We all love our families and want to spend some special moments with them. Truly, that’s the real purpose of life: to see your loved ones happy. After all, you have to spend your entire life with them. Children are the special, little, and very loving members of our family trees. Parents and older ones always want to spend every moment of their life with their children, whether on holidays, outings, activities, or travelling. All these actions give children a sense of safety, love and strengthen the relationship.
If you are planning to reserve Umrah package 2026 with your children, then it’s a good decision to spend some valuable time with spirituality. An Umrah journey will be a rewarding experience when performed with kids. But here you need to take care of some things, if travelling for a spiritual journey with little ones. So, in this valuable text, we will share some tips to make your Umrah experience smooth and memorable when performing with children.
Do Smart Packing for Little Pilgrims
Umrah with children requires critical and smart packing of baggage. No doubt, Ihram is necessary to perform Umrah, but kids may be in modest clothing. So, first of all, buy an Ihram for boys or an Abaya for girls. Make sure to have at least two sets. Then pack extra clothes that the kids require while staying during Umrah. Makkah and Madinah are quite hot from May to September with higher temperatures. Pack suitable clothes for every kid, at least 5 to 7 pairs according to weather conditions. Also, keep a jacket or a light sweater if travelling in winter.
Additionally, pack the basic medicines for fever, pain, vomiting, minor cuts, injuries, and other necessary medications. If mandatory, keep ORS and the doctor’s contact for the consultant. Moreover, children love toys, so don’t forget to pack.
One of the most important things that you must pack is the child’s identity card. You should know that crowds at Masjid al-Haram and Masjid an-Nabawi are among the largest in the world. A moment’s carelessness could lead to a child being lost. For this, laminate a card with a plastic coating and write your contact number, email, and hotels’ names with addresses. Pack this in the kids’ bags and during Umrah, pin that identity card around the children’s neck through a lanyard.
Keep Kids Comfortable During Tawaf and Sa’ee
Tawaf and Sa’ee are the main rituals of Umrah that every pilgrim performs inside the Grand Mosque of Makkah. During Tawaf and Sa’ee, you should take your kids for these rituals. Pilgrims have to perform seven rounds around to Kaaba to complete Tawaf al-Umrah. This becomes the total of approximately 1.4 km for seven rounds, and children cannot cover such a long distance on foot. So, you can carry a baby stroller if your child is between 3 to 4 years old. However, if you have infants, then use a baby carrier for more safety during Tawaf.
It’s also best to let the children on your shoulders for Tawaf and Sa’ee, if you can afford. Children can feel dehydration early, especially in the crowds of Makkah. Use water bottles or drink Zamzam water every 15 to 20 minutes. Also, keep some high-energy snacks in your kids’ bags, such as dry fruits, energy bars, or chopped fruits.
Educate Your Children About Umrah Pilgrimage
Umrah for children is not just a physical journey and performing some rituals. Instead, make this lesser pilgrimage of Islam more interesting and spiritual for them. Tell them the core root of every ritual through storytelling. For instance, explain the story of the Holy Kaaba and how it was made by Prophet Ibrahim (A.S) thousands of years ago. Also, why is Tawaf performed, and why do Muslims go to Umrah? What’s the main purpose of the Umrah pilgrimage?
Educate your children on how to perform Umrah with step-by-step rituals. Deeply explore each ritual with the necessary training and etiquette. To amaze this process of education, you can start with an Umrah completion prize for kids. This makes them happy and keeps them focused. The prize can be any toy, special meal, or anything else. It’s one of the good strategies to motivate and encourage your children.
Choose Accommodation Nearer to Haram
Why does accommodation matter a lot during Umrah? Did you know 30-40% of the Umrah experience depends on your accommodation? This is where you will stay with your children and walk to Haram from there for prayers. So, choose your hotels in Makkah and Madinah wisely when booking your package from an Umrah travel agency. If your kids are too sensitive, then go for only 5 to 10 minutes of walking distance to hotels from the Haram boundaries. This will also help when kids need some urgent requirements.
If your kids are under teenage, it’s not mandatory to take them with you during every prayer. You can divide the task, for example, one parent will perform Umrah first, while the other one will rest or care for the children. After that, the second parent will go for the Umrah performance. However, it’s best if you perform jointly with all the family members. In this way, you can pray with full cooperation and comfort, and the kids will not feel neglected or tired.
Some More Valuable Tips for a Smooth Experience:
- As you know, the Grand Mosque of Makkah is very crowded every time. So, choose off-peak hours to conduct rituals, like after 11 pm or early morning.
- If your kids are mature, teach them the Niyyah of Ihram and Umrah; otherwise, that’s okay. Allah SWT better knows the intention.
- Finalise the meeting point where you can gather in case you miss each other. It should be done before entering Masjid al-Haram.
- Use a wheelchair or a stroller for special children. Keep in mind that strollers are allowed on the ground floor for Sa’ee, but during Tawaf, it’s not allowed, only on the first floor.
- Some youngsters get panic by crowds in the holy cities, so to divert their attention, you can use earplugs or noise-cancelling headphones.
- Most significantly, use technology firsthand – utilise digital maps, online Islamic sources, Umrah guides, GPS, mobile applications, etc.
In conclusion, Umrah with children can become a great experience if you take care of some valuable tips. Make sure to plan your Umrah in a comfortable season so that your experience goes smooth. Take care of your kids and enjoy your spiritual journey!
