When was your first travel with your children?
By caesarin
@caesarin (1089)
Indonesia
July 28, 2009 1:10am CST
In a few days I'm going to bring my eldest (3.5yrs) to travel with me on a train. We are visiting a relative who is going to get married this Sunday. I never brought my children to travel somewhere far enough to be called a travel. Usually I only take my children to my father's to spend a week or less by car. It only takes about an hour by car.
This train trip will take about 4-5hours and we have never had such a long travel before. I'm have lots of worries and what ifs like what if she wants to get out of the train, what if she wants to pup (because I guarantee the train's toilet is not hygiene, for sure, I know my country very well).
I've prepare many things for her trip and to do during this trip.
I'll bring her crayons, coloring book, I also made some writings for her to copy because she's now in excitement to learn to write, small story books for easy carry, etc.
I never thought her first travel trip will be without her father. My husband will stay at home with my youngest.
But I think it would be best anyway because my husband is not so much into children and he usually gets emotional when things get wrong with the children.
This trip will be with my father and brother. So it'll be just the 4 of us.
I thing I'll enjoy it because my father and my brother are very supportive with children.
How about you?
4 people like this
11 responses
@srganesh (6340)
• India
28 Jul 09
3.5 years is good enough to adjust with the travel for 4 to 5 hours.It is not at all along journey as for as I am concerned.Well,we took our kids by van at the age of 1.5 for their first long journey.That is a pilgrimage tour with our family members.So,it is not tedious as there are more people to help and care for the kids.Cheers!
1 person likes this
@caesarin (1089)
• Indonesia
28 Jul 09
Hi, it sounds fun to travel along with your family members. I think I'm going to enjoy this trip with my other family members though it's just my father and brother.
Especially my father, he was very excited about taking his very first granddaughter for this train trip. He knows very well that my daughter likes Thomas the Tank Engine, therefore he really look forward to accompany her first train trip experience.
Thanks very much for responding.
2 people like this
@srganesh (6340)
• India
28 Jul 09
Since your father and brother are going to accompany you in this trip,you shall travel with less tension.They will be entertaining your kid so that she will not feel any boredom.And as you told,the 4 to 5 hour journey will quickly come to an end,without your knowledge.Wish you happy journey.Cheers!
1 person likes this
@thea09 (18305)
• Greece
28 Jul 09
Hi caesarin, mine was 16 months old when he first travelled and he thoroughly enjoyed it. The only difficult bit was protecting his ears in the plane on take off and landing, that resulted in a few screams of pain, but you'll be able to make it pain free as going by train.
A train journey in itself should be enough excitement for your child, just the novelty of it should last for hours, seeing the countryside outside rolling past. I expect she'll be glued to the window for most of the time, my son always loved to go anywhere by train. Good travels.
@caesarin (1089)
• Indonesia
28 Jul 09
Hi thea09. I thought about traveling by plane a lot. And I think I won't take my daughters for traveling by plane until they are 3. Right now, my youngest is only 17 months.
Fortunately, I don't have to make any travels by plane till now. Hopefully I can save some money for family travels when my youngest is already 3 =).
This time, I really hope that my eldest'll be entertained with window view.
Thanks for sharing.
1 person likes this
@kaka135 (14931)
• Malaysia
28 Jul 09
I just brought my baby for a vacation last two weeks, it was my baby's first trip, and he was 4.5 month old. It's 1.5 hour drive from my hometown. He enjoyed traveling, as there are many new things to be seen, he is always curious about anything. Also, he can really sleep well when traveling in the car, so I find it quite comfortable bringing him anywhere I go. It was a family trip, where I went with my parents'-in-law, my brother-in-law and his wife and also my aunt-in-law's family, and of course my husband too. All of them always wanted to help me taking care of my baby, so I didn't have any difficult time.
Actually that was not the first time my baby traveled so far. When he was about 1.5 month old, I traveled back to my hometown, which is about 2.5 hour drive from the city where I am working and where he was born. He has been traveled a few times.
I think your daughter will be really excited in her first trip, right? Enjoy your trip with your family! 
@sysdexlicwriter (1619)
• United States
28 Jul 09
This is a relatively short trip. I would make sure that I had a variety of snacks for the child to nibble on and a little something to drink. I would make sure that the child gets plenty of exercise before getting on the train so that the child does not want to get up and run around. I would take along something that the child likes to cuddle up and sleep with. Maybe a good amount of exercise and the hum of the train will be like a lullaby for them. It may be that if you give them enough exercise, that they will sleep.
I like to take toys that the child likes and then wrap them in gift paper. Along the way from time to time it is nice to give them something to open, especially when they get restless. Make sure it is something they really like and would have fun playing with. That is why I wrap a favorite toy that the child already has. If the child asks why you wrapped it. Just say because I thought it would be fun.
I think you will do just fine. Remember that if you show stress the child will pick up on that. Just go prepared and then relax and enjoy your adventure. Oh, and don't forget to look out the window.
I like to take toys that the child likes and then wrap them in gift paper. Along the way from time to time it is nice to give them something to open, especially when they get restless. Make sure it is something they really like and would have fun playing with. That is why I wrap a favorite toy that the child already has. If the child asks why you wrapped it. Just say because I thought it would be fun.
I think you will do just fine. Remember that if you show stress the child will pick up on that. Just go prepared and then relax and enjoy your adventure. Oh, and don't forget to look out the window.1 person likes this
@caesarin (1089)
• Indonesia
28 Jul 09
Hi and thanks for responding. Your ideas are great but I still have problems with your idea.
My child easily get bored with one toy or activity. Also the train will depart on 8 am, so she'll be just fully loaded with fresh energy.
I really want to make this trip her first full of excitement adventure.
So I really hope much from looking out the window.
1 person likes this
@Zhizho (1350)
• Indonesia
29 Jul 09
Hi caesarin..My son was 1,9 years old now.He very like transportation toys such as car and plane and train.I carry him to walking around city by bus or when we visit family.I was brought him by taxi when he was 4 weeks old to visit my cousin.And now,it's nearly every week My husband and I carry him to show around by motorcycle.But when he was 14 months old is the first time that we travel by train.
1 person likes this
@imanharyanto (34)
• Indonesia
29 Jul 09
my first travel with my little boy (2,5 yrs old) was in april 09 to singapore by plane, it was very tense time for me because it was his first flight, i was affraid in case he didn't want to flight, but thanks god he wanted to, but guess what? he cried for 3 hours all the way because ha was affraid from the first time the plane take off, 3 hours for seems a year for me :), but i'm very happy finally we had a very good time in s'pore ;p
@marriedman111399 (1207)
• United States
1 Aug 09
We traveled with our 3 kids when they were 2 years old,5 and 6. We went to Florida and we live in Indiana. We drove so we knew it was going to be a long trip but we have a mini van and we had one of those dvd players installed and we took alot of movies so that helped out a lot. We were visiting relatives so they were able to help with the kids when we got there. We also brought video games along on the trip to help keep them occupied. It was a good trip.
@maximax8 (31046)
• United Kingdom
29 Jul 09
I took my toddler son to Portugal when he was four months old. We flew there and then traveled around by train. It was the autumn so the weather was pleasantly warm. We went to a coastal town called Lagos, the capital city Lisbon and a riverside town. When he was thirteen months I took him on a plane to Riga. We explored Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia. Our trip included cities, countryside and the coast. In January of this year I took him to South Africa. We explored Cape Town and the Garden Route. I hope that your children will enjoy the traveling that you are going to do. Good luck.
@caesarin (1089)
• Indonesia
5 Aug 09
WOW, you seemed to be a real traveler. And I think your son is going to be one, LOL.
I can't imagine such a distance travel with my children at young age but someday I really look forward too.
But maybe it won't be travel across the country because it's too much to spend.
But I hope my small business can make some extras that I can save for . . . someday.
Thanks for sharing.
@myliezl0903 (2726)
• Philippines
29 Jul 09
we only traveled locally ., but i promise to her that when she got an honor after grade school i will treat her to a hongkong or macau tour ., so since she's on 3rd grade ., we still have 3 years to look forward on that ., i loved to be with my daughter because she is very smart girl ., she talks alot and you will get bored when your with her ., lol!
@308369666 (111)
• China
29 Jul 09
Hello, a trip can cause a child's excitement, but sometimes strange things can also lead to shock,it is best to take some interest in his toys, This will attract his attention, Also do not forget to give him according to some of the photographs taken to commemorate, ti will of great significance.
@caesarin (1089)
• Indonesia
5 Aug 09
Hi. I brought her coloring and drawing books. Also I made some pages of abc's for her to copy to learns to write the alphabets.
It was enough I think, because she talked so much because of the excitement.
The problem I got is putting her to sleep because she wanted to sleep in my room.
First night was a little bit frustrating because she cried a lot.
But it's part of the adventure and it was nice to have such memory.
Thanks for sharing.
@lelin1123 (15595)
• Puerto Rico
29 Jul 09
My first travel with my daughters long distance was in a car. We were driving from New York to Maryland to visit my aunt and uncle. My oldest daughter was 2 1/2 and my baby was about a month. It was a very easy trip to deal with because I didn't have to drive. My brother was driving. My oldest daughter had books to look at and for me to read. If I remember correctly she slept a better part of the trip. I found it to be an easy trip no stress and I loved it. I love road trips over any other type. I have to say I have never been on a long distand train ride which I would love to do one day. However my kids are now 28 and 31. LOL LOL LOL Your trip should be fun and you shouldn't worry. At least your father and brother are with you. It should be fun so just enjoy the time with your family.
@caesarin (1089)
• Indonesia
5 Aug 09
Hi lelin1123. It was two days ago that I'm back from my trip. And in fact I was the one who catch cold from the trip. Maybe it was tiring for me LOL. I'm just 30 and that simple trip prescript me for bed rest. LOL.
It was fun though when we finally reach our destination, my daughter who never went far away from home, started the home sickness. She didn't want to jump in to the car who picked us up because she didn't know whose car is that.
Positive side, she won't easily get taken away by strangers LOL, LOL, LOL.
Anyway, I really enjoyed the trip and I think she did too.
My father and brother was very helpful and it really brings back my childhood memory.
My parents always took their children to my father's father every year. Sometimes when we have short holidays, my parents took us to neighboring town to spend 2 nights just for sightseeing. It was really fun.
Thanks for sharing.
