Single Parent Traveling to Europe with 3 year old --HELP!
Seeking any and all advice for traveling from SFO to Amsterdam for work (then going to Brussels and Cologne to visit people before returning home). We have a 1pm flight direct to Amsterdam that gets us in at about 9am local time. I have a day to acclimate then I need to work for two days on regular local time. So I have many questions.
- anyone have recommendations for babysitters in Amsterdam (I will need Saturday and Sunday full time)?
- anyone have recommendations for how I should handle the time change with child? We wont be able to check in on Friday right when we arrive, and I'm sure will be exhausted. But I also have to have a plan for the babysitter and how they should proceed with dark curtains exposure to light etc so I'm able to sleep at night for my work on Saturday and Sunday.
- anyone have advice on small, light Bay Area gifts? I will have to lug my child, stroller, suitcase, carry on, etc on the plane and trains before I get to Cologne where I will need to have a host gift for a family of three
- any recommendations for things to watch on the plane that will take away boredom but also encourage sleep? we dont watch TV at home.
- just general thoughts and prayers, as this is our first trip beyond 5 hours.
Aug 27, 2024
Parent Replies
Can’t address most of your questions, but for the plane, get your kid acclimated to using headphones in advance. Consider a bit of TV/ipad time before the trip as training. As crazy as it sounds, kids who never watch TV don’t necessarily find it interesting for more than a few minutes on a plane. As for what to watch—whatever child-appropriate thing they want on the in-flight entertainment system.
I’d also recommend bringing lots of exciting snacks that can double as an activity (cheerios, goldfish, blueberries—things they eat one at a time) and some new or unfamiliar toys that match your child’s interests. We’ve had success with duplo sets (we have a special plane-only set that’s different from what we have at home) and puzzles. We also got a little Djeco “paper doll” (really a flat wooden kitty doll with different outfits) that surprisingly held our 2.5 year old’s attention for the better part of two trans-Atlantic flights. Good luck!
Hi, I have done many trips with my kids from SF to Europe. Generally, I recommend an evening flight, so that your child can sleep a few hours overnight, arrive in the afternoon in Europe, be active for a few hours and then go to bed late and get a good night's sleep. If your flight time is set, I would recommend booking the hotel already for the night before so that you can check in when you arrive, have a shower, maybe have a nap, or just simply to have a place to go to and relax.
I recommend melatonin for you and your kid (talk to your pediatrician about it, basically don't use gummies, I use chewable tablets from Walgreens, kids are 1mg I think, adults 3mg). I do a full tablet before bedtime for 2-3 days and then a half for some days, and then stop taking it. Sound machine and dark curtains are a good idea (hotel should have dark curtains). With the time change, it's hard to get up in the morning (cause you get up in the middle of the night). Expect to be groggy and your kid to be cranky in the am, they/you will feel better around 3-4pm.
For a simple gift, bring Ghirardellis chocolate.
Remember, this too shall pass! All the best for your trip and hopefully you'll make some great memories!
This isn't in answer to any of your specific questions, but just wanted to be sure you are aware that as a single parent taking your child, there's a (probably small) possibility you could get questioned about the child's other parent. https://www.usa.gov/travel-documents-children
Depending on your specific situation, you might want to figure out what you need.
Wow, this sounds like a formidable task! My advice: You get in to Amsterdam at 9am and what will you do with your child and luggage until you can check in? You and your child may not have gotten much sleep on the plane. I guarantee your child will have an easier time adapting to the time change than you will. But it's not going to be fun for either of you if you have to hang around in a cafe until check-in time. I really, really recommend paying for an extra night at a hotel so you can go straight to your room on Friday morning. If you can't do that at the place you've already booked for Saturday and Sunday, then go online and look for an airport hotel. Tripadvisor lets you search for hotels in proximity of the airport. Regarding a babysitter. A lot of hotels keep listings of local sitters so ask at your hotel first. If that doesn't work, ask the people you are meeting with about childcare referral agencies in the area. Gift: A box of See's candy or Jelly Bellies or similar purchased at SFO.