Straightforward Tips from a Veteran Mom
Ever since we moved to Doha back in 2009, we’ve been blessed with the opportunity to perform umrah multiple times. The youngest that my children have gone for umrah was when my daughter was 10 and my youngest was 3. Umrah became a yearly trip for us so I wanted to share a few hacks that helped us making our umrah trips rewarding and (almost) stress-free.
My Top 8 Umrah Tips with Kids
- Prepare your kids mentally. That means going over the purpose of umrah and what it entails. Go over behavior expectations when visiting the different mosques and teach some basic du’As that they can recite over and over.
- If you’re traveling from far, factor in jet lag and arrange your trip accordingly. We traveled from Doha so we were already on the same time zone.
- There’s a LOT of walking involved. Pack comfortable shoes and breathable clothing for your kids. We always stayed in the hotels directly across from the masjid to cut out too much walking.
- Avoid bringing electronic devices like video games or tablets inside the mosques as they can make noise while the prayer is happening. My kids always kept books or drawing material with them to keep them occupied.
- Make sure to pack hats, sunglasses, and sunscreen. Bring reusable water bottles and carry snacks that can withstand the heat. You can also keep an umbrella stroller for younger ones although some people rent wheelchairs to cart one or two kids (That’s what we did)
- Some might also consider bringing a stroller, especially one that lays flat to allow young children to sleep when shopping or sightseeing around Makkah and Madinah. Although strollers are prohibited in the mosques parents can rent wheelchairs that can be used as seating for children.
- Children are not required to wear ihram but my kids all wore it. We just made sure that the ihram was tied tightly (you can also secure with an elastic band) and we definitely made them wear undergarments.
- Develop a Safety Plan. It is so easy to get separated. We never used identification bracelets but we did give our kids instructions that if they ever get separated, to remove themselves from the crowd and stand apart without yelling “I’m lost!”. For us, the meeting point was under the green light that signaled the start of the tawaf.
Let me know what tips and hacks have worked for you when travelling with your littles.
