The thought of taking babies and children on holiday overseas is so stressful that just under half (46 per cent) of parents with a baby aged less than 12 months would not travel abroad at all, according a survey by the UK leader in baby development classes, Baby Sensory.
The overriding concern for nine in ten (87 per cent) parents with babies aged below one was the risk of them falling ill. Other reasons cited were worries about how the baby would cope with the heat and the baby being disruptive on the plane.
The survey, which questioned over 400 parents on Facebook, also found that nine in ten parents (86 per cent) fretted about the safety of children of any age left at a hotel kids’ club.
Dr. Lin Day, the founder of Baby Sensory, believes that holidays closer to home can help to keep stress to a minimum for families.
She said, “It’s natural for parents to worry about the safety and well-being of their children, and foreign holidays can present extra concerns in terms of travel logistics and what to do if your child gets ill. However, holidays shouldn’t involve lots of unnecessary stress. Relaxed parents lead to relaxed children and the most important aspect of a family holiday is spending quality time together away from the everyday distractions of work, school and home. Young children don’t mind where they are as long as it’s with you.
“However, if parents do choose to go abroad, they shouldn’t be worried to ask hotels for evidence of recognised child care qualifications and accreditation for holiday kids’ clubs.”
Dr. Lin Day (PhD. M. Phil. PGCE. BSc. Dip. Ed.) has worked with babies and young children throughout her career and has developed the Baby Sensory programmes.
Baby Sensory is the only provider of baby development classes designed specifically for babies from birth to 13 months. The classes are run in over 400 locations throughout the UK and in 12 countries including the US, Australia and Spain and has most recently launched in China. All activities are excellent for developing physical, social and emotional, and language skills, co-ordination, awareness of the world, a love of music and the concentration needed for further development. For more about Baby Sensory – www.babysensory.com.