The Parenting Diaries

Travelling with kids - so many parents have done this. I have done this over the past few years. I travelled to the Philippines from Japan to show off my baby to my parents and my family (valid reason, right?) when Pristine was 16 months old or young, depending on how you see it. She can already walk and sit properly on my lap and slept almost the entire time during our four hour short flight. I could say that I am lucky enough not to experience any sort of problems during our trip. I love travelling so honestly, I was scared at the fact that having a kid could change my travelling ways but it did not. Minor discomforts like diaper leaks but otherwise, it was a real pleasure and I would do it again if I have another baby.

In 2006, we took a very long flight to Germany from Japan with Pristine being just 2 years and a half. The flight time was twelve long hours and I anticipated bumps along the way. There were none. We arrived in Germany in one piece with a happy toddler ready to explore the new place.

Was it because her age was ripe for travelling?

I don’t know. There is no written rule when to take a child/children travelling because it differs from parent to parent. I know of one jetsetting parent who takes her babies everywhere even at the tender age of 4 months, all because she LOVES to travel and see places - which is a different story.

I met her husband at the office hall today and he told me they’ve been to Singapore lately that’s why he was out of his cubicle for a while. They have three young children, 5, 3 and a 5 month old baby. Singapore! That is a 9 hour flight from here! And wait, they’ve been to Malta and Cyprus this year too, taking all their children along, again, all because the couple wanted to see that side of the world, never mind that the two younger children at one time, vomitted inside the plane.

He went on to say that their trip was ruined because the three young children got sick during their stay in Singapore. While I don’t condone postponing all hobbies and pleasures when kids come, I don’t agree with the idea of taking very young children, especially babies all over the place. They are too young to travel or to enjoy the destination!!

The children are still sick as of this writing but what do you know, the proud father is already talking of going to another destination early next year, with the kiddos along, of course.