Muslims living in the UK prepare themselves for Umrah with deep devotion. Performing umrah with your offspring is a beautiful experience that parents can cherish forever.
When you perform umrah with kids, it not only strengthens your bond with them, but you also feel endless resilience, kindness, gratitude, and love within you. During Umrah, you always get each other’s support.
Together, as a family, you become sin-free and start a new life with a better character and faith. But sometimes parents get confused about children’s needs while packing their stuff for umrah. So, in this guide, we will cover all the kids’ essentials.
Umrah Packing for Kids
It’s quite an untouched topic when it comes to packing for Hajj/Umrah with kids, as most of the people you’ll consult would tell you never to take your kids along because: You can’t focus on your ibaadah. Your kids can get infections or get trampled on.
You may get angry at them for crying amidst the crowd and hence lose the rewards by shouting, etc. It will add to your extra stress as Hajj is already a test of your patience.
Even though leaving kids behind would perhaps be ideal in your case, it may not be a possibility. And the reasons could vary from not having any close relatives around to no one agreeing to keep your kids for whatever reason, a busy schedule, etc.
Some would go to the length of advising you not to do umrah with kids. But with proper planning and hiring an ideal tour agency like Bismillah Travel, you can perform umrah with your kids.
Identification Card
Make an Identification Card for each kid displaying their Name, Father’s Name (or Guardian’s name), Hotel Name/address and Phone Number. Kids should not forget to wear it every time they are out. Always mention a meeting point before entering a prayer hall or any crowded area, in case anyone gets lost.
Ihram
When you plan to perform Umrah with kids, make a checklist to make your trip easier and enjoyable.
For Boys: Bring a soft, two-piece white garment if your child is old enough. For Girls: You can pack airy, modest dresses or abayas along with a few hijabs for comfort and ease.
Shoes: Carry simple and easy-to-wear sandals for prayers and walking. Also pack comfortable clothes according to the temperature. Because sometimes nights get cold in both sacred cities.
Baby Carriers
Depending on the age of your baby, different carriers, slings, and wraps are available from newborn to 36 months of age (some are even for above 2 years).
As keeping track of kids around you can be difficult at times, having them attached to you is easier as your hands are free that way, but yes, that will mean walking with more weight.
Rotate turns with your spouse while performing rituals like tawaaf and sa’ee, or you can take a wheelchair to let the kids sit on it (also, because the wheelchair section is less crowded).
Feeding Bottles
I’ve seen women nursing their kids on Hajj and Umrah, so it’s possible and certainly more convenient if you keep yourself well-hydrated, but if you have an infant who takes formula only, then keep one along with the formula milk powder in a small container. You can wash and re-use so there won’t be any need to keep multiple bottles. Lightest and smallest would do.
Many UK travel companies are offering budget-friendly umrah packages.
Baby Food and Snacks
Although whatever you’re eating, your child can eat too, but if your baby is really small, then you can take along a few pouches of baby food (I wouldn’t recommend food jars as they are heavy and breakable).
You can easily feed the kid directly from the food pouch through the nozzle. And don’t pack many snacks either, as they will be available there in shaa Allah. Nonetheless, you can keep a good-quality baby spoon with you for easier feeding options.
Kids Favourite Toy or Activity
There is always one thing that your child absolutely adores, and let’s admit, most of the time it’s not even an actual toy. It could be a book they are obsessed with, a bottle, a spoon, a stuffed toy, a game, anything, and you, as a parent, know that best.
Although it’s not ideal to bring inexpensive gadgets, if you think your kids would only be entertained by an app/cat video, etc. Then bring it at your own risk for the survival of your sanity. There will be times when they will have to sit for hours on end. But please make sure whatever you put on for them has no music in it or even a loud noise, as you’re not the only one there.
Conclusion
As you are preparing yourself for a sacred journey from the UK with an umrah travel agency in London, it requires proper planning to confirm that both parents and children will be comfortable and safe. Packing according to the sacred journey is necessary for both kids and parents. It is necessary to pack kids’ clothes that are breathable and comfortable. For spiritual activities, pack a pocket Quran, Dua books, and prayer mats. Rechecking all the documents, clothing, and personal care medicine makes you travel from the UK with confidence and stress-free.
