Top 6 Tips for Flying with Kids
Air travel can already be an ordeal on its own but when you add a child to the mix things can feel a little more hectic. These are my favorite tips for flying with kids!
Bring snacks. Buy them in advance.
Buy snacks (especially the single serve/pre-packaged kinds) at the grocery store ahead of your trip. This will help you avoid the overly expensive airport prices AND will be less messy and easier to distribute to your kiddos on the plane. Remember, you can't bring water through security… but you can bring an empty water bottle and fill it at a water fountain or buy a water bottle once you're past security. This is important because on many flights it can take a while to get drink service (if the flight offers it at all). In my experience a thirsty or hungry kid is not a pleasant kid to be around, so plan these things ahead of time. I also bring a pack of gum in case my (or my kid’s) ears hurt from the pressure changes during takeoff and landing.
No small toy sets, but… bring entertainment!
Be sure to bring plenty of things to help the time go by faster (and hopefully avoid the whiny "Are we there yet?” questions). I don't recommend small toys or play sets, because your child will inevitably drop the small pieces on the floor and you'll spend the rest of your flight training for your new career as a circus contortionist as you try to retrieve them. I do recommend activity books and coloring books (although you should pack the pencils/coloring utensils in a good pencil pouch/case to try to avoid the aforementioned issues). Another great source of entertainment can be electronic devices. I'm a big fan of my child's Kindle. Before a trip I can download apps/games, movies, or even tv shows onto the device (so it doesn't need a wifi connection to work). This will keep the kids happy and entertained… don't forget the headphones.
About that car seat / stroller:
If your child still uses a stroller/car seat be sure to plan ahead for your travel needs. I used to check the car seat/stroller at the gate for a couple reasons. First, I have heard that it is safer… usually the items checked at the gate aren’t handled as roughly, don’t have as far to go, and don’t end up as far inside the plane (where they can get crushed by other luggage). This can be important when it comes to maintaining the structural integrity of something as important as a car seat. The second reason I recommend checking at the gate is that you can use the carseat/stroller to get around the airport/terminal. It can often be a long walk to get to a gate (especially if you have a layover) so having the stroller will help you move faster and more efficiently with children in tow. The stroller/car seat can also come in handy as a location that your child can sit/rest/nap (sometimes the seats at the airport fill up, so this guarantees a spot for you little one to take a load off).
A well-rested child …
I highly recommend you do everything you can to make sure your child is well-rested the day of your trip. I know this can sometimes be hard, because some flights leave early and you have to wake up extra early to get to the airport early before your early flight…. But just do the best you can. If you have the choice between an early morning flight and a later morning flight, choose the later flight so your child can get more sleep. Have your child go to bed extra early the night before. Recently my daughter asked if she could have a slumber party 2 nights before a trip we were taking… um, that’s a no-go. I know that slumber parties throw off her sleep cycle and she gets tired and grumpy… traveling is already a little stressful on its own, having a tired/grumpy kid is only going to amplify that stress.
Hype it Up!
Treat the trip/traveling as the awesome adventure that it is. I know most mornings I have to drag my daughter out of bed at 6am to go to school, but if she knows she’s about to fly on an airplane she’ll jump out of bed on her own at 4am with no problem. Use this to your advantage. Talk about the trip ahead of time and how fun it’s going to be. If your child is new to traveling, tell them a little bit about airports and how they work, so they know what to expect.
Good Old Fashioned Bribery
This one pretty much speaks for itself, all parents know the powers of bribery. And I know, I know… bribery shouldn’t be used often, it’s not always the best for raising future well-adjusted and internally-motivated adults. But if you ask me, there are times/places where it can save any parent’s ass. I think big trips/traveling can be one of those times/places. Let them know that if they’re good in the security line or on the flight they can get their favorite snack, dinner, dessert, souvenir or whatever it is that gets their attention. (For my daughter it’s definitely the dessert). You can always save this as a back-up/emergency method in case (despite your best efforts) you end up with a tired, hangry kid.
Oh Baby*
If you’re flying with an infant or baby you have some choices to make. If the child is under 2 years of age you can usually choose to either keep them on your lap or buy them a seat (but always do an internet search and double check with the specific airline you will be flying with). If you have the money, I do recommend buying the baby a seat… I know from experience that it is not fun having to hold a squirming baby AND keep it happy throughout an entire flight. If you buy a ticket for your baby you will have to bring the car seat, or a special kind of harness, to secure the baby in the seat. I recommend bringing the carseat on board with you (because you’re going to need it at your final destination and it’s one less thing to worry about having to check). Just double check that your particular car seat will fit the seat on the airplane (again, do an internet search regarding the size restrictions of car seats on your particular airline). Having your baby secured in their car seat throughout the flight will be a lot less stressful for you and you can focus on keeping them happy with entertainment, snacks, bottles, toys, etc.
