The very frequent question and the concern that is often seen amongst the hajis is that how will they manage the Hajj or Umrah with children? This is truly a problem that should be talked about. I, through my personal experience, will narrate you how effectively you could carry out your Umrah with your children. Various kinds of Umrah Packages from Islamabad and other cities of Pakistan are there but nobody will tell you what is told here.
Through my account you will be able to relate and figure out how you could take care of your children as well as the rites.
So, back in 2017, I got the chance to visit the holy cities of Makah and Medina with my family. I was very excited about the great opportunity that lay ahead of me. The only thing that worried me was that how to manage in such a hot country with my 9 years old son. Instead of waiting for some other time and wait for him to grow up enough to travel independently I decided to take my child along and tackle the issue strategically.
Start as soon as you are confirmed
When your dates for the Umrah have been confirmed, you should start preparing right away. We had booked the VIP Umrah package from Pakistan. It had several facilities yet preparing in anticipation is better. You could begin with teaching your child certain basic duas (prayers). You could write them in big font at your place where he interacts with them repeatedly. Also, you could repeat them again and again to him so that he memorizes them. Also, teach him certain basic rituals. In this case, I taught him by reenacting a skit that was about the Hajj and its rituals. This became a very fun of way teaching him something above his age and also became familiar to the rites.
Jot your Travel Anxieties
Living with a child comes with lots of anxieties. As a mother there are certain things on which we mothers get reactive or worried. This creates a lot of fuss sometimes. Since I could not afford them there during the journey, I considered all the things that triggered anxiety in me. In order to keep my child busy and not disturb me and make me angry, I packed a whole bag of toys. They were not really heavy but mostly included those which were my son’s favorite. This at least freed me from one end. They mostly kept him busy while I prayed.
Less is more helpful
In your packing, always make this a rule. Instead of trying to stuff your entire house in your bag, try keeping things which are not very bulky. Also, those things should be kept which can be used in more than one ways. Also, those which occupy the least space and are really necessary for the journey. Apart from that things which one should not miss out include; first aid box, necessary medicines, necessary clothes and etc. keeping unnecessary stuff with you should be avoided as your stay will comprise of counted number of days. As far as the packing of your child is concerned, you will have to keep more clothes but do not carry thick clothes as it is not cold. Other necessities should also be kept with you to make it easy for you. If you will have everything within the reach of your hand, your trip will be super easy.
Things to do
- Keep slippers and hats and sun screen.
- Keep Vaseline as when males would not wear underwear under the ihram, they might get rashes.
- Hang an id badge with a phone number which could be reached immediately and also his name and the hotel and its number on that card.
- Sweets and edibles in your hand carry to give it to your child in case isn’t well or irritating.
- Keeping an extra ihram for each of you so that you can if the ne you are wearing gets dirty.
- Also make your child wear children’s wrist strips. You could use them to tie them with you so that they do not get lost while you are performing Tawaf or any other ritual.
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