Travel: Tips on How to Travel with Kids

 

 

We have done our fair share of flying with little people, and I don’t mean the plastic variety. The first flight I took with my now 11 year-old was from Los Angeles to Seattle when she was about 3 months. The most recent flight was this past December when we summoned up the courage to take our three to Australia with the youngest just having turned four. The first thing people asked about the trip was “How was the flight?”, and I could honestly answer that although long, it wasn’t that bad. But that’s also because we’ve had lots of practice. Even when our children were crawling or toddling, we still braved the skies to satisfy our own wanderlust.

What I’ve learned most is that a little bit of preparation goes a long way. If you’ve put in a little time to prepare and organize, you will have a smoother and more enjoyable flight.  You will have the supplies you need to conquer any mishap that comes your way. A blowout diaper 30,000 feet up in the air? No problem!

 

My Top Tips for Flying with Your Littles:

 

PLANNING

– If at all possible, when booking your flights, schedule them so that your child will have his/her regular nap on the flight. Ex: If your child usually naps at noon, try and schedule your flight for around that time so you can soothe him/her into a sleepy state during take-off.

– When booking a cross-country or overseas flight, you can often pre-order a children’s meal. While you’re on the phone, ask if the bulkhead is available. This extra bit of space really makes a difference, and you won’t have to stress about your little person climbing the seat in front of you. If you can’t reserve it then, call a few days before your departure or try when you check-in.

 

PACKING

–       Spend a little time up front making a master packing list on your computer. That way you have it saved for the next flight and you can reassess. Think of everything you may need for the flight. Diapers and wipes are obvious, but what will your child eat? Drink? Any special sleeping needs like a pacifier or special blankie? How will you keep your little one entertained? (Is the Ipad charged?) Is there any special medication your child needs? What about equipment when you arrive at the airport such as a stroller or baby carrier? Most importantly, refer to your checklist as you walk out the door for the airport! And finally, place a large sticky note on the inside windshield of your car that reads “Don’t forget carseat!”. I speak from experience.

 

– Pack a small pillow if your child will be napping on you. Pillows are not always available on shorter domestic flights, and if your child is heavy and napping on your arm, it can be quite uncomfortable for both parties. A small pillow or even a rolled-up blanket or jacket provides some cushion.

 

– Always pack an extra change of clothes. You never know if your diaper-wearing traveller will have a leak. The same goes for the newly potty-trained. It never hurts for mom or dad to have a clean shirt, too. Remember that blow-out I mentioned? Um, yeah.

 

– Planes are dirty, so two words:  sanitizing wipes.

 

– Pack a “surprise” bag. When travelling with my oldest at about 9 months, she started to get squirmy. I pulled out my purse and this became an instant source of entertainment for her, especially my cosmetic bag. For our next trip, I packed a small zippered bag full of “surprises”…a small flashlight, plastic toys, finger puppets, etc. Stock up ahead of time with silly conference giveaways, plastic toys from the doctor’s office, etc. This can buy you some time when the seatbelt signs light up.

 

– For the older set, you can take this a step further by wrapping little “gifts” to earn throughout the flight. For the 14-hour flight to Brisbane, I brought small inexpensive gifts wrapped in tissue that my 4 year-old could open every other hour if he was behaving…a pack of gum, a new story book, pirate figures. It made the flight more fun for him, and then he had an activity to fill the time.

 

– Always carry some travel-size medications for your child. If a flight is longer than an hour, I pack Tylenol, Pepto and Benedryl along with a measuring spoon. Just be sure to pull out those liquids at security.

 

FLYING

 

– Call me a germaphobe, but I am that mom who wipes down tray tables, arm rests and buttons when I get on a plane. You never know if a sickie was sitting in the seat before you and your child.

 

– If you’re okay with your child and sugar, carry an emergency stash of sweets. A lollipop or cookie can work wonders on a twisting, turning toddler and buy you a few minutes of peace. It can also help little ears on the ascent and descent.

 

– Before you disembark, be sure to check all the pockets, under the seats and the overhead to make sure you haven’t left any beloved items behind.

 

– As you disembark, smile kindly and say thank you when your fellow passengers compliment you on how great your kids did.

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