you have to show them on a map, the route you are going to take, how long it will take, why, etc., they will be able to see it. And they might even find it exciting. It's a great adventure that's coming up after all and kids love to play adventurers!

What to check on the health side

If you're going abroad, checking what vaccinations are required is essential in the absolute sense, but even more so when you're going with toddlers. They are much more vulnerable to changes in climate, food or jet lag, and they soon fall ill. It is therefore important to check that they are up to date with their vaccinations before leaving and to ask your paediatrician for advice on any additional vaccinations. He will also give you a list of essential medicines so that you can build up the ideal pharmacy before you leave

Find out which hospital is open 24 hours a day near your holiday destination so that you can react quickly in the event of a health problem. Above all, make sure you have travel insurance that will be very practical in case you need to return home for health reasons.

Health precautions

If you are going to a developing country, bring water purification tablets, or a bottled water budget, because water is generally not safe to drink and children dehydrate much faster than adults, so you really need to plan ahead. If your children are old enough to understand, explain to them what they can and cannot do in terms of hygiene depending on the country you are visiting. Give them wipes or a mini-bottle of antibacterial fluid and make sure they carry it with them at all times so that they can use it regularly. Finding a toilet to wash your hands when you travel is not always easy, so it's best to take precautions

Stay calm

If your child turns into a little monster on the spot, there's no need to get all worked up. He may just be overexcited about school holidays and all that new stuff. He tests you to see if everything is allowed, calmly explain to him that he must behave well on holiday too. A quick reframe should calm him down and you with it. Keep in mind that you're on vacation and don't spoil your vacation with unnecessary stress