Doing Umrah with kids can be one of the most meaningful experiences for a family, but it can also be challenging if you’re not prepared. Between the crowds, travel logistics, and tired little ones, it definitely requires some planning.

We recently had the opportunity to perform Umrah with our child during a 23 hour layover in Jeddah before heading to our final destination. It was a beautiful experience, but also a stressful one at times because of the tight timeline. Looking back, there are a few things we learned that would have made the experience much smoother.

If you’re planning Umrah with children, here’s what our journey looked like and the tips we would share with other parents when they’re taking kids to Umrah.

Our Umrah Journey During a Short Layover

Since we only had a 23-hour layover in Jeddah, our schedule was very tight.

When we were on the plane, we didn’t make the intention for Umrah because we weren’t sure if we would actually have enough time to complete it once we arrived. We decided to wait until we were certain.

The next day we drove to the Miqat point Juhfah, which was about a one and a half hour drive from Jeddah.

At the Miqat we entered into ihram, prayed our nafl prayers, and made our intention for Umrah. After that, we continued driving to Makkah.

Performing Umrah During Ramadan

We were doing Umrah during Ramadan, so we tried to plan our timing carefully.

Our hope was that if we went after Fajr, there might be fewer people because many would be fasting and resting.

We arrived in Makkah around 7:30 in the morning and started our tawaf on the main floor near the Kaaba.

However, the crowds were still huge. It was very busy, and moving through the crowd with a child was much harder than we expected. I’d always heard about the intensity of Umrah and how intense things feel in Makkah which I didn’t truly understand until experiencing it myself.

Our Biggest Regret: Forgetting the Stroller

Originally, we had planned to do Umrah with a stroller, which many parents recommend when traveling with young kids.

Unfortunately, we accidentally left our stroller at the airport. Because our timeline was so tight, there was no way to retrieve it before starting Umrah.

This made the experience significantly harder.

Carrying a child while trying to move through large crowds during tawaf was exhausting. After completing three rounds on the main floor, we decided to move up to the upper level where it was a little less crowded. We finished the rest of our tawaf there.

If we could redo one thing from that day, it would absolutely be bringing the stroller.

Tip #1: Bring a stroller if you’re doing Umrah with kids

If you plan to perform Umrah with children, bringing a stroller can make a huge difference. They do have wheelchairs available for rent as well as electric carts that you can use for ease with kids or if you have any mobility challenges. I believe the rates for the electric carts start around 200 SAR per person.

You might not be able to do tawaf right next to the Kaaba, but the overall experience will likely be much smoother and less stressful for everyone.

A stroller gives kids a place to rest when they get tired, makes it easier to move through crowds, and saves parents from having to carry them for long periods of time.

After going through it ourselves, we realized how important this one thing really is.

Sa’i Between Safa and Marwa With Kids

By the time we finished tawaf, it was clear that carrying our child during sa’i would be even more difficult.

For the walk between Safa and Marwa, we decided to rent a wheelchair. This made the experience much more manageable, especially with the crowds.

If you’re doing Umrah with toddlers or younger children, this is definitely an option to consider when it feels too overwhelming to walk while carrying them.

Tip #2: Pack plenty of snacks

One thing that helped a lot was bringing a bag full of low-mess snacks for our child.

Snacks are surprisingly helpful during Umrah because they keep kids busy and happy while you’re waiting, walking, or resting.

Some good options include crackers, granola bars, pouches, dried fruit, or small sandwiches.

Snacks can also act as a screen-free activity that keeps kids occupied during longer parts of the journey.

Screen-Free Activities That Help

In addition to snacks, bringing small activities can make a big difference.

Some easy options include LCD writing tablets, sticker books, Water Wow books, or small coloring books.

These are lightweight, easy to pack, and don’t create a mess, which makes them ideal for travel and crowded environments.

Tip #3: Try to give yourself enough time

One of the biggest reasons our experience felt stressful was the time pressure.

Because we had such a small window during our layover, we constantly felt like we needed to rush. We still had to finish Umrah, collect our luggage, and return to the airport for our next flight.

If we had a full day or more, the experience would have felt much calmer and more meaningful.

We would have been able to move slowly, take breaks when needed, and spend more time making dua and focusing on the spiritual aspects of Umrah.

If you have the option, giving yourself extra time can make a huge difference, especially when traveling with kids.

Preparing Your Duas Ahead of Time

One thing that helped me a lot was preparing my duas ahead of time.

When you’re traveling with kids, there’s rarely any quiet time to sit and think about what you want to make dua for. I knew that once we were there, my attention would be split between ibadah and caring for my child.

Before our trip, I wrote down a list of duas so I could refer to them during tawaf and sa’i.

I used a list created by my friend @hera7, which is such a beautiful resource filled with thoughtful and intentional duas.

Having that list ready helped me stay focused and use my time well.

Final Thoughts on Doing Umrah With Kids

Doing Umrah with kids isn’t always easy, but it can still be incredibly meaningful too. Our 4 year old was stressed during the process due to how busy it was but she’s talked about the experience since. It has also surprised us how much she has picked up from the experience including terms like miqat point and ihram.

So even with the crowds, the exhaustion, and the challenges of traveling with a child, it was still a special experience for our family.

If you’re planning Umrah with children, a few small things can make a big difference: bring a stroller, pack plenty of snacks, bring quiet activities, give yourself enough time, and prepare your duas ahead of time.

With a little preparation, Umrah with kids can be a beautiful and memorable act of worship for the whole family. It may look different than what we envisioned but I think it’s still worth bringing the kids.