The train ride can be fun or torture for the child and parents. It all depends on the preparation for a long journey and the correct understanding of what a long stay in a practically enclosed space is.
Traveling with a small child by train - which type of accommodation to choose
Very often, parents try to save money and do not buy a separate ticket for their child. Indeed, up to 4-6 years old (depending on the direction), the baby can ride on the same shelf with mom or dad with a free travel card. But there are no advantages, apart from minimizing costs, in this method of traveling by train. The shelves in the carriages are very narrow, and it will be very difficult to accommodate two people at night. In addition, children often change position during sleep, and their movement can wake up an adult. The trip will turn into a hard sleepless marathon. Therefore, if funds allow, the child must definitely purchase a separate ticket. An additional shelf is always useful even so that you can have a rest during the day while your baby is playing or drawing.
The most comfortable type of accommodation on the train is SV. If you buy two tickets - an adult and a child, no neighbors will appear on the way. It is very convenient. Passengers are different, some are used to reading late without turning off the light, some are drinking beer during the trip, some are smoking, constantly going out into the vestibule and slamming the door. All this will interfere with the normal rest of the baby and the parents. Therefore, if you have a certain amount of money, it is better to purchase SV tickets or redeem the entire compartment.
What to take with you on the road
So that the kid is not bored on the trip, you need to purchase a couple of new toys, a bright book, plasticine, felt-tip pens, and an album in advance. This will help keep your child entertained between bedtime and food. In addition, young children are very fond of watching the changing landscape outside the window. This activity will also give the parents a chance to get some rest.
In addition to toys and a kit for creativity, you should take care of the baby's nutrition. If the road is long - from two days or more, perishable foods - yoghurts, chicken, cottage cheese, can be consumed only on the first day. For two days, they can only be stored in a cooler bag. Then the child can be fed with baby cereals, which are brewed with water from a heater near the conductor's compartment. Fruits are also suitable - oranges, apples, bananas. Fresh bread can be bought at the stations. In addition, it is worth stocking up on delicious cookies - they do not spoil for a long time and will become a wonderful breakfast or afternoon tea if you drink it with juice or tea.
Be sure to take care of your baby's hygiene. Most often there is no possibility to take a shower on the train. Therefore, stock up on wet wipes, diapers, absorbent diapers. Do not forget about several sets of changeable clothes - children of one and a half years get dirty very often. Be sure to bring a potty on the train if your baby is already weaned from diapers. It is not very pleasant to go to the shared toilet, besides, many carriages are not yet equipped with modern bio-conveniences, which means that during the stops (and they can be long) the cherished rooms are closed. And if adults can tolerate, it is quite difficult for a baby. During long stops, it is best to go outside. This will provide the baby with new impressions, give him the opportunity to stretch his muscles, and help to brighten up the waiting time for the train departure.
