Travelling with children can sometimes be stressful, no matter what age. While an infant may not be able to walk around yet, he needs a lot of care and does not yet understand what is happening around him.

As soon as the toddler starts walking, it becomes problematic to squeeze him into a seat for endless hours, whether in the car, train or plane. It can't hold back its natural urge to move and quickly becomes querulous.

Here are some practical tips on how to make travelling with our children easier for us and for them.

The preparation for the trip.

Most children become obnoxious on planes because they are either confused and frightened because they have been taken out of their routine and are suddenly in a strange environment with strange people.

Or they suffer from lack of exercise and lack of employment.

We can do something about both:

If possible, go to the airport/railway station with your child a few days earlier and familiarise them with this environment. Show and explain everything that happens there.

Tell your child exactly where the trip is going and what to expect. Show photos and make the place as palatable as possible so that the child looks forward to the trip.

In general, involve the child in the travel arrangements so that he or she becomes part of the team and not just an appendage.

The clothes for on the road.

Make the trip a special experience. Give the trip meaning and excitement, and then dress your child for the special occasion. This doesn't mean particularly fancy, because it still has to be comfortable, but provide stain-free, well-fitting clothes that the child feels the importance of the undertaking. If the child has special favourite clothes, take them. It is important to leave positive impressions on the child.

This makes the child feel that the journey is something special.

At the airport or train station.

As you will most likely have to stand in queues for a long time and wait in the terminal, then later sit still on the plane/train, prepare for your child's natural instinct to move.

Go to the airport/railway station a little earlier and let the child romp around for a while. Go to the play stations that are often available and let the child do what he or she wants for a while.

Let the child explore the new place themselves so that you can then talk to them about it later on the plane/train.

The right snacks for on the go

Even though sweets and chocolate keep children occupied for a while, they are full of sugar and give the child all the more energy that he or she cannot use.

So under no circumstances give sweets!

Maybe your child has a favourite snack that does not contain sugar. My son, for example, particularly likes apple and banana.

Many children also like to eat grapes. Grapes contain a lot of water (important in the dry air on the plane) and satisfy the palate.

Fruit is a good alternative because it tastes sweet and does not pump the child full of excess energy.

Another option is cheese. Buy a cheese that your child particularly likes to eat and cut out fun shapes. Let the child play quietly with his food so that he is occupied with it for as long as possible.

Employment for on the road.

Take toys with you. The favourite teddy or doll has to come along anyway, of course, because it gives the child a feeling of security and familiarity.

But it also needs toys to keep it occupied for a while.

These should be things that take up little space but hold the child's attention. It should also be usable again and again if possible, or at least for a longer period of time so that it is still enough for the return flight.

It should also have as few parts as possible that cannot be connected to the toy. Too many individual parts either fall on the floor or are thrown there by your child. They then spend the journey crawling around on the floor and collecting all the parts again.

Depending on the age of your child, the following toys are particularly suitable for travelling:

-colouring books

-picture books

-Special "car toy sets" for example from Fisher Price

-The child cannot injure itself in the event of turbulence.

-MP3 player with music or stories

You can also pack a small extra bag with lots of toys that are not too big, and tie the toys all together with a string so that they don't get lost.

Other useful tips:

-If possible, it is best to drive at night when the child is tired and sleeps most of the time.

-Play games with the child on the way, such as: I see something you don't see.

-Tell stories or sing songs.