Some families want their children to be chauffeured everywhere – and they need a nanny who can drive to make sure that happens. Other families are keen for their children to have the experience of travelling on many forms of transport and expect their nanny to assist with that. There are real benefits to travelling on public transport: engagement with a wide section of the community; travelling through areas you’d otherwise never visit; having hands and eyes free to concentrate on the child, not the road; giving children a sense of independence and a deeper understanding of their local area. But it’s also quite hard work. So we checked with our panel of experienced nanny candidates to find their top tips for public transport.
Public transport, your child and your nanny.
Safety first
Above all, your journey must be safe. Whether it’s a three station hop on the tube or a transatlantic flight, there’s work to be done before you set off. Pack spare clothes, a basic first aid kit including epipens etc if children have allergies, snacks, drinks and some cash. Also worth carrying are antibacterial wipes, tissues and hand sanitiser. Of course you need to make sure you pack enough nappies for smaller children and that means a couple more than you think you’ll get through. Just to be safe. When choosing a buggy, make sure your nanny can fold it up easily whilst holding your child. She may be asked to do so when using public transport.
It will always take more time than you’ve planned
Whether the bus runs late, the train is delayed, or the tram spends ten minutes at one stop while the drivers change-over. You can bet there will be some reason you need to have allowed some extra time. Then there are all the other reasons that you might run late: toddler tantrums; comfort breaks; lost items; just wanting to stop and stare at something … allow extra time and extra extra time!
Plan for boredom
Allowing all that extra time can sometimes – although rarely – get you to your destination ahead of time. It’s good to for nanny to have a little something in her bag: a puzzle, a new book, a scavenger hunt list that can be safely carried out where have arrived.
Long journeys require long term planning
Children as young as two can handle long journeys if given enough attention and distractions. A sturdy disposable camera can be a great addition to their travel packing … think about setting a time to divide your journey into as many sections. There are shots on the camera and then, whenever the timer sounds, the child can be encouraged to snap a shot of that moment in the journey. They might surprise you with their artistic vision!
Take home with you when travelling
When on public transport, children can sometimes become upset. All it takes is a delay, a loud noise, an unusually hot or cold day or another passenger who causes them concern. Which is just as likely to be an overly friendly grandmother type as a hostile looking stranger! Developing the ability to handle such situations makes children robust and confident, but at the time they may be clingy and scared. A little bit of home can give them a sense of familiarity – carrying a favourite small toy is a great idea and even better, if it’s a soft toy, suggest the child holds it to their face and inhales. Soft toys carry the faint scent of ‘home’ which can reassure a child that they can handle anything!
If you’ve enjoyed this article, why not explore our Guide to Mothers-in-Laws!