Muscat: For some, travelling is a fun and a unique experience to recharge. However, for mothers, it is a stressful experience that requires a lot of preparation, as they often carry a baby or a child who is constantly on the move, demanding and sleepless.
Travelling with children on vacation requires professional preparation that takes into account their special needs. Travelling with children is a challenge for families, as it requires careful organisation and careful preparation to ensure the comfort and happiness of the little ones during their trip.
There are a number of facts that both mothers and passengers should be aware of. Children get bored more quickly than adults, especially given their inability to create their own entertainment. Providing an entertaining and comfortable environment during travel helps reduce stress and tension for children and enables the rest of the family to enjoy an excellent travel experience.
The Ministry of Health has urged people to take care of essential points to ensure a safe flight with children. These include preparing appropriate clothing for your child, appropriate for the weather and planned activities during the flight, reserving a special child seat and a suitable form of transportation, whether on a plane or in a car.
To alleviate ear pain during flight, it is recommended to breastfeed, feed, or give your child chewable gum, and ensuring that the child gets adequate sleep during the flight. Innovative ideas aimed at facilitating travel with children and making it a comfortable and enjoyable experience include providing wheeled luggage, which transforms carrying luggage into a game for children on the move, or providing some entertaining toys or books to help maintain their attention during the flight.
In addition, airlines offer a variety of entertainment options on board, such as TV series and movies, aimed at entertaining and keeping children engaged during their flight. Also, Muscat International Airport provides free strollers for passengers travelling with young children. These can be found outside the security area in the departure lounge, and can also be left at the stroller drop-off point located next to the departure gates.
Some airlines also allow foldable strollers to be taken directly to the departure gate instead of being loaded onto the aircraft. Therefore, please check the relevant terms and conditions of the airline you are travelling with.
Travel is a wonderful experience for children and a gateway to real learning and fun. It broadens their horizons, makes them more cultured and open to the world, allows them to see new sights and different places, try a variety of foods and do numerous activities.
Among the benefits of travelling with children are strengthening family bonds, providing an opportunity to get to know each other, have fun together and create beautiful memories. Travelling with children can seem daunting, considering their tantrums, boredom, mealtimes, and more. But a little advance planning makes travelling with them an enjoyable time filled with beautiful memories.
POINTS TO CONSIDER
• Talk to your child about the flight, its duration, and what to do
• It is important to choose destinations that offer entertainment activities for children
• When booking a flight, it is important to choose direct flights rather than transit flights
• Choose airlines that offer special privileges for children
• Choose accommodations with facilities and dedicated play areas
• Toys and activities for children are important to keep children occupied
• Pack extra clothes in your backpack in case of an emergency
• It is important to prepare snacks and favourite meals for the child
• Personal hygiene supplies are essential
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